Bill & Mark,

I'm not really too concerned about finding new software, although since Intuit claims over 80 percent of the tax prep business, you have to worry about how long the others are going to be around. They even drove Microsoft (Money) out.

My put on it is that installing software extraneous to the purpose for which I purchased their program, without informing me that they would do so and without asking my permission to do so, constitutes a violation of the specifically cited prohibition in 18 U.S.C. § 1030. Fairly recent citation, by the Honorable Robert J. Timlin, Judge of the United States District Court, Central District of California is that
.."A person violates Section 1030(a)(2)(C) where that person "intentionally accesses a computer without authorization or exceeds authorized access."

Other sections of the statutes deal with unauthorized installation of software not consistent with the owners purposes.

In other words, my feeling is that what Intuit did to me, and will do to anyone who uses their software for this years income tax returns, constitutes a felony.

Unfortunately, I'm not rich; but I intend to be vocal about it.

Step 1, 5 emails to my local newspaper.

Step 2, in preparation - complaint to my state attorney general, Better Business Bureau, & Local police fraud/consumer protection unit.

More to come. But of course I know I'm "fighting feathers."

Incidentally - when I connected to Intuits "web chat" help site, they said "It's Microsoft's problem," and disconnected me without permitting a reply or other question.

John