Completely FREE Software - FAQs about CFS Membership

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CFS Membership FAQs

1. What benefits do I get from being a member?
Being a member of CFS allows you to access all of the software hosted by CFS – over 1,700 free programs!

2. What do the software listing pages look like?
To see exactly the type and style of information just visit any software listing page. You won't be able to access any links with this symbol on them because these are associated with programs hosted by CFS and only accessible by our members.

3. Do I have to log in every time I use your site?
No, only the first time during a browser session (usually once per day), and even the log-in is as easy as just clicking on a software program hosted by CFS. Most people will have their username and password already included in their browser’s Form Manager (don’t forget to check the box “Save your password...”) so they only have to hit the OK button (see screenshot below).

CFS Member log-in
Above: the IE6 browser Form Manager

4. Do I have to remember to renew my membership?
If you originally chose the 1-month membership or 1-year membership option through our retailer, 2CheckOut.com, do nothing and you will be automatically billed for another period the same as the previous one (after you have received a notification). This recurring billing can be cancelled any time you like by simply writing to CFS. If you chose any other option except Lifetime membership (a 1-month, 1-year or 2-year membership through PayPal, or a 2-year membership through 2CheckOut.com) you will not receive a reminder and your membership will be automatically terminated at the end of the period. See FAQ #16 below to find out how to extend your membership.

5. Do I need to become a member of PayPal?
No, you do not need to be a member of PayPal to make a payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discovery or AmEx) and have it automatically set up your new membership account with CFS. You can make a payment through the Membership Info page and be set up automatically. Just click on the CFS membership option you want, and the retailer you wish to use (PayPal or 2CheckOut.com) and you will be prompted to submit your credit card details for the option you have chosen. However, if you click on this PayPal link you can make a payment to "editor@completelyFREEsoftware.com" (through our parent company, Kooronya Holdings) and mention the option you want (1 month – $5, 1 year – $15, 2 years – $25, or lifetime – $35) and pay the appropriate amount. We will have to manually add you to the members-list and that might take 24 to 48 hours but you will be notified when you are added.

6. Can I pay by check?
Yes, we accept checks, money orders, postal orders, etc, as well as direct bank-to-bank funds transfer (EFT). There is an additional charge of US$7 per transaction for this service to help offset the additional costs we incur through our bank in Australia. Please note that checks must be cleared before we can activate your membership account. Our address and bank details are at the Mail Order & EFT page. Australians should check out the FAQ Can I make a payment in Australian dollars?.

7. Why doesn’t my password work? (or I lost my password)
You can get a copy of your password (or username) sent to your e-mail address by going to the lost password page. You must know your registered CFS e-mail address to use this feature and information will only be sent to that address. If all else fails, write to CFS and we will manually search for your e-mail address and send you the "Account Activation" e-mail (the same as the one you originally received) which includes your username and password. For your security, this information will only be sent to the e-mail address we have on file for you, not to a new address. If you change your e-mail address you must update your details in our database (see FAQ #8 below).

8. Can I update my personal information?
Yes, first you must ensure that you are logged in either through the Members Log-in page (the address in your browser's location window looks like this: http://username:password@www.completelyfreesoftware.com/...) or by simply clicking on any members-only page in the navigation section and, in the popup dialog box, type your current username & password. Once logged in you can go to the Account Settings page where you can change your password and/or your e-mail address (see screenshot below).

Member Update
If you cannot change your password or e-mail address using the method above, please contact CFS with your existing user details (for verification purposes) and your new information. CFS will manually change them for you.

9. What protection do I have when giving card details over the Internet?
Your confidential information is automatically encrypted by both 2Checkout.com and PayPal while it is in transit from your computer to theirs. This encryption uses the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with a key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available). Before you even register or log in to the credit card site, its server checks that you're using an approved browser – one that uses SSL 3.0 or higher. This means that there is a very high level of security for your transaction.

10. I’ve signed up so why can’t I immdiately start downloading?
Accounts are either set up automatically (by using the buttons on the bottom of the Member's Information page) or manually by making a payment to the CFS parent company, Kooronya Holdings. Occasionally the automatic setup of an account is not activated and the process to establish the account not finalized. If that happens, CFS staff will manually create your account for you but this might take 24 to 48 hours (see the manual account setup section below).
Automatic account setup:
Depending on network and server loading at the time you sign up, there can be a small delay before you can access the member-only area of the CFS site. Once everything has been approved, and your membership information is sent back from the retailer (2CheckOut.com or PayPal) to the CFS member's management software, you will receive an e-mail from CFS with your user name and password in it, and the members-only area should be available to you. That e-mail will be from “Completely FREE Software” and has the subject “Account Activation”. If there is some doubt about your password not being correct, or if you cannot remember your username, you can get them e-mailed to you at any time by going to the lost password page.
Manual account setup:
If you signed up manually (did not use the buttons on the bottom of the Member's Information page) then you may have to wait 24 to 48 hours before we can manually create an account for you. When that account is manually created you will be notified with your username (usually the first part of your e-mail address) and a unique password. Your membership starts when we create the account for you, not when the payment is made.

11. Why are you still called “Completely FREE Software”?
The software listed on this site is completely free, the author does not demand payment for use of this software. Membership in CFS pays for access to information about this freeware and for our independent reviews. This is explained in the GNU General Public License, the preamble of which says in part: “When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price ... you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish)...”. This is the same principle used for selling freeware or shareware on CDs – you are paying for the media, the delivery, and not for the software itself. CFS has expenses which must be paid – the dedicated server we use, equipment, wages, etc. These expenses were previously covered by paid advertising on the site. (See FAQ #12 below.)

12. Why become a “members-only” site?
For information about why we require membership to download programs, check out the Introduction to CFS page.

13. I cannot access my member account, what is wrong?

First, remember that passwords and usernames are case sensitive so, for example, you cannot use “Happy” where your username (or password) is “happy”. Make sure you don't have leading or trailing spaces, specially with your password (count the number of dots or asterisks to ensure you have the correct number).

Second, your Web browser may have settings that will not allow you to access the CFS site (and many other sites). This is specially true if you received your original copy from your ISP or from another browser distributor (off a CD, for example). Visit our Internet Explorer page, or our Netscape/Mozilla page, to find out how to restore these settings. If you have a problem with Firefox not covered on the Netscape/Mozilla page, please tell us and we will help you where possible. We do not support other browsers.

Third, are you using ad blocking software? Some ad blocking software prevents popup dialog boxes from appearing so it prevents you from accessing the members-only section of the CFS site. The solution is to either disable your ad blocking software or to exlude the CFS domain (completelyfreesoftware.com) from being blocked (depends on what type of ad blocker you are using). CFS does not recommend that ad blocking software be used.

Fourth, sometimes members using Internet Explorer cannot access our special log-in page and receive an error that the page cannot be found. Please read our member's log in page for information about this.

Finally, has your membership expired? Members who signed up through PayPal receive no warning before their membership ceases and their account is automatically made “inactive” (their account cannot be accessed) and are subsequently removed from our membership database.

14. I'm a member, why can't I download program files from CFS?
All program files hosted by CFS are in a protected directory and cannot be accessed without a valid username and password. This is automatically inserted when you are logged in to the site through your browser so the download facility in your browser will allow the files to be downloaded. Unfortunately, many external download managers (like Net Vampire, NetAnts, Download Accelerator Plus, and many others) offer no provision to enter a username and password so they cannot access the protected area of this or any other site.
If you are using Internet Explorer and require a download manager, we recommend MetaProducts Download Express, an Internet Explorer plug-in which takes over file downloading but adds (where supported) resume & multiple thread downloading. This add-on uses the information inside IE to allow access to the protected "software" directory on CFS, and other sites that protect or track their software downloads. There is also a Mozilla FireFox plug-in available from the MetaProducts Download Express site.

15. What is your refund policy?
Our general policy is that we do not give refunds except in unusual circumstances. We consider a $5 monthly membership not excessive to give you an opportunity to thoroughly check out the site and, if you have a recurring membership through 2CheckOut.com, we will cancel that recurring billing any time you request it. Memberships through PayPal are not recurring. We suggest that you do not sign up for a longer term without first ensuring that you can make sufficient use of the site to make it worthwhile to you. If, after using the site for a month and finding it of value, we suggest that you cancel your monthly membership and sign up for a 1-year, 2-year or Lifetime membership. This will save you quite a lot of money ($5 per month for 7 months is the cost of a Lifetime membership!). We also recommend that all members subscribe to our free weekly newsletter so they can keep up-to-date with new programs, and any other important site news. We want you to get the maximum benefit from your membership.

16. How do I extend my existing membership?
If you purchased a 1-month or 1-year membership through 2CheckOut.com then do nothing and you will be notified when it is time to renew (see FAQ #4 above). If you wish to renew a membership that is not automatically recurring, simply make a payment for the period you want it extended, telling us your username so we can just add that time to your existing account (ie if you have 10 days left, and wish to add one year, your account will be extended to 376 days). This can be done at any time, you don't have to wait until your account has expired before renewing or extending it. You can make a credit card payment in US dollars through PayPal (use option #2 to "Make a Payment") without creating a new account (and don't forget to tell us your username so we know which account to extend!). You can use this to, say, convert a 1-month membership into a 1-year membership by making a payment of $15. However, a current 1-year membership can be converted to a Lifetime membership with a one-off payment of $25 through PayPal (use option #2 to "Make a Payment"). A current 2-year membership can be extended to Lifetime with a one-off payment of $15 through PayPal (use option #2 to "Make a Payment"). Please note that your payment will be going to Kooronya Holdings (see FAQ #17 below).

17. Who is Kooronya Holdings?
Kooronya Holdings “owns” the CFS site which, in turn, is owned and managed by CFS editor, Graham Pockett. All membership payments (except through Moneygram) must be made to Kooronya Holdings so they can be processed through our bank account. Kooronya Holdings is registered in Australia (ABN 29 748 484 220).

18. Can I make a payment in Australian dollars?
Yes, anyone can make a payment in Australian dollars. If you contact CFS we will e-mail you information about paying by cheque, money order or bank-to-bank transfer. We will also give you the current prices, etc in Australian dollars. Credit card payments must be processed through our US credit card processors 2CheckOut.com or PayPal on our Members Information page. We cannot directly accept credit card payments.

19. When I log in I get a "Page Not Found" message – what's happening?
For some Internet Explorer users, the special log in address gives a "Page Not Found" message. This is due to a recent patch for the Internet Explorer 6 SP1 release by Microsoft (MS04-004) that means automatic logins are no longer supported, even though this is an integrated part of the standard RFC2617 HTTP Authentication. Until Microsoft gets its act together and releases a patch to fix the original patch, direct access is the only way to access the members area.
Members who cannot change their password or e-mail address can ask CFS to do this manually. For security purposes, we will need to know your existing username, password and e-mail address, plus the replacement password and/or e-mail address to make the changes (usernames cannot be changed).

20. How do I know what type, and quality, of program you list?
Site searches are available from all publicly accessible pages so that anyone can check specific programs, or program types, before joining. However, we believe that it is more important that a prospective member subscribes to our free weekly newsletter and sees the types of programs that are listed, and also the quality of the reviews. You can send yourself the last few copies from our mail program archive, or read the on-line newsletter extracts (only includes the new programs listed, their reviews, and the updates information). Those on-line HTML extracts go back to issue number 1, whereas the mail program itself is occasionally updated and only the full newsletters sent out since the last update are available (please read the Newsletter FAQs).

21. How do I know that this isn't a scam?
Every person who is asked to spend money over the Internet (or via mail order) should ask him or herself the same question. Scams DO abound, specially on the Internet, and everyone should be cautious before spending their hard-earned money. However, even a cursory examination of the information available from the CFS site would show that this could not be a scam.
If you read what we say in the FAQs above you will see that we recommend that you check out our weekly newsletters BEFORE you join to ensure that you will get value from your membership (not the actions of a scammer who is just trying to rip you off!). CFS has had a long track record, both as a free-for-all site (since 1996) and as a members-only site (since 2002). We also list many hundreds of newsletters that date from 1997 (12 months after we started). If this was a scam, and CFS was not really as old as we claim it is, then we would not have hundreds of back issues of a (non existent) newsletter to show you. You can also read about the site, its history, etc from our About CFS page. CFS was founded in 1996 by, is edited by, and is still wholly owned by the same person, Graham Pockett (through Kooronya Holdings).
No, CFS membership is NOT a scam. If it was, it would be a most illogical one!

22. What's happening? – I was billed 3 times in the one month!
We are sorry if this explanation is a little complex...
2CheckOut.com, the retailer who handles our recurring billing memberships, has recently changed the way they operate. Originally they would attempt to bill for up to 21 days and, if they could not bill the customer for whatever reason by the end of that period (sometimes the member had put a temporary stop on the regular payments, or there was insufficient funds), they would stop trying to bill. However, now they keep on trying every seven days, indefinitely.
When a CFS membership expires, it is automatically de-activated by our membership program so the member cannot access the site (the membership program deducts one day from all membership accounts for every day that passes). If we receive notification that the member's account has been paid for another period of time, we manually add the time period and, if necessary, re-activate the account.
For example, if there were 3 days left when a 1-month membership was successfully re-billed we add 31 days and change the 3 days into 34 days (giving 34 days remaining). If there was, say, -4 when a 1-month membership was successfully re-billed we would change it 31 days and re-activate the account (because it was a negative figure, the membership program would have automatically de-activated the membership when it became -1).
An account may not have been available to the member for this reason for some time, maybe even a couple of months. However, once successfully re-billed, we restart the clock from the day we received notification that it had been re-billed. If, say, two months had passed before a successful re-billing, 2CheckOut.com tries to "catch up" by billing the customer a number of times within the month based off the original payment dates – as if the customer had been receiving full membership during this period of non-billing (even though our membership program had automatically de-activated their account with us). Even though less than seven days may have passed since the last successful billing, we must add another payment period (because it has been paid for), and possibly another one within the next week! Suddenly a one-month member could have over 80 days of membership available to them because of this re-billing practice (three 31-day periods paid within two weeks).
CFS is most unhappy about this change by 2CheckOut.com and has protested to them, asking them to re-instate the old 21-day rule which, we believed, worked fairly for everybody. However, on November 21, 2006, their representative told us: "I apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced. Due to the fact that the system itself attempts to re-bill every seven days until the billing is processed. We here at 2checkout.com can not change that feature. You can have your customers allow another billing cycle to take place and then stop billing and actually re-order whenever billing is more convenient for them."
If you want your recurring billing stopped, please write directly to CFS and we will stop it within a few hours (we need your username and password to confirm you are who you say you are). If you have not received notification from both CFS and 2CheckOut.com that it has been stopped after 48 hours has passed, please write back (and ensure that the subject of your e-mail says "Stop CFS Membership" so we don't lose your mail in our spam basket).
If you do not want recurring billing, or wish to sign up for two years or longer, please use our preferred "retailer", PayPal.

Please submit any questions you would like to see answered to CFS editor, Graham Pockett.