Myob/Mamut big problem for our business

[Venture Precision]

Hi All,

We too are a small but very pleased user of three years of the superb MYOB Accounting Plus (now V18), and are, like many, jacked off with the MYOB sell out and MAMUT scare tactics. I am trialing the MAMUT software to give them a chance, and have to say I find it clumsy and less than intuitive. The lack of payroll package means that in no way can MAMUT claim their software is a natural and advantageous progression. The MAMUT support team must be fed up with MYOB customers dissing their software, but the support team are being helpful, and they do seem prepared to neogtiate on packages and prices. I suggest you don't accept what you are first offered as a price if you are considering MAMUT.

The MAMUT representative made a very carefully worded statement earlier in this thread. He didn't say they weren't in control of the licensing servers, just the terms of their agreement with MYOB means they would not be "allowed" to continue licensing installed MYOB software. If this is not the case, would the MAMUT representative please confirm in plain english who physically controls the authorisation process.

It seems to me that if there is such an agreement as part of the disposal of MYOB UK to MAMUT, then this part of it is invalid as neither party has the legal right to disable MYOB software sold to users in good faith, and to do so invites court action. (Imagine Microsoft disabling Windows XP!)

I suggest that MYOB release the relevant wording of their agreement with MAMUT to defend their position, and so it can be legally challenged if necessary. Further, if neither company want to continue supporting the validation servers, they could release a patch that users can apply to remove the validation requirement (PLEASE don't tell me that it is too expensive or can't be done easily). If no patch is forthcoming and users continue to face the threat of denial of the use of their software, then every user should feel able to sue MYOB in the UK small claims court on the basis that the contract agreement between MAMUT and MYOB is unreasonable to MYOB users in the UK, (a very powerful argument in law), and hence invalid. Any action taken by MYOB, or lack of action, that results in MYOB users being unable to use their software due to licensing issues could allow for all costs associated with transfer to a new package (within the small claims court limit) to be claimed. You don't need loads of money to do this, and even a few claims would be very, very expensive for MAMUT. Message to MAMUT: think again - quickly.

 

[Tom McClelland]

Cui Bono.

MYOB no longer cares whether or not UK users of their package can continue to run it. They have no benefit one way or another. Why should they care if Mamut were to continue to run validation servers for the UK users of MYOB?

But, Mamut, on the other hand, has a considerable interest in the ability to run MYOB being curtailed, as much of their benefit from the deal must come from transfer sales to their own product. The nature of this type of system is that you can carry on running them for years without support (assuming that they're stable and well written, and with the clear exception of the payroll module) once you've successfully implemented them. Many (most?) MYOB users would have no incentive to give Mamut a penny if their MYOB software were to keep on working into the indefinite future.

Just an uninformed opinion, not based on any specific knowledge of the agreement. I stand ready to be corrected if I've misunderstood something.

 

[Bryan Richter]

The right to use a piece of software is typically determined by the license agreement that the user is asked to accept when they install the software. The license is granted by the owner of the software intellectual property, who is not necessarily the same entity that the software is bought from. So for example, if you buy a copy of Windows from PC World, your right to use it is granted by Microsoft and not PC World.

In this particular case, it is MYOB (not their UK subsidiary) that would have granted you a license to use the software under the terms of the Software License Agreement. The activation and confirmation process for company files is part of MYOB’s licensing process and therefore owned by MYOB, although Mamut UK administers part of this process for them as their UK distributor.

If any 3rd party, including Mamut, were to run activation servers for MYOB software then this would be illegal as only MYOB can do this. So to respond to Tom’s point in the previous posting, it’s irrelevant whether this is in Mamut’s interest or not. It’s not our decision to make.

As stated previously, Mamut got involved after MYOB decided to withdraw from the UK market. I’m not sure why Mamut communicating MYOB’s timescales for stopping support of the UK version of their product is considered to be scaremongering as it is important for customers to be aware of the timetable. However, if you have any specific examples or concerns then please send me a private message or call me in Mamut’s UK office.

With regard to your comments about your initial experiences, please keep the support team busy with your questions We will only be satisfied when you are as happy with Mamut as you were with MYOB. When you get used to the different interface you will find there are some cool things that you didn’t get with MYOB and we’ve been getting some very positive feedback from other customers. We have also just won the 2009 Microsoft Global Partner Award.

We are also aware that there are some features in MYOB that users really liked and our R&D team is looking into whether we can incorporate any of them in future releases. Payroll integration is on that list. I’ve been around too long to promise anything until the R&D guys can commit specific dates, but we want to make all MYOB customers happy Mamut customers.

Hope this helps. If not, feel free to give me a call.
Bryan Richter
Mamut

 

[Tom McClelland]

If any 3rd party, including Mamut, were to run activation servers for MYOB software then this would be illegal as only MYOB can do this. So to respond to Tom’s point in the previous posting, it’s irrelevant whether this is in Mamut’s interest or not. It’s not our decision to make.

At best this comment is disingenuous, IMHO, for a whole stack of reasons. Surely you aren't suggesting that Mamut is so uncommercial that the future licence lifetime of existing MYOB software wasn't of pressing interest to Mamut at the point when the deal was being done. How could it not feature in the negotations?

But I see no great point in arguing about it as I don't have a dog in this fight, myself. Others can have the last word.

 

[Bryan Richter]

Tom

As you rightly alluded to in your previous post, customers rely on their software supplier to keep their software compliant with current legislation. Payroll was your example, VAT is another. Once MYOB made the decision to stop maintaining their UK product, the majority of their customers would at some point have to change their software to remain compliant with UK law.

Mamut can't extend the life of the MYOB products, but we have provided customers with an upgrade path and tools and training to simplify the migration process. As a result, customers can concentrate on running their business rather than spending their time evaluating what software they should be buying to replace an obsolete product.

If Venture Decision is using the payroll functionality of Accounting Plus then support for next years tax tables is a far more pressing issue than how long MYOB will support the activation process.

Bryan Richter
Mamut

 

[Venture Precision]

Many thanks to Bryan for his post above, and his rapid response. I would like to continue this discussion for now on this forum rather than PM as I feel it is of major impact to so many MYOB users, and the more informed we all are the better we can understand the way ahead. If you read the MYOB licence agreement it states:

" MYOB Technology Pty Ltd (the publisher), through its local publishers and distribution agents, hereby grants to you, the original purchaser, a paid up, personal, non-exclusive and non-transferable Licence to use the software and the User Documentation only in the region, territory or country specified on the packaging, or in the United Kingdom and Eire, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement".

No where else in the licence is there any agreement or escape for the publisher to withdraw the licence, or render the software unuseable to the buyer. Clearly the licence is issued by the Australian legal entity, through
its selling agents. Bryan, you state:

"The activation and confirmation process for company files is part of MYOB's licensing process and therefore owned by MYOB, although Mamut UK administers part of this process for them as their UK distributor."

Ok, that's fair. The activation and confirmation process for company files as described within the licence is a single validation upon software installation. Nowhere however, is there any mention in the licence agreement that this process may become a repetitive requirement and may be withdrawn unilaterally. What we are dealing with here is a commercial position arrived at between MAMUT UK and MYOB Pty. I believe that position is illegal.

The licence to use the software states it is granted through its local distributors (MYOB UK), and you bought MYOB UK, with its liabilities (I presume, please correct me if I am wrong!). You confess to now being the local UK Distributor for MYOB Pty, acting on their behalf. Hence I am sorry, if MAMUT UK do not resolve this issue with MYOB Pty, by enabling MYOB users to continue to use their software, MYOB Pty will be in breach of licence and I will seek redress through MAMUT UK as its appointed UK distributor from whom the software was purchased. MAMUT UK of course may choose to seek redress from MYOB Pty for consequential damages but that is for you to decide.

Apologies for getting so heavy with this, but I am utterly incensed that I am having to spend time and money to ensure I can continue to use an excellent product purchased in good faith from a reputable company.

Kind Regards,
David Stanton
MD, Venture Precision Engineering Ltd

 

[DuaneJackson]

As you rightly alluded to in your previous post, customers rely on their software supplier to keep their software compliant with current legislation. Payroll was your example, VAT is another. Once MYOB made the decision to stop maintaining their UK product, the majority of their customers would at some point have to change their software to remain compliant with UK law.

So if they naturally have to upgrade at some point, why force them?

If they want to use out-of-date software that they bought in good faith then surely they should be allowed that option?

I think that's the problem here. Not that support is being withdrawn for the product, but because it sounds like the products will be remotely deactivated (or remotely not activated, which amounts to the same thing)

 

[Venture Precision]

Duane's post is 100% correct. Personally I am not expecting or demanding any updates whatsoever to the installed software, I just expect to be able to carry on using it. If MAMUT could supply tax table updates (the only thing really worth paying for), that would be great, but there are excellent standalone payroll products out there, and MAMUT has to compete for that business from MYOB users if they can't or won't provide tax table updates.

As for obsolete software, double entry accounting standards haven't materially changed in decades, neither has the principal of how VAT is accounted. MYOB Accounting software is more than capable of dealing with typical budget changes. I agree with Bryan of MAMUT, eventually users may need to upgrade, but that need is a function of software compliancy to future legislation, and is NOT a function of MAMUT / MYOB marketing strategy (as they well know).

Bryan (I am not sure of your authority at MAMUT), please advise categorically if MAMUT are in discussion with MYOB Pty on this issue, and are seeking to allow revalidation,or production of a software patch that negates this need. Your answer I am sure will influence how many of us decide to embark upon legal (maybe a class) action.

David Stanton
MD, Venture Precision Engineering Ltd

 

[Tom McClelland]

If MAMUT could supply tax table updates (the only thing really worth paying for), that would be great

In all fairness that wouldn't be an option this year. NI calculation method changed completely with the introduction of the UAP and that required a lot of changes to all payroll software. Payroll requirements change significantly and fairly frequently.

But this kind of issue simply serves to highlight how static the requirements for VAT are by comparison. I know of people still using 15 year old bookkeeping software with no problems resulting from that at all.

 

[lewey]

For myob users looking for a replacement desktop option, have come acroos another accounting program that is looking very good - Moneyworks.

See http://www.cognito.co.nz

They have a UK localised version for vat etc.

Works natively on mac (a requirement for us), but is also windows compatable.

Downside is it doesn't include payroll as myob did.

Pros include cross-platform, you can download a trial, can custom make your own reports and forms as required, and a big selling point is that they will supply a free copy for your accountant if you purchase.

Personally I'd like some of the graphics on the interface to be a little nicer, but its not a major, and the features and scalability (multi user ready with reasonable priced extra licenses) look very attractive.

We're just about to start with a new accountant, an so will run it past them, but are looking to change from myob to this Moneyworks in the new year.

Don't want to have anything to do with Mamut!

 

[afishcallededdie]

I've just received an email from Mamut saying that they have some 'exciting news for MYOB Mac customers'. Evidently they are launching 2 new Mamut programs - Mamut AccountEdge and Mamut AccountEdge Plus.

I guess this is really a re-branded version of MYOB, but it does seem like they are adding some functionality eg Google Maps, new form customisation tools and other stuff.

So that looks like good news, from where I'm sitting as a small Mac-only business owner running MYOB for payroll, VAT and everything else.

Happy Christmas.

 

[BusinessWebsitePromotions]

What a mess! Nothing is perfect but why risk throwing your money away on cheap software and having to switch all your historic data, re-training staff, wasting time and money?:|

As with everything, Buy Cheap - Buy Twice.

Sage is not perfect but it is unlikely to disappear during a recession. Their products are under constant development, guided by user input.

If you feel that their products are too expensive, perhaps you don't value your own time enough, or don't charge enough for your own products.

There will always be people who moan about price but selling services or products at unsustainable prices is commercial suicide. (even for Microsoft)

As a Sage partner Onesys provide a great service and we want to work with confident, realistic, pro-active, successful businesses, small or large.

Where there is a will, there's a way.

 

[DuaneJackson]

If you feel that [Sage] products are too expensive, perhaps you don't value your own time enough, or don't charge enough for your own products.

There will always be people who moan about price but selling services or products at unsustainable prices is commercial suicide. (even for Microsoft)

I think it's exactly because people do value their time that they get annoyed with Sage. They don't want to spend time (and more money) on training courses or spending half an hour correcting things.

When I here people complain about Sage, it's not usually about price, it's about complexity.

People don't buy KashFlow and the like because it's cheaper. they buy it because it's easier.

 

[timjones]

...and if you just need something simple to create quotes, invoices, job sheets, customer letters, reports, emails etc, £99 buys you Amphis Customer CRM including web access to customer details, also available to run on a network for £199 for 5 users, free upgrades, free support.

 

[Tricky]

We have been using PC based Myob Accounting Plus now for around 5 years now and my business partner has been using the MAC based version for over 7 years !

Over the years we have upgraded now to V18, and modified forms etc to get everything exactly how we like it. We even export data into Excell and use it to help us consilidate our production.

Words don't describe how we felt when we were told that our software was time bombed and wouldn't work beyond 2011

It is bad enough that we will have to find something else to do our payroll on beyond Aprill 2010, but liveable
( HMRC do a free one for uk companies, together with a free seminar on how to use it) .

Having to sort something else out to do all our accounts on and re-write macros for Excel to modify all our data, however isn't.

We have had all the phonecalls with mam-not, installed software, used their convertor ( hopeless) spent hours on the phone with them telling us how to use it.
Quite frankly we are not impressed.

As far as I'm concerned if you need to spend hours on the phone being explained to, on how to use a bit of software, it is badly written in the first place !

There has been talk about legal action, has anyone progressed this ?

We have tried using the OZ version, downloaded a trial (V18.5) but their upgrade wizard reconises that we have a UK data file and will not work.
Their must be a way to edit our UK datafile so it will work with the OZ version ? (excluding payroll)

The GST in OZ works similar to our VAT so i'm sure it could be made to work.

I will try and play around with it a bit more and see if it will use our old forms, and try and import chunks of data rather than the whole lot.

Has anyone spoken to MYOB OZ, to see if they would mind selling it to uk customers as long as they didn't want support ?
If they say they won't sell to UK because of mam-not, i've got a freind out there who i'm sure would like to do some freight forwarding !

As anyone any idea on how hacakble is PC based V18 ?

Then we could turn off the validation system to enable us to continue to use it.
I'm sure I could find a guy in China or India that wouldn't mind having a go at it for a few ££

In my industry having to pay efectively to "rent" a bit of software is common place. but at least you know that when you sign an agreement.

Being told that a bit of software is only being validated periodically just to check you are not using a pirate copy is fine, but using that system to turn of ligitimately purchased software in order to force you to buy another package is wrong / against our original ELUA.

I like the motto " If it aint broke don't fix it "
MYOB V18 wasn't broke !
and.........
we don't wan't to fix it ! (apart from the periodic validations !)

 

[Tom McClelland]

It is bad enough that we will have to find something else to do our payroll on beyond Aprill 2010, but liveable
( HMRC do a free one for uk companies, together with a free seminar on how to use it) .

The HMRC free software is fine if (a) you have fewer than 10 employees and (b) you don't need payslips or any management reports.

 

[annem]

Hi
Pleased to find other MYOB users who feel the same way that I do about the withdrawal of MYOB from the UK market. It is a disgrace the way that customers have been treated. If MYOB was disappearing completely it would be understandable but they are still going to be North America and Australasia so why can they not support us from there?

I am so frustrated that after 11.5 years using MYOB (currently on V15) we are expected to transfer over to Mamut software. I have checked it out and found it very confusing.

I have read all of the posts and can tell you that I emailed MYOB New Zealand some time ago to see if they could keep us activated but have had no response. I see that someone has tried with MYOB Australia and been told no.

annem

I do not wish to find an alternative, but will check to see if I still have V11 as I will definitely go back to that if we do. Thanks for that info.

I have been checking out other accounting packages but have not found one that has the features of MYOB that we regularly use.

One thing we didn't do on MYOB was payroll and we use Payroll Manager from Moneysoft. It is one annual fee depending on the number of employees and is very easy to use. I can recommend that.

 

[lewey]

I'd mentioned earlier in this thread that we were looking into Moneyworks to replace our MYOB.

Details here: http://www.cognito.co.nz

Happy to report that we did go ahead with that, and boy, so glad we did. Beats MYOB hands down. Has been a bit of a learning curve, as there is with any software, and a couple of quirks, but it works a dream, and just so much better than MYOB was. Doesn't have a payroll package for those that used that function (we didn't anyway), but everything else is there, UK VAT version, and you have freedom to design all your own reports.

Am one very happy user now, and am actually keeping my accounts much more up to date as a result. May not suit everyones circumstances, but if you want desktop accounting software to replace MYOB, then recommend at least taking a look. Is mac and pc compatable, and they will give a free copy to your accountant to keep them happy too.

 

[Frustrated_User]

I feel Mamut are being more than a little sneaky in how they're wording the 'pullout' of MYOB.

I've chatted with MYOB in Australia, and have a very different picture to the innocent 'we're trying to help you' picture Mamut are trying to paint.

According to MYOB in Australia:

"Mamut acquired MYOB's UK division and acquired all of the clients that use MYOB Accounting, Retail and Payroll software.

From that point forward Mamut have took over responsibility for all existing client agreements.

Mamut is not a partner of MYOB, they purchased the MYOB UK business and are responsible for the existing agreements of all MYOB clients as at the time of the purchase of the business, and any clients in the UK that purchased MYOB software after the date of purchase."

The problem, for UK customers, according to them, is the following.
"Mamut purchased MYOB in UK but they have elected not to pay for the continuation of the activation/confirmation service. This is out of MYOB's hands you will need to contact Mamut for further options."

Mamut UK won't pay to keep existing - but not profit producing - customers.

Instead, they're going to let their software expire, and the hope that 10-15% of them will transfer over onto a pay every year policy... and it would seem, good riddance to the rest.

There are a half dozen potential solutions they could offer customers, the simplest being to show some good will and pay MYOB Australia keep the confirmation servers alive.

To blame MYOB, and claim that Mamut are doing anything but try to cheat existing customers, is really lies, plain and simple.

People who purchased MYOB Software for Mamut UK, should justifiably feel ripped off and cheated. Essentially, they want to change their business model after the fact, and are lying to customers about the reasons.

 

[oldeagleeye]

Go for Freeagent. Best on the market.

 

[Bryan Richter]

"Frustrated User", you have been misinformed on a number of points and as a result your allegations about Mamut are unfounded. It's a shame that you did not check all your facts before making such public allegations. If you would like to call me in the Mamut UK office then I will be happy to fill in some of the gaps for you. Alternatively, send me a private message through the forum and I will contact you.

Similarly, any other customer with a concern is welcome to give me a call.

Bryan Richter
Country Manager
Mamut

 

[Williams lester]

"Frustrated User", you have been misinformed on a number of points and as a result your allegations about Mamut are unfounded. It's a shame that you did not check all your facts before making such public allegations. If you would like to call me in the Mamut UK office then I will be happy to fill in some of the gaps for you. Alternatively, send me a private message through the forum and I will contact you.

Similarly, any other customer with a concern is welcome to give me a call.

Bryan Richter
Country Manager
Mamut

If you have nothing to hide, then why not answer directly on this forum for us all to see??

 

[Bryan Richter]

There a number of reasons for prefering to do this one on one with a customer or partner:

- it's a complex issue not readily explained on a forum
- the situation is different for a customer who bought their product directly from MYOB before they left the UK, or from Mamut after MYOB left
- this posting is from an anonymous user. How can I be sure that this is a legitimate customer concern or just someone wanting to stir things up?
- the agreement between MYOB and Mamut is, as you would expect, confidential. There are lots of things I would love to say publicly but can't!

Bryan

 

[Williams lester]

There a number of reasons for prefering to do this one on one with a customer or partner:

- it's a complex issue not readily explained on a forum
- the situation is different for a customer who bought their product directly from MYOB before they left the UK, or from Mamut after MYOB left
- this posting is from an anonymous user. How can I be sure that this is a legitimate customer concern or just someone wanting to stir things up?
- the agreement between MYOB and Mamut is, as you would expect, confidential. There are lots of things I would love to say publicly but can't!

Bryan

The whole thread is 7 pages long....and that is just from those users of UKBF, I am aware of many more disgruntled former MYOB users (as I would bet other accountants on here are too). I repeat, if you have nothing to hide, why not post your thoughts on a public forum?

 

[Bryan Richter]

Check back through the thread and you will see a number of posts from me previously to try to clarify the situation.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

There a number of reasons for prefering to do this one on one with a customer or partner:

- it's a complex issue not readily explained on a forum
- the situation is different for a customer who bought their product directly from MYOB before they left the UK, or from Mamut after MYOB left
- this posting is from an anonymous user. How can I be sure that this is a legitimate customer concern or just someone wanting to stir things up?
- the agreement between MYOB and Mamut is, as you would expect, confidential. There are lots of things I would love to say publicly but can't!

Bryan

Sounds like a few excuses could be forthcoming out of all of that lot

End of day - I hope you can make your disgruntled customers happy

 

[Williams lester]

Check back through the thread and you will see a number of posts from me previously to try to clarify the situation.

Having re-read the full thread, I remember the 'input' you had into it. I don't think you have addressed the concerns of many of those posting in the thread or explained the situation to the satisfaction of anyone.

Thankfully I have no clients who still use either MYOB or Mamut software, and would certainly point anyone expressing an interest in your software to this thread for them to read first before making a decision.

 

[Del Thorogood]

Hi folks, I new to this forum and perhaps should not be part of it as I now live in Ireland. However, I have been an MYOB user (both Mac & PC) for the last 15 years and have been extremely happy with the products. When moving to Ireland I became a MYOB Professional Partner as I was setting up my own business in book-keeping/accountancy with a specific emphasis on the client group of artists, musicians & crafts people - the idea being to help creative people to take more control of their own (limited) financial resources - help them to set up their own system etc. MYOB was the perfect software for this task. I was somewhat concerned when I heard that Mamut were going to discontinue MYOB products - as a Professional Partner of MYOB UK I was offered the seamless (???) transition to Mamut software. It was also time to renew my Professional Partner status, which I did. I received my copy of Mamut accounting software. As the new Mamut software was only available in a PC version I had to borrow a PC in order to try out the software. I found it to be completely unlike the MYOB interface and not at all user friendly - considering my client base, this was an absolute pre-requisit and it certainly did not fit the bill at. I was offered on-line training in the new version but I thought that I (as well as my clients)should be able to use the software without any training - so I haven't and will not avail of this service. Having re-newed my Professional Partner status (I know it's called something different now) with Mamut - I was told the new Mac version was available. Whooppee!! I downloaded the trial version and found that is was basically the MYOB product as I had grown to love over many years. Why the difference between Mac & PC ?????. I was then informed that my Professional Partner status only covered the PC version and that I would have to take out another 'contract' to have this status for the Mac. Not at all fair - one annual fee for MYOB accounting products - two annual fees for Mamut Accounting products. I do not think this fair and feel that Mamut (corporately) have been slightly 'economic with the truth' about the future of the accounting software. Having read through some of the comments about MYOB/Mamut I am in complete agreement that something should be done about the on-line (automatic) file/company verification process. Once software has been purchased it should not be made inaccessible by shutting down this verification process. I will not be recommending any of my clients to upgrade to Mamut software on the PC - instead I will be recommending them to buy Mac's so that the familiar interface will confront them if they wish to upgrade.

 

[Bryan Richter]

There is an important difference between the MYOB Mac and PC products. The PC product (including the UK version) is developed and maintained by MYOB Australia. The Mac product, AccountEdge, is developed by Acclivity in the US who are a really smart bunch of guys who really understand the Mac platform. Even though MYOB didn't want to continue in the UK, they didn't have exclusivity on the Mac version, so Mamut were able to partner with Acclivity to develop a UK version and offer that as an upgrade path to the users of the MYOB version. But that took some time before we were in a position to announce this. And before we are accused of being less than truthful again, our press release and all our marketing materials are upfront about Mamut AccountEdge not being developed by Mamut but instead being the UK version of the Acclivity product.

But clearly we didn't have that option with the PC as that is developoed by MYOB themselves. It may be convenient to assume that Mamut selectively chose to discontinue the MYOB PC product in favour of our own, while continuing with the Mac version. But that is not the case.

 

[Del Thorogood]

Thanks for the information about the difference between the Mac and PC versions - I was not aware of this and hadn't picked this up from any press release nor have I seen any marketing material to this effect. There are still the issues about (my)clients who are PC users and potentially do not wish to upgrade to Mamut software - they will still be left with a product which has been genuinely purchased and will be rendered useless when the confirmation/verification process is switched off, and the issue about two contracts for both PC & Mac versions was never explained to me when I initially renewed my 'Partner Accountant' status.

 

[Bryan Richter]

Del, I'll get someone to look into the partner program issue. The Mac partner program is very new as we only launched the product in March. It may just simply be that when you joined the Mamut program the Mac partner option didn't exist.

Bryan

 

[glawrie]

Interesting discussion.

Had someone from Mamut on phone today trying out the 'nothing to do with us that the MYOB system is closing down... we're just passengers and you have to complain to MYOB in Australia... we are offering an alternative way to carry on using your software and you should be grateful - we're not obliged to do this and only doing it to be nice'.

Then they told me how much they wanted 'to be nice'!!!

We've had MYOB for years, but not been very good at updating. Currently we have Version 15. Does anyone know if V15 requires this online validation to work? We're not aware that we've ever had to do this - but perhaps it is buried away in some hidden routine...

Fingers crossed our version pre-dates the introduction of the online system, and so we can carry on using it ...

Would the chap from Mamut be able to offer up this information for example?

 

[Brightpearl]

Well well. I know that Mamut are struggling to bring users over from MYOB. Have a word with our Partners "Beacon for Business" - who can give you a qualified take on how Pearl compares to Mamut; they do both.

www.beaconforbusiness.co.uk

Chris

 

[Bryan Richter]

The Activiation and Confirmation process was introduced by MYOB in Version 13. That applies to both PC and Mac versions.

Bryan

 

[Frustrated_User]

Bryan:

If I have been mis-informed, it has been by Mamut via the phone, and MYOB Australia via email, as they are the only two people I have talked to.

I did contact you by email, directly, but was simply called back by one of your sales people 'on your behalf'. (My name is Barry, if you'd like to look back through your emails)

I am a genuine customer, who is incredibly frustrated by what he feels is simple but shortsighted greed on Mamut's part, as I, as well as many people here, had intended to upgrade at some time in the future, but feel I am being forced into doing so, which I'm not happy about.

My problem with the current list of reasons, has only been increased since using your latest product, which is being maintained/written, by the folks in Aclivity.

My current software 'phones home', to activation.myob.com ... or some such URL, which, understandably Mamut doesn't own/maintain, and can't really help if MYOB Australia turns it off. (Unless, as MYOB maintain, they are turning it off because Mamut won't pay for it)

HOWEVER, the NEW software does exactly the same thing, except to a new server, which is maintained by Aclivity.

So, it seems to me, with Aclivity in the picture, there are 4 very simple, and easy ways to let current users keep using their paid for software.

1. Have Aclivity rebuild the various versions with either no activiation, or with them pointing to the new aclivity servers.

2. Allow users to re-direct their computers to the Mamut/Aclivity controlled activation servers with a simple computer configuration change. (pointing activation.myob.com to the new servers on the Mac's hosts file is an obvious solution)

3. Release a small patch to turn off/amend activation packages.

4. Allow users to still activate by phone after the deadline. Given that new users will still have this facility, and there will be staff manning phones to offer the service, simply allow existing customers to phone for their activation codes once a year doesn't seem like a huge figure. Given the effort versus the goodwill this would seem like the most obvious solution.

 

[Bryan Richter]

Thanks for identifying yourself [removed by mod - discloses anonymity]. Assuming that I have found the right customer contact details I will give you a call. If not, then another customer called [removed by mod - discloses anonymity] is going to be surprised by a call from me

By the way, the software developed by Acclivity does not have the same activation and confirmation process as MYOB, but I can explain that when we speak.

Bryan

 

[adh2020]

I very much would like MYOB to work post 2011. Ideally a patch needs to be issued to turn of the validation so users who have no desire to change package can still use the software they bought (not rented). Customers like me and all the others in this forum who would like to continue using what they have paid for. We don't want any further support, we don't want to switch package we just want to continue with what we have. Is that such an unreasonable request? Business & profit aside Mamut can you not see how we might be dis-gruntled with the current deal?

Let's make it happen please.

Thanks

Long time MYOB user with NO desire to change.

 

[MYOB_USER]

I would pitch in a grand to the class action fund. Sage is complicated compared with MYOB, there appears to be at least 2 more stages involved with making a sale.

Is anyone taking legal action ?... if so, I would be interested in joining.
I am a MYOB Accounting Plus V14 (Windows) user & do not require the payroll functionality, nor do I require tech. support.

I am perfectly happy with the MYOB software & think it is crazy that the datafile reconfirmation process will be terminated on 31 December 2011 !

 

[Shand]

Just been reading through this thread and I can't see that there's much chance of Mamut satisfactorily dealing with the problems they are creating for MYOB users. Even if they allowed us to continue to use MYOB with no authentication required the chances are that at some point MYOB will not work with a Mac system upgrade. Our only solution will be to stay with an old Mac system just so that MYOB will work.

Someone recommended the New Zealand software MoneyWorks and I'm just working through the tutorial. I've not been through it all but it looks and feels really simple to use. Reading through their website they are very obviously targeting MYOB users and make some fairly derogatory remarks about the MYOB software which warmed my heart.

I look after 6 Ltd companies but they are all very small service companies with no employees and no products so I don't need anything sophisticated so I can comment on those areas in MoneyWorks. There are no annual support fees, you only pay for genuine upgrades and you can use the software to look after as many different companies as you like (With MYOB you have to pay above 5 companies). There is even a converter so you can bring in your MYOB content.

Of course part of me thinks that that might change once enough people are ensnared or god forbid Mamut buys them out!

Perhaps some of you might check it out, there might be obvious flaws that I would miss as I'm not an accountant.

 

[adh2020]

Mamut software is so good I just received in the post a reminder to pay for a support invoice from a year ago which was paid a year ago by a card payment over the phone and which has been reconciled against our bank statement. This doesn't inspire me to change to Mamut software.

I'm fairly sure I'm going to move over to MoneyWorks, it looks like a good replacement although I've not downloaded the demo yet. I know you need the Gold version if you want to create custom reports (plain paper invoices with logos for example).