Paying for a hotfix?

[The_KiD]

I have a problem with a specific piece of HP software.

I searched for help on the web with regards to my error, but the only thing I found mentioned a hotfix.

Further searching for the hotfix has yielded no results however I was told I should contact HP for a copy of the hotfix.

The software is out of warranty and HP want to charge me £330 (minimum) and up to £2,000 for support.

However why should I have to pay to fix a "KNOWN" issue in THEIR software?

The hotfix is already made and in use by other people so why do I have to pay?

Is this right? is there anything I can do avoid this extortionate fee?

 

[stoofa]

If the software is produced by HP then legally there is really nothing you can do about it.
You can vote with your feet which is probably what I would do - unless this is a major piece of software I'm assuming that the £330 could go a long way to finding a replacement piece of software that doesn't have this issue.

Many companies offer maintenance for their software for this reason - you pay a nominal fee each year and you get access to all of the hotfixes and service packs free.
Legally I can't think what you can do except appeal to their better judgement.