Is Quicken Holding My Software Hostage?

So, I’m not usually one to use my own blog to complain about customer service.

But, here’s an issue that I can’t find any other way to get an answer to.

Let me explain.

A few years ago, I purchased a copy of Quicken, which allows me to sync with my bank so that I can keep track of my accounts.

Sounds like a standard feature and one that I expected to be part of the software that I purchased, in perpetuity.

So, I was shocked to get this email a few weeks ago. The long and short: “You must pay to upgrade to the latest Quicken or we will shut off that feature that allows you to sync with your bank.”

I can keep the software and do other things, but I can’t do that really, really important thing that I bought the software to do.

Isn’t this coercion? Isn’t this like holding my software hostage until I purchase their expensive upgrade.

Will somebody who knows more than I do about this please let me know if I’m totally off my rocker here?

—————–Update——-

Here is Quicken’s response: https://qlc.intuit.com/questions/160620

 In brief: they maintain servers which allow users to access their banks.

My response: I still think this sets up a system of holding software ransom. Even if I did not believe that, I think Quicken did a terrible job explaining the “why” behind this decision, let alone being available when I tried to reach them via the website for an explanation. I should not have to go to Twitter and my blog to get an answer.