People often wonder why Microsoft appears in the list of merchants that do business with, or have contacts with, troubled predatory lender Household International. It is because Microsoft chose to sign a contract with the troubled lender which allows customers to finance seat licensing.

Although Microsoft has the capital to fund the deals themselves, Microsoft decided to align their customers with the predator.

On December 15, 2004, Household International, a wholly owned subsidiary of banking giant HSBC, changed their name to HSBC Finance Corporation.