Softtote- scammers?

I was running Softtote's Photo Recovery software to recover files lost on an external drive, about 80% through the recovery froze forcing me to force quit. As with all major errors like that I restarted into recovery mode only to be stopped by a firmware password lock screen. I have never set a firmware password (trust me now I will from now on), and this prompted me to have to take the Mini into the closest repair shop and is now on week 2 waiting for someone at Apple to contact them apparently as it is only an authorized repair centre.

I recently sent a 3rd support request email to the company which hasn't answered my first 2, which was returned. Seems so sketchy.

I'm wondering a) has anyone had a similar issue with this company, and b) any ideas about why a crashing app would make the system request a firmware password?

MacMini Late 2014, Mac OS Mojave.