Cellularchoices.net Inphonic.rebatestatus.com Rebate SCAM: TOO MUCH TIME + MUCH EFFORT = NO REBATE White Bear Lake Minnesota
I have fallen prey to the cellularchoice.net rebate SCAM. I have sent my rebate and all the requisite documentation on 12/6/05...180 days after purchase as directed. I have tried calling 866-816-5873 to check the status on 2/12, and was referred by automated message to call another 800 number. When I called that number, it referred me to another...so on. I sent an email to the rebate site, inphonic.rebatestatus.com .
They stated "Your rebate was entered successfully on 01/26/06. Please allow 10 - 12 weeks for processing from this date."
Why it took them 30 days to "enter the rebate" and why it would take another 10 - 12 weeks to send my rebate, sounds like an evassive tactic for honoring the rebate.
Since I have found other complaints about this company on this site, I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Hopefully, they'll investigate the companies in question and prosecute them.
http://www.ftc.gov/
Quote on FTC site:
" When it comes to rebates, retailers must deliver on their promises, said Lydia Parnes, Acting Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The message to retailers is clear the FTC is on the beat and will take action if you advertise manufacturers' rebates when you know they aren't honoring their promises.
Advice: Avoid anything to do with " mail in " rebates. The retailer is hedging their bets that you'll do one of the following:
- forget about the rebate
- lose the required documentation
- throw away the box with the UPC code
- move in the proces
- get fed up waiting and write it off as a loss
- die in the process of waiting for it
Mike
Royersford, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Mike
Royersford,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Rebate Update: Received
#7Author of original report
Sun, April 09, 2006
It was a couple of weeks late...but I received the rebate.
For my next purchase , I will only consider a product that offers instant rebates ( rebates redeemed at point of sale ).
A rebate that requires that you wait 6 months BEFORE submitting the rebate, and an additional +3 months to receive it , was not worth the time and aggravation.
Mike
Royersford,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Response: Who are you kidding ?
#7Author of original report
Fri, March 24, 2006
Jennifer,
Myself, and I'm sure all consumers, are expecting their checks in 10-12 weeks after they submit their rebate. They are not
expecting that CellularChoices and InPhonic to arbitrarily pick the date of their choice to process the rebate and start the
10 -12 week clock from that time going forward.
If the extra time to process the rebates is truly due to volume,
I would strongly suggest that your companies ramp up their staffing efforts to accomadate the work load.
As for escalating this pre-maturely, my 12 weeks was up
on March 20,2006. Where's the check ?
Regards,
Mike
Mike
Royersford,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Response: Who are you kidding ?
#7Author of original report
Fri, March 24, 2006
Jennifer,
Myself, and I'm sure all consumers, are expecting their checks in 10-12 weeks after they submit their rebate. They are not
expecting that CellularChoices and InPhonic to arbitrarily pick the date of their choice to process the rebate and start the
10 -12 week clock from that time going forward.
If the extra time to process the rebates is truly due to volume,
I would strongly suggest that your companies ramp up their staffing efforts to accomadate the work load.
As for escalating this pre-maturely, my 12 weeks was up
on March 20,2006. Where's the check ?
Regards,
Mike
Mike
Royersford,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Response: Who are you kidding ?
#7Author of original report
Fri, March 24, 2006
Jennifer,
Myself, and I'm sure all consumers, are expecting their checks in 10-12 weeks after they submit their rebate. They are not
expecting that CellularChoices and InPhonic to arbitrarily pick the date of their choice to process the rebate and start the
10 -12 week clock from that time going forward.
If the extra time to process the rebates is truly due to volume,
I would strongly suggest that your companies ramp up their staffing efforts to accomadate the work load.
As for escalating this pre-maturely, my 12 weeks was up
on March 20,2006. Where's the check ?
Regards,
Mike
Mike
Royersford,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Response: Who are you kidding ?
#7Author of original report
Fri, March 24, 2006
Jennifer,
Myself, and I'm sure all consumers, are expecting their checks in 10-12 weeks after they submit their rebate. They are not
expecting that CellularChoices and InPhonic to arbitrarily pick the date of their choice to process the rebate and start the
10 -12 week clock from that time going forward.
If the extra time to process the rebates is truly due to volume,
I would strongly suggest that your companies ramp up their staffing efforts to accomadate the work load.
As for escalating this pre-maturely, my 12 weeks was up
on March 20,2006. Where's the check ?
Regards,
Mike
Doreen
Washington,District of Columbia,
U.S.A.
Processing time
#7UPDATE Employee
Thu, March 23, 2006
Dear Mike,
I work with InPhonic. CellularChoices is one of our esteemed partners, and I assure you that both companies care about your customer satisfaction. That is why we keep you informed of the processing time required, and why we send courtesy emails notifying you of the progress.
Our rebate processing does indeed take the amount of time indicated in our email to you, and is standard for approved rebates. I can assure you it's not a stalling tactic, and that escalation was unnecessary and premature.
If you have not received a confirmation after the 10-12 week period we indicated the process will take, please send me an email an I or someone in my office will personally investigate the status and ETA of your rebates.
On behalf of the management of both InPhonic and Cellular Choices, we thank you for your continued patience.
Yours,
Jennifer B.
Office of the President
InPhonic Inc
customerinquiry@inphonic.com