Columbia Telecommunications Group ripoff Still no rebate after 9 months! They keep saying it will arrive in 2 or 3 weeks. Farmingdale New York
I purchased a set of 2-way radios in June from Outpost.com and sent the required form, receipt, and UPC code in right away for the $25 rebate.
To make a long story short, everyone who ordered the radios online was originally rejected because the only receipt they received -- and sent in with the rebate request form -- was the packing slip, which the rebate center automatically disqualified.
In my case, I started calling in October and finally got throught to a human being on February 10th. This person, Lillia, then gave me the song-and-dance about being rejected because I didn't send in the receipt. When I insisted that the packing slip WAS the receipt, they agreed that they would process the rebate if I faxed a copy of the packing slip/receipt again, which I did the same day. I also called back to confirm that they received it.
I have called several times since then, and they kept telling me I would receive the rebate within two weeks. Today, March 17th, they said I would have it within three weeks.
Fearing that I would get the run-around again, I filed a complaint on March 6th with the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, and I specifically said that I specifically mentioned the word FRAUD so that the Bureau would take this seriously.
I advise anyone else who is experiencing the same problem to do the same, as the more complaints they receive, the likelier they are to expedite resolution. They will send copies of the complaints to Columbia Telecommunications and require them to respond. Since they are backed by the Attorney General's Office, they have the clout to make it happen.
The number is 800-441-2555. I'm not sure if that is just for Pennsylvania, but they should be able to help you find the correct number for your state. I found this number in the government pages of the phone book.
In the meantime, I am planning to keep on telephoning every couple of days, keep on accusing them of FRAUD, keep on telling them this delay is unacceptable, and keep insisting that they expedite my rebate. I'm not sure if it'll help, but I'm certain they will get very sick of talking to me, which, if nothing else, will make me feel better!
Martha
Allentown, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Martha
Allentown,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!!
#2Author of original report
Thu, March 25, 2004
Was it a miracle or was it the pressure? I'm voting for the pressure because I finally got my rebate check!
Here's what I did: First, I started calling Columbia Telecommunications every couple of weeks and then every couple of days, accusing them of fraud. I also called Fry's Outpost.com and got my name on a list of complainents, which Outpost.com sends to CT every week. I also filed a complaint with the State Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, which sent CT a letter, saying that they were being investigated for fraud. Then, in a moment of pure brilliance, I got the idea to grab a screenshot of the Ripoff Report Website, showing how many complaints were listed against CT, and I faxed it to them on 3/19/04. Four days later, I had my check, even though the last time I had talked to them, on 3/19/04, they told me it would be another 3 weeks til my check would go out.
My advice is to keep calling CT every week. Tell them that this kind of delay is completely unacceptable and is clearly an indication that they are guilty of fraud. File complaints here with RipoffReport.com as well as your congressperson, the Better Business Bureau, the State Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, and the retailer where you bought the walkie-talkies, and make sure you tell CT about every complaint you have filed. Bombard them with letters and faxes and phone calls. Don't give up!