Hewlett-Packard Hp Rebate ripoff Palo Alto California
I purchased an HP Pavilion Media computer/monitor and printer Dec 14, 2006. I have been trying to get my rebates since then. Last month in April,the $50. rebate finally came for my monitor. I am still trying to get my $80. rebate for my printer purchase. I was sent e-mail conformations for those rebates in February of 07. Following up on the rebates when they didn't come. stated they had been sent out.
I called hp after nothing came and they said they would send them in 4-6 weeks. I waited again. Nothing. I called again. In almost 4 more weeks I finally received the $50. rebate but nothing for the $80. rebate. I called again and they stated they cut the check and it was in the mail. Why does that last sentence make me wary? I will never buy any Hp product with a rebate again and this experience will make me stay away from Hp itself, rebate or no rebate.
I feel they must have some floating rebate account with millions of peoples money sitting in it. They must be raking in the interest while they stall returning the money for months on end. I e-mailed the CEO addy and didn't receive any response until the second time I sent mail.
The check should have been here by now so I probably have to call again and beg for my rebate. I still have the printer in its original box unopened. I want to send it back and get my entire $119.+ returned. (They do have this little clause that says they won't return your money if you have taken the information off the box for the rebate. How clever. ) I feel like they will just keep my printer and my money if I do that.
I don't know what else to do if I don't receive my rebate. Can they be reported to some state or federal agency for fraud? This whole situation makes me absolutely sour on hp. Six months trying to get your rebate back is ridiculous. Actually "sour" is too good a word for how I feel.
Thank goodness my computer had a $200. instant rebate. I will update this if possible if my rebate ever comes in. Six months is still to long and they have already ruined this repeat customer and any good recommendation I could give them.
Frustrated
Montclair, California
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
P.
Montclair,California,
U.S.A.
Hewett Packard Check BOUNCES!
#7Author of original report
Fri, July 13, 2007
I'm trying to remain calm while I type this. Would you believe the check BOUNCED!!! Now I have lost another $10.00 for bank charges. They put a stop payment on it! (#@!#$@^#@%^%#$) I called again and they claim another check is in the mail. Then they say they are returning my $10.00 for the bank charges. Let's see...Dec 06....July 07...and BEYOND. Does anyone have a phone number I can call that gets right to the top of Hewett Packard's company???? I don't care where in the world it is. Are they so bad off that now they have to rip me off for $90.00? If you have stock...SELL! SELL!
Tony
Austin,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
Rebates are NOT meant to be claimed
#7Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 09, 2007
Unfortunately, that's why company's offer "rebates" instead of just cutting the price. The facts are, a large percentage of people never bother to file for a rebate. That means money in the companies pocket.
For the select few that DO decide to fill out all the information, attach all the required forms/receipts, etc, those submissions are gone over with a fine-toothed comb for ANY technicality with which the company can deny the rebate.
Basically, the whole premise of the rebate system is for the issuer to find ANY legal, legitimate, technical, reasonable, or "other" reason to "DENY" issuing the rebate.
It doesn't take a rhodes scholar to see the logic here, otherwise, the companies would simply "lower the price" of an item by the same amount of the rebate.
P.
Montclair,California,
U.S.A.
Hewett Packard
#7Author of original report
Thu, July 05, 2007
Sorry about the double post above.... UPDATE: I finally received my rebate check. I sent several emails to this addy and received a response from a Scott. Others might try this to try and get their attention.
hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/email/hurd/index.html
He actually called me back and gave me the number of the check in the mail. Let's see. They took my money Dec. 8, 2006. They claimed they mailed the rebate Feb 13, 2007. I finally receive it July 5, 2007. They have a lot of nerve. Hewett Packard has lost my business forever. I don't care if EVERYTHING is free "with a free ginsu knife" throw in after rebates. I still have problems with my computer and what they promised it had installed wasn't. They corrected it but you have to be very astute to catch it. Not to mention they installed a free program and it didn't work. Their response?... well it was free, what's your problem? I told them I don't care if it's free, if it doesn't work don't put it in my computer and make it my problem!! I still get an error message every time I log off. I spend hours trying to understand the accent of the people that are trying to help me. It's embarrasing having to say, "Excuse me, what did you say?" over and over. I finally gave up. Stick a fork in me, I'm done! And to think I was so frustrated I was just about to jump in my car and waste the gas to drive to Palo Alto and bang on their door. NEVER AGAIN HEWETT PACKARD!
P.
Montclair,California,
U.S.A.
Hewett Packard
#7Author of original report
Wed, July 04, 2007
I have waited the additional 4 weeks for the check they say they have sent for the 4th time. I called and got a run around again. After about an hour if waiting for their call back, I was told that no one ever told me they would call me back. GAH! I found out through the grapevine that someone is cutting another so called check. Wait two more weeks. 7 months plus now. I don't know what AG means in the reply to my comment but I have all the copies of what I orginally sent for the rebates and the email they send acknowledging they were correct and my checks were on the way. Feb 13 if I remember rightly. I am getting forms for Consumer Affairs in Calif. to make a complaint about this blatant fraud by HP. I even asked to return the Photocopier since I have not removed it from the package nor marred the orginal seal in any way. I have a habit of waiting to use such things until my rebate comes back. They put me off so long they won't take a return. I should have returned it immediately after my first rebate didn't come back. ...And they say there's a year warranty but they won't take a perfectly good one back. Of course there's a good chance they would get it back and then proceed to keep ALL my money. This is fraud and I will do whatever it takes to get my money back and now I want it back with interest!!! I detest HP. I'll update. *sigh*
P.
Montclair,California,
U.S.A.
I've waited the additional 4 weeks and still nothing. I called and got a run around again. I have all the copies of what I sent, I have the email stating they received my rebate info and it was correct.
#7Author of original report
Wed, July 04, 2007
I've waited the additional 4 weeks and still nothing. I called and got a run around again. I have all the copies of what I sent. I have the email stating they received my rebate info and it was correct. Now they say they cut a new check. Wait two more weeks. I don't know what AG stands for in the reply to my complaint. I am getting complaint forms for Consumer Affairs in the state of Calif.
Yes, this is blatant fraud. It's just so frustrating to know that if they delay and delay peoples rebates like this or better yet never give them back, just think of all the intrest they are accuring on money that doesn't belong to them.
I also asked to send the photosmart back since I have never opened the box. They say it's too late to get my money back. But then, I suppose if I did that I'd lose all the rest of my money I paid. If I have to go on TV to get my money back I will. Everyone needs to know about this HP scam and never ever buy with a rebate again. I detest HP. I will update if I ever get my rebate check. *sigh*
Private
Private,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Common
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, June 16, 2007
It is common for HP to do that they did it to us as well. They tell you that they never got it report this to your states AG office as this is fraud. Hopefully you saved copies and proof of purchase