Complaint Review: Inphonic - Wirefly.com - Libertywireless - Continental Promotions group

In January of 2005 I purchased a cell phone and service with Cingular through a company called wirefly.com. They advertised relentlessly everywhere in on the internet. I later found that they had probably a dozen aliases but their parent company was Inphonic, Inc.

The phone purchased came with 2 - $150 rebates. The requirements of the rebates were probably the most stringent I've ever seen. We were to send it after 180 days but before 210 days of purchase plus several strange things were to be sent with it including a phone bill with the amount of the previous bill shown paid in full. It was clearly designed to cause people to make mistakes.

I am a veteran of the rebate wars, though, and after gathering all of the data required and making multiple copies of absolutely everything I sent it certified mail with signature required. After a couple of weeks I received an e-mail indicating that they had received both e-mails but were denying both because they were illegible or incomplete.

Once again I reviewed the paperwork and became even more convinced that the documentation was complete. I was able to get in touch with the rebate company (Continental Promotions group in Scottsdale, AZ). I talked to a customer service rep that told me that I failed to provide my cellular provider. I responded that the provider was listed on the cell bill that they required. He told me that I needed to re-file the paperwork.

I told him that it would do no good to simply re-file without knowing exactly what I did wrong. I then asked to talk to his supervisor. His supervisor (name available) said that they had no idea why the rebate was rejected. He said Inphonic reviewed all rebates and simply approved or rejected them while providing them with no details. We talked over an hour (he kept putting me on hold to get more information).

It finally came out that Inphonic, Inc. originally used a rebate handler in Bear Lake MN but they couldn't handle all of the complaints they were getting and Inphonic, Inc. had to switch to Continental Promotions Group. I told the supervisor the whole thing sounded like a scam and he responded that the word scam was one of the better terms he has been hearing lately. Finally he told me I needed to re-submit the paperwork and that there was nothing else he could do for me. I re-submitted both rebates one more time. After considerable time and numerous e-mails to Inphonic, Inc. I received no further information.

Then came the fun part. I tried to contact Inphonic, Inc. by phone. The only source I could find on contacting them (they would answer no questions at the number I ordered the phone from) was the Better Business Bureau of Greater Washington DC. They listed several numbers but the only one you could reach a real person at was the Corporate Number in Washington DC.

I called the number and was told that their customer service department was located overseas and that I could call there if I wanted to. I asked if there was someone in the US that I could call. She responded that she would put me through to the Office of the President of the company. I had no choice and the voice at the end of the line was voice mail telling me that they would call back in the order received. Again no return calls.

My next step is to file a complaint with the BBB, FTC and the Attorney General of GA. I have also filed a report with ConsumerAffairs.com which I strongly encourage others with the same issue to do.

Bill
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.