My free Travel grocery rebate visa card Claim Your Visa Cards Have followed program requirements to a "T" - have not received Visa Gift Cards - now company may be out of business Joliet, Illinois
In July 2009, we were moving in order to downsize, due to job loss and the economy. A moving company mailed us a postcard that said, if we used them for our move, we would recieve "Free $300 in VISA GIFT CARDS". Well, after they moved us and we paid them, it took me more than a half dozen phone calls, several weeks time, and, ultimately, driving to their office, to finally get my certificate. As I stood there and began to look over the program instructions, one fact soon became painfully obvious to me about My Free Travel. This was a company that was trying to severely limit the number of redemptions by specifying such a load of onerous, burdensome, and time-consuming requirements that most people would probably toss the certificate rather than spend their spare time trying to read, understand, and follow all of the terms and conditions involved. I, however, although definitely feeling frustrated and a bit overwhelmed, was determined to follow each and every rule to a "t" in order to get the free Visa Gift Cards that I had been promised as part of my moving deal. So, I sent in my registration and "processing fee" on September 17, 2009. On October 20, 2009, I mailed in my October Rebate Redemption Coupon, along with over $100 in Walmart grocery receipts. I did the same thing on November 17, 2009, for the month of November. I have received nothing. On November 23, 2009, I received an email from My Free Travel concerning my rebate status. The email tried to paint My Free Travel as a benevolent concern that had taken upon itself the burden of fulfilling rebates from a failed company that just couldn't handle it. The email went on to say that the huge response to the rebate program was something that (they) " could not have anticipated", and that they were now overwhelmed with the process. The email went on to describe three options for receiving a reward. The first was continuing with the program "as is" with the understanding that gift cards would be "significantly delayed" in getting to the program participants. In fact, their best guess as to a time frame was twelve to sixteen weeks - and this was just their "hope", not a guarantee! The second and third options were silly coupon books for merchandise and travel, which would be entirely useless to me. I followed the instructions on the email and returned my selection of Option #1 for the gift cards, along with a letter detailing my feelings about the program and the company "running" it. I, of course, received no response, and have not received any further communication of any sort from My Free Travel. Today, December 15, 2009, I was preparing to send in my coupon and receipts for December when I decided to attempt to get a program update. First, I went to the grocery rebate status website and the page displays the following message:
"Sorry - Site Under Construction. Please try back later."
I began to get a very uneasy feeling. Next, I tried their phone number (815-741-3900). I got a recording that says:
"Thank you for calling My Free Travel. We are currently closed for the holidays, and we look forward to speaking with you very soon."
Now, wait a minute..."closed for the holidays" on December 15th? And no mention of the date I might expect them to be answering their phone again? Now I am definitely gettin' a stinkin' sinkin' feelin' that this company has packed it in and left town. I thought, OK, I'll search the internet and see what I can find. Well, I found the Ripoff Report, which cataloged numerous complaints concerning My Free Travel, in all of its various forms and entities. Other websites carried similar complaints. I decided to register and tell of my ordeal. Hopefully, what I have shared will be of some use to someone who reads it - or at least some small bit of comfort to my fellow victims, knowing that you are not alone in your plight (misery loves company, right?) If anyone knows about any recourse that is available to those of us left holding the proverbial bag, I would love to hear about it - thanks!
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Ellen
Hamilton,Montana,
United States of America
Hoping your company who provided the incentive steps up, mine did not
#5General Comment
Thu, January 14, 2010
I also got Decembers receipts return in the mail as undeliverable. I think there is no hope in any of seeing anything in return.
I did file a complaint with them to the Illinois attorney general and a complaint about the hot tub cover seller to the California attorney general. They did not make the cover, that company I have no problem with. I called the manufacturer and told them there seller STILL had the incentive to use them by the free grocery rebate on their homepage but I will call again and speak to a supervisor.
I know all of this was totally illegal but I have to wonder if anything will come of this because of the relatively small amount of money involved...BUT, multiply that by the thousands of $10 checks they cashed and I would say they made off quite nicely if no one ever goes after them.
Carla
Waterloo,Illinois,
United States of America
We had the same experience here
#5General Comment
Wed, January 13, 2010
My husband and I had the same experience with a furniture company. We bought $1200 in furniture in Dec. 08, with the promotion of getting $500 in groceries back. We thought what the heck, its worth a try and we religiously sent in our receipts for 6 months and got nothing in return. Then that rebate company went backrupt, and the furniture company did come through with My Free Travel grocery rebates. So as of Aug. 1, 2009, we have still been sending in our receipts every month, plus paid the $10 fee to get started which we were promised we would get back with the first $25 gift card, which we have not yet received.
We also got our December one back stating no such address and return to sender. I did try to call and get a status update around mid December and received a recording stating they were closed for the holidays. To which I proceeded to go to their website, according to the certificate we registered with said we could get status updates, and it also said "under construction".
I have since called the home office of the furniture company and they gave me the name and phone number of a person that is handling these claims/complaints but have yet to receive a return call. You can bet I am going to keep calling till I can talk to a "live" person.
This is so rediculous and annoying. One claims to be out of business and the original store that did the promotion claims it is out of their hands. Bad business if you ask me, and I really do love their furniture but you can bet if they don't do something about it I will not go to that store again and I will let everyone I know what happened and to not shop there.
sue
brea,California,
United States of America
How to get your money/rebate
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 09, 2010
We were ripped off twice by this scam. This is the second company our merchant tried to use. Basically it's a pyramid scheme where the rebate company collects fees from other services (look at their long list) and uses that money to issue 25.00 rebate cards, but obviously, the rebate requests far outnumbered the fees.
What we did: First we filed a dispute with our credit card company for the ENTIRE amount. We bought an expensive TV and were promised 1500.00 in groceries. $1000.00 was offered by the TV manufacturer and 500.00 by the furniture company. We immediately called both and said we would not release the charge until we received some sort of compensation. The TV manufacturer apologized and mailed us a 500.00 check which was acceptable.
Then we continued to refuse to release the charge until the furniture company made up for the 500.00 they promised. They made an effort to find another company (My free travel) and upped the rebate to 600.00. To both our shock and dismay, this company also went belly up.
The furniture company apologized and gave us 300.00 in furniture vouchers. It's not cash, but better than nothing. I then released the charge except for an amount of 200.00 for my grief. Therefore of the 1500.00 promised we received 1000.00 in other compensation.
This wasn't that hard to do and both companies were blindsighted by these offers. I am sure they were sold a good pitch and fell for it. Just call the head office of each business you dealt with, including the Credit card companies to get resolution. If you paid in cash, I don't think you will receive any compensation. This is why you always pay for big ticket items on a credit card, (including airline tickets) and pay it off later so you have leverage should a dispute arise.
We DO still expect to receive our 25.00 rebate plus 9.95 fee for Sept,Oct and Nov.
Ellen
Hamilton,Montana,
United States of America
Same exact situation here
#5Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 08, 2010
I agree with you 100%, I also followed it to a "T" determined to get by the ridiculous rules and hoops you had to jump through. On another site (and there are plenty) someone said there were 31 rules! All I got was my $9.95 cancelled check for the privilege of being ripped off by this and the company that promised it if I ordered from them.
You asked if there was any recourse, well the other site also suggested that if enough people filed a complaint with the Illinois attorney general, that maybe a class action suit would happen.
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
The forms are very easy to download.
I have read 100 things people have written and they are all bad. No one is going to see that money or the $10 it cost to join but I would consider this mail fraud if nothing else so I may take it all to the post office.
Good Luck to you, I hope we all find some kind of redemption. After I saw how many others were in the same boat I felt like I had found some sort of support group. :)