Complaint Review: Rebate status

I purchased Nero Burning Rom 5.5 through Amazon.com on 02/23/2003. Amazon offered a $10.00 rebate through www.rebatestatus.com I mailed the rebate form, UPC code, and invoice to Dept. 37241, Amazon.com Rebates, PO Box 3145, Seattle, WA 98114. My letter was postmarked before the deadline of 03/25/03.

No rebate ever arrived. I have filled out two online forms on www.rebatestaus.com and their reply has been:

"Dear Eric Hoffman,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the status of your
Amazon rebate. We did not receive your rebate
submission.

In order to assist you further, please contact our customer
service team at: www.rebatestatus.com and provide us with
the following information: ..."

Each time you fill out the requested information via their website, they auto-generate the same canned e-mail telling you to re-submit your information.

I sent team3@cs.rebatestatus.com a scanned image containing all of the "proof" materials needed for the rebate. No reply has been forthcoming.

Is it me, or is type of b*llshit rebate becoming increasingly common? I urge everyone in the same or similar situation to bite the bullet and send a similar report to www.ftc.gov under the "file a complaint" tab on the home page.

Eventually, the FTC does act.

Thank you.

Eric
Chicago, Illinois
Bhutan