Symantec Ripoff Failure to Pay Rebates Thanks to Ripoff Report Springfield Oregon
Symantec has no record of my rebate submissions. Submitted twice now they are requesting a third submission. Purchased at Best Buy, who has also refused any assistance.
What I intend to do, and my advice to the many others who have been ripped off by Symantec and the retailers, is below:
First, forget about your rebate. Its probably gone. Concentrate on getting even by causing them as much grief as they have caused you. Won't the satisfaction be worth it !!!
Second, stop your credit card payment. You may have to pay in the end, but in the meantime you can cause the retailer some discomfort. Try to return the software; they will resist taking it but you might get their attention. If you are really pissed, mail it to them at the corporate headquarters.
Third, and this is the most important step, write a calm coherent letter to the Consumer Protection Office of your state Attorney General's Office. Send copies to Symantec and the retailer who advertised the rebate and sold you the software. Remember, you are dealing with politicians here and they are usually anxious to please the voters, but be very courteous and businesslike. Send them copies of the Symantec complaint pages from this site so they will know you are not a lone complainer. Also ask that the retailer be held equally liable. I think its entirely too easy for the retailer to get off the hook when I think they should be held accountable when they advertise a rebate. My experience with the state Consumer Advocates has been very good.
Fourth, you should obviously avoid doing business with Symantec or the retailer.
Fifth, tell everyone you can.
Thanks to this web site.
Richard
Wilmington, North Carolina
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Richard
Wilmington,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Wrong Rebate !!!
#3Author of original report
Wed, December 08, 2004
No sooner had the letter above hit the desks at SYMANTEC Corporate Headquarters than I received the following email:
"Dear RICHARD JONES,
We just wanted to let you know we have received your rebate submission for 03~63192 $30 USD Mail in Rebate - Norton Internet Security.
Your rebate tracking number is: XXXXXXXXXX
To check your rebate status just click on http://symantecrebates.com/promocenter/symantec/trackdetails.html?track_number=128644235
Please be sure to keep a copy of your tracking number for future reference.
Thank you for your purchase. We look forward to serving you again."
Sincerely,
Symantec
You will be unable to reply to this email because it has been automatically generated. You have not been added to an email list. This message was sent in response to your rebate submission and will be the only email you will receive about this rebate."
Just to show you how screwed up they really are, THIS IS NOT THE $30.00 REBATE I SUBMITTED!!!!! No word yet on the other $50.00. but I plan to keep the pressure on.
Richard
Wilmington,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Letter to Symantec
#3Author of original report
Sun, November 28, 2004
November 28, 2004
Symantec Corporation World Headquarters
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
ATTN: Customer Relations
SUBJECT: Rebates Not Paid
Dear Symantec,
Does anyone at corporate headquarters really know how bad your rebate customer support has become? Does any one really care that your reputation for an efficient software producer is suffering so badly? The response or lack of any coherent response I have received from your various rebate support locations leads me to believe that Symantec's corporate decision makers are either completely out of touch, don't really care, or both.
I hope you will take the time to read the enclosed repetitious email (only the latest of a never-ending stream of automated mindless responses to my requests for assistance), and copy of FAX submitted in response to instructions from one of your customer support representatives. (No acknowledgement or response to the FAX received). I believe they are self-explanatory. And I further believe they illustrate that no one really reads requests for assistance and information; otherwise, why would they ask for the same information again and again and again when what they are asking for is already there? This, obviously, could go on forever.
As a person who has served at the executive level before retirement, I believe I can recognize a situation in which a lack of oversight and control has gotten out of hand. In that regard, I pose this question to you: What controls are in place to prevent requests for rebates from being either discarded completely (by over-worked employees) or, more likely, the submitted materials (UPC codes and receipts) being stolen and new names and rebate forms substituted (by dishonest employees)?
Just to let you know that I am not the only complainer, I hope you will take the time to refer to the 43 complaints about Symantec rebates at only one web site, address below:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=symantec&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0
Sincerely yours,
Copy to:
Best Buy Co., Inc., Corporate Headquarters, P.O. Box 9312
Minneapolis, MN 55440-9312
ATTN: Customer Relations