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story category AT&T To Pay Customers $2.63 Million Over Misleading Rebates
New York Attorney General strikes agreement over 'debit cards'
(old news - 12:20PM Thursday Mar 05 2009)
tags: prices · business · wireless · consumers · AT&T · Cingular Wireless
Since 2005, AT&T has been giving customers rebate cards instead of checks during rebate promotions for wireless services. While portrayed as debit cards, the cards were not redeemable for cash, couldn't be used for cash withdrawals, and expired 120 days from the day they were issued -- with little of this actually made clear during promotions. This apparently annoyed New York's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who this week announced that as part of an agreement with the AG's office, AT&T will be paying out $2.63 million to consumers (you'll be alerted if you're impacted) and must be more transparent in rebate offers in the future.

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Forums » AT&T To Pay Customers $2.63 Million Over Misleading Rebates
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tr6scott

join:2002-03-23
Oxford, MI

So is that just for New York residents?

Seems to be from reading the link.
1 down 49 to go?

woody7
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

wheres all the Telco fanboyz saying that they are going to have to hike rates to pay for this, you know who you are
--
BlooMe

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

Good for NY. Those visa cards and their 3 month expiration dates were the worst. Hopefully CA will get on this bandwagon too.
--
AT&T U-Hearse
Your funeral. Delivered.

Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

Verizon Wireless does the same rebate scam; not good enough to rely on some people not cashing in their rebates, but they get the extra bonus of people not using the last $4.74 (or whatever) left on the card.

It's almost false advertising, and I nearly bailed on a transaction because of this nonsense, but decided that I'll simply find a way to use it all.

Steve
--
Stephen J. Friedl | Unix Wizard | Microsoft Security MVP | Orange County, California USA | my web site
sharksfan3
Premium
join:2004-02-16
Poughkeepsie, NY
·Verizon Wireless B..
·Optimum Voice
·Optimum Online
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

said by Steve See Profile :

Verizon Wireless does the same rebate scam; not good enough to rely on some people not cashing in their rebates, but they get the extra bonus of people not using the last $4.74 (or whatever) left on the card.
My entire $50 card went to pay part of my AT&T bill

It is a crappy practice though. I'd be willing to bet that AT&T receives a cut of the merchant transaction fees.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

i donated the value of my AT&T rebate card i received several years ago to the EFF. since that time, i've been able to stop using all their services.

go team.
CurGeorge8

join:2005-05-02
Pittsburgh, PA

said by Steve See Profile :

Verizon Wireless does the same rebate scam; not good enough to rely on some people not cashing in their rebates, but they get the extra bonus of people not using the last $4.74 (or whatever) left on the card.

It's almost false advertising, and I nearly bailed on a transaction because of this nonsense, but decided that I'll simply find a way to use it all.

Steve
The Verizon cards allow you to draw cash from them at your bank .....

Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

They told me explicitly that I could not do this; we'll find out when it arrives.

stevek1949
We're not in Kansas anymore

join:2002-11-13
Virginia Beach, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: So is that just for New York residents?

said by Steve See Profile :

They told me explicitly that I could not do this; we'll find out when it arrives.
The details from Verizon are as follows:

"Effective September 2, 2008, Verizon Wireless branded Prepaid VISA cards will replace Rebate Checks for all mail-in rebates, offering customers more choices to access rebate funds. Customers will have the option of spending their rebate card immediately, redeeming for cash, completing a bank transfer or requesting a paper check. Customers will also have the ability to track the status of their rebate by visiting www.verizonwireless.com/rebates or by calling Parago (800) 457-0864. Customers can check the balance of their cards by visiting www.verizonwireless.com/rebates, emailing VZWrebate@citiprepaid.com/rebates, text messaging BAL to #VZWR (8997) or by calling Citi (877) 899-8980. The rebate card may take up to 6 weeks to process."

This new rebate format will allow customers to use their rebate money immediately without a taking a trip to the bank. The drawback is that if you prefer a check you will have to put in a special request; also, Verizon has stated that they will not be responsible for rebate cards lost or stolen in the shipping process.
xirian
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Beacon, NY

said by Steve See Profile :

They told me explicitly that I could not do this; we'll find out when it arrives.
I found out when I signed up on the rebate card's website to check the balance there is an option to transfer it to a bank account on the page. Unforunately, I had already used it once, and you must do a transfer for the full funds, you can't do the transfer once you've made any purchases with it.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Wasn't there a lawsuit in California over this?

The Folsom
Kindly Shut Your Noise Hole.
Premium
join:2003-01-31
Yucaipa, CA
·Verizon FIOS

Wifeypoo and I were due two $50 cards. Never got them, called and got creditted $100.00 to our account.

We're not with AT&T any longer. Since the takeover/merger, there were just too many billing issues, so we dropped them and to VZW. Smooth sailing so far... (knock on wood)
--
I don't sleep... I wait.

Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Never gotten one

I, to this day, have never received a Verizon or AT&T rebate that I've filed, even after following up 2 and 3 times. So how about we fix that part first?

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast

Re: Never gotten one

said by Matt See Profile :

I, to this day, have never received a Verizon or AT&T rebate that I've filed, even after following up 2 and 3 times. So how about we fix that part first?
I hate when that happens. Sadly the only thing you can really do is just skip a purchase that involves a rebate.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012!

ninjatutle
Premium

join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
·Sprint Mobile Broa..

This is what it suppose to look like... The bad thing is, the rebates are not automatic. I did the ordering for my sister's DSL/Phone so my email address was used for the ordering process. A few months later I got an email saying the DSL qualified for the rebate. Took me to a website, inputted the # and then the process begun. So now I know why I never gotten a rebate before either They never sent me a reminder email for my line

So anyone ordering service, make sure you go here a few weeks after ordering start the process: »rewardcenter.att.com/

Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Re: Never gotten one

Unfortunately, that's only for AT&T landline stuff, not AT&T wireless.

ninjatutle
Premium

join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA

Re: Never gotten one

»www.att.com/wirelessrebate

Looks like this one is the wireless found under the faqs..

Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..

Re: Never gotten one

said by ninjatutle See Profile :

»www.att.com/wirelessrebate

Looks like this one is the wireless found under the faqs..
That one is just to check the status of an existing rebate. I have googled but I can't seem to find where the paperwork is for me to even file my latest AT&T wireless purchase.

I could call AT&T, but I'm not sure if $50 will be worth the time involved.
hottboiinnc
ME

join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
keep on ATT for that. My friend had the same issue in MI but with his FTTH U-Verse. (yes he has FTTH U-Verse-one of the old SBC test markets). He kept on them about and it and a year later he got the rebate check. LoL.

jadebangle
Premium
join:2007-05-22
Olathe, KS
·SureWest Internet
·AT&T Yahoo
·Comcast

said by Matt See Profile :

I, to this day, have never received a Verizon or AT&T rebate that I've filed, even after following up 2 and 3 times. So how about we fix that part first?
Thats what I dislike about att
They are scammer, conartist, thief, liar.

ninjatutle
Premium

join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
·Sprint Mobile Broa..

Re: Never gotten one

Click for full size
The elusive check does exist I found this in the po box we share.
kash

join:2005-08-13
Houston, TX

dunno

i just used mine to pay for my phone bill..worked out well since i got full usage and worked itself out as a free month dunno win win really
RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11

I've got a couple laying around that expired

Maybe it's time for a phone call referencing the NY "agreement".
--
Toolmaster of La Grange.

mbaha

join:2009-03-01

good

Good I hate AT&Ts rebate system finally someone is going to stick it to them..
--
Don't remind of the things I said or I'll be hurt

dslwanter
Why would I want DSL? I have FTTH
Premium
join:2002-12-16
Lowellville, OH
·Armstrong Zoom In..
·AT&T Midwest

They didn't work everywhere either

They didn't work everywhere "Visa was excepted" either. I tried to use it at a few restaurants, a movie theater, and some other locations but they tried to run it and just got declined. Finally I was able to use it to get a hair cut, gas, and some other odds and ends.
--
Need a DJ within 60 miles of Youngstown, OH? Check out my service: »www.thebomb102djservice.com

ThirdShifter
Premium
join:2002-03-16
Vernon Rockville, CT

2 edits

Re: They didn't work everywhere either

here in CT they already sent a notification.. mine was from 2005. Replied and got my $80 check and is cashed!

I think this was cingular fault rather than att.

ThirdShifter
Premium
join:2002-03-16
Vernon Rockville, CT

1 edit

Re: They didn't work everywhere either

dp

SteveLV702
Premium
join:2004-04-22
Henderson, NV

never received

what about the people like me who sent in the rebate form, copy of receipt, UPC from phone and then never even received the rebate?

koitsu
Premium
join:2002-07-16
Mountain View, CA

Other companies doing this too

One company who started doing this recently is Corsair Micro (the PC memory vendor/distributor). I have a VISA "debit" card sitting on my desk which contains US$20.00 from a rebate.

I'm still pretty ticked off about it. I'd rather have a cheque, for obvious reasons.
--
Making life hard for others since 1977.
I speak for myself and not my employer/affiliates of my employer.

CtrlAltDel
WORSE. THAN. CARTER.
Arbitrary Text
join:2001-12-30
Backyard

Usually

It's just the lawyers who get paid in these cases. Good to see the little guy get something.
jjeffeory

join:2002-12-04
USA

Same thing with U-Verse

I had the same thing happen with my U-Verse install in California. Maybe I should sue too?

The rebate was for $200. They gave $100 in a check and then $100 gift card. I was taken aback, as I had expect a $200 check. Hmmmmmmm....

jadebangle
Premium
join:2007-05-22
Olathe, KS
·SureWest Internet
·AT&T Yahoo
·Comcast

Re: Same thing with U-Verse

said by jjeffeory See Profile :

I had the same thing happen with my U-Verse install in California. Maybe I should sue too?

The rebate was for $200. They gave $100 in a check and then $100 gift card. I was taken aback, as I had expect a $200 check. Hmmmmmmm....
That is how they don't deliver their end of the bargain... They are hoping that you will lose 100 dollars because giftcard are worthless IMHO
ATT BLOWS
Forums » AT&T To Pay Customers $2.63 Million Over Misleading Rebates


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