Rebates: Apple wins, TCA sucks
by Kevin Dangoor
Rebates on computer products often suck. I waited a year to get a rebate on my Envision LCD monitor. TCA Fulfillment Services has conveniently lost not one, but two separate rebates for Computer Geeks products! TCA (who runs “wheresmyrebate.com”) has just denied a CompUSA rebate of mine, because they didn’t like the receipt I sent them. Beware, beware, beware!
On the flip side, there’s Apple. I had a far bigger rebate coming from them, and they got the check in my hands 3 weeks after I sent it in! That’s the way to process rebates.
Update 1/19/05: This posting appears to be one of my most viewed over time. For your convenience, TCA’s toll-free number is: 800-578-8883 (that way you don’t have to read through all of the comments to find that tidbit).
Yes, TCA systems is a dishonest orginizatin. They will convinetly loose your rebate so that the custmer will default on it. I have been burned by TCA systems and CompUSA on more than one occasion. This is their pattern of businesss. You are right…Customers beware of any TCA Fulfillment Services, Inc shady deals.
Jim F.
Orlando, Florida
Yeah! They’re a bunch of scammers!! They denied my rebate because “no upc” even though it was ATTACHED to the rebate form where the form said to attach it. When I called, they said I’d have to RESUBMIT, and so I sent it Certified $2.67 !! and now they’re telling me “STILL NO UPC”
I’m so pissed off because they will neither fulfill my rebate nor return the forms they say are incorrect.
The irony is that the form is printed ON the receipt AT THE REGISTER so their claim of missing information isn’t just absurd… it’s impossible.
Definitely beware of TCA Fulfillment (AKA wheresmyrebate) deceitful business practices. I’ve had two different rebates (both from a Fry’s Electronics grand opening) that I had issues with. One I did eventually receive. The other I am still in rebate limbo hell. I’ve heard all the excuses from “incomplete information you need to resubmit (FYI – keep real good copies of EVERYTHING you submit which I did. I think they bank on people not doing that so you can’t send them info and they can get away on a technicallity. I also believe they think people will “just forget about it” or not think it’s worth the time pursuing) it’s been lost, wrong address intered (their data entry fault), it’s IN the mail, it’s NOT in the mail (due to check issuing time expired), you need to wait 30 days to correct the address, it takes 8 to 10 weeks to reprocess, check takes 7 days to get (if you’ve won the lottery and you’re real lucky!), the list just gones on and on. I’ve even have the phone hung up on me by one of their so-call customer “abuse” service representatives. The one thing I have learned from all of this… I will not buy ANYTHING (no matter how great the deal is) that offers a rebate from that rebate house EVER! I, as of right now, am still waiting on my “new and approved” updated version of my $50.00 rebate that has now been “re”approved for the 5th time to be mail to my correct address (at least that is what I was being told) to get me to stop calling them every week. If any of you are still out there waiting with baited breath… let me tell you BE PERSISTENT I’ve had to do it twice and I have gotten my check eventually by way of Timbucktoo via dog sled, via boat, via china, etc… (I think you all get the picture). Keep notes on EVERYTHING from person you talked to, when you called, what they said, etc. You might just have to use the information to file a report with NY BBB. NY BBB rates them as unfavorable right now and in my opinion they need to be shut down. Also complain to the manufactures and vendors using them. I’m sure they don’t want their reputations tarnished over rebates on their products. I will never have 100% confidence in any rebate system again.
Definitely beware of TCA Fulfillment (AKA wheresmyrebate) deceitful business practices. I’ve had two different rebates (both from a Fry’s Electronics grand opening) that I had issues with. One I did eventually receive. The other I am still in rebate limbo hell. I’ve heard all the excuses from “incomplete information you need to resubmit (FYI – keep real good copies of EVERYTHING you submit which I did. I think they bank on people not doing that so you can’t send them info and they can get away on a technicallity. I also believe they think people will “just forget about it” or not think it’s worth the time pursuing) it’s been lost, wrong address intered (their data entry fault), it’s IN the mail, it’s NOT in the mail (due to check issuing time expired), you need to wait 30 days to correct the address, it takes 8 to 10 weeks to reprocess, check takes 7 days to get (if you’ve won the lottery and you’re real lucky!), the list just gones on and on. I’ve even have the phone hung up on me by one of their so-call customer “abuse” service representatives. The one thing I have learned from all of this… I will not buy ANYTHING (no matter how great the deal is) that offers a rebate from that rebate house EVER! I, as of right now, am still waiting on my “new and approved” updated version of my $50.00 rebate that has now been “re”approved for the 5th time to be mail to my correct address (at least that is what I was being told) to get me to stop calling them every week. If any of you are still out there waiting with baited breath… let me tell you BE PERSISTENT I’ve had to do it twice and I have gotten my check eventually by way of Timbucktoo via dog sled, via boat, via china, etc… (I think you all get the picture). Keep notes on EVERYTHING from person you talked to, when you called, what they said, etc. You might just have to use the information to file a report with NY BBB. NY BBB rates them as unfavorable right now and in my opinion they need to be shut down. Also complain to the manufactures and vendors using them. I’m sure they don’t want their reputations tarnished over rebates on their products. I will never have 100% confidence in any rebate system again.
TO ALL CONSUMERS SCREWED BY TCA!
Join a class action suite against TCA – file a report on http://badbusinessbureau.com/ and take action to stop TCA!
Just wanted everyone to know my “success update” from my May 10th post… I FINALLY RECEIVED my $50.00 rebate from TCA!!! It only took 10 months of frustration and multiple phone calls… and yes, the check did get immediately deposited in the bank (hope it doesn’t bounce!). I just wanted to let everyone know that persistence did pay off twice for me now in dealing with them. I still will not purchase anything with a rebate processed by them. The stress of it all was way to much for the price of the rebate. I hope the rest of you are able to receive what is owed to you too. Once again… be persistent!!!
I’m certain the check is good. A check is a contract to pay and TCA, though a pain in the butt they may be, is not going to renege on that contract.
Congrats on finally getting your check! I know how it feels! I’m sure that it seemed like too much trouble for $50, but at the same time you don’t feel like you want to let these guys off the hook.
TCA says that they can be reached by telephone, but it is a toll call and you get stuck on hold for 5 to 10 min. Then the person on the other end won’t let you say any thing and hangs up on you. This happened 5 times in a row. TCA definitly sucks big time. Stay away from anything to do with a TCA rebate and watch out for them at FRY’s Electronics. TCA also known as “Wheresmyrebate.com.
Anita, FYI – I did find an 800 listing for TCA/Wheresmyrebate to check on current rebate status, 800-578-8883. Hope this saves on your phone bill. Good luck.
I work for a company that pays TCA to handle our rebates. All rebate company’s make mistakes and should own up to them, but the majority of the time it is the customer that fill out the forms and submit the rebates. People DON”T read all of the directions. You read the parts that interest you and forget about the rest. then you get pissed off because your rebate was rejected because of a mistake you made and you fell that it is your right to complain that you were rejected because someone didn’t tell you what the rules are. READ it all before submitting.
I’m not saying that everyone here doesn’t have a legitimate grip over rebate. I only know what you’ve explained in your postings. Rebate are like merchandise to resellers such as I. We do count on an approximately a 70% redeption rate. that means that 30% of the people forget to submit, or do not submit them correctly.
TIDBIT: We pay tca a set dollar amount for every rebate that is processed whether it is approved or denied, TCA still gets paid. there is no benefit for TCA to purposely decline rebates. they are still paid by the number of submissions they process. If a rebate is approved, TCA bills the manufacturer for that dollar amount of the rebate and when TCA receives their payment for that bill, they then cut the check for the customers rebate. If a rebate doesn’t meet all the required guidelines, it is rejected and a report sent to the manufacturer as to the number of submissions received that didn’t meet the requirements. Profit for the manufacture!
I have personally submitted mutiple rebate for various reasons, and because I know of the importance of following all the requirements, I have never been rejected. I have had some rebates take longer than the advertised 6-12 weeks timeframe, but I received them.
Another TIDBIT. My office receives an average of 10 rebate requests a day in our mailbox, because the “customer” didn’t read enough to see that the rebate should have been mailed to the manufacture’s rebate precessor. the worst part of this is the correct mail to address appears right about the blank line that is intended for your name.
If your late on a credit card payment and the bank acesses finance fees, would it really be smart to say ” Hey, i wasn’t told to read my billing statement to see that fees would be charges if I was late, So I shouldn’t have to pay fees”.
The point I want to make is that everyone make mistakes and you can’t always blame your mistake on someone else.
ACR, Your defense of rebate companies is so off base. In dealing with TCA on a purchase at Fry’s in April I have found that they decline rebates that are accurately completed. I have the proof sitting on my desk. They declined me and one phone call to them and they agreed it was correct. With that they started my rebate process over like I just sent it in. Now why would they do this. These people are cheating and scamming the consummers out there and for anyone to defend this practice in anyway is absurd!!
These fools had better not try anything with my rebate… Or I’m marching down to 145 Huguenot St. Ste. 105 and taking care of the matter… personally.
Now TCA has another way to SCAM. THEY SAY THE POSTMARK date is after the due date. EVEN ASKING THEM PROOF is like making them beat you right over the phone. ONLY ANSWER Latoya has is – I DO NOT KNOW! I HAVE NO SUPERVISOR AND YOU CALL THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY FOR EVERYTHING.
THEY NEED TO BE FINED BY AUTHORITIES, SUED BY CONSUMERS AND BANNED FROM DOING ANY BUSINESS FOREVER.
BUNCH OF SCAMMERS!!!!
Add yet another victim to TCA Fulfillment Service’s list of screwed rebate customers. After 2 months with no response to my rebate submittal for a Fry’s Electronics purchase, I called TCA and after 18 minutes on hold was priveleged to speak with “Claude”, wiz zee fwench axxsent so teek as to be va-wee ard to unnerstan. I was told that my rebate submittal (that I had mailed on the afternoon of June 14) was postmarked July 8th, and thereby missed the rebate window. I politely informed “Claude” that the information he was looking at was assuredly incorrect, and could not pertain to my rebate. He claimed that he had a graphic of my envelope displayed on his monitor in front of him, and it showed a postmark of 6-8-04. He than stated that if I needed any further information I should “contact zee manufacturer”. When I asked him to tell me what the return address was on the envelope, or if it was typed or handwritten (to see if he really had any envelope or postmark to view), the SOB simply hung up on me. My end of the conversation with “Claude” had been polite and cordial, and his disgusting rudeness and lack of professionalism seems to be a trademark of TCA. I am contacting Fry’s, Bencole (manufacturer of the product I purchased) and the NY Better Business Bureau to register complaints against TCA. Check the web for current info on TCA and how best to bring their fradulent practices to a halt.
Both Paul and Violet at TCA indicated that if they made a mistake on the date on the Fry’s receipt then they couldn’t possibly know because they then immediately relieved themselves of any of the documents that had been submitted to them by the individual seeking the rebate. How incredible and how bureaucratically negligent. Maybe we ought to send these jerks to Washington DC so they can teach our Feds how to screw things up even further!!!
Don’t call them commercially AND THEN WAIT the 15~25 minutes that they seem to require. Use the toll free number (800) 390-2344.
Also, they rather conveniently don’t have a toll-free FAX number; and won’t give out an e-Mail address so that you can instantaneously attach an Adobe PDF of any disputed records. This company simply doesn’t want to know about their errors, mistakes and apparently even their reputation.
It is definitely Class Action Time
Larry R. James
I agree about action being necessary at TCA. Have not even been able to talk to them on the phone: 30 minute hold, then disconnect.
Add me to the list of people having problems with TCA, my $40 rebate is in limbo… supposedly already mailed…I’m sure this is only the begining… thanks to this site I’ve got the 800 number not the 914 where I spent 24 minutes on hold with no answer
Within the past week, I’ve gotten several denials from TCA from the “Day After Thanksgiving” sale. They claim the rebate form was postmarked five days late! There was nothing in the CompUSA circular to advise of an unreasonable amount of time to submit a rebate form, and at the bottom of each form it said that the form would expire in *six months.* In addition, it is well established under New York and the law of most states, as TCA undoubtedly knows, that late performance by one party is not a condition precedent to performance by the other unless it is so stated. It was not, prior to purchase, or even after purchase. Fraud, plain and simple. People should be contacting the New York State Attorney General en masse (Eliot Spitzer’s office) (you can download complaint forms) as well as the AG’s office in their own states, to insist that the AGs file felony criminal complaints alleging mail and wire fraud as well as state anti-consumer fraud statutes, shut this operation down, and send the operators to *jail.* Jail time is not unprecedented for fraudulent scam operators as this one is. E.g., the Four Star convictions, Maryland. A law firm that might be interested in class actions is Baron & Budd, Texas — but the transaction costs could be too high for a class action. As a lawyer practicing for 19 years, I do defendants’ work — I’ve never seen anything this blatant or bad.
I sent in a rebate for a Viewsonic 19″ monitor one time only to rcv a letter saying 17″ monitors don’t apply. I sent scans of the rebate forms and my bills to them and waited. I sent emails to Office Depots customer service center informing them of issue. They told me to take all my bills back to the store and they gave me my $85. Two months late, I get another $85 oops!.
My point is, the crooks are not only ripping off you, they are ripping off the stores and the manufacturers That’s where they get the money they are supposed to pay you. Comp-USA, Best Buy, Futureshop, Staples, Office Depot, etc. Send all your stuff and links to the stores, and they will stop using TCA NON-Fulfillment.
So, I bought a few items at Circuit City over the holidays December – January. About $800 worth of items. I sent in my rebates – JUST AS INSTRUCTED. I even went to Circuit City to have them look over the info to make sure I was doing it correctly because in all honesty and as smart as I am it was just about one of the most confusing processes ever. I got back some of my rebates but two were denied. So, I have to call TCA Fulfillment Srvices so discuss. They say I didn’t send in the proper materials. Which by the way it completely incorrect. Not only did I send everything correctly, I included a hand written letter expalining everything I had included. Lastly, I was told this was a Circuit City problem and to deal with them.
He is my issues and ones Circuit City should be aware of. 1)Consumers don’t know the difference between Circuit City and those rebate companies with whom they contract these rebate services. 2)These rebates services (TCA) in this case are putting the blame back on Circuit City anyway. Who’s going to step up here fellas?
Do so or I sure as hell will file a consumer complaint with the BBB as well as call a lawyer – doubtful I’m the only one here that seems to be getting screwed over.
I submitted a rebate form to TCA for a Netgear router I purchased at Best Buy. According to Netgear’s rebate center, they received the submission on 11/16/04. I was sent an e-mail with a tracking number on 11/17 and have checked the status numerous times since then. The status has always been “your rebate is valid and scheduled for final processing”.
About a month ago, I e-mailed them (could not find a phone number) and got an out of office reply. Thankfully, there was a fax number in the reply. I faxed them a copy of the status details page from their site and asked why I still haven’t received the check. I didn’t get a response, but finally today I noticed that the check was sent on 3/7/05. This is MUCH longer than the 8-10 weeks promised (more like 16 weeks).
Best Buy also offered a rebate on the router, and I receieved that within a couple of weeks.
While I probably will get my rebate, I’m pretty ticked off about how long it took. Also, I feel pretty confident that they would never have sent it had I not faxed them.
I purchased a Princeton LCD19D monitor from ecost.com, on 12/1/04. They first deny my rebate saying it needed to be postmarked before 12/14 and said instead it was postmarked on 12/19. One problem 12/19 is a Sunday. After a few hours of hold time over several calls, it gets approved. Because it went through an alternate pathway, I am told it will take longer to send the check. 2/28/05 I receive an email saying they sent the check. I call them on 3/31/05 saying I never received anything – they say I need to wait 60 days before I can ask for a new check – which I am sure will take 8-10 weeks to process after they receive my complaint.
TCA Are scammers indeed. I have been chasing two rebates from them for more than three months. These were for Motorola phone purchases. I went to the president of Motorola, which got some “action.” I received phone calls purporting to be from TCA and from Motorola, stating that my rebates wer\e in the mail and giving me return phone numbers to call in case they were not received. After ten days I tried BOTH numbers only to find out that both were scams – i.e., not in service or connecting to some unrelated party. Today I dropped the whole thing back onto Motorola. Stay away from anyone connected with TCA!
The Truth about Rebates
Every rebate I’ve had with TCA has been a total nightmare. I make copies of everything and ALWAYS tape the UPC to the rebate form so that they can’t claim that it wasn’t there. Many times, mail room handlers are the problem. They surely rip through envelopes at a blinding speed and I’m sure things get lost. Not my fault though!
As in the insurance industry with medical bill auditing companies, many times these big rebate houses will contractually promise a manufacturer that they can save them a certain percentage and allow them to position their products at a price point which makes:
a) The consumer think their product is superior due to the high original price.
b) The consumer perceive that they have received a “good value”.
One of the ways that they do this is to just automatically reject a certain percentage of rebate claims. This dramatically increases the savings for them because while 30% of people totally forget to mail the rebate in the first place, the percentage of people not willing to go through the hassle of contesting a denial is MUCH higher. Most folks are non-confrontational in nature and have even forgotten how much they paid for the item to befgin with (or, again, forgetting to mail it back in within the typical 15 day period). They have conveniently filed it in their “good deal” mental category which is a self-justification of sorts for spending the money. Oh yeah, don’t forget sales tax at places like Fry’s! Have you noticed the DRAMATIC increase in rebates ever since internet shopping went mainstream? This is directly linked to states and salemanship bureaus putting pressure on manufacturers to use these rebate houses in order to enjoy certain “Tax Advantages”.
The funny thing about rebates is that they can make a consumer pay close to retail price the time everything has been taken into account. This is an old marketing trick: Have a “30% off Sale!� and mark-up prices 20-25% across the board before the sale. What a deal, huh?
The whole business is out-of-control, and TCA is just a REALLY bad perpetrator. I imagine they promise manufacturers around a 40% denial rate. Note also that their rebates always seem to be over $50 on jsut about everything. The greater the amount of the rebate, the larger the potential savings for the manufacturer!
Saying that TCA has no motive to deny claims is either a very naive or a very biased statement. They promise the manufacturer a certain percentage savings in a binding contract. Most are paid a standard “audit fee” for each rebate submission they process. The fees increase when they have to handle, say, a DENIAL. The more iterations they process, the greater the fees to the manufacturer. Does everyone see the pattern now?
I’ve only had one dealing with TCA Fuilfillment Services. I received my check, but the print was so off center that the bank couldn’t see the account numbers on the bottom of the check, which meant I couldn’t deposit it or cash it. This was for a Pioneer DVD drive. This is a bad refletion on not only TCA, but Pioneer for allowing TCA Fulfillment Services to act as their agents.
Many of you have wrong information and opinions are incorrect about TCA.
1. Theory about losing rebates on purpose is rediculous. If they lose the rebate they DO NOT get paid by the manufacturer for entering it in the system. THEY MAKE MONEY ON EACH REBATE THEY RECEIVE NOT LOSE!
2. If you have filled everything out correctly and you have not received your refund it is the manufacturer who you need to be yelling at not TCA. Many companies DO NOT pay their invoices to TCA for whatever reason and therefore TCA cannot send you any money. If you do not keep copies of what you send that just futher shows how much you are READING the terms and conditions.
3. You simply need to READ the instructions. There are 3 main rules to getting money for your rebate. 1- ORIGINAL UPC. 2- COPY OF SALES RECEIPT & REBATE FORM (Two different things whether printed out at regsiter or not) 3- Send it on time. The postmark date cannot exceede the deadline. If you send it on 5-7-2005 and the deadline is 5-8-2005 don’t expect to get your rebate. You should know how long it takes for the post office to send mail.
Rebates have TERMS you simply NEED to read them. Bottom line… It is the manufacturer who sets these rules NOT TCA. TCA only enforces them and THEY DO NOT GET PAID for rejecting or losing your rebates. THEY DO NOT LOSE MONEY paying on rebates. It makes them no difference they receive money only from processing the rebate. They do not care whether a person gets there money it benefits them no less or more.
I’ve seen many people who NEVER received there rebate because of small simple mistakes. Your pissed because TCA does not let anyone slide. They can’t, if YOU screwed up and you still want your money you have to go to the “manager”. THE MANUFACTURERS! Yell, and screem at them and they will let TCA send you the money.
It is the same as talking to a supervisor instead of a regular Rep. Even a supervisor at TCA can do NOTHING for you but follow the rules. TCA simply cannot pay money to people who do not follow the rules because they will be audited by the client (manufacturer).
There for the only time when TCA will lose money is if they actually pay the people who screwed up. They will have to pay out-of-pocket when the mfr finds out.
Any rebate company for that matter. A customer who writes the things I’ve read is not a smart consumer. You all should know why manufacturers do not handle the rebates themselves. So that people like YOU will still buy there products because for some ODD reason your pissed at TCA and NOT them. As long as you hate the decoy you will continue to buy there products.. (duh….) You people feed right into it and it is working out perfectly. You report TCA to the BBB which brings TCA more business because that tells the client that TCA really knows how to take the heat for them.
IN ALL..
- You MUST READ… You MUST know who to talk to after you screw up.
- If you did EVERYTHING perfectly and still don’t have you money. YOU NOW KNOW WHO TO GO TO AND BE MAD AT..
These manufactures, Kodak, Sony, CompUSA, Frys, etc.. Has got YOU ALL right where they want you. With pitch forks, a cross, and fire, headed for TCA and not their company.. HA HA HA…
Good Luck!
I use to live and work in New Rochelle for this company and I know what I’m talking about.
I agree that you have to follow the rules to have any expectation that you’ll receive your rebate. I *know* I followed the rules and I still had trouble. I also know that (as mentioned in my original post) there are companies who do a much better job paying out rebates promptly and easily than TCA.
Even though the rebates are “manufacturer’s rebates”, TCA is the organization that I’m interfacing with. I don’t care where the money for the rebate comes from originally. I sent my materials into TCA and TCA needs to cut me a check.
And, in reading the terms of the rebate, I know that TCA is supposed to send a check in 6-8 weeks. It’s been a rare thing that a TCA rebate check would arrive within 8 weeks.
So, if it’s *not* TCA’s fault, why is it that rebates processed by other companies come through faster and with fewer hassles?
I recently purchased a Motorola Phone with TCA rebate. I mailed the rebate to TCA and they came saying that they did not find the UPC label is not enclosed. None of the numbers listed on their site or on the form works.
I have read lot of complaints about TCA, even after so many deceitful actions wonder how the organisation is still existing. Is there anyway we can lodge a complaint and stop this organisation from further cheating?
When they claim the UPC was not enclosed, it is difficult to prove otherwise. I think that’s part of the trouble.
Ultimately, as an earlier commenter pointed out, the manufacturers and the vendors are the ones who pay TCA. Best Buy knows that rebates annoy the customers, which is why they announced they’re going to drop them in the next couple of years. If people stop buying things with TCA rebates, eventually they will get phased out.
It’s like spam, though. Spam works because people keep buying. If no one bought things from spam, there would be no spam. Same goes for these rebates.
I conciously avoided TCA rebates for a long time. Recently, I tried one again. To their credit, at this point they actually sent me an email saying they were “processing” the rebate. That took a month. I just got the email saying that my rebate has been mailed…
Even if TCA is not truly at fault here, the whole process is annoying enough to make me want to avoid it. It *is* interesting to note that I’ve had more trouble with TCA than other rebate companies, and it sounds like others have as well.
Again, It is not TCA but the manufacturer. Usually mfr’s use only one rebate company. Most who choose TCA it is because TCA is the most accurate in catching rebate fraud. It is the fraud that makes it difficult. TCA handles claims manually and have real inspectors who look at every single piece of mail. Companies that choose TCA do so for this reason. Millions of dollars are lost each year due to rebate fraud. The original UPC label is a way to proove you have the product and cannot return it once you have purchased and submitted the rebate. As it always state you need to keep a copy of your material.. If you UPC label was in fact missing and you were denied you should have a copy of this as well. Only then will a copy be acceptable and only to get it all sorted out. Most people stable it all together. The only way a UPC can get lost is if the person opening the envelope some how drops it on the ground without looking. That cannot happen too often.
You may find it easier to get your rebate with other companies because they do not take the steps that TCA does to prevent fraud. Yes, it is easier for you the consumer to get your rebate and you could care less how much the manufacturer loses on fraud just as long as you receive your rebate quick and easy. Unfortunately, many companies do not have your mind frame. This is when they choose TCA to handle their business. It is possible to take a bit longer then other companies and that is because TCA is the most thorough in preventing fraud. To be sure you do not get caught up in the “Red Flags” you must be sure your material is submitted correctly. Staple everything together like most people seem to do and your UPC will not get lost.
A good example:
I submitted a rebate to another company. When I did not receive it I called in and complained 5 or 6 times. I was to receive a 1GB smart media card for the purchase of a Digital Camera. I now hold in my hand a total of 6 1GB smart media cards. One for each time I called in. I didn’t even commit fraud and still some how the company managed to goof.
Yes, it was easier to get my rebate from this other company but not at all fair for the manufacturer. TCA takes fraud prevention seriously and makes sure there is a equal balance for the MFR and Consumer so these thigns do not happen. Sometimes it may take a little longer, and a few may get wrongfully denied. But as long as you have your copies you cannot lose. It can always be settled.
Somebody made a comment which I thought was a little ignorant. The fact that you don’t care where the rebate came from all you know is you mailed TCA and that is who you are going after.
Who cuts you a check and who puts the money in the account for you are two different things. You need to speak to the people with the money NOT the people who write your name on a piece of paper with a dollar amount.
Bottom line, if you feel you are getting no where with a rebate company then call your MFR. All the rebate company is doing is following their instructions and it will not go anywhere. If you want the rules bent, or you want to override whatever excuse is being given to you, TALK TO THE MFR. It only takes one email, fax or, call to the rebate company from the manufacturer, for them to cut your check.
Here’s my dilemna with TCA –
I have tried numerous times to reach TCA Fulfillment to inquire the status of my rebate for a Motorola MD681 and MD61 which was submitted last December, 2004. I have tried using their toll free number, the 914-633-0663 number and checked the website (wheresmyrebate.com). Numerous times their telephone system has disconnected me without having connected to a customer service person. When I have been connected to a CSR, they were rude and/or basically told me to call back – the computer is down!
Since submitting the rebates, I have relocated and still have not received the rebates which I was notified on March 30, 2004 via email at that the rebates had in fact been mailed.
In mid May I was told that it has to be sixty days passed before they would reissue the checks – this would be after May 30. I called on June 7, 2005 and was informed that the checks would be reissued within 10-15 business days and sent to me at the current address . It is NOW almost 2 months – way beyond the 15 business day period and still have not received the checks. The amount of the rebates were $30 and $10 a total of $40.
I’m also tried contacting Motorola regarding this but they are just as frustrating as TCA. Does anyone know who within Motorola should be contacted? I’ve gone to their website, sent emails but all I’ve gotten is a canned response to check the wheresmyrebate.com site which is as useless as you know what on a bull!
I’m not letting this go! I just need to see if there’s another avenue to persue this through. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I put in my rebate 11/04, then received an email in january saying my “check has been mailed.” After two months of never seeing that check, I called them and got hung up on, busy signals, and dropped calls. Then I finally spoke with someone who said that the check would be re-issued and should take 2-3 weeks. 1 month later I call back and they say that no check had been re-issued and they will investigate. 2 weeks later I call back and they say they will look into it again. 2 weeks go bye and I call back (spoke w/ Simon), they say they’ve seen my calls and now will do a “follow-up.” I should call back in 4-5 days. I call back 7 days later and Simon answers again, he now says that the promotion is over and I will have to take it up with the manufacturer or retailer. I try asking him some more questions and he proceeds to just hang up on me. I HATE TCA FULFILLMENT/WHERESMYREBATE.COM !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s an update – I emailed Motorola again over the weekend and got fairly nasty – wondering why a $40 check was taking so long, etc. For them to issue a check or further action against them and TCA would be forthcoming. Today (8/3) I received a call from Motorola directly asking for additional information and then I received a call from a rebate company – TCA is no longer doing the rebates for Motorola – this new company is and they are trying to clean up the mess TCA left. They said I’d have my check in 7-10 working days and apologized for everything. We will see when I get the check!
My suggestion is to get in touch with the manufacturer. Go to the web site and see if there’s any place to send customer service comments, etc. Keep complaining – What that guy said is not true. The rebate company has to give you the money……otherwise they keep it! Don’t let that happen!!!!
8/12 – just got the rebate check. It took 7 working days from the time I spoke to Motorola and the new fulfillment company. Can’t believe I finally got it – going to the back to make sure it gets deposited….just in case.
If you’re still having problems getting your rebate – contact the manufacturer – they are the ones that hire the fulfillment companies. Keep bugging them and tell them you’ll proceed with legal action if they don’t respond within 5 days of receipt of the letter or email. Hopefully that will spark some action. Good Luck!
Office Depot Rebate Scam
On June 26, 2005 I purchased a Toshiba laptop from OD Torrance CA store in response to a newspaper ad of that morning, which promised a $250.00 mail-in rebate. I paid particular attention to complying with ALL conditions of the rebate terma as communicated by OD to me in the newspaper ad as well as the rebate slip which was handed to me with the cashier receipt. The rebate instructions included the statement: “If you have not received your rebate after 12 weeks of mailing, please visit http://www.officedepot.com/…”.
After the elapse of 12 weeks, I followed up with the rebate center. They then advised me, by email, that I am not qualified to receive the rebate (their terminology) because I have not responded within the 14 days they have now for the first time advised as their requirement, to a purported email message they now claimed they have sent to me back in July of 2005, “to verify your address”. They referenced “their internal guidelines” which would indicate this is a systematic scam and not a low level clerical error. They never claimed that my application was incomplete or late, after they found out from me that I had certified mail receipts and copies of the documents submitted.
I have made several more attempts, all inwriting, to the “Express Group” to point out that this retroactively introduced condition amounts to a deceptive practice. They never made any claim in this correspondence, that I did not follow their advertised procedures with my rebate claim, merely that I did not answer their purported communication within 14 days, back in July, when they discouraged me from following up the rebate application until late September, when the 12 weeks have expired.
Incidentally my email works fine, my email address has not changed in 5 years, my residence address shown on the rebate application has been the same for almost 40 years, the printed address sticker I used has my correct Zip and Zip+4 on it. This “verifying the address” is a scam they thought up for those rebate applicants who had all bases covered and documents to prove it.
I have written a certified, return receipt letter to Mr. Steve Odland, CEO of Office Depot Inc. at 2200 Old Germantown Road, Delray Beach, FL 33445, the main office of OD as advertised on their web site. It was returned to me signed for receipt on November 2, 2005. I attached copies of relevant documents. Mr. Odland must be busy thinking up new scams, because neither he nor any of his numerous assistants have bothered to answer or come up with any other excuses.
I have contacted the Federal Trade Commission through their web site and have provided the full details of this scam. They have accepted my complaint and advised me, that “if a company decides to offer a rebate or coupon plan, it must fully disclose the material terms and conditions of the offer and must provide the promised rebate. If a company systematically fails to do so, it may be engaging in deceptive or unfair practices in violation of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act”.
Obviously the FTC will not pursue individual small scams. But they will pursue systematic fraudsters if they receive sufficient number of complaints to indicate that a racket is going on.
Let everyone who has been ripped off by the rebate scam artists, submit well documented complaints to the FTC as well as to your State Attorney General and we will yet see these crooks sent to where they belong.
11/17/05 21:46:13
Hi all. My name is Melinda Fulmer and I’m a reporter for MSN Money. I’m doing a story on rebate headaches/scams and am looking for people to tell their tales. Did you get your check 6 months late? Did it not come at all? Who are the worst offenders? You can reach me at rebatewoes@hotmail.com.
To Carol, you basically just repeated everything I said. You need to contact the MFR etc, etc..
What I said was exactly true. TCA DOES NOT KEEP THE MONEY for giving reasons of not paying you.. This money is called “slippage” and that means funds that were never paid to the consumer because they never cashed their checks or for whatever other reasons.
There are TWO MAIN reason why companies chose TCA.
1, is because their fraud protection is like no other. It is extremely difficult to fool them and with all security comes more inconvience even when you are doing the right thing.
2, “SLIPAGE” is returned at the end of the promotion period to the manufacturer. Which no other rebate company is doing. So I will say it again, lost rebates do not make them any money. The MFR’s pay $1+ per rebate that is recorded into the system and processed. TCA only made money in this regard. Slippage is returned to the MFR. Fact before opinion always…
I’m not arguing the fact of customer service being good or bad or whether or not you are being hung up on. What I am trying to tell you people is that you are wasting time being upset and arguing with a rebate company when it is the MFR who tells them who to pay and not to pay for whatever reason. They stand behind the rebate company to keep their good name. It seems to work every time. Why do you think they use these companies to process rebates in the first place. Most of these companies can do it in-house and save a fortune. They do not to avoid being attacked by the BBB and going through civil matters. Many times it is because the MFR never paid their invoice to TCA and TCA simply does not have the money. But because of people thinking only “Kill The Rebate Company” they are attacked instead. TCA would be more than happy to tell you, “The MFR never gave us the money to pay you.” That will imediately have your focus elswhere and point you in the right direction (!!!MFR!!!). Obviously, they cannot do that and will definately lose that client company. Part of the rebate companies “job” is to “take the heat”.
After it is all said and done at the end you ultimately find out you have to get satisfaction from the manufacturer. The sad part is you could have done it 5 or 6 months ago.
If you are getting nowhere with the rebate company do not spend any more time then the rebate terms claim to allow them to process your rebate. As soon as that time is up CALL THE MFR.
The reason why people have so many problems with rebate companies is because they simply cannot follow instructions. When that isn’t the case, they keep calling and calling but talking to the wrong company.
As like the phrase, “”"I demand to speak with your supervisor!!!”"”. YOU NEED, to demand the contact information of the MFR. If you cannot get it simply go online, do some research, and get it yourself. Trust me, it will get it resolved alot faster than crying and begging to the rebate company.
–Bruce
I filed a class action against both TCA and CompUSA. Interested people can e-mail me at consumeratty@aol.com