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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Cingular cell phone service > April 2007 > Cingular rebate rip-off
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Cingular rebate rip-off
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| Ned Hamilton 2007-04-23, 10:33 pm |
| So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate in the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card.
Although the information on the card indicates it is a Visa debit card it doesn't really act like one--and here is where the rip-off is.
The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant is less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the letter that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than the balance left on the card, you have to first pay the merchant with cash or perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount that will leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
Forty years ago, AT&T, Southern Bell, Western Electric, etc were all well respected companies. I have had no recent experience with AT&T. But I have nothing good to say about Cingular and Bell South. They have become so driven by the marketplace that they have lost all integrity.
They seem to have a business mantra of maximizing short term profits by squeezing every last penny out of their customers even if it costs them in the long term.
| |
| John Navas 2007-04-23, 10:33 pm |
| On Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:58:02 -0400, "Ned Hamilton" <noone@nc.rr.com>
wrote in < 462d2b6e$0$16741$4c3
68faf@roadrunner.com>:
>So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate
>in the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card.
>Although the information on the card indicates it is a Visa debit
>card it doesn't really act like one--and here is where the rip-off is.
>
>The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant
>is less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the
>letter that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than
>the balance left on the card, you have to first pay the merchant with
>cash or perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount
>that will leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
>
>Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
Wow -- that's REALLY HARD!!!
>I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office
>when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few
>dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
More like, Ned is incapable of simple arithmetic, so there's one that
won't get used.
>[SNIP childish bashing]
Absolutely no ripoff.
Just a small tempest in a tiny teapot.
"Move along, folks. Nothing to see here."
--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS:
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/ Cingu...less_FA
Q>
| |
|
| I have received several of these rebate cards and have never had a problem with them. Even at Wal-Mart I tell them to take whatever is available on the card I will pay the difference with another mean (other card or cash). The computer seems to always know what is available for me. I never have to keep track of what is available. Maybe you are using the wrong merchant.
JAW
"Ned Hamilton" <noone@nc.rr.com> wrote in message news:462d2b6e$0$1674
1$4c368faf@roadrunne
r.com...
So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate in the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card.
Although the information on the card indicates it is a Visa debit card it doesn't really act like one--and here is where the rip-off is.
The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant is less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the letter that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than the balance left on the card, you have to first pay the merchant with cash or perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount that will leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
Forty years ago, AT&T, Southern Bell, Western Electric, etc were all well respected companies. I have had no recent experience with AT&T. But I have nothing good to say about Cingular and Bell South. They have become so driven by the marketplace that they have lost all integrity.
They seem to have a business mantra of maximizing short term profits by squeezing every last penny out of their customers even if it costs them in the long term.
| |
| Scott 2007-04-23, 10:33 pm |
| John Navas < spamfilter1@navasgro
up.com> wrote in
news:c2cq23lr3o9v5nv
hm2l0ub40f1u0446h19@
4ax.com:
>
> More like, Ned is incapable of simple arithmetic, so there's one that
> won't get used.
>
And what do you call your last statement? What an XXX you are.
[color=darkred]
> "Move along, folks. Nothing to see here."
>
Of course there isn't- your posts rarely contain anything worthy of note.
| |
| Boris 2007-04-23, 10:33 pm |
| "Ned Hamilton" <noone@nc.rr.com> wrote in
news:462d2b6e$0$1674
1$4c368faf@roadrunne
r.com:
> So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate in
> the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card. Although the information on
> the card indicates it is a Visa debit card it doesn't really act like
> one--and here is where the rip-off is.
>
> The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant is
> less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the letter
> that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than the balance
> left on the card, you have to first pay the merchant with cash or
> perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount that will
> leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
>
> Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
>
> I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office
> when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few
> dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
>
> Forty years ago, AT&T, Southern Bell, Western Electric, etc were all
> well respected companies. I have had no recent experience with AT&T.
> But I have nothing good to say about Cingular and Bell South. They
> have become so driven by the marketplace that they have lost all
> integrity.
>
> They seem to have a business mantra of maximizing short term profits
> by squeezing every last penny out of their customers even if it costs
> them in the long term. ------
So pay your Cingular bill with it and use the $50 saved (and not a penny
more <g> ) on whatever you want. Seems simple.
| |
|
| As an employee of BellSouth, the new AT&T, I'm sorry to see that you
have this experience. I myself am waiting for $120.00 in rebates by
the Cingular Visa Reward Card, and having to use such cards in the
past I have never encountered the problems that you describe. Ever
think it's the merchant's fault in causing you this problem?
In God's Grace,
Ric
On Apr 23, 5:58 pm, "Ned Hamilton" <n...@nc.rr.com> wrote:
> So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate in the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card.
> Although the information on the card indicates it is a Visa debit card it doesn't really act like one--and here is where the rip-off is.
>
> The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant is less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the letter that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than the balance left on the card, you have to first pay the
merchant with cash or perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount that will leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
>
> Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
>
> I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
>
> Forty years ago, AT&T, Southern Bell, Western Electric, etc were all well respected companies. I have had no recent experience with AT&T. But I have nothing good to say about Cingular and Bell South. They have become so driven by the marketplace that th
ey have lost all integrity.
>
> They seem to have a business mantra of maximizing short term profits by squeezing every last penny out of their customers even if it costs them in the long term.
| |
|
| In article <1177388747.992135.277020@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
Ric <ricgator@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=darkred]
> As an employee of BellSouth, the new AT&T, I'm sorry to see that you
> have this experience. I myself am waiting for $120.00 in rebates by
> the Cingular Visa Reward Card, and having to use such cards in the
> past I have never encountered the problems that you describe. Ever
> think it's the merchant's fault in causing you this problem?
>
> In God's Grace,
> Ric
>
> On Apr 23, 5:58 pm, "Ned Hamilton" <n...@nc.rr.com> wrote:
I agree with the OP on this one. Obviously, Cingular worked out some
sort of deal with Visa where they paid a heavily discounted price for
those cards. Your $120 rebate cost Cingular much less.
Instead of a much easier and simpler rebate check for us, we get these
debit cards that are a pain in the rear to keep track of. I also assume
that it also means that that going a dollar over (the merchant has no
idea of the balance) will get the card declined. Certainly embarrassing
if you happen to be entertaining friends at a restaurant.
--
To reply by email, remove the word "space"
| |
| karlkrandall@sbcglobal.net 2007-04-24, 12:33 pm |
| On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:04:21 -0700, Kurt <labolide@spacegmail.com>
wrote:
>In article <1177388747.992135.277020@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
> Ric <ricgator@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>I agree with the OP on this one. Obviously, Cingular worked out some
>sort of deal with Visa where they paid a heavily discounted price for
>those cards. Your $120 rebate cost Cingular much less.
>
>Instead of a much easier and simpler rebate check for us, we get these
>debit cards that are a pain in the rear to keep track of. I also assume
>that it also means that that going a dollar over (the merchant has no
>idea of the balance) will get the card declined. Certainly embarrassing
>if you happen to be entertaining friends at a restaurant.
It's worse than that if you get a card for referring someone. When my
son gave up on Sprint (near Culver City, L.A., Ca; and switched to
Cingular, wwe both got cards.
Mine was only good at a Cingular store, and not good to pay towards
my bill, as I had combined billing.
| |
| Scrubs 2007-04-25, 4:33 am |
|
< karlkrandall@sbcglob
al.net> wrote in message
news:uhbs2397r1gac0o
tsihp7pv839ihnbf63s@
4ax.com...
> On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:04:21 -0700, Kurt <labolide@spacegmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> It's worse than that if you get a card for referring someone. When my
> son gave up on Sprint (near Culver City, L.A., Ca; and switched to
> Cingular, wwe both got cards.
>
> Mine was only good at a Cingular store, and not good to pay towards
> my bill, as I had combined billing.
My son and I both got $25.00 cards when he referred me to Cingular. Mine
can only be used for Cingular merchandise, but I used it 2 days ago with no
problems at all. Special buy on the cell phone cases in-store - 2 for
$20.00 of the ones that were originally $29.99 each. Fantastic buy, so I got
two of them for my daughter, and I can use the remaining few dollars for
ring-tone card purchase if I want to.
| |
| The Reverend Natural Light 2007-04-25, 3:33 pm |
|
I tried using the card a few times and it never worked. By the time I
got around to calling them it had expired.
They were counting on me to let it expire and I supported their sales
model. Too bad for me. I'm usually pretty good about those things.
I've never missed out on a mail-in rebate.
Cingular was able to take another $50 as profit but in the end it
could cost them a customer. I have no brand loyalty.
Next time I buy a phone, any rebate will be considered worth $0 unless
it comes in the form of a check.
-rev
On Apr 23, 5:58 pm, "Ned Hamilton" <n...@nc.rr.com> wrote:
> So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate in the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card.
> Although the information on the card indicates it is a Visa debit card it doesn't really act like one--and here is where the rip-off is.
>
> The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant is less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the letter that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than the balance left on the card, you have to first pay the
merchant with cash or perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount that will leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
>
> Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
>
> I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
>
> Forty years ago, AT&T, Southern Bell, Western Electric, etc were all well respected companies. I have had no recent experience with AT&T. But I have nothing good to say about Cingular and Bell South. They have become so driven by the marketplace that th
ey have lost all integrity.
>
> They seem to have a business mantra of maximizing short term profits by squeezing every last penny out of their customers even if it costs them in the long term.
| |
|
| Well, I still have never had a problem with these cards before. When I
get my cards I'll post back my experience on using them.
In God's Grace,
Ric
On Apr 24, 11:04 am, Kurt <labol...@spacegmail.com> wrote:
> In article <1177388747.992135.277...@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
>
>
>
>
>
> Ric <ricga...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I agree with the OP on this one. Obviously, Cingular worked out some
> sort of deal with Visa where they paid a heavily discounted price for
> those cards. Your $120 rebate cost Cingular much less.
>
> Instead of a much easier and simpler rebate check for us, we get these
> debit cards that are a pain in the rear to keep track of. I also assume
> that it also means that that going a dollar over (the merchant has no
> idea of the balance) will get the card declined. Certainly embarrassing
> if you happen to be entertaining friends at a restaurant.
>
> --
> To reply by email, remove the word "space"- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
| |
|
| That does not sound like one of those Visa cards.
In God's Grace,
Ric
On Apr 24, 12:22 pm, karlkrand...@sbcglobal.net wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:04:21 -0700, Kurt <labol...@spacegmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> It's worse than that if you get a card for referring someone. When my
> son gave up on Sprint (near Culver City, L.A., Ca; and switched to
> Cingular, wwe both got cards.
>
> Mine was only good at a Cingular store, and not good to pay towards
> my bill, as I had combined billing.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
| |
|
| In article <1177547569.250250.262640@b40g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
Ric <ricgator@gmail.com> wrote:
> That does not sound like one of those Visa cards.
>
> In God's Grace,
> Ric
Musta been the faux-Visa.
[color=darkred]
>
> On Apr 24, 12:22 pm, karlkrand...@sbcglobal.net wrote:
--
To reply by email, remove the word "space"
| |
|
| I have used 3 rebate cards down to the penny! You do need to be aware of your remaining balance when you shop! I have made purchases and told the merchant to use 10.65 from the cingular card and to apply the balance to another debit card with NO problem.
It is a convenience card so you don't have to go to the bank and cash a stupid check.
"Ned Hamilton" <noone@nc.rr.com> wrote in message news:462d2b6e$0$1674
1$4c368faf@roadrunne
r.com...
So I upgraded a phone a few weeks ago and received the $50 rebate in the form of a Cingular Visa Reward card.
Although the information on the card indicates it is a Visa debit card it doesn't really act like one--and here is where the rip-off is.
The card can be used only if the amount that you owe the merchant is less than the amount on the card. Despite instructions on the letter that came with the card, if you owe the merchant more than the balance left on the card, you have to first pay the merchant with cash or perhaps another card. But you have to pay the exact amount that will leave you owing the merchant your balance on the Cingular card.
Which of course means that you have to keep track of the balance.
I can imagine the discussion in some sleezy Cingular manager's office when this was proposed: "well the customers who still have a few dollars balance will just give up on using the card.
Forty years ago, AT&T, Southern Bell, Western Electric, etc were all well respected companies. I have had no recent experience with AT&T. But I have nothing good to say about Cingular and Bell South. They have become so driven by the marketplace that they have lost all integrity.
They seem to have a business mantra of maximizing short term profits by squeezing every last penny out of their customers even if it costs them in the long term.
| |
|
| It is easy to check the balance online.
Sometimes we have to think outside of the BOX.
"The Reverend Natural Light" <reverend@fourthgen.org> wrote in message
news:1177531486.438185.107090@r3g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>
> I tried using the card a few times and it never worked. By the time I
> got around to calling them it had expired.
>
> They were counting on me to let it expire and I supported their sales
> model. Too bad for me. I'm usually pretty good about those things.
> I've never missed out on a mail-in rebate.
>
> Cingular was able to take another $50 as profit but in the end it
> could cost them a customer. I have no brand loyalty.
>
> Next time I buy a phone, any rebate will be considered worth $0 unless
> it comes in the form of a check.
>
>
> -rev
>
>
>
> On Apr 23, 5:58 pm, "Ned Hamilton" <n...@nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
| |
| The Reverend Natural Light 2007-04-27, 12:33 pm |
| On Apr 27, 11:59 am, "Ann" <some...@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> It is a convenience card so you don't have to go to the bank and cash a stupid check.
>
I'd rather drop off a convenience check at the bank so I don't have to
use a stupid card.
-rev
| |
|
| In article <1177692051.677230.275120@o40g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
The Reverend Natural Light <reverend@fourthgen.org> wrote:
> On Apr 27, 11:59 am, "Ann" <some...@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> I'd rather drop off a convenience check at the bank so I don't have to
> use a stupid card.
>
>
Yes, the notion of a "convenience" card is more line with the
Ticketmaster "convenience" charge.
Convenient for who? LOL
--
To reply by email, remove the word "space"
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