T-Mobile cellular service - My B*llshit Odyssey with T-Mobile Rebates

Author

My B*llshit Odyssey with T-Mobile Rebates

Carl Rossman

2007-03-07, 12:33 pm

I bought the T-Mobile Dash with qualifying $100 rebate. Their sales
man told me over the phone that I needed to sign up for a data plan
but could drop it after receiving the rebate. I signed for their $30/
month additional data plan to my $30/month voice plan. After 8 weeks
and no rebate I called T-mobile rebate status number and visited their
tracking site. Indications were that my rebate was rejected because my
plan didn't conform to their requirements for the rebate. But not to
fear. They said there was some mix up (BS) and somehow I had two
rebate numbers entered. They said they'd resubmit the rebate. Weeks
passed and I rechecked the status. This time there were two numbers.
On said the rebate was already paid. The other said it was denied
because my plan (still paying $60/mo. for that data plan) failed to
meet requirements. I called again. They once again appoligized and
promised to clear up their mistake and issue my rebate. About a month
passes and still no rebate. I call again and T-Mobile says they are
experiencing "systemic issues" and that my rebate is one of those
affected. I am given another tracking number. I'm on about my sixth
tracking number at this point. I'm assured this will be cleared up and
that my rebate will be issued within 6 to 8 weeks. About 3 weeks later
I check the rebate status web page. The new tracking number I was
given to clear up T-Mobile's "systemic issues" f*cking up the
processing of my rebate no says, once again, that my rebate is denied
because my plan fails to meet the requirements. I call T-Mobile's
rebate status phone number and I get a message that "due to
overwhelming response" there may be a long wait to talk to a rep. At
least I'm not alone in this. About 3 minutes pass before I hear a
click on the line as T-Mobile's phenomenal support hangs up on me.

BruceR

2007-03-07, 3:33 pm

Call their corporate offices and explain the situation. Tell them that
you are deducting $100 from future bills and that as soon as the rebate
check arrives, you will pay them the $100. Tell them that you will not
pay any late fees or interest unless they agree to pay the same to you
for the delayed rebate payment.

VERY IMPORTANT: Tell them that you have filed a complaint with your
state's Attorney General's office and the US FTC.

VERY VERY IMPORTANT: Actually file the complaints with the AG's office
and with the US Federal Trade Commission.

I went through a similar song & dance with a Netgear rebate for products
purchased at CompUSA. After getting nowhere with Netgear's contracted
processor I called CompUSA's corporate offices and, after another few
months, finally got my $40. Remember, rebates are not free - you have
to work for them!

Carl Rossman wrote:
> I bought the T-Mobile Dash with qualifying $100 rebate. Their sales
> man told me over the phone that I needed to sign up for a data plan
> but could drop it after receiving the rebate. I signed for their $30/
> month additional data plan to my $30/month voice plan. After 8 weeks
> and no rebate I called T-mobile rebate status number and visited their
> tracking site. Indications were that my rebate was rejected because my
> plan didn't conform to their requirements for the rebate. But not to
> fear. They said there was some mix up (BS) and somehow I had two
> rebate numbers entered. They said they'd resubmit the rebate. Weeks
> passed and I rechecked the status. This time there were two numbers.
> On said the rebate was already paid. The other said it was denied
> because my plan (still paying $60/mo. for that data plan) failed to
> meet requirements. I called again. They once again appoligized and
> promised to clear up their mistake and issue my rebate. About a month
> passes and still no rebate. I call again and T-Mobile says they are
> experiencing "systemic issues" and that my rebate is one of those
> affected. I am given another tracking number. I'm on about my sixth
> tracking number at this point. I'm assured this will be cleared up and
> that my rebate will be issued within 6 to 8 weeks. About 3 weeks later
> I check the rebate status web page. The new tracking number I was
> given to clear up T-Mobile's "systemic issues" f*cking up the
> processing of my rebate no says, once again, that my rebate is denied
> because my plan fails to meet the requirements. I call T-Mobile's
> rebate status phone number and I get a message that "due to
> overwhelming response" there may be a long wait to talk to a rep. At
> least I'm not alone in this. About 3 minutes pass before I hear a
> click on the line as T-Mobile's phenomenal support hangs up on me.

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