CompuServe Rebate Program

On October 13, 1999, I purchased a computer that offered a $400 rebate with CompuServe if you subscribe to their services for a three year period. Well, the information was vague and I called the 800 number to have a few questions answered. I spend 40 minutes on hold. The call was finally taken by a gentleman who was very polite and answered my questions. Yes, I can have the monthly membership fee deducted out of my checking account and Yes, I was still eligible for the rebated program even though I paid cash for my computer versus charging it. Well, I load the program, found an acceptable e-mail address and was then prompted to call the 800 number again to verify and activate the account. Well, it took a week of being put on hold off and on before I finally got through on a Sunday morning. I had still been keeping company with a digital recording for 30 minutes even at that! The gentleman who took my call informed me that I had to have a charge card to activate my service. Well, October 23rd I went ahead and wrote a long letter asking them to contact me, completed the forms for the rebate, attaching a voided copy of a checking deposit slip. I received a verfication card in the mail on the 22nd of November stating that I would receive a check in the mail in 3 - 4 weeks. I received a letter on December 4th stating that "Your CompuServe 2000 Premier account has been cancelled due to violation of CompuServe's Terms of Service Agreement." I was not eligible for a rebate. I have now written them a thank you note to them as I am sincerely thankful I did not switch Internet Services as they are obviously incompetent. If you read "How the offer works" and the "Terms of the Rebate" you will notice several discrepencies/inconsistencies. Please read the writing before you sign up with this company!