AT&T Rebate Debit Cards Rebate is not money, as you would expect, but a junky "debit" card that soon expires. Huber Heights Ohio

AT&T instructions say to tell retailer that this is a credit card transaction, not a debit card transaction, although the card is a debit card, and it says right on the face of the card in bold letters "this is not a credit card." Which ought to raise the eyebrows of any retailer. We didn't pay AT&T in anything other than money, and see no reason why our so-called rebate ought to be in anything other than money, which does not have any strange restrictions on its use or any expiration date.

These are not a RipOff they are just like a Debit Card you get from your bank. So yes you can use them as a Credit Card(They have the VISA Symbol). This is a very common method of issuing rebates now so not sure if switching companies would be any different. One of the reasons they go to this method is because they are hoping that people are not "smart" in using the card. So if you have a $50 balance they will hope that you will use $48.59(or some amount) and never use the remaining $1.41(or whatever). So you just got to be smarter than these stores.

I get these cards from AT&t and here is what you do. Pay your AT&T bill with the card. For example go on-line, into an actual AT&T Store, or call Customer Service and do a payment by phone. Pay part of the bill using the full amount of the Rebate card. So if you have a $90.00 bill, use the $50 card to pay on the bill. Your remaining bill would then be $40 which you can pay however you want. Since you have 3 cards if you want use another card to pay the remaining balance, just remember exactly how much you have left and pay that exact amount the next month giving that card a $0 balance. Option 2 would be to go to a store and when you purchase more than $50 worth of items use that card and tell them that you want it to be for $50. They will run that card for $50 and you again just pay the balance however you want.

I disagree. When I paid for the new phones I paid with American money, good not only anywhere in the USA, but anywhere in the world, any time, with no conditions and no expiration date. AT&T would not have accepted, for example, a third-party post-dated check, or a personal IOU, or any sort of a conditional debit card with an expiration date. There was no prior notice of any kind that the so-called rebate would come in any form other than American money, good anywhere, with no experiration date. The only place I can be fairly sure (and then only fairly sure) of getting my "rebate" full value is at a AT&T store or to pay my bill, which may not be that amount this month, or next, or until after the expiration date, when I will loose it through no fault of my own. If AT&T were honest, they would deal in money, the same as their customers do at the other end of the transaction. It was only a bargain when you consider the rebate; the rebate is done, by surprise, in some form other than money, and IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE

When I paid for the new phones I paid with American money, good not only anywhere in the country, but anywhere in the world, with no conditions and certainly no expiration date. AT&T would not have accepted my payment if it were in the form of a third-party post-dated check, or a personal IOU, or any form of a limited usage debit card with an expiration date attached to it. I had no reason to assume the rebate would be in any form other than American money. The only way I may be fairly certain (and that is only FAIRLY certain) of getting my whole rebate is by spending it with AT&T. If my bill is not enough this month, and next, to use it, it will expire and I will have lost it. I could use money anywhere else I chose to use it, any time, with no expiration date. American money has no expiration date. AT&T is absolutely dishonest about this. If I had known about it ahead of time I would not have purchased the phones. It's a rip off.

When I bought the phones I paid with American money, which is not only good anywhere in America, but anywhere in the world, and it has no strings attached, no limitations whatsoever on its usage as legal tender, and certainly no expiration date on it. I had no reason whatsoever to expect AT&T to pay me my so-called rebate in anything other than American money. If I had tried to pay AT&T with a third-party post-dated check, or with a personal I.O.U., or with some klunky limited-amount and limited-usage debit card with a short expiration date on it, AT& T would not have sold me the phones. Why would they expect a customer to accept such a thing? The only way I can even be halfway certain of getting my whole rebate amount is to spend it on some transaction(s) with AT&T, and even then I can only be FAIRLY certain of it. Why on earth would a rebate have an expiration date on it? It's a rip off.

Federal Law requires disclosures on rebates as do most states.

I bet the rebate form had this disclosure of how the rebate would be paid.

Hi,

I was just kind of reading threw all of these. It makes me smile when people say that these are 'junky rip-off fraud cards' HA! I work for the company that takes your extremely rude calls day after day. When you filled out the paperwork did you ever read the fine print? We recieved the exact same form you filled out, it's a big ol' paragraph at the end in semi small print, but of course no one takes the time to read that they just see "OH MONEY FREE MONEY YAY" no, you should know in a world these days NOTHING IS FREE! If your still banking on the fact that people are good, than honey you had a rude awakening. I'm not saying this to BE rude but it's the cold hard facts. Not to mention at&t is one of the mobile leaders FOR A REASON! If you would have taken the time to read the "fine print" also called the terms and conditions. (It was on the form you filled out...AGAIN) It would have said these are 4 month PROMOTIONAL CARDS! When the PROMOTION ENDS so does the card. Once you receive them there is an expiration date on them. Now I have such a sour attitude because people who call into us give us a sour attitude. We were hired by at&t to do this we ARE NOT at&t and when you tell us that your going to delete your service it's a threat and we honestly any rep you get won't respond to that. So go ahead and delete your service, your going to have to deal with the fee's associated with that and more than half the time you won't delete them your bluffing and we can tell and we don't care either. If you want to get your way BE NICE, I'll let you in on a little bit of "insider" info. We'll extend the card life more if your nice and let us tell you the scripts we read more than once. I won't tell you how many times, but if your nice we'll be nice in return. I'm ALWAYS willing to help a fellow man or woman out if there nice. If not, I'm basically say "Fuck you, I don't care" in a very professional way of course. I understand you may feel your getting jipped out of money but read your terms and conditions. People due this WAY to often just sign things without reading them because you'll get money. Your setting yourself up for drama with these cards if you don't. Know the limitations don't let the card sit there, IT'S MONEY! IT'S "FREE MONEY" because they normally make you spend that money and not get a rebate back. Also they are not sending out checks anymore because people STEAL THEM! you need to have your cell phone nbr in order to activate the cards. So if your going to call and bitch and complain about paper checks, make a time machine and live in the era of massive paper use. It's the 21st century paper is a waste now, plastic is the way of life get use to it.

I'm sure I'm going to get a rebuttal of someone who thinks they know the system and thinks they are getting ripped off. Don't buy the damn phone than asshole.

Hi,

I was just kind of reading threw all of these. It makes me smile when people say that these are 'junky rip-off fraud cards' HA! I work for the company that takes your extremely rude calls day after day. When you filled out the paperwork did you ever read the fine print? We recieved the exact same form you filled out, it's a big ol' paragraph at the end in semi small print, but of course no one takes the time to read that they just see "OH MONEY FREE MONEY YAY" no, you should know in a world these days NOTHING IS FREE! If your still banking on the fact that people are good, than honey you had a rude awakening. I'm not saying this to BE rude but it's the cold hard facts. Not to mention at&t is one of the mobile leaders FOR A REASON! If you would have taken the time to read the "fine print" also called the terms and conditions. (It was on the form you filled out...AGAIN) It would have said these are 4 month PROMOTIONAL CARDS! When the PROMOTION ENDS so does the card. Once you receive them there is an expiration date on them. Now I have such a sour attitude because people who call into us give us a sour attitude. We were hired by at&t to do this we ARE NOT at&t and when you tell us that your going to delete your service it's a threat and we honestly any rep you get won't respond to that.

So go ahead and delete your service, your going to have to deal with the fee's associated with that and more than half the time you won't delete them your bluffing and we can tell and we don't care either. If you want to get your way BE NICE, I'll let you in on a little bit of "insider" info. We'll extend the card life more if your nice and let us tell you the scripts we read more than once. I won't tell you how many times, but if your nice we'll be nice in return. I'm ALWAYS willing to help a fellow man or woman out if there nice. If not, I'm basically say "f off you, I don't care your rude I'm even ruder" in a very professional way of course.

I understand you may feel your getting jipped out of money but read your terms and conditions. People due this WAY to often just sign things without reading them because you'll get money. Your setting yourself up for drama with these cards if you don't. I think most people feed off of this because there lifes are so dull they find it entertaining to call a yell at a representative knowing FULL WELL the card is expired. Esspecially if they've already used the card. I can see if you just and when I mean JUST I mean within a week 2 weeks at the most recieved the card. But other than that, just don't even bother calling unless your a child. Know the limitations don't let the card sit there, IT'S MONEY! IT'S "FREE MONEY" because they normally make you spend that money and not get a rebate back.

Also they are not sending out checks anymore because people STEAL THEM! you need to have your cell phone nbr in order to activate the cards. So if your going to call and YELL (when I mean yell, use obscenitys) and complain about paper checks, make a time machine and live in the era of massive paper use. It's the 21st century paper is a waste now, plastic is the way of life get use to it.

I'm sure I'm going to get a rebuttal of someone who thinks they know the system and thinks they are getting ripped off. Don't buy the damn phone than.

Agent 5678 states that you can pay your bill with the rebate cards,he in not totally correct,you can't pay a dry loop bill with plastic. With AT&T dsl dry loop you can't pay online,you can only pay with a mailed in payment.

ATT EMPLOYEE

Ok

First of all we gave you 150 dollars on a visa debit/credit card....it can be used ANYWHERE visa is allowed. ATT has no control over where you use it how you use it or what you purchase with it. VISA has its own limts and we pass on the information on how best to use the card. Take the money shut up and spend it already. We are proud to have you as a customer but frankly its money on a visa DEBIT card ....What are you complaining about.

That way I get the full value of the card.

Hey Vic,

Hope this helps. I purchased a new blackberry and finally got my 'rebate' (late) today. I'm not a lawyer, but, as I like to joke with my friends, I have more lawyers in my family than I have fingers and toes...several times more to be more specific. Didn't go to law school because I hate BS (and about half the lawyers I've met over the years...not my family of course). I consider myself a social justice advocate and after Katrina developed an extreme distaste for corporate fraud and honed my skills and filling effective complaints. Pick your battles and fight to win!

It took almost my whole day, but they are sending me a check for my 100 dollars priority so I get it by the end of the week.

Don't piss me off! These 'rebate' cards are totally illegal. A rebate, as anyone not working for ATT could tell you is a partial refund of money from the purchase price of the product, doesn't take a genius here. Because of that, any 'debit card' in place of a real rebate is by definition fraud; its called BATE AND SWITCH. (Also, these aren't even really debit cards with all the restrictions etc...they are more like gift cards or coupon cards) It's one of the most common types of fraud committed against the public. You are told one thing and you get another. Not too complicated. The laws on this are quite old and not too complicated. They are in my eyes, fundamental to America and our sense of self and justice. I digress. So, I can speak the legal lingo in my sleep and I told representative after representative that this was illegal and they need to send me my money or else. Finally, to the last manager I spoke with I told him that if he didn't send me my money I would go to the store to work it out, and he said 'then we don't have anything else to talk about then.' I believe he's going to be in big trouble for this.

I went to the store and again, repeated my argument of fraud and that if they didn't give my my money, I was going to return the phone and there would be another problem; as they encouraged me to do, I donated my old phone to the troops in Iraq. So would have no phone. Then the manager there and I spent a good 30-40 minutes on the phone talking to reps who finally offered to credit my account 100 dollars. I refused. They did it anyways. I told the manager then, that I had no choice but to return the phone. He refused saying it was more than 30 days. I very clearly explained that the 30 day limit is legally moot because they did not fulfill the verbal contract to give me a 100 rebate and because of that they were committing fraud. I told him I was going to the court house to file a lawsuit.

I went to the court house and got all the paperwork( was beyond pissed at this point). Then I went home to collect documentation and get all the names and addresses. I had to call back the rebate service center to get this information, I was overly nice and appologized but I really needed the name of that manager that told me off. She told me they had no record of him accessing my account and that he is required to log our communication onto my account and apparently had failed to do so (this is pretty common in customer service especially if they're stateside).

This got their attention. So she practically begged me to talk to the her manager, the manager's manager to try and resolve this.

They are priority shipping me a check for 100 dollars and that A***** who told me off is probably in deep doodoo.

Here is a breakdown of what I think you need to know (or anyone in these shoes)

1) This is fraud, called bate and switch
2) they can not legally change the definition of a rebate, a rebate is a rebate
3) failure to fulfill this part of the purchase agreement means they need to refund all payments and expenses encured
4) doesn't matter that its stated on the sheet in fine print, they try to pull out this BS every time. Legally the fine print doesn't hold a drop of water (Know this and you own this) because of the 'verbal contract' from the store employee and their clearly worded advertizements clearly using the word REBATE
NEVER LET SOME DUMBASS SALES PERSON THROW "DIDN"T YOU READ THE CONTACT? or DIDN"T YOU READ WHAT YOU SIGNED?" They can write whatever they want, if its illegal, it doesn't mean SH****> They always try to scare people with this, ask a lawyer.... if you let them know you know this doesn't override the purchase agreement and doesn't mean anything in the context of fraud, they don't like it, but its true
5) tell them about me, and that the supervisor leah said it was ok to tell others that they can call and ask for the manager's manager (or something like that) to get their real rebate
6) if this doesn't work, just ask to have the full amount credited to your phone bill account (do not let them tell you that you need to pay some phone fee...this happened to my friend who I helped with this stupid rebate thing today...refuse to pay the fee, tell them you were told that its illegal to charge this fee (they won't know the difference)

GET YOUR MONEY AND DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

7) the key to my success....once you get a good representative on the phone be super nice but don't move an inch. You want the sales rep to WANT TO HELP YOU.

This is how and why I usually get my way.

It's been a long day...sorry to ramble...still really pissed off.
I even went back and told the manager at the store that I fixed it and how he can avoid this and help others in the future...we shook hands. (Clearly I didn't burn any bridges-can be helpful in the future).

PS I think I got a 100 dollar credit on my phone bill AND they are sending me my 100 dollar check. ....for my troubles I guess.

Sarah
Vallejo, CA

Well Sarah glad you got what you wanted, but I really have to say I think you went through a lot of wasted time and effort for basically nothing.

First it is disclosed that they will send the rebate back in the form of Debit Cards, it is NOT illegal nor is it Bait and Switch. You seem to think that the Rebate in the form of a Debit Card is illegal. Since you are not a lawyer but know more lawyers than you have fingers and toes. You obviously know more than the entire legal department of AT&T that probably cross-checked this a dozen times down to the last period. So please provide us with the exact section of law that states this. I would love to see what they missed and you caught.

By the way, I have gotten two of these rebates both for $50 and guess what..I used the entire $50 on both without incurring a single additional fee or loss of money. I actually found it simpler as I didn't have to go to the bank to deposit a check. But to each their own I guess, some people just love to make mountains out of mole hills.

All I have to say is, I recently received one of the rebate cards from At&t took it to Wal-mart and used it to purchase my items, no problem...sales rep rang me up, I swiped the card, had them run it as a credit, no problem! and was out the door with my items, got the full amount for what was on the card, no other fees or charges. You will notice a lot of companies are going to the Debit Cards as rebates, it is much easier, and quite honestly I prefer it.

To the people that are complaining about these being rebates.  Wow.  We complain about anything now a days huh? 

First of all let me ask the question "How is this a bate and switch"?  I can understand if the company promised to give you a $50 rebate and then gave you a $50 credit towards their merchandise.  If that were the case then I would agree it appears to be a bate and switch.  However, this is put on a Visa debit card.  The card can be used ANYWHERE that visa is accepted.  WHY would you complain about that?  Do you not spend $50 ANYWHERE in the world in any given month?  If you go to the grocery store for instance and use $50 then just use your card on those purchases and BAM you have your $50 in cash from what you would have spent.  WHAT exactly are you complaining for?  What could you possibly want to spend your money on that makes you so upset you cant use the money for that is what i wonder.  Wanted to gamble the money?? Wanted to buy drugs??  Wanted to pay a debt to a friend?  It's none of my business what you spend your money on and I don't care to know really but I'm asking so you think about it.  Do you not buy groce.  ries?  Do you not have any bills?  Do you not buy gas?  Do you not go out to eat?  Do you never shop anywhere?  I guess I can understand you being upset if you have no money and the only thing yobut honestly I think thosu spend money on is something like gambling.  Honestly those of you complaining about THIS and calling THIS a ripoff are about as spoiled and out of touch as it gets. 

Second, the TERMS and CONDITIONS tell you EXACTLY what you're getting.  When you act like irate little babies when calling costumer service, yes they typically commodate in a few situations to those who don't compromise, regardless if they're right or wrong, just to keep you as a costumer.  You think because they said "fine will give you a check" that you were the right one and they commited an illegal act?  NO!! You could have went to court and EASILY lost that case because they gave you terms that told you exactly what you were receiving.  And this is not a case of "MISUSE OF THE DEFINITION OF REBATE". 

Blah - It's enough to make one feel disgusted when you see how spoiled and uncompromising some people are.  Like they are individually SO important and anyone who doesn't do something exactly the way they believe it should be done, in turn owes them something. 

And I'm not saying let people walk all over you.  Definitely not.  But pick your battles.  Complaining because you have a card that you can use virtually anywhere cash is accepted is freaking ridiculous.  I try to fathom how someone could arrive at a point where they complain so vigorously about something so petty.  Did you complain one time when you really should have and thought "wow I got what I want" and then complained again...and again...and kept crying until you reached a point where ANYTIME someone didn't give you exactly what you wanted you thought incorrectly that you could just take them to court and they'll be forced to submit to your will? 

I'm not a representative currently.  I don't work for ATT or a similar company.  And yet it still is obvious that you're over-reacting.  Then you wonder why representatives are touchy??  Because some of you people think you're so freaking important...it's only fair that some of these reps put you in your place at times like these. 

And you'd probably rebut and say "Dont offer something you can't give" in which i'd say "Read the fine print" and you might say "If they dont give me the rebate i thought I was getting I'll just cancel" then I'd say "Then cancel!  Don't have a phone.  Keep canceling EVERY phone service that you have because of petty stuff until you finally realize 'wow, I should probably quit being such an annoying little piss ant because I don't know how to create a cell phone myself and I don't have a cell phone tower or satelite in outter space and if I want a phone I should be happy that I have that opportunity to have one."

And if you don't want to read all that....just read this..........."Grow up!! It's a rebate card that can be used ANYWHERE VISA IS ACCEPTED...you can buy anything you want with it!"

I can sympathize with all of you who have complaints about using this debit card.
I was suspicious when I first got it and from the initial review, thought it was a VISA I could only use when buying AT&T products.  I therefore laid it down for what seemed like a few weeks but it now seems like a few months when I finally examined it today and learned it expired shortly after I got it.
I've had ups and downs with AT&T services and you can just bet they are keeping more money by sending these booby-trapped cards rather than simply sending the rebate check which is easier for us to negotiate.  Now we have options to resolve this:

(1) Call AT&T rebate services and inform them you want the check instead - and no more tricks.  No matter if this trappy card has expired; partly their fault.

(2) If they say no, and you have AT&T wired services, just terminate that service and movie it to the "other" telecommunications company that uses DSL and is cheaper.
(Vonage)

We should stop letting companies take our money then dictate how they will administer the paltry incentives they offer. We aren't powerless; we have the money - and let's not allow them to ignore that.

First of all the OP is a bit mixed up. Vic

Vic Huber of Heights, Ohio said " Now, after many months, we've finally received our "rebate", but not in the expected form, which would be, of course, money"

VIC, when was the last time you received "MONEY" for a rebate? It was always a check and you had to wait till it cleared before it posted to your account. Getting the debit card means you can make purchases NOW. It is simple math. With a check you wait till it is posted, but spend the funds in your account. Plus you made a trip to the bank (Gas and Time) to deposit it. Personnaly I would take the time to stop at a florist and get flowers for my sweetheart. The results are much more pleasant that bent up anger.

I am perplexed at all the whining about this card. I was simply looking for a crack to get the cash when I came across this link. Yes I too was looking to get the cash, but I will not bend over  a dollar, to pick up a dime. I cant believe one person actually took the time to go to the store complaining and filed a action in court. LMAO.
My only guess is that the people complaining have insufficient funds and need the cash NOW!!
It is good as cash with me. I use my debit card from my bank everyday. This is no different.
OK, so the smuck is now getting a check after wasting time with all that bent up anger. Now here is the funny part, She will take the check and deposit it into her checking account. Now she has the money???? Noooooo. She will now go to walmart and use her debit card from the bank to buy beer to celebrate her success in getting her way with AT&T.

People, We live in a plastic economy. I have no doubt that every one of you payed for your purchase with a debit/credit card. That is not US Dollars in the corm of cash. If it were a check would you complain? Maybe they should have sent you CASH with no liability if it got lost in the mail.

I received 3 cards as well, read the rebate that clearly states it would be in the form of a debit card.
I will spent much more that $150 in the next month so I placed my cards in my wallet, in front of my debit card.

So in a way, this link stopped my search and I will happily go my way and use my debit card for whatever I please.

NO FRAUD HERE!!!!