Allsat Promotional Gift Ripoff Internet

I signed up for Dish Network through Allsat only because they were offering a gift of one of three things, I picked the ipod shuffle. I sent in what I believed to be the proper paperwork within the timeframe of the offer. I recently realized that I never received the paperwork to fill out to actually receive the ipod so I contacted them. The sales person told me that I had been denied the gift for sending in the wrong bill. I sent in my first months bill but evidently it did not show the package activation on it so they denied the gift offer. Here is my problem: Nobody told me that I had been denied - ever. Now that I have found out, they are telling me - sorry it is past the deadline.

I responded (all through email of course, they won't give a phone number out) that had I been informed that I sent the right bill but it was missing information I would have had it to them the next day and would have still been within the time limit. Basically they said sorry you should have checked on it yourself. I replied again that I believed that I sent in the correct paperwork and the instructions said it would take 6-8 weeks (which of course puts you way past the deadline) so why would I need to check on the status of my gift before the 6 weeks were up?? It doesn't make any sense and they are just ripping people off to get customers. Now I don't really care about the ipod but it is the principle of the situation. I would have probably chosen another company to order Dish through had it not been for the promotion. Whatever you do - don't use this company. There are so many others out there - better yet, go straight to Dish and avoid all of this headache.

Dawn
Missouri City, Texas
U.S.A.