InPhonic, Younevercall.com, Cellphonerebates.com Rebate Rip-off! Don't give up! Fight Back! Internet

I bought my Blackberry last year from a online retailer called younevercall.com run by a company called InPhonic.

The phone was supposed to be $149 with $150 rebate i.e. free after rebate.

Those bastards charged me $199 on my credit card. I made gazillion calls and each time was getting the run around and denials. I was transferred to India call centers on all occasions (pissed me off so much that you can't imagine).

Finally I decided to fight back. I called Cingular, BBB and Citibank (the CC to which I charged). Cingular could do anything and refunded like $35 to keep me happy. Citibank investigated the whole thing (luckily I had handwritten notes) and they refunded me $50.

I figured the rebate should not be an issue. I've submitted many a rebates and I'm fairly diligent about them. The rebate fine print was submit rebate 180 to 210 days after the purchase. This was ridiculous! Can't submit before or after or the whole thing is invalid. I was sure that I can't do it. Really, who can remember and keep this in the foreground of their memories for 6months? But I didTurned in the rebate right smack between the time frame and kept with all photo copies etc.

I received a email a month later confirming that the rebate had been received and its being reviewed for accuracy and Please allow 8-10 weeks. Three months passed and I reminded them again and here's what they said:

Dear Consumer:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the status of your rebate. Your rebate is currently being reviewed for accuracy. Please accept our apology for the delay in fulfilling your rebate request. Please allow 2 weeks to view the updated status of your rebate on our web site.

I received an email yesterday:

Dear Kedar Patel,
We are writing to let you know that your rebate submission in the amount of $150.00 for Order 590217536 has been approved. We'll send you one more e-mail the day the check mails so you'll know exactly when to expect it.


I am not giving up just yet.

Lessons Learned:

As I said earlier, luckily I had handwritten notes with the amount I was told and name of the person and the date/time I had placed the order..very very important lesson: keep records like these even if they are so ad hoc.

Never participate in rebate offers with long payback such as 180-210 days + 8-10 weeks.

Believe in the clich: if it sounds too good to be true, its probably not.

Do some investigation on the internet before participating in rebates.

Kedar
San Jose, California
U.S.A.