Help! Rebate check was cashed by someone else

[lazycat]

Please help me. My rebate check from RebateHQ was issued on Feb 4. Since I didn't receive it, I called rebate center todya. They told me my check was cashed on Feb 21. I was told they can do nothing except giving me the check number. I called twice, two CSR told me exactly the same thing: check my own bank. Since it was cashed by someone else, how did they know the check was cashed at my own bank?

Help!

Sorry, if I posted to the wrong forum

 

[imported_Mike]

yes...wrong forum. most major banks require id to cash a check.

 

[iwearnosox]

I would take anything a rebate place says with a grain of salt. They're notorious for being unethical and uninformed.

 

[DrPizza]

Wrong forum, but my bank photocopies every check that goes through... I would be able to request a photocopy of any check that I cashed or deposited or wrote. In fact, my bank has that information available to me online and sends me sheets with the photocopies with my statement. If it were my bank, I'd know if it was a lie or not.

However, how did they know you cashed it at *YOUR* bank? I don't recall having to list the bank I do business with on any of the rebate forms. Listen to someone telling a lie.... they feel the need to make up extra details to make it more believeable.

There's a difference:
"our records show that the check was cashed" : could be the truth, or could be a lie...

"our records show that the check was cashed at your bank on Feb 21" : attention to details, but the details give it away as a lie because they couldn't have known what your bank is. The details are added in to make the story more believeable and that you have little recourse.

Now, if they mentioned the name of the bank, and it was your bank, that would make it more believeable.

But, if the check allegedly came in the mail, someone either stole the mail or opened mail not addressed to themselves... either way, felony. Request a copy of the cancelled check from the CSR as clearly it's needed as evidence for the police. Plus, get their name and tell them that someone from their company may be supoenaed to testify (especially if they lost or destroyed the evidence), perhaps even that CSR.

Then, tell them to double check their records to make sure the check was actually mailed. You don't want to go ahead with a criminal investigation if it's just the rebate center's mistake

 

[RossMAN]

I would suggest posting this in the correct rebate tracking thread.

Call RebateHQ again get ALL the details (check number, amount, date issued, date cashed, CSR's name and their mailing address for customer correspondence or e-mail address). Send them a very detailed snail mail letter or e-mail basically stating you submitted a rebate, they sent a check, you never received the check, check was supposedly cashed by someone else ask that they provide a photocopy of the front and back of the cashed check ... this is between you and RebateHQ, best of luck!

 

[Branded]

I had the same problem. Rebateshq cannot help, and they cannot tell you who to call, but if you call Staples (assuming that it is from them) they will help you. They can get a copy of the cancelled check. In my case, an accountant from my company had deposited the check into the company account because the company name was on the check (I had it sent to my office as I was doing multiple rebates). The check was just a postcard type. The accounting office reimbursed me after I complained.

 

[OrlandoTiger]

After going thru something similar,Id bet that your rebate check was never issued.Its up to you to give them proof so you can get what you are owed.

 

[manly]

In most cases, the check number is listed at http://www.rebateshq.com.

If the rebate amount was small, I would just write it off. Otherwise, you can try to deal with Parago, Inc. and perhaps the bank that cashed the check. Positive I.D. is required, so some teller possibly made a mistake (in all likelihood, it was probably cashed at a check cashing place). It's partly Parago's damn fault for using rebate check postcards rather than sealed envelopes.

And the CSRs don't know much; I think you're mistaken to think calling your own bank is going to be fruitful. IF Parago sent the check to the wrong address, they will cut you another.

As an aside, remember to submit Parago rebate claims at the web site; since many people can't write clearly and this almost certainly improves the chances of getting paid in a timely manner.

 

[lazycat]

Thank you all for your reply!!!

In my case, the rebate amount is more than $150!!!

About the address, I double checked it. Several days ago, I called rebate center. At that time I knew my check was issued on Feb 4, 2003. Since I didn't receive it, I asked the representative to check my address. Because I had such problem with OfficeMax. The representative told me the address is correct. Then I decide to wait. But today there's another story.

Still don't know what to do!

 

[alchemist]

the rebate center is lying. and in reality its their obligation to repay their debt to you. Even if someone else cashed it...the bank that cashed it is the one liable because they obviously didnt have ID. Good luck, its going to be a trip.

 

[Carnivore99]

This is the problem with rebate centers sending checks on postcards. Obviously they do it as a way to save themselve money on postage costs, since it's cheaper to mail a postcard than an envelope. But it's a glaring security issue and these rebate center cheapskates should be held accountable when someone takes advantage of it.

Of course the rebate centers hide behind weak excuses, like the person cashing the check is supposed to have ID, so they'll claim it's not their fault. But the fact is, if you're going to send something in the mail that announces to anyone who may look at it that it's worth money (in this case, over $150), you'd be a fool not to realize it's at a much greater risk of being stolen.

 

[daveshel]

I for one am glad to see this on the "wrong" forum: I think this is squarely where it belongs.

I think the answer in the longrun is BOYCOTT REBATE DEALS. An archaic business practice that allows unsavory companies to use your mony for quite a while then maybe give it to you. In the modern computerized world there is no excuse for the delay in even the best of rebates, and I stopped buying anything that had them AFTER I got stiffed for one that was supposedly outside the date range.

I'm done. Sorry, this is no help in the short run.

 

[Borgkiller]

I think the answer in the longrun is BOYCOTT REBATE DEALS. An archaic business practice that allows unsavory companies to use your mony for quite a while then maybe give it to you. In the modern computerized world there is no excuse for the delay in even the best of rebates, and I stopped buying anything that had them AFTER I got stiffed for one that was supposedly outside the date range.

Well put just look at rite aid's rebate program. Nothing to mail in just enter your receipt info online and request your rebate at the end of the month. Now if only every rebate program worked that way.

 

[atac]

Originally posted by: daveshel
I for one am glad to see this on the "wrong" forum: I think this is squarely where it belongs.

I think the answer in the longrun is BOYCOTT REBATE DEALS. An archaic business practice that allows unsavory companies to use your mony for quite a while then maybe give it to you. In the modern computerized world there is no excuse for the delay in even the best of rebates, and I stopped buying anything that had them AFTER I got stiffed for one that was supposedly outside the date range.

I'm done. Sorry, this is no help in the short run.

How just not doing products that go through rebatesHQ? It sounds as though there have been quite a few people who have been screwed...

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: atac

Originally posted by: daveshel
I for one am glad to see this on the "wrong" forum: I think this is squarely where it belongs.

I think the answer in the longrun is BOYCOTT REBATE DEALS. An archaic business practice that allows unsavory companies to use your mony for quite a while then maybe give it to you. In the modern computerized world there is no excuse for the delay in even the best of rebates, and I stopped buying anything that had them AFTER I got stiffed for one that was supposedly outside the date range.

I'm done. Sorry, this is no help in the short run.

How just not doing products that go through rebatesHQ? It sounds as though there have been quite a few people who have been screwed...

but not as many as has been done by TCA/New Rochelle

 

[Doomer]

The only rebates I've been able to count on are the ones from Microsoft. They always pay up. With others, it's like playing a slot machine.

 

[hansmuff]

I do rebates if a major retailer or manufacturer directly pays for it. Staples, for example, is always good for rebates (in my book). I recently dealt with Cendyne and I got my rebate within 6 weeks (postcard, grrrrrrr). When I see some kind of rebate center/blah, I do not buy the product. Also I do not ever do rebates > $50.

 

[ebaker]

Ask RebateHQ to send you a copy of the front and back of the cancelled check. I would go to the store where you bought the item and ask the manager to intervene or repay you on the spot. Also see
FTC rebate problem site: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/rebatealrt.htm

 

[linuxthinker]

I've had good luck with Dell rebates and little else :/

 

[az4dan]

so far... i've only been ripped off once by taiyu ... the cdr makers... whatever their name is.
my friend got ripped off by samsung, very badly... that's all. Rebates are a hastle but wonderful though... probably have saved over 2000 in rebates just in the last year alone. yay!

 

[SharkyTM]

i've been waiting on a rebate from BB for over 5 months now... rebatestatus.com is handling it... when i check, its a 50/50 chance that it will be listed . kinda funny actually.

Oh well, its only 20$. I know it will eventually get here.

Shark

 

[Winchester]

I lost $150 in rebates when I bought a video card that was $300 at CompUSA. Of course I didnt know about the bad rep of New Rochelle. Ive called several times and they say they never got it.

 

[Walliser]

That's why I always send those large rebates using cerified mail. And of course, I keep copies of everything in the envelope. If they lose it, well, I know they received it and I have copies to resubmit.

Of course there is always the option of not buying stuff that comes with a rebate. But whether that is an option is up to the individual. As far as I can tell, AT members as much as that bemoan rebates, continue to buy stuff if there's a rebate for it.