If you do rebates read this. Rebate house defaulting on checks.

[Engineer]

Just a heads up that CPG (Continential Promotions Group) has filed bankruptcy and some checks are bouncing. They go by "www.rebatestatus.com" and act on behalf of many companies listed below for rebate:

*Denotes additions from this thread that I've added. These were not included in the list from SlickDeals.



3D FUZION (a subsidiary of BFG, see BFG.)
ABBOTT LABORATORIES (FREESTYLE METERS)
ACRONIS SOFTWARE (TRUE IMAGE)
ACTIVISION
AD-AWARE
ADOBE
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS (Parts America?)
ANTEC (Click me for rebate information)
ARCHBROOK LAGUNA (Magellan Refurbished rebate from Pep Boys)
ATDEC
AVG (Called CPG - said they will re-issue new checks for AVG. Said do not cash any checks on hand)
BED BATH & BEYOND
*BEHR (paints)
BFG Tech (Click me for rebate information)
BIC CORPORATION US (Shaver Division)
BRIDGEVINE
CANON (Says "Do not cash". http://www.usa.canon.com/consu...important_rebate_info)
CHECKER / SCHUCK'S / KRAGEN AUTO PARTS
CITIBANK
CORE
COSTCO (Costco email says don't cash at bank, take it to a Costco and they will cash it or issue a new check. If you prefer to receive by mail call 1-866-355-3137)
DBL DISTRIBUTING LLC (HARMAN KARDON)
DELORME
FUJITSU
*HIS Video cards (11-28-08: HIS is working to take corrective action and will post instructions on its site as soon as we have the proper procedures in place)
HOME DEPOT (1-800-301-9207 - spoke w/ Tanya (CPG emp) who states "HD is still their customer and 'as of today' their rebate checks are still good." 11-19-08)
JOE'S SPORTS
KENSINGTON (Any rebates through Kensington are being fulfilled through them. Status can be verified by calling 866-469-9313.)
LOGITECH ( Issued checks should be fine to cash/deposit. Newly submitted/pending rebates may be delayed up to a week, but are otherwise fine. Rebates not yet submitted can be submitted to the address on the form or to a new address provided in the link.)
MOTOROLA (SURFBOARD MODEM)
MURRAY'S DISCOUNT AUTO PARTS (oil)
NATURE'S EARTH (cat litter)
NERO
NEWEGG (certain products have rebates from newegg directly e.g. Tatung, Rosewill)
*Nextar
Panasonic (certain small items, such as Bluetooth Headphones etc, reseller rebates - Showing up in Rebatestatus.com as DBL Distributing LLC)
PANDA DISTRIBUTION
PANDIGITAL
PC TOOLS (Phone: 866-431-5087)
PING
PRICEGRABBER (Don't Cash Check. Even older ones you haven't cashed in yet. Will Send out new rebate check directly. Don't send in unclaimed rebate forms yet, they'll provide new address and may extend deadline.)
ROSEWILL (NewEgg)
RUSTOLEUM (Menard's July $4 Door Paint Rebate. Contact Rustoleum directly @ 1-800-323-3584)
SAMSUNG
SCOTTS LAWN PRODUCTS
Shell (Rebates on car cleaners, fuel cleaners etc)
SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE (ANONYMIZER. Sent e-mail to customers: "Please look for updated postings on the SmithMicro website on or about November 21, 2008 for further instruction on where to mail your rebate claim material and how to exchange your check for a new check that you will be able to cash.")
SPOT (Satellite Beacon)
TABLETOPS UNLIMITED
TRENDNET
WESTINGHOUSE
XFX
XM SATELLITE RADIO
ZEROTHERM (Update: 11/17/08 - Per Zerotherm USA, a new rebate form has been issued (see below). Missing UPC will be rejected but you can write Chris Chon at chris@megavisionsys.com).
ZYXEL (http://zyxelrebates.com/important_notice_0811.php)

This is a FYI.

CPG files for Bankruptcy.

Edit: Just received this from PriceGrabber...

Dear Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx,

PriceGrabber.com wants to thank you for being a loyal customer, and also say thank you for participating in our review rebate program.

We wanted to give you an update on a recent change in our rebate process that has occurred over the past few days. We have been informed that the vendor who supplies the rebates to PriceGrabber customers who have filled out a review on our site is unfortunately no longer able to process rebate requests from our customers. Although PriceGrabber has prepaid this vendor a substantial amount to more than adequately fund our review rebate program, they have informed us that they do not intend to honor checks they have previously issued to our customers.

If you are currently in possession of a rebate check issued on behalf of PriceGrabber.com, or if you receive a check of this kind within the next week, PLEASE DO NOT CASH IT. The vendor is placing stop-payments on these checks to prevent you from being penalized, but we still hope to prevent you this additional inconvenience. PriceGrabber is in the process of reissuing your rebate check directly from our own accounts. A new check to be mailed to you directly from PriceGrabber headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. No additional action will be required from you to initiate this process.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to participate in both of our programs. Your feedback is very valuable to us, and we want to ensure you receive your rebate as promised. Rest assured that PriceGrabber is also taking all appropriate actions to ensure this type of problem does not occur again.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at rebates@pricegrabber.com

Again, thank you for your time and understanding.

Best regards,


Darren Davis
VP, Product Marketing
PriceGrabber.com

From Costco

This communication contains important information regarding the redemption of Costco Mail-in Rebate checks dated prior to November 13, 2008.

Due to a significant business disruption at the company that processes Costco Wholesale's Mail-in Rebates, no rebate checks dated prior to November 13, 2008, should be deposited into your bank account. These checks should be redeemed at your local Costco warehouse.
Mail-in rebate checks dated after November 13, 2008, are not affected by this business disruption and may be deposited or cashed at your bank, or redeemed at any Costco warehouse.

If redeeming your check at a Costco warehouse is inconvenient, you may mail the original check to:
For U.S. Costco Members:

Costco Wholesale
c/o APF
PO Box 1015-A
Grand Rapids, MN 55745
For Canadian Costco Members:

Costco Wholesale
c/o APF
PO Box 10668-A
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V1


A replacement check will be issued promptly upon receipt of the original check. Please retain a copy of the original check for your records.

If you have already deposited a mail-in rebate check dated prior to November 13, 2008, it may be returned to you by your bank. If so, please bring your returned check and proof of any associated bank fee to your local Costco warehouse for full reimbursement.

If redeeming a returned check at a Costco warehouse is not convenient, you can mail the returned check and the notice of bank fees to the address above for full reimbursement.

Costco Wholesale sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience that this unfortunate situation may have caused.

Please do not reply to this email. If you have any questions, please contact our Call Center at 1-866-355-3137.

From Antec (I received this)...

Antec is aware of the situation with our Rebate Center (CPG), and are working diligently on a final solution for all rebate offers. If you have received a check from CPG, we are asking you to hold onto your check until further notice. If you have had problems depositing your check, please save all documentation and contact Antec Customer Support for further instructions. We will update our website when we have reached a final solution to this issue.

Thank you for your patience,

Antec Customer Support

This from all pulled from Slickdeals:

The easiest way to see if you are affected, is to check copies of rebate materials you have submitted recently, which have not yet been fulfilled. You keep copies, right? Take a look at the destination address. The department and name of the recepient will vary depending on the brand of the product that carried the rebate, but the address will most likely have the following in it:

P.O. Box 52900 (or P.O. Box 52911)
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2900

CPG main website for checking upon your rebate is www.rebatestatus.com. If you see this site as point of contact on the rebate, you may be affected.

...



What do do if you're affected:

First and foremost, if you have recently received the check, and have not cashed it yet, DO NOT CASH IT. The check will bounce, and you will probably be hit with a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee [varies by bank]. If you have deposited it, it may be worth your time to call your bank, and see if they have attempted to collect on it, and if so - see if they can reverse the attempt. Most banks will work with proactive customers like you, and you may get brownie points for that.

If you have recently made a purchase (such as ZeroTherm coolers) which had a rebate that was going to CPG, and have not yet submitted - DO NOT SUBMIT IT. Instead, contact the place of purchase, and request a return authorization, since you will no longer be able to get the item at the advertised price.

Do not try to contact the rebate processor using any of the known phone numbers. Chances are, it won?t help you, and you probably won?t even get an answer.

Keep copies of every rebates you have - do not assume they are a lost cause just yet. As time progresses, there may be alternative solutions available which may allow you to collect your rebate(s).

We recommend that you do not contact the company that manufactured the product immediately. There are many users like you, and chances are that some have already done it for you, and posted their findings.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: allisolm
Thanks for the heads-up!

You're welcome. Also, I'm editing the thread above from time to time to update the list of known manufacturers that deal with CPG. The master list is at Slickdeals.net under their Deal Talk forum.

Edit: Slickdeals has set up a blog with updated information on this subject.

Click me.

 

[Engineer]

If you have a ZeroTherm rebate (from CPG), here is the response from Chris @ Zerotherm-USA...

We are aware of CPG's status and making the transition to a new partner.

You should see a new PDF rebate form on our partner retailer's website by
end of this week.

You can use this form for new submission.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation.



Chris

ZEROtherm USA


Chris Chon, Sales Manager
Megavision Systems Inc.
1600 Wyatt Dr. Ste 14
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Direct (408) 207 - 9323
Main (408) 207 - 9320 x104
Fax (408) 207 - 9324
www.megavisionsys.com

Also...

New rebate company will reject your submission by default without UPC, but if you can provide me with the submission # (usually available after rejecting letter) I can have your rebate approved manually.

I apologize for such inconvenience, but this is the only way around it.



Chris

ZEROtherm

Chris' e-mail is chris@megavisionsys.com

 

[allisolm]

If you have received any rebate checks recently from Continental Promotions Group (rebatestatus.com) or have any pending from them, please read the information provided below by Engineer.

I'm going to delete all the irrelevant posts (I hate rebates, thanks, how can they lose money, etc) so that the relevant ones can be found and read.

 

[fleshconsumed]

This is frigging awesome. I just bought Logitech VX nano mouse from FRYs with $15MIR and was about to mail it today. Now I'll either have to return it to FRYs (not looking forward to that) or wait to see if Logitech will somehow rectify the situation.

Well, either way thanks for the heads up Engineer, at least I still have a choice to return it or deal with Logitech.

 

[Basilisk]

Add the HIS gpu rebates to this list -- specifically, my Radeon 4850. Sigh.

[This is based on the form's mail address of P.O. Box 52900 Phoenix, AZ 85072]

Edit: It's now ten days later [Turkeymas] and HIS hasn't bothered to reply to my email inquiry. 'Just noticed their site lists the following: (my emboldening)

This issue only affects customers who purchased HIS video cards from newegg.com, zipzoomfly.com, amazon.com, ewiz.com, MicroCenter and mwave.com. Please check back on this page regularly for updated information.


Dear HIS Customer,

You recently participated in one of our mail-in rebate promotions and your check has been sent to you on behalf of HIS by a third party mail in rebate firm. We have received information that the third party mail in rebate firm that we have contracted to process our rebates is experiencing financial difficulties and your check therefore may bounce even though we have already paid sufficient funds to our contractor.

We ask you not to deposit any mail-in rebate check dated prior to November 13.

We are working to take corrective action to get your check to you as soon as possible. We will update you as soon as we have the proper procedures in place how to obtain your rebate.

In the meantime, please hold onto the check you have received and do not deposit it.

Should you have any question, please send any inquiry to rebate-na@hightech.com.hk Please accept our apology for this inconvenience and be assured we are working diligently to address the situation.

Warm regards,
HIS customer service

I sympathize with their problems, but it's "amusing" that they encourage you to write, yet haven't bothered responding to my inquiry.

HIS mail in rebate problem notice.
HIS page pointing to above as above page may be obsoleted, but not removed, when they post further instructions.

Edit (12/02):
I received a reply from HIS this weekend -- after sending them a second email. It didn't improve upon the above information, but at least their CS does reply... sometimes.

Edit (12/16):
HIS has updated their site (linked above) to provide instructions for those who received checks -- bounced or uncashed. Those of us who submitted everything but never received a check remain in the dark.

 

[Captante]

Just got a $20 rebate from Panda last month & fortunately it cleared just fine ... guess I got lucky!

 

[Engineer]

Just received this from Antec (many of you have bought Earthwatts supplies)...

Antec is aware of the situation with our Rebate Center (CPG), and are working diligently on a final solution for all rebate offers. If you have received a check from CPG, we are asking you to hold onto your check until further notice. If you have had problems depositing your check, please save all documentation and contact Antec Customer Support for further instructions. We will update our website when we have reached a final solution to this issue.

Thank you for your patience,

Antec Customer Support

 

[Slick5150]

Argh. Just submitted a Zerotherm rebate last week.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Argh. Just submitted a Zerotherm rebate last week.

Here's the new rebate I just received.

New rebate form (use this one since rebatestatus.com is now in bankruptcy).

Chris from ZeroTherm USA stated to use the new form. Also stated that if you already filed using the original UPC, to submit the new one and send him the information after you are denied.

Chris Chon <chris@megavisionsys.com>

 

[zettler]

This sucks! I just cashed my ANTEC and another one last Friday...and I am sure my bank with charge me for them!

Thanks for the warning but these were my only two outstanding except for my VERIZON ones...

 

[scootermaster]

Glad I got my $50 from Logitech for that Edge from Amazon.

Hope this doesn't effect my EVGA and Corsair rebates. Hrmph.

 

[AmberClad]

Both of the two pending rebates I mentioned earlier are also with Corsair. Afaik, it's a different rebate company.

 

[uhohs]

well crap, i just sent in a $150 canon rebate last week. :|

 

[Yellowbeard]

Just to clarify for Corsair, we DO NOT use this rebate house.

 

[Pardus]

Giving Gift Cards This Holiday? Think Again - list of stores closing

 

[Zap]

Yes, BFG uses CPG. No, BFG isn't trying to rip off consumers. CPG is going out of business, not BFG.

Official word is that there is no official word.

It wasn't as if CPG told anyone, "oh BTW we're going to go out of business next month, so you may want to plan your promotions accordingly."

All I can say right now is to hang on to your photocopies and if you are still within the 8 week period, please be patient and wait.

 

[aba4430]

1. Is OCZ in the mix too? I have checks from OCZ, Corsair and Patriot to cash. I think Corsair and Patriot use the same house, not this one, but am not sure of OCZ - I will have to dig up my copies etc. to verify. The banks are the same for all three though!

2. Also have checks from Advance auto parts (just received it on Monday) and Behr. Both banks are the same for these. Advance is on the list, but Behr (paints) is not!

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: aba4430
1. Is OCZ in the mix too? I have checks from OCZ, Corsair and Patriot to cash. I think Corsair and Patriot use the same house, not this one, but am not sure of OCZ - I will have to dig up my copies etc. to verify. The banks are the same for all three though!

2. Also have checks from Advance auto parts (just received it on Monday) and Behr. Both banks are the same for these. Advance is on the list, but Behr (paints) is not!

Thanks for the heads-up.

I think OCZ is fine. I'll add Behr to the list.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: aba4430
1. Is OCZ in the mix too? I have checks from OCZ, Corsair and Patriot to cash. I think Corsair and Patriot use the same house, not this one, but am not sure of OCZ - I will have to dig up my copies etc. to verify. The banks are the same for all three though!

2. Also have checks from Advance auto parts (just received it on Monday) and Behr. Both banks are the same for these. Advance is on the list, but Behr (paints) is not!

Thanks for the heads-up.

Did you check to see if you sent the rebate to P.O. Box 52900 (or P.O. Box 52911)
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2900 and if the site to check for information is rebatestatus.com? Let us know what you find, please. There's no point in alarming anyone if the company is NOT using CPG.

 

[Mermaidman]

I learned this news from Tech's OT thread. Anyway, checked the link for Logitech and apparently, if you have an uncashed check for Logitech, it's still valid as per this:
http://forums.logitech.com/log..._date_ascending&page=2

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Zap
Yes, BFG uses CPG. No, BFG isn't trying to rip off consumers. CPG is going out of business, not BFG.

Official word is that there is no official word.

It wasn't as if CPG told anyone, "oh BTW we're going to go out of business next month, so you may want to plan your promotions accordingly."

All I can say right now is to hang on to your photocopies and if you are still within the 8 week period, please be patient and wait.

To add to this... If you HAVEN'T mailed in your rebates yet, go back to your retailer's website and see if your CPG rebate has been replaced with a WorldWideRebates rebate form. The date range should be the same as your CPG rebate, so you should be able to use the WWR form instead.

 

[Cardio]

I just got a bank statement where I had deposited 2 rebates checks, 1 for $15 and 1 for $10. Both bounced and cost $35 each in returned check charges. So, total loss of $95. I wish someone would outlaw rebates altogether. Alot of them are outright fraud to begin with, even from major companies. Customers should not be expected to loan money to companies many of which do everything possible to avoid paying the loan back.

I cannot tell you how many absurd reasons for not fulfilling a rebate I have personally expertienced. My all time favourite I have framed. It states that the rebate was denied because I did not fill in my email address. The denial was an "email". HP denied the largest rebate I ever had, $250 on a laptop, because " I had applied for the wrong rebate" I had not and when I objected they said the deadline had passed for reconsideration. Well they had not told me until it was passed. The website continued to say "Processing". Maybe it helps them short term but guess when I will ever buy another HP product. Anyone notice Hell freezing over.

I would like to pay for items with a promise to send the funds once the company fills out and mails a "request for payment form" with a copy of my drivers license, and picture of me at the checkout counter mailed to my payment request address containing at least 321 numbers and letters that requires an envelope at least 24" wide to write them. Sent to some place with a zip code slightly longer than the square root of -1. Mailed and postmarked between the hours of 8:01 and 8:03 AM on December 25th. Then I will send the payment, if I can read your writing, within 8 to 10 weeks, which in "Rebate Time" means, maybe, 6 months. Now this payment is likely to be in the form of a postcard which looks like junk mail and is too small to even hold a stamp and has a likelyhood of around 99% of being tucked into a magazine or other junk mail by the postman. And be sure to keep a copy of all your request information in case I don't fulfill, or forget, or have gone out of business, or can think of any of 900 other reasons not to pay you. Anyone else want to join my payment plan. We can call it "PayPerhaps" or "PayPromise"

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Cardio
I just got a bank statement where I had deposited 2 rebates checks, 1 for $15 and 1 for $10. Both bounced and cost $35 each in returned check charges. So, total loss of $95. I wish someone would outlaw rebates altogether. Alot of them are outright fraud to begin with, even from major companies. Customers should not be expected to loan money to companies many of which do everything possible to avoid paying the loan back.

I cannot tell you how many absurd reasons for not fulfilling a rebate I have personally expertienced. My all time favourite I have framed. It states that the rebate was denied because I did not fill in my email address. The denial was an "email". HP denied the largest rebate I ever had, $250 on a laptop, because " I had applied for the wrong rebate" I had not and when I objected they said the deadline had passed for reconsideration. Well they had not told me until it was passed. The website continued to say "Processing". Maybe it helps them short term but guess when I will ever buy another HP product. Anyone notice Hell freezing over.

I would like to pay for items with a promise to send the funds once the company fills out and mails a "request for payment form" with a copy of my drivers license, and picture of me at the checkout counter mailed to my payment request address containing at least 321 numbers and letters that requires an envelope at least 24" wide to write them. Sent to some place with a zip code slightly longer than the square root of -1. Mailed and postmarked between the hours of 8:01 and 8:03 AM on December 25th. Then I will send the payment, if I can read your writing, within 8 to 10 weeks, which in "Rebate Time" means, maybe, 6 months. Now this payment is likely to be in the form of a postcard which looks like junk mail and is too small to even hold a stamp and has a likelyhood of around 99% of being tucked into a magazine or other junk mail by the postman. And be sure to keep a copy of all your request information in case I don't fulfill, or forget, or have gone out of business, or can think of any of 900 other reasons not to pay you. Anyone else want to join my payment plan. We can call it "PayPerhaps" or "PayPromise"

I would call the bank and see if they will reverse the charges. Also, some of the manufacturers seem to be willing to pay the rebates + any charges incurred so that might be an option. I would try to contact the manufacturer on this issue (as it sucks).

 

[Zap]

Alright, here's "official" word:

Dear Valued BFG Technologies Customer,

One of our third-party rebate processing companies recently informed us that they are experiencing financial difficulties, and that the funds provided to them by BFG Technologies to pay rebate checks for certain BFG products were no longer available.

We are happy to inform our rebate customers in the U.S. that BFG has corrected the situation, and you CAN cash your check to receive your rebate payment. This applies to all rebate checks for BFG Technologies. For Canadian customers, please hold on to your check and do not attempt to cash it. We are actively working on a solution for you and will update this message or contact you directly before the end of this week.

If you have already attempted to cash your rebate check and the check bounced, or was refused by your bank, please contact us immediately at sales{at}bfgtech.com. We will issue you a new check that you can cash. Please include your contact information in the email. Please hold onto the bounced check if you still have it.

Please do not call BFG Tech Support regarding this matter. Submitting your information to sales{at}bfgtech.com is the most efficient way to contact us regarding this issue.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

John Malley
Sr. Director, Marketing
BFG Technologies, Inc.

Clarification:

If your check cannot be cashed or bounced, contact sales{at}bfgtech.com.

If you have not yet cashed/deposited your check, you can do so now.

If you have already submitted a rebate to CPG, just be patient and wait it out. You will get a valid check (as long as submission was valid, etc.).

If you have not yet submitted a rebate to CPG, check first to see if there is a WorldWideRebates version of the rebate with the same date. To check, go to the product page at the site you purchased the BFG product from. If there is such a rebate, use it. If there is not such a rebate, then go ahead and send it using original rebate form. It will still get processed (though there may be delays).

As always, keep copies of everything.

BFG Tech support cannot help, use the sales{at}bfgtech.com email for problems concerning CPG rebates. Because there may be a large volume of inquiries, please do not email if you are just worried. Email only if you have an issue such as a bounced rebate check or the rebate is past 8 weeks.

Any questions?