** PUBLIC POST **

I don't know about all of you, but I'm shopping more carefully than usual this year, trying to get the most I can and trying to hold to a budget. Ran across this article, and thought it was too important to miss.

Taking Control of Rebates
Just Say No to Not Getting Your Rebate Check

By Donna L Montaldo, About.com

Industry figures show that 40 percent to 60 percent of rebates go unredeemed. While some of the rebates are not redeemed because consumers do not bother to send them in, in all too many cases even the most diligent consumer is unable to receive his or her rebate.

"Rebates are extraordinarily popular for the very reason that most of them go unredeemed and provide what is essentially free money to the manufacturers." says U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer.

Rebates make up big business. According to Business Week, nearly one-third of all computer equipment is sold with some kind of rebate along with 20 percent of digital cameras, camcorders and LCD TV's. The industry estimates that 400 million rebates are offered each year with an estimated worth of $6 billion.

"This is the post Christmas bait-and-switch," Schumer said. "People go into stores with the promise of getting money back, and months later they still haven't seen checks."

Rebates are extraordinarily popular for the very reason that most of them go unredeemed and provide what is essentially free money to the manufacturers. Very few places offer immediate cash rebates, the most common are those that are done through the mail.

While rebates have grown in popularity as a sales incentive, so have the complaints to The Better Business Bureau, which receives thousands of complaints regarding rebates each year.
The Way It Works
Many companies contract with rebate-processing centers, or fulfillment houses, to pay customers' rebate requests, some of whom market themselves with their low rates of redemption. Many of these companies design complex rules, have very short filing periods or ask for documentation that is nearly impossible to obtain - all in an effort to not give the consumer their money back.

The rebate companies will ask for copies of receipts multiple times or delay the rebate check for months. Applications will be ignored and consumers will have to redo the entire process.

Many of the companies make the rebate check envelope look like junk mail so it ends up in the trash and consumers are stuck retracing all their steps to get the money again.

Often, months after a rebate application is sent in, the customer will be asked for other documentation to get their rebate such as codes off of the products box that was thrown out months before or original receipts that have already been sent away.

The Bottom Line
"The bottom line is, rebates unfailingly bring in billions in excess profits for companies that offer them, but when it comes to saving the shopper a dime, as rebates claim to do, they fail the consumer more often than not," Senator Schumer said. "It really is a combination of scrambling to meet deadlines, reading the extremely fine print, following unclear instructions and then crossing your fingers in hopes that the rebate check ever gets sent."

Which Rebates Should You Avoid?

* Companies which fail to provide consumers at least 30 days to redeem their rebates and who do not fulfill the terms of the rebate within the same amount of time required of consumers, not exceeding 60 days.

* Companies that do not send rebate checks in a manner which identifies the piece of mail as the expected rebate check.

* Companies that do not accept copies of receipts.

* Companies that require consumers to write identifying information on the rebate form (unless the receipt does not identify the purchased product).

* Companies offering rebates that require information that is not necessary to process the rebate, including information other than name, address and phone number.

* Companies that fail to provide telephone numbers or contact information for rebate inquiries so consumers are able check on the status of their rebates.

Consumer Steps to Sending In Rebates
To avoid having the rebate you mail in, rejected, follow these guidelines:

* Keep all receipts for items you will get rebates for. Companies may make you mail either copies or originals of all receipts.

* Send in you're rebates as quickly as possible. Many companies have a period as short as seven days for consumers to send in their documentation.

* Save the box. A rebate application may require the UPC code off of the packaging that the product came in.

* Always sort your mail carefully. Many rebate checks are created to look like junk mail. Don't be fooled.

* Make copies of every element of your application. Companies have been known to ask for you to resubmit, citing a mistake or loss of an application so copies of everything are a must.

* Have the appropriate numbers for follow up. You may have to contact the company if the rebate doesn't arrive as promised.

Steps to Take if Your Rebate Check Does Not Arrive
If you do not know what company is handling the rebate, check MyRebates.com. Enter in the name of the company where you made the purchase or the manufacturer of the product your purchased.

To track the status of your rebate, visit WheresMyRebate.com or Rebatestatus.com

Don't mess around with playing the game of sending in multiple copies of receipts already sent in properly. If the rebate check never arrives or arrives late, file a complaint with the FTC, the state Attorney General or the local Better Business Bureau.

Also write to the corporate headquarters of the company where you made your purchase and include copies of your correspondence with the above organizations.

Getting a rebate check may end up being difficult and frustrating, but be relentless. Remember the process is designed to make you give up.

Have fun saving money while you shop!

http://couponing.about.com/od/bargainshoppingtips/a/rebatefraud.htm