Do you use rebates? Be very careful!
By ersmommy1
@ersmommy1 (12587)
United States
November 19, 2008 1:51pm CST
If you're expecting a rebate check or have one that hasn't been cashed yet you should listen up.
Many people don't realize that when a company offers a rebate, the check actually comes from a third-party known as a rebate fulfillment center.
One of the largest fulfillment centers has filed for bankruptcy and some rebate checks out there could bounce.CPG Marketing in Tampa Bay has laid off most of its staff and filed for bankruptcy. The company is contracted to process rebates for dozens of retailers and manufacturers.
By depositing a bounced check, its going to cause problems for you and you may incur a fee that will exceed the value of the rebate. If we're talking about a $10-$15 rebate, a bounced check fee is going to be near $30 in many cases.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=6512826#bodyText
3 people like this
7 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Nov 08
I very rarely bother with those rebates. I either forget, or feel it's not worth the time, or something of that nature. The only rebates I ever recieve are the ones that are instant at the register.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Oh my goodness, that is so terrible. I wonder how they can get away with mailing out rebate checks that they do not even have the money to cover.
I can understand that companies file bankrupcy. Especially in today's economy. But you would think that they would have to be just like an individual. If you don't have the money in the account, don't send the check.
This is so sad because most of the people who use rebates are frugal living people anyway. And this could really bust someone's budget. To some people $30 may not seem like a lot, but to others it could really hurt.
Thank you for sharing this information with us so that we can be on the lookout. Have a great day!
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
20 Nov 08
Yikes! yeah it cost me $27 if I bounce a check. And it would cost more if you don't have the funds in your account also. Then if you can't pay for that right off they charge so much a day that it isn't paid. SO a $10 can be costing a big penny if not careful. If you get the check it is best just to deposit them into the bank and not mess with it so that if it does bounce it won't be on your bank account but theirs. When I was selling Avon someone gave me a check that bounced and I took the money out so I could pay for the Avon and it bounced and cost me instead of the person who wrote it. My bank told me to make them pay me back. I never did get my money back. But they had told me that if I had just deposited it and left it alone instead of cashing it that it wouldn't have done nothing to my account.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
20 Nov 08
I have not bought anything for a while, but with Christmas coming, we will have to be careful. I guess that means we have to pay the full, not the sale price for everything. This is going to be hard on everybody. I do not know if it applies to Canadians though. So I guess if we get something for Christmas, and there is a rebate included, we should just tear it up right?
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Oh my. Thank you for sharing this with us. I have not sent in any rebates lately but it is nice to know this.
@DaddyOfTheRose (2934)
• United States
4 Dec 08
Ah, I try to use rebates, but I don't very often. Sometimes I buy something telling myself I will use the rebate, but don't. I feel bad when I let things slide too long and can't get the rebate. But laziness is why rebate offers work.
