If you’ve had a T-Mobile mail in rebate denied, keep reading. I’ve had plenty of experience dealing with this over the last few months. You can read my 2 original posts here and here.
I get dozens of hits every day on this site from people searching for T-Mobile rebate scam, fraud, rip off, bait and switch, Young America rebate scam, etc. My $50 mail-in-rebate for my T-Mobile SDA was rejected even though it was completed 100% accurately. I called their worthless customer service several times and was told there was nothing they could do. Don’t waste your time with them. This is an ongoing problem that you can’t fix unless you go to the next level. If enough people follow these steps, it might make a difference.
Here’s what you do if all else has failed:
File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau – I finally did this and within a week I received a call from T-Mobile trying to resolve my problem. Apparently this struck a nerve, because they almost bowed at my feet trying to get me my $50. They resubmitted my rebate and assured me I would receive it in a few weeks.
A few weeks later my rebate letter arrived – REJECTED AGAIN! Unbelievable! This time they said my IMEI number was invalid or not eligible. In case you were wondering, it’s no longer about the stinkin’ money – it’s the concept that they’re knowingly ripping people off.
Fortunately, the guy responding to my BBB claim (Jason) gave me a direct number to call back (1-877-290-6323 x 8043). It turned out to be the Office of the President! I called him back and he decided that this wasn’t worth dealing with anymore and he just offered to credit my account.
The credit has posted, but I’m still not happy. They just threw their hands up in the air and did just enough to make me go away.
In addition to complaining to the BBB, you can complain to the Federal Trade Commission and your state attorney general. If enough people do these things we might see some changes. Otherwise I know this will continue indefinitely.
Leave a comment and let me know your experiences.
I had the same thing happen to me 2 years ago. We filled out the rebate online, because the rep said we’d get our rebate much faster. WRONG! In the end, it took me 4 months and was only given a credit on my account. Since that time, I’ve been told that they’ve brought the rebate department back into the company (instead of an outside company) and should be better. Doesn’t sound like it. I’m waiting anxiously for my $80 rebate and the status says No Rebate on the website. We’ll see.
Last time, I was told my IMEI number was wrong. This time, it was all filled out for me on the paperwork from the T-Mobile store. I always make copies, even of the cutout barcode, but what does that prove? Maybe if I tell them the exact same thing happened to me two years ago, they’ll think twice about handing me the same line.
Well its happening to me. I submitted 2 rebates separately to T-Mobile. I’ve received confirmation and a check for the first, however nothing for the second.
I contacted T-Mobile and they said that If I dont have copies, there is nothing they can do. I made copies, but cant find them darnit! – gonna keep looking, because I agree, its the principle. You know, they have everything they need to process a rebate. Everything is automated but they insist they need the cardboard section from the box. argh!
I filed the complaints to BBB and Tmobile get back to me but only with half the amount of the rebae and I refused it. Is there anything else that I can do. Can I take them to small claim court?
Like you said, it is no longer about the money. I want them to change the way to treat their customers. thanks for your input.
T-Mobile got me also.
When will America wake up to these ripoffs?
I was totally porked by this T-mobile scam. Last December I purchased 2 phones on the internet promising three separate rebates: one motorola rebate: $50 per phone and two T-mobile rebates $100 and $150 per phone. I received the two $50 rebates and haven’t seen another dime. I followed the rebate instructions (which by the way is like a 2nd job) VERY carefully since a lot of money was involved. The rebate instructions clearly say to send the top copy of your 2nd wireless bill. They sent me a notice saying my wireless bill was invalid (excuse pulled out of a hat), that I needed to send copies of my 1st, 2nd and 3rd bills! I re-submitted and still haven’t seen a dime. They took me for $500!!!!! I can’t believe a strong well-known company would screw people like this and I can’t believe people actually work for these scam artists, be it T-mobile or the rebate processing center.
I sent in everything that was needed, checked and rechecked, and was refused for not having the cardboard box sent in with the rest of the things. I am 100% sure that it was in there and so I called them and they transferred me to someone high up who said she would “Be more than willing to transfer me to cancelation” Ahhh!, I’ve never dealt with such poor costumer service in my life.
I was ripped off to the tune of $300 by T-mobile. It has been a year. I plan to keep sending emails once a month warning people in my address book to look somewhere other than T-Mobile for the phone service. I am also doing the things mentioned above. I am going to harass them every way I can. I can not stand crooks and people who take advantage of others. Hell ain’t hot enough for them. The rest of my story is similar to those above.
The same thing is happening to me right now. And this Jason Cook is not only being rude but is insistent that we’re not entitled to the rebate because he said we could have sold the phone when the phone is in my hand! What?? I intend to fight for the $50 they owe me no matter what I have to do! And it’s all about the money AND the POOR customer service they’re choosing to provide! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
And the rippoff continues, I am so sick of getting a reply stating that I did not include my UPC sticker. Well I don’t have it anymore, I sent it in to whomever is stealing them within thier own mail department. So I am going to file every complaint known to man. Young America,,,YOU SUCK
Wow, I’m going through this right now. After 5 rejection letters and about the same number of phone calls to resolve this, I finally sent an e-mail to the head of T-mobile. I got a response pretty quickly, offering a $30 credit to my account instead of a $30 rebate check. Not sure what to do, I really don’t want to use their service anymore so the $30 credit won’t do much good. I’d prefer it if they honored their original offer.
This all started because I wanted to switch to T-mobile from Cingular because my contract was up. So I bought a T-mobile prepaid to try it out. Now I know: their service sucks. I’m sticking with Cingular. Rock vs. hard place….yikes.
Well I made copies of my rebate materials which I sent to T-mobile in September 2006 and I offered to send them the copies but they still won’t give me a rebate even if I submit the copies because they say my rebate expired in October 2006 – even before the rebate was due to arrive (8-10 weeks after purchase)! So even keeping copies is not enough – they will always find a way out of giving you your rebate!!
Similar story. Sent in rebates last November. At first they claim they never received them. Then in February I get a letter saying they’re processing them. A few days later I get a letter denying the rebate and telling me to contact them by January 15 (a month earlier!). I contact them and get the runaround. First it’s a problem with my number. Then the problem is that there’s no rebate currently available. After arguing endlessly with logic-challenged customer-service people I finally opened a complaint with the BBB. Two weeks later I had my checks. However, when I checked the BBB web site about my complaint, T-Mobile had left a note claiming that the rebate had been denied because my phone was not activated within the rebate period (baloney – it was activated the day it arrived) and that they’d sent the rebates as a “good will gesture.” I will probably cancel my service when the contract is up as I simply wont deal with a company this inept and/or dishonest.
Same here. Just sent my official complaint to T-Mobile, the FTC, BBB and State A.G. Thx for the tips on this! I’d love to be the Governor of this state so I could ream these companies who try to ream us! Maybe someday. If so, they’d better not bend over!
I have the same problem now. I filled out the forms to the letter. For two phones each $50 for a total of $100. These guys are scam artists and their rebate call center employees doesn’t speak english very well.
I received with my phone a $50 mail in rebate from my T-Mobile as was promised from the agent I purchased the phone from through T-Mobile Young America. After filling out and submitting all the correct information I was expecting a $50 check, but instead I just got a letter saying they couldn’t process my request because I didn’t include the original IMEI# from the phone box. I’m 100% sure I submitted everything correctly and have all the documents scanned on my PC and printed out too including all BAR CODES.
I called their rebate “customer service” number, and repeated the IMEI to the operator and she said the rebate would be processed. Since then I’ve received two letters denying me the rebate and made several calls to “customer service” and each time they promised the issue was corrected at their end but as of today 04/23/2007 I still have not received a rebate and my online status at http://www.tmobile rebates.com shows denied.
I have also filed an online complaint with the FCC.
I’ve spoken with the following customer service reps at this number 1-877-311-8853:
Brina, Agent ID#493339
German, Agent ID#709022
Morgan, Agent ID#493815
Christine, Agent ID#494485
Shamus, Supervisor ID#494424
I’ve been assigned three different tracking numbers.
Finally this is my third time dealing with rebates through Young America and as of yet they have never honored their rebate promise so on this third episode with this current T-Mobile rebate I have documented everything very clearly.
If anyone is willing to file or knows of a class action suit filed against this company I would be happy to submit my documentation futher and or be included in such action. I can be contacted at israelt519@aol.com
Kathy, above, said she had an e-mail adress for the head of t-mobile. Can I get that address? I am tired of dealing with the customer service and tech depts. Something has happened to the tower in our little town and I’ve had no service for 1 month and not time frame when I will have service. We are on the family plan with 4 phones and they want to charge me $200 per line to cancel a contract when they can’t get me service. PLEASE someone send me the e-mail address and name of the head of t-mobile. Thanks
Sure Janet. The address I have is 12665 Wes
I understand that I should’ve made copies of everything and I usually do, but this time I figured I had the receipts so I should be alright. Wrong. I received two of four rebates after a couple weeks but the week after I get a letter saying that for one of the rebates, I did not include the cardboard white sticker panel from the side of the box. I did the same thing for ALL four rebates which were mailed out at the same time so how is this one different? Customer Service then told me that they reviewed what they received and had everything except for the white sticker panel. They also said they only received three rebates and also said that they are not responsible for lost or misdelivered mail. So anyone who forgets or loses their copies are basically screwed.
P.S. I’m glad there is a place to air out my frustration. I feel for everyone that has posted here and hope that no one else has to go through this.
This is second time happened to me. First, in 2005, Young America refused to give my $100 rebate, they said that the rebate offer has expired, which was a lie & I let it go & gave up because they bounced me from one customer service to another. And second time just happen in July 2007. I received a letter stating that the rebate request is rejected because the form wasn’t submitted???? I sent everything as instructed in rebate form as I wanted to make sure Young America wouldn’t have any excuses to not giving my $50 rebate.
This company doing unethical bussines! they’re nothing but trying to scam us as customers. Right now, I’m filing a complaint with Better Business Bureau & also with FCC.
Submitted my rebate, thought everything was in line. Got my rejection letter, phoned and they said that orders place on t-mobile.com had to be purchased before 5/19/07. Well, my rebate form stated 6/30/07 as the latest date of purchase (I purchased 5/22/07), and said purchases could be from T-mobile retail store or authorized dealer. I had never questioned that the on-line t-mobile store was not a retail store (technically, it is), and nowhere in the fine print online or on the rebate form does it say that it excludes purchases from t-mobile online, or does it define what a t-mobile retail store is. So I’m now pushing for my rebate to be honored because the rebate form does not exclude me. BBB and FCC here I come.
WELL I WAS UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO JOIN YOUR LITTLE CLUB TOO. I HAVEN’T SENT IN THE REBATE FORMS YET BUT WHEN I DO I DO IT WILL BE WITH CERTIFIED MAIL.
ANYWAYS THE HARRASMENT I’M DEALING WITH FROM Terrible-MOBILE HAS TO DO WITH THE “FREE REPLACEMENT” FOR THE DEFECTIVE RAZR THAT’S COST ME OVER $128
I SAY PROVE IT OR SEND BACK MY “DEFECTIVE PHONE”. I DON’T NEED THE CRAPY REPLACEMENT RAZR…
I’M GOING TO CONTACT EVERY COMPLAINT DEPT. AVAILABLE, THIS CRAP HAS TO STOP ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I’LL UPDATE WITH MY MAJOR STRIKE ON THESE WICKED CRAPS.
all you people are dumb…learn to read…and dont be so foreign…make photo copies dumb ass, and yes you need to keep reading after the first condition…you failed yourself, we did not fail you….rebates are easy…why do you find it so hard…its not rocket science…its reading, and comprehending small words, its like a picture book…for kids…with dissabilities
fuck u guys stop calling the rebate centre no money!!!!!
Wow, stfu about your rebates. Honestly if u have to fvcking hope for a god dam rebate from your fvcking purchace something is Significantly WRONG IN YOUR STATE!!! Im sure u have jobs right? if not then dont waste your fvcking LAST 300-600$ on a Dam phone that you MUST MAKE PAYMENTS ON! Honestly some of you people who call our centers have no fvcking clue what ur talking about, Its like u dont go to school because i dont READ everything needed! So before you send us your Shit-tacular rebates keep in mind its not us its YOU!
Update:
contacted BBB and complaint was filed. T-mobile reviewed my case and issued my rebate after all. Thank you BBB!
Oh, and by the way Yuumei, it’s not about the money. It’s about the fraud. There are many reasons people buy something, cheap or expensive, and incentives like rebates influence the decision to purchase, regardless of price. I was angry not because of the mere $30 I was jipped, but because they promised my $30 as an incentive to buy, and then did not deliver. That’s dishonest advertising. Principle alone is plenty reason to get upset, complain, and fight back. In fact, in my opinion, its the best reason, and the reason why everyone that gets jipped should file a complaint with the BBB and the FCC.
I got ripped off $50 also. T-Mobile said I have reached their limit of 5 this year. But the rebate form does not say that the limit is for ALL T-mobile offers COMBINED. I had always thought that limit of 5 was for the particular offer on the form. Filed with BBB and that did not help. T-Mobile’s response kept saying the same thing that limit has reached and BBB closed the case. What else can I do to get my $50 back or I am already out of luck? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
I just got off the phone with a second rep (Dale #495473) at T-Mobile/Young America Corp. First I got a letter saying my IMEI is ineligible and to check the IMEI inside the phone by pressing *#06#. The IMEI inside the phone was indeed different than the IMEI on the sticker on the box. So I called and gave them the new IMEI. I got a letter two weeks later saying my IMEI is ineligible.
When I called back today, they told me that the offer on the phone was only valid for new activations and that the T-Mobile store shouldn’t have given me the rebate form. This is despite the rebate form being titled “Handset Upgrade Rebate.” He then said, “Yes, but it was not valid in the month of May when you bought it.” I read the terms of the rebate to him:
“Valid only for upgrade purchases and activations within the periods noted at right: April 1 – June 30, 2007.”
He then tells me, “Yes but not for the Nokia 5300.”
That’s news to me, considering I went to the store no fewer than 3 times between May 24th and May 31 because I exchanged two other phones before finally deciding on the Nokia 5300. Each time, I checked the prices of all 3 phones and the rebate offers on each. The store most certainly did list an upgrade rebate. Whether this was a goof or not is pretty difficult for me to prove.
Any suggestions as to where to go from here are welcome. If anyone has a copy of the upgrade rebate offer for the Nokia 5300, then please post it somewhere.
Brodie is a “Supervisor” at Young America – the rebate processing center. I was transfered to him because I was having trouble understanding the issue regarding my rebate – They never “received” it. However; I can prove that I mailed 2 rebates on the same day in separate packages and one was processed then I received the $50 and the other one was “Never received.”
All I got from Brodie was, “There is nothing we will do for you.”
His response to the fact that one was received and paid out and the other was missing with proof of shipping was, “You cannot prove that the mail in the ‘lost’ package was your rebate that was filled out properly with all items included.”
If the poster ‘brodie’ is indeed the same person I spoke with today then I will be cancelling my T-Mobile service ASAP. Although my nagging suspicion tells me ‘brodie’ is someone that met the same odds I did and wants to make him look as if he really is the face of a corrupt company reaping the benefits of a broken system.
Anyways, I feel Brodie (the one I spoke with) was as professional as to expect when dealing with unhappy customers all day. I was suprisingly mellow while on the phone which may not prove the case for anyone else that loses control when speaking to him.
*- Update -*
I called T-Mobile and let them know of my frustrations with the whole process and asked them if they could help me. 42 minutes later – 3 holds and 2 different people that the T-Mobile rep spoke with I had a credit of $50 on my account for the next month. I really have to thank Stephanie. She called Young America and got the scoop from them. After she told the that is what she has to go by, I asked if anyone there I could speak with.
I really just wanted to tell the supervisor that Stephanie was great and that I am disappointed with the companies T-Mobile trusts to take care of their customers when their reps do such a great job.
Thanks to this forum and Stephanie I was able to get what was owed!
Called T-Mobil rebate center and asked why I was denied (got the denial letter from them yesterday instead of a check). The rep looked it up and told me that it looked ok to him and would resubmit it. He told me that there must have been a “Glitch” in the system. “What if the glitch happens again?” I asked. He said there was nothing his company could do! Well I told him that there sure is something I can do, like call the Better Business Bureau and take them to court. I went online and did a search on T-Mobil rebate complaints and found many. It’s not about the money to me: it’s about being cheated!
Let us categorize this right where it belongs: A T-mobile rebate offer is like any offer or correspondence you might get from Nigeria. Those people could outsource Young America; only the accent would change.
My example has been thru most of the attempts mentioned here, including a (now closed) unresolved BBB complaint and correspondence with the CEO of T-mobile as well as entry of a complaint with my Attorney General fraud division. The claim was acknowledged as timely received, and every condition was met but it is still rejected.
We have heard a number of lies, including
1: t-mobile.com is not an authorized retail outlet
2: You got your rebate in the price of the phone
3: We sent you a rejection letter
4: You did not qualify for the rebate
5: You got it cheap enough so we don’t owe you
6: It is not valid in conjunction with any other promo
7: We never offered any such rebate.
Of these, #6 is on the form. Something like “free shipping” could easily be interpreted as a promo, so ALL T-mobile rebates can be rejected at their whim, with or without orders from T-mobile.
Number 7 I actually have in writing from TMO Executive Response team; the actual wording above is my paraphrase of it. It is a lie because I have a copy of the form as does the BBB. It was sufficient to leave BBB case “unresolved” over TMo protest.
While the rebate company seems to enjoy their job (like the guy in the Capital One “NO” commercial), in this case the real stink comes from the highest offices of T-mobile.
I had the same issue two weeks ago. They just reply with this message. They agree they make mistakes and they keep our money just blame us of not making copies.
I hate Young America and Stupid Tmobile for using them.
———————————————
Thank you for contacting T-Mobile.
I have looked into your request. You stated that you mailed in the UPC barcode with the rebate submission. If it was stuck to the rebate form, when the rebate is scanned into our system, we would miss it as the system is not designed to pick it up off the rebate form. If it was a separate page and we missed it or if the envelope became damaged in the mail and it has fallen out during transit, I do apologize. If you do not have copies of the sticker panel, there is nothing we can do. There is vital information on that sticker panel that we must have to validate the rebate correctly. Our rebate form does state to make a copy everything you mail in for your records.
Rebate:
Filed online, mailed in my rebate information. It has been about 12 weeks now, and the online rebate status states nothing was found for my number.
Phone returns:
I had a problem with phone returns. Bought two, returned two, was credited for one! Call after call (hours of my time) could not resolve this, and I thought I had lost the return UPS label. A supervisor told me I will not get my money back without it, as they need to check the weight.
Found the label, as a corporate customer, I sent an email to the corporate representative, and customer service stating my disgust, and givingthe UPS label information. They finally credited my credit card.
Cancelling service:
Signed up for service, cancelled the same night. Returned the phones unopened. Received several bills. Called. Called. Received pre-collection notice for outstanding balance! Anyway, after the last call earlier this week (5 months since cancellation), I think we finally have a zero balance!
Happened to me! No $50 rebate and was
told you can’t receive two rebates in the same
11 month period by Young America.
Well I’ve never had a rebate in my life!
I called T-mobile and they say they
are giving my phone bill a credit for the $50 rebate?
I will see? I will have to see it to believe it.
I will not honor my contract of two years
I told them if the credit it’s on next month’s bill.
I really don’t think they care!
The T-Mobile Rebate Scam rolls on! They nailed me on an attempt to claim a $30 rebate on a pay-as-you-go phone this June/July. I’ve tried calling Young America, and after 3 unsuccessful attempts to establish my claim, tried thei T-Mobile Customer Service people, who consistently tried to get me to deal with Young America, even though I told them I no longer wished to relate to them.
It’s time to plug in the BBB, FTC, State AG et al.
Hey there Guys, I work for T-Mobile at the Rebate Processing Center. If you guy’s have any concern’s regarding your rebate, send me an e-mail. I’ve been there for a few months now and have heard everything in the book. I will try to explain everything to the best of my ability to you regarding your rebate, and why you may be unqualified. erietdyk@hotmail.com
Rebates are just the beginning. Once you get your phone, expect billing inaccuracies and random charges. Please visit sites like t-mobilefraud.com and tmobilefraud.com
Thank you for your post. I’m going through this right now. The T-Mobile guy on the phone told me that I did NOT qualify because T-Mobile retail stores (where of course I went to get my upgrade) were EXCLUDED from the rebate. I saw a huge ad for the $50 rebate in the paper this morning, and lo and behold – I read the fine print and it was excluded.
This means that every T-Mobile retail store that advertises these rebates (they’re on the pricing on every phone displayed) is SCAMMING us, because they do not qualify in the first place. If the store does not qualify it shouldn’t be advertising this! Also, the thing is that I ASKED them when I bought the phone – are you sure I qualify – there are no fine print exclusions, etc, and the guy said no, just mail it in and you’ll get $50.
I’m going to go down to the store to raise a raucus.
Same thing happened to me. Got this phone for my wife with $50 rebate. Sent the rebate forms and requirements with UC label. A few weeks later got a letter of denial saying that it did not include label. I swear it was included. Filed a complaint through BBB and a week later I got a call from Tmobile. I was told that I will see a credit on my phone bill for the $50. rebate. Have not seen the credit yet. Unfortunately this same phone got wet and now does not work. I had to get a new one and paid full price of $50. with no rebate. I was told that I have not used my original phone w/ rebate so they could not give me a credit. Stupid ass, I already told them that it got wet and no longer works, so I had to get a new one. But I still want my rebat e as promised when puhased. What a scam!
Yes Me Too – I did everything right, just like everyone else – and instead of being an honest company they did not send me my rebate check.
I sent them a letter after I got a lame vague rejection letter from young america.
However, this is not TMobile – TMobile does not even have the honor to put their own name on a letter when they are ripping people off.
Well, now this phone is broken and I’ve gone back to TMobile to buy a new phone.
But wait – why should I go for another mail-in rebate deal? I should get my original money back – I’m not going to give them another $50 and wait for young america. What is wrong with these people? Seriously. AND these are their customers that really should care about KEEPING.
I filled out everything 100% correctly and accurately, but it was “lost”. Oh man I just kept getting the run on with these stupid e-mails about how now it’s past the deadline and even when I provided everything they asked for they still “Lost” my reply e-mail. Someone needs to do something about these guys. If there is a class action suit, I would love to know about it. aaroncalloway@hotmail.com.
I got satisfaction by contacting …
Office of the Attorney General
Bureau of Consumer Protection
MS TB 14
900 Fourth Ave, STE #2000
Seattle, WA 98164-1012
Phone (206-464-7744)
I also sent a copy of my complaint to the president of T-Mobile, letting him know that I involved the Attorney Generals office:
Robert Dotson
12920 SE 38th Street
Bellevue, WA 98006
(Phone 1-800-318-9270)
I was burned on two rebates back in 2006 and this garbage is still going on. These people need to face justice.
WRITE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LET THEM KNOW THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
Hi everyone, I understand your frustrations! First, I am deaf and am a customer with T-Mobile. I purchashed a sidekick and chose the plan I wanted. I only wanted email, text messages and web browsing.. nothing fancy, no phone, etc. Since I am deaf, I didn’t need the phone, so I went ahead with this plan called SDKICK Unlimited Plus II VB (special plan for the deaf, I guess). I got the new sidekick along with the rebate forms, I completed the forms and followed everythng as insructed per the forms. I did that including the UPC, of course. I sent the forms in, waited and waited, waited, waited… like for 12 weeks or so, I finally got the letter saying the rebate was denied!
It said I didn’t choose the right plan. I guess like the regular plan or something… not sure. The rebate form, said ANY plan. ANY means ANY as long as the plan is $29.99 or more a month. Mine was $29.99! They just lied. I never got the rebate money. That was over 18 months ago. Once the 2 year commitement is over in July this year, I will cancel T-Mobile. I just think that the T-Mobile is not the honest company. I now realize that there is so many rebates that are denied! (I found this out by reading your posts!) Should I file a complaint with FCC since it was over 18 months ago?? Thanks.
I purchased two phones. Both had $20 mail in rebates. I received a confirmation email that one had been processed, and approved. Hopefully I’ll receive that check. The other one, that I sent in a seperate envelope, with the same exact postage, on the same day, Is lost. I called their # and they said there is no record of it. They said the only way I could get it is if I had a photocopy of everything. I do have a photocopy of everything, and she said that I had to mail this new rebate to a new address. Hopefully I can get this one in, before the due date, and get it approved. If not I will be contacting the BBB.
T-mobile did it with three of my $50 rebates with my family plan. I am looking for a means to get that. If anyone is planning to initiate class action, please provide a reply to this message.
thanks
manoj
I finally got both $50 rebate checks. It took a lot of work though. They lost one of the original ones, and then I resubmitted it. They told me that they never received this rebate form AGAIN. After several emails and phone calls, this rebate was now found, but it was denied because the number was wrong. So I gave them the correct number. They said it was approved, two days later they tell me it’s denied because the imei number is wrong. I asked them to recheck the photocopied label with the imei number it’s not wrong. They told me that it was still denied. So I filed a complaint with the BBB. Then A week later I get a letter saying that my rebate had been approved. I check the status online and it says denied. I call them up, and they tell me that is has been approved. I finally received my rebate check Monday.
I’ve been chasing down a $50 rebate for my tmobile shadow. Young America has been ignoring my emails after posting up the denied status on the tmobile rebate website. It’s been driving me nuts chasing after these people. It took them over two months to do anything and then they denied me in spite of my having fulfilled the requirements to the letter. It’s incredibly frustrating. I even included the originals so that they couldn’t pull the “No photocopies” thing on me. I’m going to be registering a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If they’re going to advertise a $50 rebate and then deny everyone, why even bother? It’s just false advertising.
Yes that is the same brodie, funny eh? How quality is tmobile, pretty quality. Their service is great. But the rebates are a different story. They are not a scam, or anything. Simply a promotional offer. To qualify for the promotion, you need to abide by the conditions. Not doing so means you recieve a letter. I will be honest, some ppl do get denied due to faults in the system, but MANY get denied bc they never followed the 1, 2, 3 steps on the rebate form. I have worked there for 8 months. Many ppl, sorry to say, are too incompedent to write there name, or put the wrong address, or decide to buy a brand new phone, and store it in their sock drawer.
PLEASE if you want your money, follow the conditions, re read them, and protect yourself by making photocopies, and following up on your rebate. Feel free to call the rebate number to check the status, just done wait more then 3 months. Rebate offers expire with in 6 months of opening.
Also, when you do contact us, do not yell in my ear. its not appreciated at all, and only makes me not want to help you. Also, when you scream in my ear, I tend to take my earpiece off, bc it hurts my ear. So i dont hear what you say. Thus, the purpose of calling failed.
Again mistakes on our behalf do happen, and i do appologize for that. I would get that correct for you, and follow up weekly to make sure it gets corrected. (This is not a responsibility of my job, but rather I choose to)
Dear I Work At The Rebate Center,
Is English your native language or are you a product of home schooling?
If you are a representative sample of your fellow colleagues then I understand why I would like to bore a hole in my head with a power tool after speaking with any of you.
Dear TMOBILITY
22 TMOBILITY
fuck u guys stop calling the rebate centre no money!!!!!
I know! Thanks for being honest!
Great! I just got my letter denying my $100 rebate. Now I see what I am going to go through! I didn’t make ANY photocopies. I just trusted that they were gonna do what they said.
Any help? Let me know. Cindola424@hotmail.com
I wound up on this site looking for some other information and this blog intrigued me. I have been a T-Mobile customer for over 5 years and have purchased at least 4 phones during that time (including a Sidekick II, Sidekick 3 and most recently a Wing.)
Sorry to come off like a jerk, but simply put: Anyone today who buys anything from anyone with a rebate (other than an Instant rebate) and actually expects to ever see the money is an unknowledgeable consumer. You can leave words like “principle” and “fraud” out of it because it’s endemic.
I have seen and heard these same complaints about everything from hard drives to office supplies to toys to DSL service and equipment, ad nauseatum. These companies all promise money back if you buy the product — then you waste your time filling out the forms and never see anything.
We have run a small ISP for many years, and for a time decided to resell DSL service through a major national carrier. At the time, rebates for the equipment were standard practice. Of course the customers never got them — then they’d call us like we were the “bad guys” and threaten us, cancel, etc. And there wasn’t a thing we could do about it (except what we eventually did: just quit selling it.)
Let me give you one tip: Mention the Attorney General, or any legal action, and the T-Mobile rep will end the discussion right then and there and tell you that they can no longer talk to you. That’s their internal instructions. I found that out the hard way (which I’ll get to in a second.)
But, to finish about rebates, simply put: Don’t fall for the scam. Buy for the best price, not for the best promise — especially when the company you’re buying from isn’t controlling whether or not you actually ever see your money.
Now, a quick REAL T-Mobile horror story:
We had a defective phone and after several trips to the T-Mobile (company owned) store, finally got Customer Service to agree to cross-ship us a new phone. We followed all the directions for sending the defective phone back to their distribution center in Georgia. A month later a charge equal to the price of the replacement phone showed up on the bill. So, I called them . . .
They claimed to have not received the defective phone returned to them. Although I knew that was very unlikely, I didn’t argue at the time — just decided to get my info together for the next round. I went to ups.com and tracked the package and got a copy of the tracer number and delivery signature. Armed with this, I assumed that I had the situation in hand. Nope . . .
Even when presented with both pieces of rock solid evidence that they had, in fact, received the phone, they still claimed that it didn’t exist in their inventory and, as such, was our responsiblilty! It didn’t matter whether or not THEY lost the phone after accepting delivery of it — as long as THEY didn’t acknowledge delivery by putting it into their inventory, then as far as they were concerned, it was never delivered.
It was at this time I learned my little tip about threatening them with anything legal. As soon as you do that, you have to deal with their legal department — in writing.
Anyway, it all worked out. They found the phone. They were apologetic. And, I’ve always liked their service (yes, even their Customer Service.) So, after requesting and receiving an accommodation for all my trouble, I stayed with them. And, by the way, no matter how bad it got, no one ever suggested that they’d transfer me to “Cancellations.” After 5 years with them, and more than a few disagreements over various things, I’m sorry but I just find that hard to accept as a credible story. They don’t bend much, but I’ve never had any T-Mobile rep be rude (and, I’ve talked to at least 20 of them at various times.)
Just some thoughts, for what they’re worth . . .
I got a similar issue. My employee has a benefit plan I bought Wing with the phone plan and the unlimited Data plan. The sales rep told me two “mis-leading” information:
“Right now, t-mobile offers $50 rebate for the Wing if you join today”
I didn’t see any rebate form as I was doing the deal over the phone (I was using the Prime Card program, in which the t-mobile give you “via phone” option only. I usually do not have any deals over the phone, as I have many terrible experiences, but in this case, I didn’t doubt what the sales rep told me, simply because the T-mobile is one of the nationally well-known companies.
Several weeks later, I got a mail, says I’m not qualified for the rebate. I was so surprised and regret that I trusted t-Mobile Sales Department.
I called the Customer service, but they told me I won’t qualify for two reasons that I was not informed before completing the deal:
1)The phone plan is only $29.99, not 49.99.
2)Data Plan does not count.
What is the sales department for? To deceive the customer, in stead of helping them? If the t-Mobile were the local small business, then I won’t have been fed up so much. They just gained $50 from me, but also they lost more than $50 — “Trust and customer loyalty”.
Probably my case is just the tip of the iceberg, as I can see so many complaints against T-Mobile over the internet, and even in BBB site (I did’t know the BBB “Company with unsatisfactory records” which is the “bad sign” by BBB)
As everyone in this blog thinking, I will also cancel the service right after the day that my annual contract ends with t-Mobile, and I won’t ever come back.
Lesson learned: I should always check with BBB when making any deals, even with any large companies. And of course, I have to put a PostIt to my phone, says: “No more deals over phone” 🙂
Anyone up for a class action against T-Mobile? The same thing happened to me as everyone else, I just don’t know who to blame, the Rogue Valley Mobile Solution or T-mobile. I lost $120 for 4 $30 rebates, so I am right there with everyone else on getting ripped off. I sent in everything and scanned it onto my pc before sending it. It was on time and correct. If my first overly inflated bill was hard enough to swallow, the $120 “invalid” rebate just kicked me in the teeth.
I just joined T-Mobile last Thursday and I am currently in my 14 day “grace period” as they refer to it. I had to get my Blackberry Pearl phone switched out because it was making a hissing noise in the background. I have read so much negative stuff about T-Mobile that I am second guessing whether to stick with them.
My brother joined on with them about two months ago and has said that everything has gone really well with them so far. His bill is pretty clean looking, no random charges for non-sense (thus far) as we experienced with Sprint non-stop. He did mention though, that he did not get his $50 mail-in rebate with them for the BB Pearl phone that he bought which kind of raised my concern.
I just paid $150 plus tax for mine and they gave me the form for the rebate. If I do make the decision to stay with them, which I may due to the Fave5 and good T-Mobile zone web browsing thing I have….(you can not beat the price of this on a family plan with my brother).
I will be interested to find out if my rebate gets denied, I was promised by the store people (which is about worthless with any company), that the rebate would go through fine because of the plan I chose etc. but I do not believe any of it until I get the check and it clears.
Cell phone companies are really not to be trusted overall as an industry. It is terrible, but that is the way it has gotten. T-Mobile has been good so far though, but I am never too certain about anything when it comes to wireless providers.
I’ve gone through the same junk 3 months later I’ve got nothing 😦 I’m very disappointed and my sister didn’t get her reabate either 😦
It’s happening to me right now over a $30 rebate. Been going on since 12/07..they keep giving me all different kinds of excuses why my rebate stuff I sent in is wrong. Each letter of denial is a DIFFERENT STORY! I would be happy to join others who would like to start a class action suit!
Iam a new victim of these people me and my wife when to all the means of getting our rebate back ,countless hours on the phone ,including from the cosco reps were we bought the phones the best answer they could give (thas the best we could do) false promises,iam also writing to the federal trade comission and the BBB.its nothing but a mere scam!
I love how none of these Yank’s know that were in CANADA. Thats right, fucking Americans aren’t smart enough to figure out a fucking rebate. LEARN TO READ. The terms CLEARLY state why you are unqualified. If the fucking form says that you have to purchase at a T-mobile Dealer, that means that you have to purchase there, not online, not at a T-mobile store, a DEALER. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. Please, for the sanity of all of us down at the rebate center, READ THE FUCKING FORM!
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizen
My bills usually over 300.00 a month they promised me a rebate 6 months ago and still no rebate. Has anyone filed a class action lawsuit. I would like to Join.
Wow, I was about to log into the damn tmobile rebate center because ive been waiting since march and it had gotten denied on the strength of some stupid date issue that was a lie and i had copies, it still says pending, now they said for my new blackberry they would mail it, well i log into check and its for 5/1/08-5/30/08! I’m glad you posted this, because this’ll make $100 they will have to honor.
I do regret to inform you but your rebate checks did actually burn in a rebate fire…. we apologized for the inconvience but there was nothing we could do…
Also, all upc codes that were submitted that we said we didn’t recieve? Those burned as well…
seperate fire, seperate center, all under one god…
MALCOLM X Svc rjt 2X – Info verified processed
You nevva gonna get it, you just never gonna get it!
No rebates for anyone!
Concerned T-Mobile Rebate Employee
Back again, just to update the status of all the rebates that were submitted between the timeframe of 1806-2008:
We do apologize but our rebate checks are currently no longer available. However, we will be sending the value of your rebate in raw hamburger in the mail. You can expect those in 4-7 months, this way we know the hamburger will be in prime condition when it reaches our faithful T-Mobile consumers. Thank you for your understanding.
Coprorate Manager,
Jesus M. Christ
Also, T-Mobile added a new level of Esclation to our supervisor department. We can now transfer you to God.
Thank you for your continued support for T-Mobile, you have an excellent day.
Corporate Manager,
Jesus M. Christ
Jesus ‘The Lifeless’ Christ back again with another update. Turns out that the cows which were to be turned into hamburger were mixed up with the horses which were to be turned into glue. SO! What to do now? WELL. Instead of getting you’re rebate checks now, you will be receiving you’re rebate value in fresh, processed from the hoove glue. This stuff is great for sticking anything to anything! You could even use it in your next rebate to extra-glue those envelopes shut. We don’t want any missing UPC Bar Codes! No sir!
Thank you for your continued support for T-Mobile.
Corporate Manager,
Jesus M. Christ
Employee: Hi, this is _____ and my t-mobile rep ID is ______. How can I help you today?
Customer: Uhm, yeah, I got a fucking letter.
Employee: Really? From who?!
Customer: Santa Clause. WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK?
Employee: Uhm… don’t tell me, I’ll get it…
Customer: YOU, YOU IDIOT!
Employee: OH! I can certainly help out with that kind of letter! Can I get the tracking ID from the top right hand corner of that letter?
Customer: Sure thing, pal. 750278285
Employee: And who am I speaking with today?
Customer: Jesus Christ.
Employee: Okay Jesus, can I get you to verify you’re address for me please?
Customer: 777 Heaven Gates Blvd, Las Vegas Nevada, 77777.
Employee: Great! Would you mind if I place you on a brief hold while I look into this for you?
Customer: *groan* Sure.
Employee: Awesome!
*hold music*
*the original caller, has hung up*
Anyone planning to issue a class action lawsuit, don’t bother. The rebate forms clearly state why you are unqualified if you are. Please read your rebate form prior to submission, or if you are denied, take a second look at it. Also, I don’t believe US law has jurisdiction in Canada.
05/29/2008: High Mail Volume
Here at T-Mobile, its been brought to our attention that a large quanitity of rebate submissions are not making it to our rebate processing center in Chanhassen, MN.
As a result, not all consumers have been recieving their rebate checks due to lost or damaged rebate submissions. Since we have been brought to light on this, we here at T-Mobile have arranged for a new rebate processing center. The new center will be located in the north pole, where Santa Clause has agreed to, with the help of millions of little hands, get your rebates sorted out and processed all in the same night. As well as such, he has also agreed to deliver them, so the day you mail it in, the next day you recieve the check in the mail!
However, due to Santa Clause’s contribution to providing America with their ever-beloved rebate checks, he can no longer provide all the good little girls and boys with presents.
Well, T-monile does hope your proud of yourself and hopes you have a fine day.
Corporate Manager,
Jesus M. Christ
Add me to the list of ‘been screwed’ by T-Mobile. I bought a phone from them at the end of January, and the dealer filled out the forms. I verified everything was correct, and everything got sent in as required. Six weeks later, an envelope arrives from TMobile. I was so excited as I opened it, expecting a check to be inside. REJECTED! Those jerks had waited SIX weeks before telling me it had been rejected? What kind of BS is that?
So I call the number on the letter to challenge the rejection. They said the phone number on my account wasn’t even a TMobile number (which it was), and that it wasn’t their fault it had been rejected (which it was). The supervisor I got transferred to apologized eventually, and said they would reprocess the rebate form and I should see a check in the usual ‘4 to 6 weeks’.
Y e a h R i g h t.
By my calender, it has now been almost 11 working weeks since that phone call. Note the distinction – not 11 calender weeks: 11 work weeks.
Want to know what I was told just know when I called? Rejected the day after it had been resubmitted! They didn’t even bother to send me another letter about it. Of course, the rep said they mailed the notice, but that is absolute BS – nothing ever showed up. 11 WEEKS!
So now it’s the waiting game again. I think I’ll call them a minimum of once a week until this thing goes through. Maybe if I’m an intolerable pest, they’ll send me the money just to make me shut up. Otherwise, I think I’ll contact the local news station here in Seattle. They take great delight in publicly exposing fraud!
I have to wonder about the class action lawsuit issue? Just because their little piece of paper says so, doesn’t mean it will hold water in Federal Court. Might be worth looking into…
As an FYI – this is the 5th or 6th rebate of any size I’ve requested from a large company. And this is the only time I’ve gotten screwed. So those of you who blame all of this on my being a ‘naive consumer’ need to shut up. It’s the greed of TMobile that is at fault, not the intelligence of consumers.
Add me to the list too.
When I signed up with TMobile for the SHADOW, I was told that I did NOT need an internet plan for the rebate or the phone. When I went to submit the rebate, I called their rebate center to confirm: They said I DID need the internet plan of $9.99 + tax, but that I could cancel once the rebate is in the “Processed” stage.
I submitted 3 rebates, and 2 went through perfectly. The third rebate was denied because they could not read the IMEI number. I called them and the CS verified that the IMEI was correct, and he did not know why it was denied. He reprocessed the form and told me to wait 2 weeks.
I called 2 weeks later, and they told me that it could take up to 6 weeks. All this time, I must keep the internet plan active. They verified the rebate and that everything was correct.
6 weeks later, I check the status online, and it was REJECTED for incorrect submission date! I called their CS again who said that it was a “data entry error” and that I have to wait another 6-12 weeks for it to be re-processed. I stated that this was unacceptable and was transferred to supervisor, “STEVE”. Steve told me “We realize that it is an error, but we do not accept fault. These things happen.” I stated to him that this was not acceptable, and he has to fix this. He said, “No, I cannot do that. Actually, I no longer am going to re-submit your rebate”!!! When I asked Why, his response was that he acknowledges that this was the rebate processing center’s error, but they are not required to resubmit anything. If I have a problem, call TMobile Customer Service.
I called TMobile, and they applied the rebate to my account ASAP.
This is still unacceptable. Why did they make me wait 2 months+ for no reason?!?!?!
I believe that this is a scam so they can force you to stay on their internet plan for $10/mo+Tax ($14/mo).
My rebate was pretty much useless at this point, since I paid that amount for the internet fees, which I didnt use at all.
T-mobile is a total rip-off, they tried to pull that internet crap on me initially, even thought when I ordered my phone through customer service (611) I was never told I had to activate internet service and there is no way I am going to. Then I was told that I dont qualify for the rebate, not sure what the reason is and I was only told this after I complained about not being able to access the status via theri website with the fake reference number they provided. T-mobile is a scam and I have filed complaints with the BBB, Public Utilities Commission, and the FCC and I will continue to file complaints and send emails until I get my money!
To all those devastated by there denials on their rebates.
I do admit there are times when mistakes happen, and also a great many of faults in the system to begin with that create these problems. The system is not fool proof. Continued improvement is the goal. I assure you as an TM rebate rep, I always start every call with the intent of fixing the problem at hand and to ensure customer satisfaction. I also assure you I see just as many checks mailed out in a day as I do denials. You don’t read stories about people who are enthusiastic about their experience with TM and customer care. I promise there are reps who care to get you what you deserve.
Tmobile is no more of a rip off than any other corporation offering mail in rebates. It is a game you choose to play the moment you sign the card and mail it off! There are rules and procedures to follow like any other regimine. Whether you are illiterate; lazy; too carefree or so cloaked in your sense of entitlement that you avoid reading every last word on the card, it creates a vulnerability in your request. It was your choice not to understand the requirements fully before applying.
I would also like to mention the voice call rate plans. If you are denied for not having a qualifying rate plan, yet your rate plan fully suits your needs, then consider yourself ahead in the game. Qualifying rate plans are set up for you to actually pay the rebate back over the term of your service agreement. In fact in most cases you pay double the rebate. Do the math.
If you have a problem call the rebate center and be civil with the reps. If they are not seeming to be able to help, at least your friendliness will go unnoticed and you could call back to try getting another rep who may be better educated or more willing to help out. The moment you create havoc, you are not likely being paid attention to in any sort of concerning way and the chance of extra help is next to none. In addition, notes are often left for other reps to see when you become irate.
We have often called through to customer care and had issues resolved instantly through account credits simply by applying common manners and equal respect by all parties. It depends on your initial demeanor in most cases.
1-877-311-8853…call it and be nice. We will be nice back.
In my opinion: Any rebate offer by any product provider is not exactly built around the intention of making your purchase cheaper. If that were the case it would be sold at a discount price instantly. Where else in the world but the US do you see mail in rebates so prominent. Its because it works for the corporations, but I assure you; no different than casinos; the corporations have all corners covered and do not intend to do anything but profit.
I work for Tmobile, and you guys are a joke.
Did you know that the reason you all get rejected is USUALLY on the form.
If one more person says,”They didn’t TELL ME I needed the $9.99 add on,” I’ll scream.
Are you two years old? Are you? NO. You’re grown ass adults that should be able to read and write english.
Stop acting like a kid in a candy store, open up your eyes and look at what you’re filling out.
ALSO, did you ever think that mayyybe the person selling you the phone mayyyy be on commission.. so mayyyyybe they’re just trying to make a sale?
The excuse we love hearing is, “I only bought this phone because of the rebate!” Look, that’s not my problem you’re that stupid. Get the phone you want. Pay the price. Consider a rebate A BONUS, it’s not something you’re just entitled to automatically, you apply for it – so follow the terms and conditions.
MAKE PHOTOCOPIES OF EVERYTING YOU SEND IN.
Oh, you didn’t think that was necessary? That’s unfortunate. Think ahead a little, maybe, plan for something to go wrong and maybe for once it wouldn’t.
SEND THE UPC BARCODE IT IS NOT MY FAULT IF YOU THREW OUT THE BOX, YOUR GODDAMN KID ATE IT, ETC.
Look, I realize the letters you’re getting are irritating. I’d be irritated too. Realize though, that when you call in and have a huge ass attitude right off the bat, we choose not to cooperate. There are occasionally exceptions that can be made, but we’re not like other companies, where if you complain enough we appease you. If you bitch, say you want to leave the company, the response is, “Alright, I’m sorry you feel that way, I’ll get you right over to Customer Care so you can cancel your account.” The people who are nice about it, are the ones who get processed.
I don’t get paid NEAR enough to listen to you bitch about $50. If the $50 is so much to you, that you want to call your lawyer, call the police, call the Better Business Bureau, blah blah blah.. then maybe you shouldn’t be pissing your money away on a cell phone. No one NEEDS a cell phone.
You can complain all you want. But I don’t believe for one second that you can all say, and mean it, that you have a job where you NEVER screw anyone over, and you make EVERYONE happy.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO ALL OF YOU THAT THE REBATE CENTER IS S E P A R A T E FROM CUSTOMER CARE. ALL WE HANDLE IS REBATES. IF YOU THINK YOUR PHONE IS A PIECE OF SHIT, IT PROBABLY IS. IF YOU THINK YOUR BILL IS TOO HIGH, IT PROBABLY IS. IF YOU THINK THE STORE WHERE YOU BOUGHT THE PHONE FUCKED YOU, THEY PROBABLY DID.
COME ON PEOPLE. THIS IS LIFE. PEOPLE WILL SCREW YOU, JUST LIKE YOU ALL SCREW OTHERS. IT’S THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS. TAKE OFF YOUR ROSE COLOURED GLASSES WHEN YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR A PHONE. READ THE FORM.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE.
I’ve had so many people threaten to sue me personally. Anyone who says this, you’re a joke. I live in Canada. You’re outsourcing jobs, then you get mad. How typical. We all sit around at work and laugh at you when you get off the phone. If you swear and freak out and cry and bitch and complain and threaten us, WE SIT THERE AND LAUGH AT YOU. Do you think we care? No. Not a chance in hell. It’s entertainment. You can’t touch us, we don’t even live in the same country. But here’s the best part, you’ll freak because we’re Canadian, however the real joke is, the calls I get that are the most difficult to take are from YOU. Americans. Foreigners that now reside in America. Look, I understand, it’s cool, you live there now, but get someone to translate your form for you, and the phonecall you make to us, because it’s not my fault if you don’t understand. If you don’t understand IN STORE WHEN PURCHASING ask questions.
The other thing that gets me about you guys is dissing the way we pronounce words. One of you corrected me over the phone, yelled at me, ” IT’S PRAWCESS NOT PROCESS!” No, sorry, it’s not. Look at the way it’s spelt. It’s not spelt ‘prawcess’ it’s ‘PROcess’ – pick up another book before you try and teach me a think or two about english. Fuck off with that, because you’re a joke to me.
Almost done here, hang in here with me. ..
When you yell at me, and say, “YOU’RE TAKING MY MONEY!!” Rethink it before you say it. If I personally had the money that hundreds of people have accused me of keeping, I wouldn’t be at that job! I work in the rebate center, I never see a fucking dime of the money you shelled out for the phone. Don’t tell me how my job is done or how I’m keeping things from you – you’re keeping it from yourself.
If these stupid rebates upset you this much, you have too much time on your hands and need to get a hobby. Live life, stop getting caught up in the pennies, you likely make enough money that the $50 rebate you just lost out on because YOU screwed it up, is JUST a drop in the bucket.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT PEOPLE.
xo.
YOUNG AMERICA ROCKS by the way.
what the hell do you think we’re stealing your upc for?? confetti??? i don’t give a shit about it and i don’t want it. MAKE A COPY!
“These guys are scam artists and their rebate call center employees doesn’t speak english very well.” I THINK YOU MEAN… “These guys are scam artists and their rebate call center employees DON’T speak english very well.” GOOD ARGUEMENT…….?
Everyone needs to stop calling it fraud. We don’t lie to you. It’s ALL on the form.
Bills? Excuse me that’s Customer Care, not Young America.
Evan Rietdyk is the MAN!
JOHN #43, no it does not say ANY plan. 29.99 has to be VOICE BARRED/HEARING IMPAIRED on a sidekick. 34.99 is the standard for anything. READ, PEOPLE, READ.
CINDY in 50… awww. sob story… you TRUSTED us, that’s cute. wake up you live in the real world, look out for yourself, you’re a grown ass woman.
#60, your bill is over $300 because YOU USE THE PHONE, incurring those charges! what the hell are you trying to say?! you’re not just handing out money, tmobile provided phone service to you???
PS i’m behind #73.
When I called T-Mobile, the recorded message said my refund hac been mailed 8 weeks prior but I had not received it. I could not figure out how to get to a live person. After reading people’s comments, I almost gave up. I decided to call one more time. This time I held through the two rounds of the recording without pushing any buttons and was put on hold for a live person. About 2 minutes later, Louis came on the line. Very friendly, almost chatty to the point I learned he once lived in my home state. He explained that the zip code was read incorrectly so my refund was returned to them. The store rep where I bought the phone filled out the form and as I looked at my copy I could understand that happening. Less than a week after this call, I received my refund. I wrote this because I thought it was time for a positive comment about T-Mobile. My phone and my service are great.
Call early in the morning, you’ll get through much faster. Remember that Customer Service is often a thankless job. Be kind.
I too would welcome the opportunity to join a class-action lawsuit against T-Mobile.
In January 2008 I purchased a Motorola W490 cell phone for my daughter and was informed I was eligible for a $50 rebate. I completed the rebate form and submitted it within the time period allowed.
I was notified later that I did not qualify for the rebate because of “invalid activation/purchase date”.
I reapplied 2 more times only to get the same response.
T-Mobile is really a scam, a fraud. I sent in 2 mail rebates and only receive the rebate for 1. I called Tmobile rebate and they said they didn’t received it. Okie, that’s fine. I don’t make copy of the UPC so I asked if I can send my receipt in and they told me, it won’t work without the UPC code.
I don’t get it. It’s simple. I have the receipt, my phone number haven’t been claimed for any rebate. It’s a closed loop. They can check the system that I upgrade my phone and haven’t claim for rebate.
T-mobile used to be Voicestream and they were charged wrong minutes in every monthly invoice. I quitted them about several months.
T-mobile should wake up. No one wants to use it’s services anymore.
Attention to Danny #78, T-Mobile requires that you send each rebate in separate envelopes in order process each rebate. Copies should be made in case of any piece of mail is lost when being sent to the process center.
The reason they require a UPC sticker, is so that they can verify the IMEI number on the phone, as each IMEI number is unique with each SIM card in each phone.
Make your lives easier and read what you are applying for.
P.S. If you read the fine-print, you would see that Terms and Conditions can change at any time, without notice to the customer, and that Magenta is registered with T-Mobile.
Actually, Number 79, the reason we need the bar code sticker is because once the bar code sticker is removed, the customer is no longer able to return the phone. It is an anti-fraud procedure, and that is why it is required.
Fuck YA That place is a joke and if you ever send in for a rebate dont expect to get it because we will reject and reject you till it expires then when you call customer care they dont give a shit either. EVAN RIETDYK IS THE MAN!!!!!! GO TO HELL YA
wow. i love how people dont have anything better to do then complain about not qualifing for their $50. rebates. do you do this about all other companies that say you dont qualify because you did not read the terms & conditions. is filing something to the BBB really worth your time when its your own fault?
you live in america! EVERYONE, including immigrants should be capable of reading and writing the dam language!!!!!
so why dont you READ YOUR REBATE FORM you were provided. the info written on those forms isnt just for shits, its on there to read! STORE REPS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TELL YOU THE DETAILS OF THE REABTE!
it says right on the rebate form :
No employee, dealer or agent is authorized to make, and no customer is entitled to rely upon, any representation (other than described in this rebate request form) about a rebate or change in any terms of a rebate.
AND ANYONE!! WHO BUYS A SMART PHONE WHY WOULDNT YOU HAVE THE EMAIL FEATURE? IT DOES NOT MAKE SENCE. AND ON THE FORM IT SAYS: Note: Purchase of one of the handsets/devices below also requires activation of a BlackBerry or Windows Mobile Data Feature Add-on of $9.99 or higher, plus a T-Mobile voice plan of $39.99 per line of service or $49.99 for FamilyTime rate plan up to 5 lines of service or activation on a voice and data bundle of $59.99 or higher.
Blackberry 8700/8705
Blackberry 8100 Pearl
Blackberry 8320 CURVE
SideKick Slide
SideKick LX
SideKick 3 & D-Wade
SideKick ID
T-Mobile Shadow
T-Mobile DASH
T-Mobile Wing
WE DONT MAKE THIS SHIT UP! READ!!!!!!
ohh, and anyone who recieves a rebate card and says “no one told me i would be getting this, i just cut it up.” why the hell would you do that? on the rebate form there is a IMAGE OF THE CARD! so you were informed you would be getting that, pay attention!!!
we as reps do not enjoy being screamed at because of YOUR mistakes. i dont think half of you complaining would be able to do this job for an hour. think of it on our end. dont shoot the messanger, it doesnt get you anywhere! all we are doing is our jobs, and we definately do not get paid enough to listen to your meaningless threats and bitching. we do not talk bad about your employees or how you do your job. dont talk shit about our because your mad because YOU FUCKED YOURSELF OVER!!!
suck it up apparently your grown adults, act like it! dont buy something because you were “guarenteeded” you would be getting $50 back. and dont buy 12 year olds $500 phones when its going to be stolen within a month!! kids should not have cell phones untill they are old enough to pay for it themselves!
there are alot more important things going on in this world like the stupid “war” for example! then your 10 cell phones and $50 your “supposed” to get back for them!
get a reality check people! stop blaming others and look at yourself for a change!
please, find something better to do then bitch! thats not any way to live to always be dependant on money and have nothing better to do then complain about it!
how about worry about all the kids in africa that are starving to death and would kill for your $50!!!!!! and the oportunity to even know how a cell phone works! STOP BEING SO GOD DAM SELFISH! AND THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE and do not even know how a cell phone works! NO FAMILY NEEDS 5 BLACKBERRYS!!!
rethink your lifestyle, and stop your bitching, you are fortunate enough to live in a safe county like the states you take enough forgranted. think alittle bit about others and maybe your country will be better? maybe.
hopefully this will give you something to think about.
peace out.
I came across this website while searching for others’ experiences with T-Mobile rebates. I’m very sorry to see so many poor experiences. I thought I would respond with my own personal experience.
My wife and I bought two BlackBerry Curves a couple months back. We sent in the rebate forms ($100 per phone), and about a month later we received reimbursement for one rebate … but not the other.
Unfortunately, my experience with calling the “Rebate Center” was frustrating. The first time I called, they were “unable to locate” the second rebate, and they asked me to send in copies of the rebate documentation, which I dutifully did. The second time I called, they still couldn’t locate the rebate, and told me to call back later. To be fair, both times I called, the reps were polite, but it just didn’t seem like they were empowered to help outside of reading their scripts.
A quick call to T-Mobile’s customer service got an immediate credit to my account after 3 minutes on the phone.
I’d like to offer a few suggestions:
1. When you bought your phone, you signed a contract with T-Mobile, not T-Mobile’s third-party rebate processor. If you’re getting nowhere with the Rebate Center, don’t hesitate to call T-Mobile’s customer service number. You don’t have to deal with a third-party if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. Let T-Mobile deal with their own vendors.
2. Always keep copies of rebate forms and supporting documentation. Yeah, I know, you shouldn’t have to, but you never know what’s going to happen. When a couple hundred dollars of rebates are on the line, a few photocopies are a small price to pay.
3. Always, ALWAYS, be polite and respectful on the phone. I used to work customer service, and I know that the people I went the extra mile for were the people who treated me with respect. You’d be surprised what can be accomplished if you keep your cool and your eye on the prize.
Now, that being said, T-Mobile’s decision to have a mail-in rebate program, while consistent with the industry, does more to damage the company’s image than anything else. Sure, they’re going to save a few bucks, but at the expense of encouraging an environment where customer dissatisfaction can fester. (The comments in this blog are proof positive.) T-Mobile seriously needs to discontinue mail-in rebates, and move to some other type of system, such as “instant” point-of-sale rebates, or similar. If they did, they could turn the fact that they don’t use mail-in rebates into a competitive advantage. (One of the reasons I switched from TurboTax to TaxCut several years back is because I got tired of all the mail-in rebates – no less than three one year!)
Oh, and to all the “reps” who have graced this blog entry, all I have to say is … wow. If you really are representatives of Young America or T-Mobile, then you are an embarrassment to yourself and the companies you work for. Yeah, maybe not getting reimbursed $25 or $50 or $100 is, in the grand scheme of things, not a whole lot to get worked up over, but I don’t think it’s too much to ask T-Mobile to live up to its commitments, just like they expect me to live up to mine and pay my bill every month.
My story is a little different. Last week I stopped at a T-Mobile Kiosk to upgrade. They told me I could get a phone for free with the rebate. I specifically asked them if all the rebate info was in the bag. However, when i got home there was no rebate information and then I discovered i’d been charged $18 for extending my plan with them. It’s not the money that bothered me but the fact that they never told me that charge was included.
Anyway, I returned the phone but the guys at the Kiosk said they didn’t know how to do a return. I called 611 and a gal named Tasha told me to leave the phone and when the manager came in that afternoon she’d do a 3-way call and get my credit. Well, I was never called. I called the number on a copy of the receipt and that phone number is not in service. I’ve called customer service several times and even though I have Tasha’s id number I can’t get hold of her and they don’t have a new phone number for this authorized dealer. They tell me I should just get in the car and drive the 30 miles to the mall. I’m so upset__isn’t this called “theft”.
So, as I’ve been seeing the rebate scams continue… It is true that it is a scam, what else can you really say? Sometimes we give you a rebate, sometimes we don’t. In reality, its all on how the rep feels that day, as it is with every call center job.
What I can suggest though is this. How do you like it when someone calls you freaking out? You don’t care much for it. Now picture a rep who’s been sitting there all day, most trying to pay their way through college or support their family because its one of the VERY few jobs available in our area, no matter your qualifications, and some asshole who’s upset about 50 bucks calls and rips you a new one because hes just doing his job…. I can’t tell you how many times I don’t help customers, and every single customer that has been polite to me, I’ve reprocessed their rebate with the correct information that they gave me OVER THE PHONE which is completely against T-Mobile rules and regulations, and in 30 days they receive their rebate. However, costumers who are ignorant, and think that it is my OBLIGATION to assist them, no matter how ignorant they are, they will hear this line exactly:
“I’m sorry sir/ma’am, but I am looking at your rebate submission here and I cannot see that you submitted your UPC code. I apologize but it is past post mark date and is no longer available for resubmission. Please have a great day and thank you for choosing T-Mobile.”
As with anyone you talk to, your gonna get the better deal with the better attitude you have. Keep being pricks, and your going to get jack-shit in return. It is our choice whether or not you get your rebate. Not T-Mobiles, not the courier services, but Ours.
I know, being American, it is not in your genetic structure to be polite to anyone, and for some odd reason I could see a war beginning over this:
“T-Mobile funded U.S Army invades Canada, looking for missing rebate checks. China and Russia retaliate removing U.S from the globe. No one misses it, world begins to move forward into peace induced Utopia.”
(BTW, Canada and Russia are now allies, and Russia and China, yes, are still allies. While Russia is part of the U.N… The whole of the U.N is looking to vote the U.S out.(
But you need to learn to be more like your more liked neighbour, Canada. Make fun of us all you want, but we have free health care… Good luck getting in a car accident without ‘insurance’.
Grow up, throwing a hissy fit isn’t going to get you shit.
*Sigh*
I just decided to read a few of your complaints… What can I say? With attitudes like that, what on earth are you expecting? What makes you think this is a big conspiracy… because you didn’t get your 50 bucks which means someone must be hoarding all this money with the intent to endorse an army made of transforming blackberries?
You guys are hilarious! Learn to read, I don’t even know what else there is to say about this. But as someone did state, why would you buy something with the idea of actually getting 100 dollars back at a later time? That’s like lending money to a crackhead and expecting payment in a week!
See, here in Canada, where we are located by the way, when we purchase cellphones, they are free… We pay for the phone in our monthly bills, which in most cases are a completely unnoticeable charge.
Besides, why are you so concerned about 50 bucks? Hell, I spend more than that on a video game… ONE Video game. And working at YA (Young America, for all of those who can’t put a simple abbriviation together) pays minimum wage in Canada (8.75/h) where our Supervisors make the same, and our Leads don’t do jack shit but bitch at us for doing a job they won’t do. Forgive us for not having that much incentive to better serve you. Bitch at T-Mobile for not spending the little extra money to give us the money we need to care. Hell, Nucomm international is another call center, right across the street from YA, that deals with Comcast Cable internet, phone and television services, need it be tech support, sales, or anything. They get paid 11/h with full benefits. I worked there, great environment.
Anyways, fuck off. Grow up. Go pick on another little country and vote bush back in, noobs.
I have been ripped off $200 for two rebates on blackberry curves from t-mobile. I received 3 different letters with 3 different excuses from tmobile about why I am not getting my $200 back from them. I have contacted the attorney generals office which is very good with handling rip offs like t mobile. I also wrote to the BBB and Federal trade commission. I will post my results as soon as I hear anything back from my contacts. I would like to file a class action suit against t mobile for forceing people to purchase online service for blackberry when you can use your blackberry with any wifi you are near. The blackberry detects wifi so you can use your G mail and search the interent for FREE!
I have been ripped off twice with T-Mobile. I sent a rebate form when I got the plan 4 years ago and my rebate was unable to be processed. Now it happened again when I upgraded my plan for 2 years contract; my $50,00 rebate was unable to be processed again. Now I am stuck with this bad company for 2 more years. I know this is a game that they are playing with customers, we will lose now but they will lose more later. I am changing for another company.
your so right about this company. I’ve been with them for 2/3 years now and I ordered many phones from them and every rebate I sent in was always declined and I would have to call in and wait longer for my money. Also, at the moment I’m trying to make a complaint about this company because I sent in a phone that I wasn’t satisfied with within the time period that I had and they still charged me for it and so my lines been suspended for almost 3 weeks now. I’ve been calling and calling to talk to a representative and I would like to say I pretty much talked to everyone. I call one after other to argue and explain my situation all over again. I had one representative that told me that they can’t credit my line unless I get the tracking number so they could see when it was shipped out. I followed his steps and went to a UPS store, called a UPS customer agent and ask for the information and the UPS agent said so herself that the company DOES NOT have that information and that Tmobile should have all those information. So this whole time these representatives been lieng to me and scamming me! They don’t write down the notes that they say they will write because I would have a representative tell me theres no note that says this or that. My line is still suspended and still being charged for the monthly payments. I’m have difficulty as of right now, especially how the economy is so bad. I’m trying so hard to argue with these people. I seriously hate Tmobile. They rip you off and totally lies!
ooook I mailed in my $50 rebate. It was approved 2 weeks later according to the site and shipped a few days later. This was August 27 2008 according to TMobile. HMMMM 2 months later and not here !! I will be calling this week to complain !
to every body out there i do understand you are frustrated with not getting your rebates well i want to express my experince of tmobile they may not be able to get you process but they have wonderful customerservice how many places have you called and someone asked you how was your day or how was your weekend to me i may not get my rebate in a timely manner but i am not as mad when i talk to a repersenative and as for the reps that worked at the rebate center just because you say you are in canada doesnt make you any better than americans and also i was raised in canada and maybe you werent raised to be polite but i know alot of canadians that have never been as rude as you were just when ppl call in you let them vent yes it may be frustrating but thats sometimes all we want so ya reps that posted on here grow up my son acts more major then you
well, I have had 2 out of 3 submitted rebates denied (so I’ve got $50, lost $100). All 3 phones were purchased from t-mobile.com and rebate forms/proof of purchase/sticker from side of box carefully submitted. All 3 were on the same family plan. Clearly someone at Young America made a mistake in approving the one I did get! (or do they do that occasionally?) ultimately, I don’t really care about $100, but I do care about being scammed.
I definitely think there should be a class action lawsuit, this is a very blatant ripoff.
To the people who work the phones at Young America, I feel very sorry for you, it must be a miserable job. To the criminal ‘executives’ who run Young America, you are scum.
I believe it is also important to distinguish t-mobile from Young America – 2 years ago when I went through the same thing, after I had repeatedly tried (and failed) to get my rebate from Young America, I called t-mobile customer service (i.e. not the rebate center) and they immediately gave me a credit on my account. If you are denied a rebate, I suggest calling tmobile customer service as one option to get the money they promised you.
Finally – have t-mobile realized the damage they are doing to their reputation with being involved with this scam? looking at their website today for phone upgrades, it seems like the mail in rebates have disappeared.
Maybe if T-Mobile’s 3rd party vendor doing rebates would spend more time helping victims of their scams rather than spending hours making up lame excuses for their piss poor actions on this and several other blogs things would get better.
No other company has 1/10th the complaints of t-mobile for rebate fraud. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its probably a minnesota loser with the perfect phone face…
P.S. Just because your a telemarketer doesn’t make you a loser. When someone in distress is dealt with poorly, that makes you a loser.
hm…
i renewed my subscription with t mobile, got two new phones with an 18$ upgrade and $100 paid on the spot. then they sent me the rebate with a prepaid visa card. it really was no hassle. just follow the directions!
Sent in my rebate info for $50.00 rebate 6 weeks later I received a rejection letter, telling me basically, I did it wrong (The rep at the store filled out all my info, and made copies for me!) I called and was told that there was a “glitch” , gave me a new tracking # and sit back and wait for my check…four weeks later I try the tracking # and it shows denied. One more call to cust. sevr., was told when they punch on my tracking # it shows on their end that it was being processed. “Your check is on the way….”
I called again, told the same thing today should be there by 12/4/08…. we shall see.
October 22, 2008
Mr. Robert P. Dotson, President & CEO
Mr. Brian Kirkpatrick, Exec. VP & CFO
Ms. Susan Nokes, Chief Customer & Operations Officer
T-Mobile USA Headquarters
12920 SE 38th Street
Bellevue,WA 98006
Dear: Mr. Dotson, Mr. Kirkpatrick and Ms. Nokes:
This is a letter of complaint regarding attempted service that I recently received from T-Mobile customer service representatives.
On October 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 2008 I called T-Mobile to find out how to deal with a problem I’ve been having with PDA T-Mobile “Dash.” There have been several critical issues they could not resolve several times prior to those dates and up to the present, as well.
Repeatedly, I had to explain my phone issues to several different people, while continually being put on hold waiting for the next person to whom I would repeat the entire thing over to. None of your customer service representatives seemed to either be understanding me or listening, and kept asking me the same questions over and over. The team of T-Mobile “Dash experts” put me on hold for several minutes, and then returned to say they could not help me. As you can imagine, I was becoming quite frustrated. As a person who has traveled the world and grown up in Europe, and now living in the United States, I can honestly say that I have never, ever received such poor, adverse and often hostile treatment from anybody, as I felt I did from your customer service team. There were some extremely nasty and spiteful words exchanged, and these coming from your management leaders.
United States, I can honestly say that I have never, ever received such poor, adverse and often hostile treatment from anybody, as I felt I did from your customer service team. There were some extremely nasty and spiteful words exchanged, and these coming from your management leaders.
I pay T-Mobile $120/month for the top-service plan. I rely upon your network and service to conduct my daily business – my livelihood. You can imagine my anger when just last month, my business minutes amounted to 600, but there were 4,000 minutes talking to T-Mobile customer service! My business has suffered because I have missed multiple messages, emails, texts, etc. Productivity has gone down and I have lost money, as a result. This is completely unacceptable!
I am a smart and educated person with multiple degrees. I speak four different languages. My field of expertise is governmental law. I deal with people around the world every single day. I understand what customer service is and how it is to be done. I treat every person in my office – workers, administrators, judges – as well my family members and friends – with dignity and respect. Yes, I ultimately expressed anger and frustration, but one should expect a much higher level of service from your company, and I am quite disappointed.
I have returned this T-Dash cell phone three different times, and the same problem still exists. I received another phone, the Pearl 8100 Blackberry, but this phone, for the price I paid, does not have anything even close to the capabilities and features that the Dash
has. The Pearl is difficult to operate and the instructions are not clear at all. The phone is all plastic and cheap looking, certainly not the professional appearance I need, nor does it have the features needed to conduct my business successfully.
I detected sarcasm and an air of flippancy from your customer service team. They denied almost every request I had, and would not provide me with answers to my questions because many did not know the answers or how to even handle or address the problem! All they could do was transfer me to the next person to repeat my story, which of course, was relayed to them in a stronger manner, each time I was forced to repeat it with absolutely no positive results coming my way. These people I dealt with over the phone as well as in your downtown Boston and Lynn, MA offices need proper training on how to handle real issues with these complex devices, as opposed to just taking orders.
I am not asking for much. I have already lost so much in business, time and money, as a result. I do, however, expect a full refund of $300, or a replacement with an adequate unit – meaning a phone with a full keyboard, bigger screen, etc. – and most important – one that works! If you have another reasonable solution, please let me know. I want this done, once and for all.
I hope this letter will have some impact on you, members of the Executive Team and leaders at T-Mobile. If you have any questions, I am happy to speak with you at any time. My your downtown Boston and Lynn, MA offices need proper training on how to handle real issues with these complex devices, as opposed to just taking orders.
I am not asking for much. I have already lost so much in business, time and money, as a result. I do, however, expect a full refund of $300, or a replacement with an adequate unit – meaning a phone with a full keyboard, bigger screen, etc. – and most important – one that works! If you have another reasonable solution, please let me know. I want this done, once and for all.
I hope this letter will have some impact on you, members of the Executive Team and leaders at T-Mobile. If you have any questions, I am happy to speak with you at any time. My contact information is below. You will have no problem getting in touch with me and I look forward to hearing from you in a timely manner. Thank you very much in advance.
Sincerely,
Marinko Radakovic
7 Highland Street
Swampscott, MA 01907
Home: 781-842-3147
Cell: 781-858-0779
Work: 617-523-4550 x3051
E-mail: Marinko140@aol.com
For everybody that wondering what I will do I will chase this team exsecutives every day untill somebody don.t do something. They are bunche lazy and incompenent people they need to be remove from jobs. NOW. There is no problem when they recive bonuses and 20 milion dollars in salarys. I will adress this issues with Congress and take every political steps so this people can recive Justice. This is LEGAL ROBBERY. In the State Mass you Going for long time in Jail… So everybody can read my problems with T-mobil.
I recently got SAMSUNG Expresso from T-Mobile, and applied for $50 MIR, I got a mail from T-mobile to resubmit.
It says NO SKU/Product #. What crap is this. The SKU is common for all phones. Why cann’t we Sue this company.
I have been with T-mobile for 5 years, I fell out of contract for just over a year (month-to-month) contemplating of switching carriers. Anyways I decided upgrade to the Blackberry Curve, for another two year contract. WRONG MOVE. So they claim there is a $100 mail in rebate. Since I have upgraded 2 months ago I have receive 3 different letters. The 1st one was something about invalid SKU # and remember: this was cut straight from the box. Called Customer Care and according to them some IEMI and SKU # wasn’t inputted in the system yet, WHATEVER THE HELL THAT MEANS. So after about 6 or 7 calls and screaming and demanding to speak to a manager. Some lady name Sue rep ID 881035 claims she reprocessed the rebate. OK, then today I check the status online and it say DENIED again. Only to also receive a letter that says my 10-digit number does not meet the tenure requirement. WHATEVER THE HELL THAT MEANS. It’s no longer about the money, it’s the principle. As there is a GOD above I will not stop. I definitely go through the Better Business Bureau .
I am with T-mobile since 2002. I was out of any contract years before. I got a blackbery curve from authorized t-mobile dealer in FL. The store gave me a form for $100 rebate. They told me to change my plan and be treated as a new plan. I did change to a family plan and added my wife. I brought her from Verizon and paid $150.00 penaly to verizon for early termination of her contract. Finally t-mobile denied my rebate for invalid activation date. I don’t know what it means? Why their authorized people tell something different. Shouldn’t t-mobile take responsibility of what their employees and/or authorized people say. Looks like it is a scam and worst marketting strategy. Denny Post, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President seems to be encourage these scams. I am leaving t-mobile. Being a customer for 6 years, this is what I get from them! Every carrier is skilled now and who would give a sh** to t-mobile?
I wish some attorney go forward to help victim’s of t-mobile’s fraud.
Having identical problem Customer since 2002, bought new phones with “rebate” back in August. Still have not gotten!
Just add me to the list. I believe it is intentional rebate fraud and I have contactem the Arizona Attorney General. If you have similar problems, Let your AG know. Most of the time the compalint can be done online.
Thank you for your post. I called about my rebate and after the customer service agent researched the issue he determined it was filed internally by T-Mobile under “the wrong form”. He assures me once it’s reprocessed it I will receive the rebate within 30 business days despite my concerns that the rebate would continue to be mishandled and denied.
I almost never purchase products under rebate because my experience is that companies deny them by default and leave no way to dispute or appeal the decision (at least T-Mobile provides an avenue for appeal). Of course I have no proof but am convinced it’s standard practice. I shouldn’t have put my faith into T-Mobile. Burning people on rebates is the lowest of the low.
I have filed complaints with the BBB, FTC, and my Attorney General.
The same thing happened to me and my boyfriend, but after the second time we received a “rebate denied” letter from them, we called up and gave them hell. Twice.
That seemed to work. We both received our $50 rebates a week or so later.
Just like some of you guys, I followed all the instructions regarding the mail-in rebates but received a denial letter from T-Mobile.
The reason was: I didn’t use the phone within two weeks of purchase.
I bought the cellphone from a T-Mobile authorized dealer and they did not tell me that I have to use the phone within 2 weeks after purchase. I bought it as a gift for my son who’s arriving from overseas. I contacted T-Mobile customer service and they’re not aware of this policy. Also, it’s not in the agreement. I went back to the store where I bought and activated the phone. They’re not aware of this also. They contacted the rebate center and was reassured that it will be processed accordingly.
Two weeks later I received another denial letter. Now, I am really upset and planning to contact BBB, FTC, and the State AG’s office as some of you did.
Any idea about this “phone must be used within 2 weeks of purchase/activation”?
Please let me know. Thanks guys!
Hi,
I submitted two tmobile rebates in November of 2008. For one rebate, it was denied so I called in to ask why. The rep said that it was just a system error and that they will reprocess – should take 4 to 6 more weeks.
As for the second rebate, they claimed that they never received it, so I sent in my copies in the beginning of January 2009. However, when I checked the online system, they have the incorrect phone number by one digit. So I called in to notify them of the correct number. They said the only thing they can do is wait for the rebate to be rejected. Then, I can call in again to ask to reprocess. So now, I have to wait 4-6 weeks for them to deny this rebate. Then wait another 4-6 weeks for them to reprocess it.
Point is, although I submitted my 2 rebates in November of 2008, I might not see my gift cards until March or April – a whole five months.
Also, I had submitted another 2 rebates back in November. THey were able to mail me two gift cards, but they addressed it to someone else’s name! But I was able to use the cards to pay my Tmobile bill, so that was okay.
The point is, I think they are purposely being incompetent so that they don’t have to pay out.
I just got off the phone with a rep after receiving the “valid T-Mobile SKU/Product #” message.
These letters go out when the processing company and T-Mobile don’t communicate and the system automatically rejects SKU numbers not on the approved list, even though the sku is a variant of the proper SKU (that’s the nature of SKUs)
I called in knowing I had sent in everything I was supposed to send, and waited while the courteous rep resolved the issue and gave me a revised tracking number.
So, treated fairly so far, still within the original 6-8 week window. I’ll be back if something changes 😉
Here’s an update to my December 30th comment.
I received a call from a gentleman in the “president’s office” who apologized for any inconvenience and offered to credit $50 to my account. The rebate was for $100 and he took my word for it and credited that amount.
I waited a few business days and reviewed the comments on my BBB complaint. Here’s what was reported by T-Mobile.
“Per the terms and conditions outlined on the rebate form, in order to be eligible for the rebate, Mr. (Jorgen) was required to complete the rebate form for the device that he purchased and mail it into T-Mobile. T-Mobile records indicate that we received a rebate form for a different device than the one Mr. (Jorgen) purchased. As such, the rebate was denied. In an effort to amicably resolve the matter, T-Mobile has applied a credit of $100.00 to Mr. (Jorgen) ‘ s account for the disputed rebate. Based upon the above, we respectfully request this matter be closed.”
The rebate form states “valid only for purchase of qualifying handset upgrade” and DOES NOT LIST units which qualify anywhere on the form. The only units listed are those with special ADDITIONAL requirements. I had to trust that the T-Mobile store representative was competent enough to give me the correct form. Furthermore I sincerely doubt I was given the wrong form.
I am furious that T-Mobile is so incompetent they cannot understand their own terms and conditions. The gentleman (from the president’s office) who called me on this issue stated the rebate was for $50 however credited the full $100 on my word alone. To clarify $50 was for a 1-year contract renewal and $100 was for a 2-year renewal. I had gone for the 2-year.
The rebate form does not show any dollar amount for the rebate so I imagine they must look it up internally and internal problems prevent them from seeing two different available amounts (surprise surprise). The only indication on the rebate form itself for two different amounts is that under Eligibility Requirements it says “1-Year” or “2-Year”.
What a lot of frustration and wasted time.
Update:
I called the Rebate Center today. They will correct my phone number and resubmit the rebate – should take 4-6 weeks.
As for the second rebate, they said I had the wrong form and will resubmit. It should take 4-6 weeks. FYI, when you’re submitting your rebate online, make sure you click NEW CUSTOMER when you are adding a line. Although you’re already a customer, you need to click on NEW CUSTOMER with each new line.
Mailed in $50 rebate for new phone purchase and 2 yr commitment in August 08. Received a denial letter in October. Called and they said their mistake and they will resubmit and should take 4-6 wks. Called in December and they said you will be getting a denial letter in a few days, sorry our fault and we will resubmit… again, and it will be another 4-6 wks. I was fed up and filed a complaint on line with my regional BBB. Got a call 1 week later from a T-mobile customer relations rep. and he offered to apply the $50 to my T-mobile bill. Which I accepted. I am extremely suspicious of the intentions of the rebate program of T-mobile. Hopefully if they get enough complaints filed through BBB that they will have to start honoring these rebates and stop making up false reasons for denial. Which is out right dishonest!
Add me to the list! Just got off the phone with T-Mobile Rebates for the 3 time since I submitted the rebate in October. It was denied in December, I was told their error and they’d correct. They re-submitted it, even though it was their admitted error, it was to take 8-10 weeks. I called today, denied AGAIN! Rep is going to escalate to a supervisor. For some reason I couldn’t speak to anyone right then. I am to call back in 7-10 days! And no, they can’t return my calls. They are a phone company, but their rebate call center only accepts inbound calls, can’t make outbound calls!!??
I agree with the creater of this list, it is no longer about the money!
Received my third letter refusing my refund on my Motorola phone. After each of the first two I contacted the T Mobile Customer Care Center as instructed by the letter. Both times the representative said that I do qualify for the rebate and that they would resubmit my application. This third time I have had it. I have called the 877 number that Brett posted above and left a voice mail for Jason. Thanks for the info. I’ve also filed a complaint with the BBB as well as the Federal Trade Commission. I will continue to call the 877 number day after day until I get a call back. I am going to get my rebate. I will also leave some miserable T Mobile employees in my wake. Wish me luck!
Before you go and blame TM for all of the error’s that happen for the rebate I can assure you that 80% are your own error’s. I have a few stepts that you shoud know about the issue ..
1) READ THE ENTIRE REBATE FORM! yes fine print and all, because the people that are at the rebate dept can quote the rebate form word-for-word.
– This will enshure you that everything is correct.
2) The system that is used only see’s black and white. : Which falls back to number one.
3) When you call the 1-800 number and try to scream at someone to get them to fix the issue, DOESN’T WORK….. BELIVE ME!
4) It’s not a scam that TM is running people really do get there rebates, so treat us nice and we’ll be more then happy to fix any problems for you.
Sorry,
I have never had a rebate denied before. I just had my T-Mobile rebate denied today. This is unacceptable. I am not illiterate nor incapable of filling out a form. The reason for denial is not part of the “fine print” that I failed to read or the sales person in the store failed to tell me about.
This is corporate greed out of control. I will be paying the early cancellation to cancel the contract and go back to Verizon. I have been with T-mobile for five years now but this is too upsetting. I never had Verizon pull anything over on me like this in over five years with them.
I can’t believe how much rebates seem to get “misplaced” from Tmobile. I made copies of everything but little did it help me!
1. They tell you, you have to wait for 8 weeks for the rebate to be processed.
2. Then they tell you to resubmit, they didn’t recieve it.
3. Then they deny it, saying you need to send in original panel with barcode and SKU. WTF! It’s a resubmission! Where do I pull out another original panel?
4. I send them letters, emails, phone calls…no such thing as another original box panel. They say sorry, can not process with a copy and the offer has already expired. What a scam! They give you the run around until your the offer expires?!
I’ve filed complaints with BBB and FTC. We need to all do that. It’s so the principle at this point! I’ll also be writing to my attorney general.
I was recently denied my rebate. I called the rebate center who said our plan was ineligible for the rebate but if we upgraded our plan we could then get the rebate at a pro-rated rate. This sounds like a bait and switch scam to me.
I called customer care to complain that the salesman lied to me when he told me our plan was eligible. She called the salesman who, of course, denied my charge. In the end they offered me a $25 courtesy credit. The real courtesy would have been for them to honor the rebate.
I am going to find another cell phone provider and I encourage everyone else who has had this problem with T-scamobile to do the same.
To J in M;
What exactly did you get denied for? Mabey I can help?
i have a question, im waiting for my rebate, but would like to switch plans. my current plan is for 600 minutes. if i switch to less minutes would i still recieve the rebate?
Ok. I received my first of three remaining rebates for $100. According to Tmobile’s website, my other two rebates have been approved and will be shipped to me on approximately 02/09/2009. I initially submitted the rebates in November, so it has been less than 3 months or 12 weeks. My suggestion to everyone out there is to check up on the status of your rebate on a weekly basis. If there’s a problem, email and call them. Although they say it will take another 4-6 weeks, if you persist, they will process sooner. In my case:
1. The first rebate has a typo and it took 3 months to correct.
2. The second rebate was submitted “incorrectly” online, but it was processed in 2 months.
3. The third rebate needed the data plan added and was processed in 3 months.
Another point, although you can submit the rebates online, make sure you read the actual rebate form correctly. Do not simply do as the Tmobile sales rep tell you. Check to see:
1. If you need to add a data plan.
2. If you need to be on a certain service plan.
Because when it comes down to it, it’s not what they tell you but rather what’s on the form that is important.
T-mobile Rebate Card is the latest attempt by T-mobile to get (or even steal) as much money from you as possible. What is the average amount of money one can get from a rebate? $50.00? $100.00? Who needs T-mobile to manage such a small amount of money? If you happen to forget that you still have a small amount in your card, chances are you will loose that amount of money to T-mobile. Think about it. Think about service charge. Think about cash advance fee (Why do you have to get charged for cashing YOUR money?). Think about the hassle to call if any thing happens.
It’s YOUR money but you can’t have it at once.
Cash advances are free! what are you talking about? It says in the directions you get with your rebate card to go to a bank with a visa logo on the door. If they accept visa its a free service, If they dont you may have a bank fee. Most Ma and Pa banks even accept this without any fees. All cell phone copies use the same princeable
My suggestion:
use the whole amount of the rebate card on your cell phone bill. That way, there’s nothing left to worry about.
Wow – the TM CSR CANNOT EVEN SPELL… ok, if you’re going to post anything on this public website representing T-Mobile, you should at least learn how to spell correctly.
“error’s” should be “errors”
“stepts” should be “steps”
“shoud” should be “should”
“that” should be “who”
“enshure” should be “ensure”
“see’s” should be “sees”
“BELIVE” should be “Believe”
“then” should be “than”
Other than that, thanks for trying to be nice. But Ralph in the president’s office repeats phrases from books, manuals, scripts essentially. He doesn’t respond to the problem at hand, and that means that T-Mobile doesn’t address the problem at hand. Every TM customer service person IS T-Mobile, which makes T-Mobile not a very good company. Sorry to put all the CSRs in one ugly category, but one bad apple spoils the whole bunch when it comes to customer service.
I submitted my $30 rebate with the form, copy of sales receipt and original UPC in November 2008. I just got a letter yesterday saying that I did not submit the UPC from the box. So I took my phone box with A HOLE IN IT WHERE THE UPC WAS and asked them if this is where the UPC is on the box. They said “Yes it is.” I have submitted many dozens of rebates in my life with no denials until now. I know they look for reasons to reject rebates but this was just a plain lie.
I have filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to tell everyone I know not to trust or give t-mobile business. Its a shame because they used to be my favorite cell carrier. What a way to burn your customer base.
Got a second letter after reprocessing.
“unqualified selling point”/”wrong rebate form” letter.
Called in and am being reprocessed again. Calm call, pleasant rep.
Still waiting for my money.
Reminds me of the “get a free laptop” schemes where you have to jump through 18 hoops to get your prize.
One more rejection letter and I’ll go through my company’s vendor relations managers to solve this… or I’ll get my rebate card and put the issue to bed.
Either way, this process is really broken and needs to be fixed asap.
I have been trying to get my rebate since October. I got 3 rejection letters and when I call they tell me its just a mistake – in another 4-6 weeks I’ll get my money. All the phones of my family plan will now come up at the same time and then I’m out of tmobile for good after about 10 years.
im tired of waiting for my rebate i check my status in tmobile rebates and appears that they send me the rebate in october 10 2008 we are in march and im stillwaiting for this damm rebate is pissing me off ..and then the number is given for the customer to call is not even a real life person a recorded or a computer thing .. that tell you it was already send so now what i have to keep waiting for something i should be supposed to had already tell me if you know another way to find it out.. and getting my rebate. thanks
Thank you for sharing this story. Since Novemember 08 I’ve been trying to get a $200 rebate for 2 phones I bought thru tmobile. I followed all the rules in the contract and they keep rejecting my rebate. I cant even count how many times I’ve gotten that letter now. Just like you I feel the same exact way, it’s not even about the money anymore I will take a $200 loss, its the principal. As a consumer they promised that if I abide by the contract rules I get my rebate. I did my part but they of course haven’t done there’s. Since I came across this article I know exactly who to complain to now and I did file a complaint with the BBB.. thank you
T-Mobile continues to rip-off people year after year. They have rejected my rebate just like all of you. I have also filed a complaint with BBB and FTC, hopefully I will get my money back someday. From all the post online it appears BBB and FTC is probably getting hundreds of complaints against T-Mobile but nothing has been done to stop this deceiving practice.
Surely there must be a way to stop the deceiving practice and teach T-Mobile a lesson. Ideas anyone?
Monday my rebate card arrived.
So it took 2 phone calls reacting to 2 rejection letters and 12 weeks to get my rebate, which I immediately applied to my bill.
Looks like it could have been worse, based on what I read above, but it could have gone a lot smoother.
I told my college-aged daughter who’s contract is up for renewal she can get whatever subsidized new phone she wants, as long as she ignores the rebate in the price. I’m not dealing with T-Mobile rebates again.
I SEEN A PROMOTION WITH T-MOBILE ABOUT A $100.00 REBATE IF YOU BOUGHT A BACKBERRY CURVE. I DID THEY TOLD ME I COULD GET THE REBATE. NOW THAT I FILLED EVERYTHING OUT PROPERLY THEY KEEP MAKING UP EXCUSES WHY I CANNOT GET THE REBATE. I BOUGHT THE PHONE FROM THEM THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM THE BEGINNING THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE REBATE. THIS IS FRAUD, I WILL BE STARTING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST T-MOBILE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ANYONE THAT WANT IN ON THIS EMAIL ME.
maybe you should learn to read the form. A blackberry is a data phone. Means internet or text must be on that phone+ your entitled to one rebate every 11 months and must be a active customer with a 2 year contract. Thats the jist. Its that fucking EZ. Learn to read you stupid fuck
I upgraded my phone in February. I submitted everything for a $100 rebate by the end of February.
-In March I called them and they said that they already sent a credit card.
-End of March i called again and they said that someone else received my credit card and used it. They said I have to go to the police to make a report!!!
– I called to complain and said I want to cancel my account for this reason. They told me in an ironic way “you can do it, but you will pay us $200 cancellation fee so we don’t care if you do”.
– I complained to the FCC and Florida State Atorney
– After a few days I receive email saying to complete an affidavit and I will get another card
– I complete it and pay the $8 notary, but i did not send it.
– End of April: they send me email that they sent me another credit card.
– May 10: I email them that I did not receive anything AGAIN.
– They reply that I have to fill out affidavit. They do not even give me what account # to put on the affidavit
– May 20: it seems I have entered a loop with these crooks….I am ready to give up…BTW, I had tmobile in the past and it took me 5 phone calls to receive a past rebate.
Wow, seriously people?
It’s a small bit of change. Go fuck yourselves you stupid, illiterate, incoherent fucking brainwash, sheep fucking, funny talking homosexuals.
All you stupid fucking Spics, Negros, Honkies or whatever other races make up your piece of shit country, learn to fucking read. It’s a simple concept. You read the fine print on a contract, but you don’t read it on anything else? What are you brand fucking new?
If your still signing your name without reading, your credit score is probably a piece of shit.
Former, because I canned his worthless a$$. Of course Mrs. Kelly is not who she says she is; just an angry recipient of a botched sex change.
Poor soul.
On to Tmobile rip-off. It’s worth noting that this thread has been running since 9/2006 and it is now 6/2009. That’s almost three years and 131 people commenting on this blog alone.
As far as reading the rebate particulars, I did one better. I went to the Tmobile store and asked them if I was eligible for a rebate (you cannot do this on your own, for some magical reason they won’t explain).
They said I was.
I then selected the phone I wanted and asked them to call the master rebate center (since they seem to want hands-on control of who sees your private info, not including the account holder — an oddly voyeuristic thing itself).
That person at the master rebate center breathlessly said that everything was good.
I asked again, pointing out that several years ago I had been in the same situation and later denied a rebate.
They again said, “yes, you are eligible for a rebate.”
I asked if I could have that in writing.
They said they couldn’t, but if anything went wrong to come back to them and they’d give me a free car charger.
Of course, I got the phone. The people at the master rebate center had lied. And, the people at the store won’t do anything for me because it’s out of their hands.
And as for Kelly: Maam, I’m sorry for your self loathing foulmouthed behavior. Seldom do people like yourself ever do much more than clean toilets and empty trashcans.
I am looking for Marilyn who used to work for T-Mobile… she’ll know who she is if she sees this… been trying to touch base with her but her number doesn’t seem to be working any longer. Marilyn, if you’re out there, please contact me – (Laurie for Marinko) Thank you!
heres a thought, i’m seeing a trend here with all the people not receiving their rebate……… everything you need to know on how to receive the rebate is clearly stated on the rebate form i believe if you have any questions or concerns on how to get the rebate what better than to contact the rebate center before you submit I believe the rebate part expertise lies in young america, if you did not receive what you were expecting it’s probably that you negelected to read the form, you just got sign happy and avoided all the important stuff no one to blame but ourselves, in the future ask questions READ……………..yes even the small print cause you know that is where the reason is you are not getting that rebate. Good luck to future rebate seekers anyone who purhcases something just to receive the rebate thats a joke why not just purchase something you can afford so your not looking to be reimbursed in 3 months or how ever long it takes … God bless all of you rebate fanatics
uh I got my $50 dollar rebate
& they gave me a nice card
to go along.
sucks to be you all!
Thanks for this blog; it helped me finally get my $$ back after 2 rejections, complaining to BBB; and being chased by T-mobile to have a ‘nice chat” about “how’re you doing today, Ma’am?” They immediately applied $$ to my account.
I think most of you guys are on crack. Most of the stuff I’m reading is because articles are lost in the process of your house and to the rebate center location. You send in for a 100 rebate and you don’t make copies of the information or put a tracking number on the submittion. So your trusting the old stamp and carry postal system to deliver your submittion on time with out delay. Well good luck buddy. I wouldn’t trust my good buddy with a $100 bucks without some insurance of knowing I would get it back, so why would you trust the postal system. Threatening the bb doesn’t help either. That’s just a way to piss anyone off. I’m a small business owner and I had one person turn me in for an incident. What did it do? Put a sore taste in my mouth and I would never do anything for that customer or any friends no matter what the cost. You threaten the BB or AG and T-mobile will be happy to credit your account, but when you have problems paying your bill or need help down the road, dont cry back to cc. You crap on them they will do the same to you. How do i know? Because thats what I would do if I owned T-Mobile. And I work for the rebate center call center
I have all my paperwork and was still given the run a round when it came to my rebate. You a bit of a jerk.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44805147666
Why is there not a classaction lawsuit in regards to this rebate scam???
In April 2009 I bought a Blackberry 8220 with a $100 rebate. Went on line and submitted the online rebate form and then mailed the actual forms and UPC bar code from the box. 2 months later when I didn’t get anything, I went on line and was told that if I don’t get the rebate after 10 week, then I need to contact them.
Now after 17 weeks, they telling me “Sorry, the rebate is expired”.
My rebate was received 7/30. I’ve received several updates that it is still in process.
I’m not expecting to receive it – the phone was free, but the box included a $50 rebate form, so I sent it in. If I get it, I’ll be happy. If not, no big deal.
T-Mobile coverage isn’t as good as my previous provider (Verizon), but I’ve had some sort of T-Mobile account for the past 6 years. They have good plans/prices and the customer service is good.
I had a similar problem with my blackberry curve. I eventually recieved a rebate after calling customer service six months and two (incorrectly sent) rejection letters later. Looking at the blogs, it seems that there are a lot of people experiencing the same problem. I have a friend who works in a firm that does class action law suits and can provide contact information if anyone is interested in seeing if something can be done…
sooo…. as i read these responses to the cust care service in which everyone seems to hate… i think in the back of my head.. “what about the reps you’re dealing with”… i understand that you might have had some bad experience with the way your rebate may have been handled… but as a rep who deals with customers like yourselves everyday.. i understand that it is not their fault and you too can prevent this type of situation. i have recently read over a tmobile rebate form and it seems to me that the information is clearly stated and NOT hard to understand. it is in regular size font but for some reason alot of customers neglect, for whatever reason, to read this information. every company has policies and regulations which need to be met by the customer and the people who work for those companies and hired to enforce them. so the next time you are dealing with rebates or whatever the case… keep in mind that if you didnt do everything in your power to make sure the situation was flawless,,,, dont get angry at the people just doing their job. just fruit for thought!
I had similar experience just yesterday Dec. 10 2009.
I have been t-mobile customer without contract for 4-5 years. My phone finally broke down and I wanted to get new cheap/free phone, and I ribbed off.
There are two lines on my family plan. The number that I got a free phone is samsung t819, and it turns out to be 79.99 even I have talked to the representative and said I want this “free phone”(both according to t-mobile under my account, and talking to the rep.) It required me to do a mail-in rebate for that $50.00 which I had no idea that I had to do. Plus, on the rebate form, it states it requires a 9.99 or higher data-plan serivce. Otherwise, I will not get the rebate.
When I called t-mobile customer rep., that person told me that the other customer rep I talked to who put in my order has no idea about this rebate would require the 9.99 or higher data-plan serivce, so here is what he said, “I understand it may seem like we’ve tricked you…” But the fact is, THEY DID.
By reading so many people’s comments/complains all the way back to a few years ago, I am sure this is nothing new. However, the rebate thing still stinks.
I will call them again.
It amuses me to see the bitter T-Mobile customer care and rebate employees posting about how stupid customers are for complaining about not receiving rebates to which they weren’t entitled in the first place. They post hateful comments about everyone’s intelligence and amusing quips about how people should have read their contracts or not trusted the sales representative.
Well, I did read the contract. I made it all the way through law school and can say assuredly that I am a great reader and even have reasonably decent comprehension skills. I offer that information not to demonstrate that I am somehow superior to anyone, but to offer proof that I can indeed read a contract, as repeatedly suggested by the posts above, and that I am positive I understood the contract and the requirements for the rebate. The nature of my problem is not that I did not qualify and am now angry that I was scammed. I did qualify, T-Mobile acknowledged several times that I qualified, but will not provide the rebate.
I purchased a Blackberry Pearl on August 10, 2009, and met the conditions for the $100 rebate. I submitted the requested documentation by mail on August 11, 2009. I waited 8 weeks. On October 13, 2009, I had not received the rebate. I called the T-Mobile rebate center to discuss the problem and was connected to a young lady so mentally slow it amazed me she had figured out how to answer the phone. Usually those dear people with such limits are relegated to tasks that don’t require problem solving skills– like greeters at Walmart or grocery sackers. Kudos to the T-Mobile rebate center for bringing them into their workforce as phone representatives.
Over and over we ticked through the list of requirements to earn the rebate. As she named off one, I read from my receipt the entry showing I’d purchased it. We checked off each item and I had every necessary element for the rebate. This sad little dolt agreed that I appeared to qualify based on what I read from my receipt and her incredible feat of computer research into my account, but somehow could not make the transition to explaining why my rebate was denied. It just was.
I decided that I needed to have these conversations via email in order to preserve the record of T-Mobile’s refusal to grant the rebate I earned and was promised. I began by emailing a bullet pointed list of the rebate requirements and confirmation that I had met each one. I encouraged the reader to investigate and report back to me. The next day I received an email from “Michelle D.” simply saying I didn’t qualify.
Hoping to point out her error, I scanned copies of my rebate documentation and added in color shading to highlight the rebate qualifying purchases. Children’s toys are always colorful and have big numbers and letters on them, so I knew this tactic would work in getting their attention. I attached the scanned documents to a reply email with text very simply and clearly laying out my case for the audience of witless elementary school level individuals receiving it. I prayed the reader would be competent enough to open the attachments.
Two days later I received in return, another email from “Michelle D.” acknowledging that I did indeed qualify for the rebate and apologizing for the confusion. She claimed the rebate would be authorized and that I should wait another 6-8 weeks.
That “another 6-8 weeks” is now. I still don’t have the rebate. I checked the website and saw the rebate promised to me via Michelle D’s email on October 15, 2009, had been denied on October 22, 2009. Again I received nothing from T-Mobile explaining this. I assume they rely on people forgetting and wouldn’t want to alert someone that they are being scammed by sending a letter explaining that they are being scammed.
I called and spoke to “Martha”. She was kind but still an unnecessarily slow thinker. After sorting through my entire account in detail, she pressed me AT THE END of the call to confirm more personal information to verify my identity. That defeats the purpose, dear sweet Martha. One confirms a caller’s identity BEFORE releasing private account information, honey. Got it a little out of order, but you can try again next time and do better. At any rate she too agreed that I qualified for the $100 rebate, was mystified that it had twice been denied and said she would manually override the system to see that it was issued and in my hands within 30 days. Sounds like a complicated transaction for you, Martha, but I’m counting on you.
I’m no psychiatrist, but solely based on the conversations I’ve had with the T-Mobile rebate representatives, they couldn’t collectively figure out how (or why) to pull a hand off a red hot stove. So will my rebate finally come? I don’t know. But I’ve tried. I haven’t cursed or been discourteous or raised my voice as some of the earlier T-Mobile posters said is to blame for bad service. I know it isn’t their fault they were lobotomized or have water on the brain or had pre-natal oxygen deprivation or whatever. I just keep patiently plodding along. Waiting. It’s the principle. And if that rebate ever comes, I’m going straight to the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) thrift shop to spend it. That money’s coming right back to you T-Mobile rebate reprsentatives! Because I care!
i had the exact same thing happen to me. i also bought a blackberry pearl, was told i should fill the forms and send them to the address on it. i did. i called after 8 weeks and was told that they had no record of my information. so i went back to the store i bought the phone from and they gave me a different address and told me to send it there. i did because thank goodness i had copies of everything. i waited another 8 weeks, nothing. i called them again and let the lady know that i had the copies of my transaction and everything but she still said that they had no record of my info. then went to the store and told them that the way i saw it, it was their fault because there was no record of my information yet i had the proof right there!!!!! they agreed that i should have received my rebate so they called them and the guy on the other side said that since it had been too long since i had bought the phone, there were no records of transactions from that time. it was in april 2009 when i bought the phone. i am a loyal customer, have always been but after this incident i cant stand to be with tmobile. they are unethical and i plan to get out of it… and so God help me i am going to do everything in my power to discourage everyone i know from tmobile. i already have discouraged all of my family and they haved moved to other companies and are happy. i am waiting for this months service to end so i can leave it. FUCK T MOBILE!!!!! i know they will get what they deserve someday!
UPDATE: I finally received the $100 rebate card I was promised last summer. It was late by the most recent representative’s request that I allow another 30 days processing time, and I was about 24 hours away from filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. But it popped up in my mail.
So the moral of the story is perhaps that if you know you qualify and stick with it, you will probably eventually get your refund. I put a lot of work into it, but it was worth it to me to take that $100 out of T-Mobile’s pocket and to let everybody know via this blog and others that T-Mobile is trying to cheat people. Good luck to everybody still stuck on the scam treadmill.
I LOVE T-MOBILE CELL PHONES
PLEASE CAN YOU SEND ME A T-MOBILE PHONE
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It’s 2010 and these cellular pirates are still at it. I followed every step the guy in the store told me to do but apparently there was something wrong. It started that they keyed in my phone number wrong off of the form and then after they corrected it they said that the phone used for the trade in didn’t match the IMEI of the phone that was using it. The clown in the store never said anything about that. So now I get no rebate because too much time has elapsed. I told Bozo exactly which number would be using the phone but he never mentioned anything about matching IMEIs. This partly explains why TMO is the worst cell phone company from a new subscriber standpoint every quarter. They are in a race to the bottom with Sprint (who will eventually buy them as losers tend to bond over time). TMO loves to brag about their great customer service with their JD Power awards but that’s like a car yard saying they have the most honest salesmen. I will be canceling my $200 per month account as soon as the contracts expire.
I was doing some spring cleaning and found my rebate documents from 2006. T-Mobile screwed me out of $100 (2 phones with $50 rebates each) in rebates claiming, “The 10-digit T-Mobile wireless number you submitted has already been used on a rebate.”
I had to give them the original boxes with IMEI number etc.
I called and spoke to a Graham with Id 494493 who merely stated that the rebate was entered twice each, and both received in 2 weeks.
Finding these documents just stirred up the whole fraud thing, but now I know who to call. I just filed a complaint to my Attorney General (today in 2010), since now I know to do so, although I have given up on receiving my rebates. I would also suggest you file a complaint with the FCC (if you still have any hopes in receiving your rebates).
In my case, I believe T-Mobile should have told me who cashed the rebate checks. I assume they are checks because who would send a rebate as cash? And the one time I have received a rebate from a different company, it was a check.
I guess I’m done venting — 4 years later. I just need to remember to never buy a product with a rebate. Hopefully the Government will make them pay in this life, and God in the next.
The bills surely come to my address but the rebates never did. I’ll be getting an iPhone after Apple’s June presentation anyway.
Sent out a rebate form two years ago now and still haven’t received anything. Glad to know it probably wasn’t a fluke and that I didn’t buy my most recent phone with them. I recently switched to Verizon and got my rebate on my new phone right away!
I’ve never been stiffed by T-Mobile on a rebate…until NOW!! However, this is probably the most blatant rebate scam I, personally, have ever encountered.
My $50 HTC HD2 phone rebate submission back in July 2010 was timely, correct, and completely documented. The only thing I did not do, since I have NEVER had to do it before, was obtain proof of mailing. In any case, after receiving no rebate nor word of same since the submission, I inquired as to status several days ago. I was informed there was no record of receipt of my submission and, furthermore, that the rebate was now “closed” so there could be no resubmission and no satisfaction. While the former has been tried by many other companies, the latter is a T-Mobile original! I have collected on rebates a year or more after their postmark dates and often must do so after at least 6 months has passed. That’s par for the course.
Most companies utilize dishonest procedures to avoid paying out easy rebate money, but they generally yield to persistence. T-Mobile’s apparent strategy is to go to the next level and screen out even experienced rebate submitters like myself. However, rebates are no longer simply about money. They are a promise and an obligation a company makes to promote their products. It is false advertising to fail to make good when a customer fulfills the requirements of a purchase and submits their rebate materials in good faith. A few companies understand this concept and make the experience the win-win it should always be. T-Mobile now falls on the other end of the spectrum in my book and must be held accountable.
How to do that without breaking the bank? T-Mobile customer service has washed their hands of any involvement in the issue, thus removing the easiest avenue for satisfaction. No matter, since that would not regain my trust with regards to future rebates. I will begins by filing complaints with the BBB and Attorney General. Then I will likely enlist legal help. PrePaid Legal, LLC provides a cost-effective means of doing this. If a letter generated from that office does nothing, I will seriously consider filing a small claim for an amount that covers the cost of the rebate plus filing, legal, expenses, etc. Maximum is $3000, but it will amount to much more than $50 in any case.
As many gratuitous class action lawsuits as are undertaken for “fun and profit” by legal firms, it sure would be nice if someone in the profession could see the sense and importance in taking up the class action torch against T-Mobile. Seems to me there are enough unpaid rebate funds in their dirty hands to make THAT settlement amount to easy money!
Following up on the previous post, I called T-Mobile again today to discuss with customer service my contract terms, preliminary to making the move to another provider. I had determined that the value to T-Mobile of my entire account for the 18 months left on the only line under contract would be a bit over $3000. To cancel that one account would cost just $200 in early termination and the resale value of the unlocked smart phone would cover over half of that. So I wasn’t bluffing when I told the customer service agent I intention was to “dump T-Mobile.” This got her attention.
Long story short, after another 45 minutes on the phone with two T-Mobile service reps my account had not only been credited the amount of the AWOL rebate but I had also been provided 200 bonus minutes good for the next three months and retroactive to cover a slight overage for this month. That’s worth another $100 at T-Mobile’s bloated add’l minutes rate.
The bad news for T-Mobile is that their unconscionable initial customer service motivated me to examine my account and consider the mechanics of switching to a friendlier service provider. Though no longer motivated only by sheer rage, I remain disgusted with the dishonesty of the T-Mobile rebate center. If I do decide to cancel my T-Mobile account it will be as much a “vote with my feet” as it is a wise business decision. If I don’t, it will be testimony to the benefit of thinking, caring, empathizing customer care representatives who do not simply tow the company line but treat their customers like human being.
I will go to the voting booth in the month ahead and time will tell where my next $3000 in mobile phone payments go. Whatever my choice, the power is back in my hands and I’m back to feeling fine.
I am making a complaint regarding T-mobile fradulent rebate offer. My brother and sister in law are both hearing impared ( I am the authroized speaker and user on this account) and have been a loyal T-mobile customers for over 10 years. During a event prmotion plan my brother purchased a new cell phone for his wife with another 2 year contract. A $200 rebate was promised on that phone number and another $50.00 on my his phone number. I filled out her rebate form correctly and sent it to the rebate department. The rebate department denied the rebate stating that the phone number was not eligable because it did not have the voice plan. I called the rebate department and advised the representitive that they both were hearing impared and cannot have a voice plan; plus the rebate contract specifically states a $29.99 or higher rate plan. It does not state a $29.99 voice or higher rate plan. To make a VERY, VERY long story short I have been passed from representitive to representitive each one having no idea what the contract states on the rebate form. Yet they all refused to refund the rebate of $200.00 and the $50.00. I then went to the T-mobile store and spoke to the manager on duty and they looked over the contract and were completley baffled why we were denied. The manager called T-mobile and got a customer service manager on line. After 2 hours going back and forth with the lady by the name of Shawna. SHe authorized that I would recieve the $200.00 and the $50.00 under authorization number 840403974 and we should recieve the check within 4-6 weeks. After 7 weeks of not recieving the check I called T-mobile back and again the customer relations rep. told me “sorry the approval was also denied”. The rep. also told me you need to take it up with a lawyer because we cannot help we. Even though the contract states what it states we cannot do anything. I am very disappointed in this company and feel that my brother and his wife have been discriminated and mentally and emotionally battered. I am also taking this matter up with a lawyer.
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I’m totally with you on what you’ve said about the mail in rebate. I will be summiting a claim with bbb
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Thanks for all the info; nice post! I was horrified to track the dates on this problem. Yow…what a horrendous company they are. My husband and I both filed for rebates. I got mine, his was denied. I called and was HUNG UP ON four times before I got a “customer service” representative — ha! — to “fix” the problem (it was T-Mobile’s mistake) and issue the credit “right away.” And yep…you guessed it. Still no rebate. I will follow your advice and file complaints with the BBB and FTC (thanks for the direction). Also, we bought our phones at Costco, so I will be filing a complaint with them, too. Thanks so much!
I have been going through the same issues as everyone here, and like many, spent much of my time on hold daydreaming of ways to get even with this company for their predatory business practices. During today’s call, the answer struck me. T-Mobile’s practice is to use deliberate misstatements in an effort to get individuals to give up on receiving their refund – they put the burden of proof on the individual filing the claim, and there is little we’re able to do about it. They’ve been getting away with it for years. Your complaint with the BBB may help YOU (I’m hoping mine will), but what about all the people who they didn’t help?
Recent changes in interpretation of escheatment law, however, would allow state auditors to “beat them at their own game”. A state auditor can review rejected claims individually and put the burden of proof on T-Mobile (or any other company using these practices) instead of you. Imagine it – government officials actually helping you! Of course, their motivation is money. Any funds T-Mobile can’t prove are theirs goes to the State, and you have to file a claim with the state to get your money (nowhere near the hassle you’ve already gone through), which many individuals won’t know to do. In this way the State increases revenue, which is a huge priority for most states right now, makes their constituents happy, an added perk, and helps to stop predatory business practices, which they’ll likely pretend to care about if it’s an election year.
So how is it better for the State to have people’s money than T-Mobile and other similar companies? Simple. The minute this type of business COSTS money instead of earning it, rebate scams will become a thing of the past.
I forgot to make my point –
To help yourself and others, please contact a member of your State Legislature (not Federal) and encourage them to look into this potential source of State funds.
This fraud continues across state lines, therefore it’s a federal issue. I submitted paperwork for two phones, one rebate was for $300 and the other for $20. They denied my claim at T-Mobile Rebate Customer Service, Young America, Mn. The misspelled my last name at the rebate center and came up with a fictitious area code, on each phone. I called, spoke to a rep, waited a month and nothing. I then went to the T-Mobile store and spoke to the manager, they had him on the line for at least a half hour then spoke to me, I then gave the phone back to the manager and told them to give him and confirmation. Three weeks later I got 2 Master Card money cards. A week later I got two letters again telling me that the claim was submitted too late. I activated the cards and now have to try to cash them. I am going to the T-Mobile store and will talk to the manager about this fraud and all these posts. I will then take action with the BBB, Yelp, and the federal government. They have fucked with the wrong ex-fed.
T Mobile Neshaminy Mall in PA just did the same imei bullshit to me and I will be heading there shortly to deal with this .
hello iam haveing same problem i bought a samsung glaxey 2 from tmobile last year promise a hundred dollar rebate still havent goten it
ya me n my husband bought too Samsung galaxy 2 phones one with a 50$ rebate the other was purchased like a week after so they said wed have a 100$ rebate on that one we got the rebate for the first phone but not the second an then when my husband called them the first time they said it was only gonna be 75$ but i got a text with the approval saying it was being processed for the 100 then when he calls them after still weeks of not receiving anything they tell him that they are gonna credit our account like what the hell then he calls them again today an they tell him it was already sent an that it shows that someone used it an that there was only 85 cents left showing when we never even received it now this is some real bs so we are looking into getting out of t mobile very unsatisfied with them its sad that they advertise something but yet cant seem to follow threw on them 😦
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I had an issue after purchasing a tablet as well. However, tmobile rebate center took care of it and my rebate has been approved and shipped.
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Well my sister told me they lie and I thought well they all do that. Apparently T-mobile is banking on the victim being to put out to pursue legal action I just wanted to share that I have had the same experience and I am filing with the bbb the fcc and state’s attorney today and I’d like to remind everyone that you like I’m going to be doing can file in small claims court over this good luck to you all it’s a shame our public officials don’t hold companies accountable when they steal from us the burden is on us and if you don’t pay the corporation regardless if you dispute it the burden is placed on the citizens also never trust a corporation or a politician