Continuing cell plan rebate scam

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Mike - 14 Oct 2004 01:01 GMT

I got stuck once in the past, and looks like it might happen again. My
cellular retailer offered a $140 rebate on a cell plan after 7 months
of service. By that time, the place changed names, but it is still run
by the same guy. THIS HAPPENED TWICE!!! They will not give me the
rebate promised since they say the old company went out of business.
But it is the same guy running the place! My first reaction is to
knock the guys teeth out, but I don't need a criminal record. This
seems to be a scam with them. I am sure that they have no problem
receiving their commission checks from the cell phone providers. How
many of you have experienced the same scam? Are the major providers
aware of this? If so, why do they allow these criminals to continue to
sell their products? People associate the resellers with the brands
they sell sometimes. I guess if we just buy through the website and
pay the higher prices, we would not have this problem.

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Evan Platt - 14 Oct 2004 13:55 GMT

>I got stuck once in the past, and looks like it might happen again. My
>cellular retailer offered a $140 rebate on a cell plan after 7 months
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>they sell sometimes. I guess if we just buy through the website and
>pay the higher prices, we would not have this problem.

Simple - don't buy from a shady retailer. Buy from a company owned
store. No retailer should offer a rebate after 7 months (their
chargeback period). They should offer the rebate upfront and YOU sign
a contract to keep service active 6 months.

Evan

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MarkF - 14 Oct 2004 17:35 GMT

> I got stuck once in the past, and looks like it might happen again. My
> cellular retailer offered a $140 rebate on a cell plan after 7 months
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> they sell sometimes. I guess if we just buy through the website and
> pay the higher prices, we would not have this problem.

I had a similiar situation, but not with a cell phone retailer, where
I threatned reporting them to the State Atty. General for fraud.
Within a week
I received the rebate. It wasn't the exact same situation, but its
worth a try.

I find it interesting that the retail establishment is giving the
rebate, it's usually the manufacturer or the service provider.

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Mike - 16 Oct 2004 21:29 GMT

> I had a similiar situation, but not with a cell phone retailer, where
> I threatned reporting them to the State Atty. General for fraud.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> I find it interesting that the retail establishment is giving the
> rebate, it's usually the manufacturer or the service provider.

Thanks for the advice. I guess that is the only real option.

The reason it takes that time for the rebate is I think because the
cellular services pay the retailer their commission upon 6 months of
service for the customer. If the customer terminates the agreement
earlier than 6 months, I think cellular providers will withhold their
commissions.

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Evan Platt - 18 Oct 2004 17:14 GMT

> The reason it takes that time for the rebate is I think because the
>cellular services pay the retailer their commission upon 6 months of
>service for the customer. If the customer terminates the agreement
>earlier than 6 months, I think cellular providers will withhold their
>commissions.

No. They pay their retailer usually the second month after activation.
If the customer terminates service within 6 months, the carrier
performs a chargeback.

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