So when I got my current cell phone last November (the old digital Nokia just up and died) they had a special on this unit, namely a $100 rebate. At the time I asked if it could just be applied to my account and I was told no, they would send me the rebate. I figured it would be a check that would come in the mail in 6-8 weeks and I would just deposit it into my account. NO biggie.
Well the end of January a Visa debit card arrived with $100 on it. It had to be used to buy something. You couldn't go to the bank and simply get the cash off of it. I was surprised, but then I figured no big deal. I stop for fuel every 10 days or so. This was enough to fill-up my tank twice. Unfortunately, the card got rejected every gas station I tried to use it at. For that matter, ANYWHERE I tried to use it.
The card was due to expire 4-30, still unused. So Friday last I made a little trip to Cingular to get my money or an answer why the card always got rejected. I also needed to do something about either replacing either the phone or the old bluetooth headset as they no longer would talk with one another. I figured this trip would kill two birds with one stone.
At Cingular I started first to deal with the bluetooth. I thought it was the phone, but the manager got my phone to pair with his headset without any problem. So I opted to get a new bluetooth, this time staying away from the Motorola which seemed to have so much trouble communicating with this Sony Erikson phone. I was going to use the rebate card to buy a Jawbone headset, BUT next problem, the card only had $100 and the headset was a few bucks more than that. I offered to give him cash for the difference and for some strange reason, they couldn't process the purchase that way. The card had to cover it all. Then he interjected that it was a replacement for a bluetooth I had gotten from them, and that they should just replace the thing for free. Free is good I said. I like free. I ordered the Jabra (which arrived today and is now sitting on my left ear, making me appear Borg-like, or a Madonna-wannabe depending on your point of view.).
Thereafter, I went two doors over to Trader Joe's to do some shopping and once more the Visa debit card was a no go. It wouldn't authorize. I trekked back over to Cingular.
Another person waited on me this time, as the manager had gone to lunch. They tried the card and confirmed the $100 was still on it, then offered to put it on my account. I told him that was what I'd asked for in the first place last Nov. He tried and found he couldn't. My cell is tied to my office land line for billing. Finally, he asked would I just like the cash. I said sure. He said, "then buy this headset." I told him no, I didn't need it. He said that was fine, as I was just going to turn right around and return it for my cash. It was the only way to get my money. Ironically, the bluetooth he chose to sell me for immediate return was the same model I've had all the trouble with. So I owned yet another Motorola bluetooth for all of 45 seconds and then walked out with my $100 and my new Jabra on the way. It only took me an hour and a half to accomplish this.
I wonder just how many of these Visa Rebate cards never get used and the company winds up keeping the money. Had I not been determined, that's exactly what would have happened here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
