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First, I received convinced information through e-mail that if I paid certain amount of money, I will be eligible to receive gas savings rebate of $25 per month for certain number of years when I purchased $100.00 worth of gas each month. The offer at the beginning sounds real and convinced so I thought this is a good deal and a way for me to save money on gas especially with high gas price. I drove far long distance to go to work everyday and as such I used and spent a good sum of money over $100.00 every month on gas to drive my truck to work and with this rebate offer according to what they presented, I will save $25.00 on gas every month. They presented this rebate as a true offer that saves money on gas, but I did not know that this is actually a scam. After I signed up and paid money in order to start receiving the $25 gas savings rebates, the first thing they did after my payment was cashed is to give me one Excuse after the other, then after a while they changed their name and then sent me a different and another Terms and Condition and not what I originally signed with my payments of over $1000.00. This is when I started to fear that something is not adding up with this business. Then next, they sent me e-mail stating that my $25.00 gas savings rebates per month for more than a year were voided and ended. I have done everything that is humanly possible including writing letter to the company to no avail. They did not answer my letter or explain to me why. I have not received a dime as far as gas savings rebates from this company according to what they presented and promised on their statements or get my money of over $1000.00 that I paid for the rebate back. At this point I cannot think of anything else about this gas savings rebate offer from this company other than a well calculated scam and deceit. Unfortunately I fall for it and lost hard earned money that I did not have and need to feed my children.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
My experience is different. I went to a vacation resort presentation and received this rebate. I have participated in such things before. I would not call it a scam, but the instructions on how to collect your rebates are most of the time too complicated for most poeple to participate. However, I got as far as receiving two rebates of $25.00 in two months back. However the third month rebate I sent in I had sent someone to deliver my self addressed stamped envelope enclosed with the rebate. The person I put in charge to mail this did not understand that it was to be certified mail, and asked post office clerk best way to mail, and was advised first class. I noticed the error when I did not get back a receipt for the certified mail. I called within a 5 day period to advise a customer service representative named Adrian that it was sent out first class and that my previous two had correctly been certified mail, that it was an error. He said they would void my activation in the program because of this mistake. I then requested it be returned mail when it arrived unopened because I had credit card account number in the correspondence I did not want to be shared. He said he could not do this. That the envelope would be put in a file and not returned. I think this is ridiculous that if an envelope arrives to them, but not certified, that it voids my participation in the rebate process. The post office makes the money for the postage not them...therefore if they received the information required what difference does it make...and then not to get it returned to me upon request. They will open it. This is a scam in the respect it is counting on the chance that people will not complete the process either by making it so difficult to participate or upon participating and following up as a consumer, they find a way to void any further obligation if it is not received in the form of postage they require.
I too have been ripped off by SmartMart. Gave away my vehicle to charity for a $300. Gas Rebate from SmartMart. Then to start I had to send SmartMart $35. for membership. I received my 1st $25. rebate. And then nothing. When I called I had been Disqualified. So it cost me $10. to $20. (certified letters & postage) to give away my Van. There are so many rules to follow, it will be close to impossible not to be disqualified.
Here are some
Must buy $100. gas from one brand in a month.
Must use only one Credit Card to purchase Gas. (Receipt must have last 4 numbers of C.C. on them.
Gas bought on the 31st doesn't count.
Send SASE, gas receipts & Voucher by Certified Mail within 7 days of last gas purchase.
So Jan. 1st I send in my receipts for Dec.
Jan 20th I send in receipts for Jan.
OH NO, You've Been Disqualified! You must wait 30 days or more before you send in another Voucher.
Also must send in voucher before it expires.
The above rules are not made prominent by Smartmart. Only by reading EVERY WORD of "Terms & Conditions" Using a Highlighter and making yourself a blackboard with all rules to follow will you even stand a chance.
IMHO Don't waste your time.
I also was a victim. I had to send money 3 times for different things before I was approved. I received one $25 rebate. Then they said I was disqualified because:
1. There was not enough time allowed between Coupons.
2. Each coupon must use the same credit cards for receipts.
First, I sent the first one on the 22nd of February and the next one on the 22nd of March. Not enough time between coupons? I can only suspect it was because there was only 28 days in February.
Second, they have the gas receipts so I have no way of proving the same credit card was used.
What a rip off! Their terms clearly state that the offer will be void if the directions are not followed. But when you follow them exactly and they do not honor the agreement - THAT IS A SCAM.
Why didn't I check out the Better Business Bureau first? They are rated F with 28 complaints! A lesson learned.
This company has so many rules and regulations in order to avoid being "voided" from their program, that it's clear they purposely set one up for failure. I don't know how its employees are able to sleep at night. I hope and pray that their philosophies are not carried over into parenthood or teaching. My husband and I believed we'd followed every one of their rules and dotted every "i" and crossed every "t" - but to no avail. Our second rebate coupon was expected to be delivered exactly 30 days after the first, and the date is clearly stated on our certified letter receipt, but it was delivered one day early. I've spoken to two representatives: the first hung up on me; both said there was nothing they could do. I'd like to see a class action lawsuit brought against them. They do not deserve to be in business and they should be required to make retribution to all those who entered into agreements in good faith, but we'd have to define "good faith" to them.
Yes...it is a scam! First, I selected my brand to be Kroger. I CAREFULLY complied with each and every condition...including timing and sending the $5 certfied return receipt (making my "net" reimbursement...if any...to be $20).
They informed me that I had not complied with the terms and conditions and voided the offer. After a LONG wait I FINALLY reached someone on the phone. The "problem" was that the receipts did not "say" KROGER (they only had the "Store" number). After "pleading" my case..they "relented" and sent me my FIRST reimbursement and another "certificate" for $25. I CAREFULLY accumulated the required $100 in receipts (now from Shell...higher priced gas...but I was trying to get my $25) and sent it in. After waiting over six weeks, I called again and they said that they would "research my file and call me back."
I know what they do: First they try to trip you up with complicated "terms and conditions" and once you have covered that hurdle...they do EVERYTHING to frustrate you into giving up.
It is a scam to the worst degree. I can't see how anyone would want to work for a group like this.
Another thing to consider for folks who are "offered" "FREE" gas for participating in something...if it is THIS group...don't participate!
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I'm completely agree.
First I forgot certified mail: Void
2nd time: time was gone, because we had a funeral in Europe and time was expired: Void
3rd time: send everything in with the gas receipts, but didn't know that you have to encloe a self addressed evelope, was not written in the letter with the coupon: Void and null.
This is really a scam company. Never do business with them. You never get your money. They belong in jail.
Be careful.
I have not received my coupons for May to get my $25.00 check I need a coupon so I can send it registered mail