Help Me Hank: Rebate Money

When you watch TV with Donna, you can't believe how many cool shows are on. She's got movies, she's got kids shows, she's got shopping, she's got stuff you don't even know what is!

Here's her secret--high atop her 19th century home is a very 21st century satellite dish.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"How does it work?"

Donna
"Oh it works great!"

When she saw the set-up at the TV store, Donna thought it was a huge bargain.

Donna
"Excellent, I mean we just couldn't beat it."

That's because though it cost $250. She was told there was a big rebate. She'd get $200 back!

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"When you saw the $200 rebate you thought…"

Donna
"Grab it now."

So the TV guy put up the dish, plugged it in, and told Donna the rebate form would arrive in the mail. It didn't.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"And how many times did you call them?"

Donna
"Total of probably 6 or 7 times."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"And every time you were told: form is in the mail."

Donna
"Form is in the mail."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"And was it?"

Donna
"No."

So no matter how cool the TV was, without the rebate it was costing five times as much as she figured.

Donna
"I was not too happy."

That's when she called Help Me Hank.

Now shoppers, you know this: you can't advertise something like a rebate and then not provide it. That would be flat out consumer fraud.

We called the TV store to tell them so. They told us to call the satellite company. The satellite company told us they were shocked the form hadn't arrived. Soon it did--postmarked the day of our call.

Donna mailed it right in, and now, she still has her clicker in one hand, but in the other is a rebate check for $200!

Donna
"It's great!"

This rebate thing is a growing problem. Federal statistics show twice as many complaints about them this year as last! The key: keep all your paperwork, and make sure you follow up if your money doesn't arrive!

So what battle are you fighting? Maybe I can help!