Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Coupon controversy

Who doesn't like coupons? It's like getting free money. But when using a coupon backfired and lost a shopper cash, "Help Me Hank!" had to say show us the money!

What can you do with $7? Buy seven cups of coffee, small. Buy one pizza, or buy a very short cab ride. But what Mark Peltz decided to do was use $7 to make a point.

Mark Peltz
"Because it's the principle."

Mark and his sons needed a monitor upgrade. So on a school supply buying trip, they added a nice, new monitor to their pile of purchases. What made it a better deal is that they had a coupon.

Mark Peltz
"Spend $20 or more and save $10."

But when the new monitor turned out to be not quite right, Mark returned it. And then, the refund turned out to be not quite right.

Mark Peltz
"I noticed there was a discrepancy in the amount I paid for, and the amount that was returned back to me."

The monitor cost about $99.
The refund amount was $92.
That's about $7 short.

Mark found the manager, who explained that because he'd used the coupon, they deducted a portion of his refund.

Mark Peltz
"I was very surprised."

Let's see that coupon again. It says spend $20, save $10. After returning the monitor, he'd still spent way more than $20. Mark knew he should get a full refund, but the manager said no.

Mark Peltz
"He said that's our company policy. He said if you want to pursue it, call our corporate office."

Which of course Mark did with no success.

Mark Peltz
"That's when I contacted ‘Help Me Hank.’"

Spend $20, get $10. There's nothing about deductions on returns.

So, we called company big wigs and told them Mark should get a full refund.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News
"All it says is spend $20, save $10. And that's just what he did."

They offered Mark a $10 gift certificate, but here's the principle: Mark told them no, just give me the $7.

And I told them, "You need to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else."

As a result, the company sent a memo to managers, making sure coupon-using customers get all their refund money. Mark not only solves his $7 problem, but also helps his fellow shoppers.

Mark Peltz
"If more people stand up, then more companies will do what they're supposed to."

It's OK for stores to have special rules for refunds, but they must tell you about that before the purchase. If you're using a coupon, make sure you understand the rules.

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)