So frustrating - rebates rejected

[ah30k]

Yeh yeh, I know, this has been posted before but I am so frustrated I don't care.

I just had my S2-DT rebate rejected because:
Offer Number: 06-46089
Description: Get a $150 Mail-in Rebate with purchase of any TiVo Series2 DVR between May 1, 2006 and July 29, 2006.
Offer Date Range: 05/01/2006 - 07/29/2006

Invalid Reason(s): New TiVo Service or TiVo Plus service activation is needed in order qualify for the rebate.

What the ^%$^$ do they want from me?? I have monthly service that is in good standing.

This whole rebate thing blows, I expected more from Tivo.

[jerobi]

Just curious, but does the rebate still require that you be activated for 30 days before rebate submission? Check your fine print.

[lessd]

Yeh yeh, I know, this has been posted before but I am so frustrated I don't care.

I just had my S2-DT rebate rejected because:
Offer Number: 06-46089
Description: Get a $150 Mail-in Rebate with purchase of any TiVo Series2 DVR between May 1, 2006 and July 29, 2006.
Offer Date Range: 05/01/2006 - 07/29/2006

Invalid Reason(s): New TiVo Service or TiVo Plus service activation is needed in order qualify for the rebate.

What the ^%$^$ do they want from me?? I have monthly service that is in good standing.

This whole rebate thing blows, I expected more from Tivo.

Had the same problem because of the time difference west to ease coast, just call 1-888-641-4128 and they will handle it for you. To them it looked like I activated before I bought the unit by one day.

[ah30k]

Here's a little game to play...

See how long it takes you to find out that you cannot submit your rebate unit 30 days after activation. Remember, no cheating!

Ready, Set, Go...

-----------------------
1. Enter your 15 digit TiVo Service Number (TSN).
2. Complete and print the barcoded submission form.
3. Mail all required items in one envelope to the address listed on the form.
4. Activate your TiVo or TiVo Plus service.

Terms and Conditions:
Not eligible for TiVo Packages. (1) TiVo® Series2TM Digital Video Recorder must be purchased between 5/1/06 and 7/29/06, inclusive. Products purchased before or after these dates are not eligible for this rebate offer. Purchase date is determined by invoice or receipt date. (2) Rebate not valid for bundled hardware and service offers, including the “TiVo Packages” sold at www.tivo.com. Rebate may not be combined with any other TiVo offer, including, but not limited to, TiVo units received through the TiVo Rewards program. (3) New TiVo service* or TiVo PlusTM service * (on DVD products) activation required between 5/1/06 and 8/31/06, inclusive, and must be active for at least 30 days (beyond TiVo trial period) in order to be eligible for rebate. TiVo service or TiVo Plus service must also be active at the time of rebate processing to be eligible for rebate. TiVo Basic™ service not eligible for rebate. (4) A minimum one (1) year service commitment is required for all new TiVo service or TiVo Plus service activations. No early termination fee will be assessed if TiVo service or TiVo Plus service is cancelled within 30 days of activation. Early termination fee applies if TiVo service or TiVo Plus service is cancelled or otherwise terminated prior to fulfillment of TiVo service subscription commitment. (5) Activate your TiVo service or TiVo Plus service at http://www.tivo.com/activate/ or by calling 877-367-8486. (6) Valid only for new or certified factory renewed, TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorders (including designated DVD products) purchased from an authorized TiVo retailer or through our website (www.tivo.com). Not valid for pre-owned, second party, demo, or display DVRs. Not valid on DIRECTV DVR with TiVo service. Valid only on TiVo Service Numbers (TSN) starting with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 275, 540, 565, 590, 595, 649. (7) To receive rebate, mail completed Rebate Form (available at www.tivo.com/rebate) dated receipt for any eligible TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder or DVD product purchase, and the original or a clear copy of the UPC from the DVR packaging to: TiVo Inc. $150 Summer Rebate, Promotion 06-46089, P.O. Box 540007, El Paso, TX 88554-0007. Purchase price and purchase date must be included on the invoice or receipt. (8) All submissions must be postmarked no later than 9/30/06 and received by 10/15/06. (9) Please allow 10-12 weeks from TiVo or TiVo Plus service activation, rebate submission, and qualification for receipt of rebate check. Rebate checks are void if not cashed within 90 days of issuance and cannot be reissued. TiVo's obligations shall be deemed satisfied upon issuance of a check to Customer which shall be negotiable for a limited time. Customer shall have no rights or claims beyond the expiration date of the check. Timely action is a condition of Customer's rights. (10) TiVo not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, misdirected or postage due mail. Incomplete or illegible requests will not be honored. (11) Omission of any necessary information will result in a postcard notification of ineligibility and will require re-submission postmarked by 11/30/06. (12) Offer valid only in the USA. (13) Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by federal, state, or local law. (14) Any other use constitutes fraud. (15) Limit one rebate per eligible TiVo Series2™ Digital Video Recorder and DVD product. (16) Limit two rebates per household. (17) Fraudulent submissions and/or use of multiple addresses or PO boxes to obtain multiple rebates is fraudulent and could result in Federal prosecution. Contact information will be used in conformity with TiVo's privacy policy available at www.tivo.com/policies

[ah30k]

Oh yes, and I like how step 3, mailing in your form, comes prior to step 4 which is activation!

Why don't they clearly tell people not to submit prior to 30 days? Must be part of the secret code of ways to get people to forgo their rebates!

[Sirshagg]

Invalid Reason(s): New TiVo Service or TiVo Plus service activation is needed in order qualify for the rebate.[/B]



I had this same problem on one of the boxes I put lifetime service on. On the rebate center there is a way to email them. I did this explaining the situation and a day or two later I received a response that the rebate is valid and will be sent out shortly. It was very easy to resolve.

[dirtypacman]

Here's a little game to play...

See how long it takes you to find out that you cannot submit your rebate unit 30 days after activation. Remember, no cheating!

Ready, Set, Go...

-----------------------
1. Enter your 15 digit TiVo Service Number (TSN).
2. Complete and print the barcoded submission form.
3. Mail all required items in one envelope to the address listed on the form.
4. Activate your TiVo or TiVo Plus service.

Terms and Conditions:
Not eligible for TiVo Packages. (1) TiVo® Series2TM Digital Video Recorder must be purchased between 5/1/06 and 7/29/06, inclusive. Products purchased before or after these dates are not eligible for this rebate offer. Purchase date is determined by invoice or receipt date. (2) Rebate not valid for bundled hardware and service offers, including the “TiVo Packages” sold at www.tivo.com. Rebate may not be combined with any other TiVo offer, including, but not limited to, TiVo units received through the TiVo Rewards program. (3) New TiVo service* or TiVo PlusTM service * (on DVD products) activation required between 5/1/06 and 8/31/06, inclusive, and must be active for at least 30 days (beyond TiVo trial period) in order to be eligible for rebate. TiVo service or TiVo Plus service must also be active at the time of rebate processing to be eligible for rebate. TiVo Basic™ service not eligible for rebate.

About 15 seconds. I do agree that should be covered in Line items 1-4.

[Solver]

Here's a little game to play...

See how long it takes you to find out that you cannot submit your rebate unit 30 days after activation. Remember, no cheating!

Ready, Set, Go...

-----------------------
1. Enter your 15 digit TiVo Service Number (TSN).
2. Complete and print the barcoded submission form.
3. Mail all required items in one envelope to the address listed on the form.
4. Activate your TiVo or TiVo Plus service.

Terms and Conditions:
Not eligible for TiVo Packages. (1) TiVo® Series2TM Digital Video Recorder must be purchased between 5/1/06 and 7/29/06, inclusive. Products purchased before or after these dates are not eligible for this rebate offer. Purchase date is determined by invoice or receipt date. (2) Rebate not valid for bundled hardware and service offers, including the “TiVo Packages” sold at www.tivo.com. Rebate may not be combined with any other TiVo offer, including, but not limited to...

LOTS OF LEGALEZE STUFF!

...rebates is fraudulent and could result in Federal prosecution. Contact information will be used in conformity with TiVo's privacy policy available at www.tivo.com/policies
:( I guess I lose this game because I didn't find it. The closest thing I found is that it takes 30 days after activation to be eligible for a rebate. It said nothing about delaying your rebate submission at least 30 days after activation. It infact implied the opposite.

[petew]

:( I guess I lose this game because I didn't find it. The closest thing I found is that it takes 30 days after activation to be eligible for a rebate. It said nothing about delaying your rebate submission at least 30 days after activation. It infact implied the opposite.

I agree, when I submitted my rebate the day after activation it went into a "pending activation" state before fianlly being approved.

Just one other thought, rebate requires "New Activation" so presumably transfering an exisitng sub to the unit doesn't count.

[ah30k]

This was a new account activation, not a transfer.

I have a request for additional information on the rejection in the the help desk. I am at a loss as to why it would be rejected and am only speculating at this point. The fine print in the Ts&Cs seem to say that you must wait until the 30 day trial is over before applying.

[ScubaCat3]

I called the 800# for rebate support and mine was changed to "valid" in less than 5 minutes. Was pretty painless for me. I guess it hiccuped on a lifetime'd DT ..

[ah30k]

They fixed my rebate after an e-mail to the help desk.

Still shouldnt happen though.

[dirtypacman]

They fixed my rebate after an e-mail to the help desk.

Still shouldnt happen though.


What was the reason for the denial?

[ah30k]

What was the reason for the denial?
No explanation given, just that the rebate was fixed and approved.

[nhaigh]

:( I guess I lose this game because I didn't find it. The closest thing I found is that it takes 30 days after activation to be eligible for a rebate. It said nothing about delaying your rebate submission at least 30 days after activation. It infact implied the opposite.


Me to - all I see is that they won't approve the rebate until the activation has been valid for 30 days. This is so you cannot get the rebate and then cancel the activation.

This is common place with rebates for any store that has a return policy. Rebates are not valid until after the date you could take it back.

[dirtypacman]

No explanation given, just that the rebate was fixed and approved.

Just glad to hear it worked out for you.. sorry to hear about the frustration.

[BostonBob]

Santa left me a TIVO (along with the things to get the $150 Rebate) for Christmas. I dutifully activated TIVO service on January 1st (Lifetime) and prequalified my rebate online. I submitted everything on January 15th. I still don't have my rebate!!!

Using the on-line tracking tool, it acknowledged receipt of my materials pretty quickly (within a couple of weeks), but stayed in a pending status for a long time. Finally in mid-February the status turned to "Rebate Approved." That probably answers the question about rebates not being activated until 30 days after service activation. My first check was supposedly printed on 3/19/06. Having not received it, I called on 4/14/06 to find out what was going on. The customer service person couldn't understand what happened, but promised to set up another check for processing...again a 15 day processing period. That should have been here in mid-May. As of today (6/2/06) still no check. I called again and Jessica told me that my record had no zip code on it. She apologized and said a 3rd check would be processed to be with me in 15 days.

I feel like I'm getting the run around. My zip code was properly entered when I pre-qualified and is properly in at least 3 places on the rebate paperwork I submitted.

Has anyone else had this experience?

[petew]

Bob,

If your zip code did get changed in some way that would explain why the first 2 checks never made it. Perhaps one of the checks was returned to sender prompting the mail room to remove the invalid zip from your record, on the assumption that if you called to complain they would be able to correct the data.