Verizon dresses down with fauxbates
A less-than-classy move by Verizon Wireless will put them in the AT&T Rebate league … AT&T currently sends “rebates” in the form of those impossible-to-ring horrid orange prepaid debit cards — after about two months. Verizon, which has historically been excellent at processing of rebates in less than a month and as of now issues rebate checks, is switching next week to AT&T’s prepaid debit card system. Leaked future rebate forms show text stating:
“Your rebate will be paid with a Verizon Wireless Rebate Card. This is a debit card that can be used instantly. Your card is issued by Citibank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Citi Prepaid® Services is a Citibank, N.A. business.”
Of note, the rebate cards are a pain in the tuchus to use — like most “gift card debit cards”, cashiers are never sure whether to run them as debit or credit, what codes to hit, or how much is on them. People that have worked in retail have seen these cards rendered useless a number of times. The other disadvantage to such cards is that they often expire quickly. A check is much easier to deposit, forget about, and use however one pleases. The reason this move is negative for customers is because of how complicated these cards can be to redeem and they often expire rapidly, thereby rendering your rebate useless. Plus, do you really want to carry something with a picture of VZW’s Test Man around in your wallet? That won’t get you in to any bars, kids.
Thanks, Tim!
That’s because they want you to spend that rebate money at a Verizon store. They want to make it harder for your to deposit it in your bank account. Because then you won’t support corporate commerce and buy stuff you really don’t need and put yourself in massive debt to credit card companies who can suck you dry with 60% interest rates.
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that’s seriously lame. i loved VZW rebates before… hopefully they will still have fast turnaround time.
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All the more reason to shop at Best Buy Mobile, where phones are offered at the post-rebate discount price, WITHOUT rebates.
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Actually, i would have to disagree. You can call the 800 number on the back of the card to fetch your balance. Also, you can swipe it anywhere visa is accepted OR you can cash these at your bank. I would rather cash a visa card than deposit a check and wait 3 days for it to clear.
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These cards can not be used at pre-paid gas pumps or restaurants due to these retailers always putting a hold way over the amount to secure payment.
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I too will disagree…
I had an AT&T rebate card and used it quite easily. Not only could I call in as TmoBin said - but I could also go online. Every place I went to took it easily - just like a credit card. INCLUDING (though I though it shouldn’t) a gas pump!
I don’t care how I get my rebate - as long as I get it!
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The real reason is that Citi Bank knows that a percentage of cards will be tossed with a few cents or dollars left on them. If you have $0.25 left it would be easier to toss it then try to use - and Citi will make all the profits from the left overs. Good for the Bank and Verizon - bad for us loyal Verizon users. - p.s. I’m a banker too.
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The best use for these cards is to pay for your wireless service on-line. Put the full value toward your bill whether you owe that much or not. When done, cut up the card and throw it out.
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Where’s the love for the big red today BG lol. Two negative articles today. Did they overcharge you or something
Checks are nice, easy, and fast. I find these cards to be about the same though in my experience….As long as I get my rebate in one form another, I cannot complain.
Still says that it is a 2 week turn-around (could take up to 6 weeks) on the full pad as well so no change their fortunately.
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Wow is it a slow news day? This is a non issue. Besides, I received one as gift card and didn’t have any trouble using it.
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tmobz also hands out those dreadful little cards. i used mine to pay my bill =)
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Checks are great - for folks with bank accounts. A surprising number of folks don’t have bank accounts. For them, as well as those not interested i waiting for a check to clear, gift cards are huge improvement over gift cards.
There is no spend-this-the-at-Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile etc. strategy - these gift cards arrive weeks after your purchase. You’re of course welcome to spend these at the issuing business, and there may be some silly satisfaction in doing so, but hardly any coercion to do so.
As to clerks not knowing how to handle gift cards -I dunno what kind a halfwit clerks, waiters, & other servicepersons you deal with but every one I’ve ever presented a gift card to (and I probably go through a thousand bucks a year on these) has taken them without a blink and properly rung them up as credit cards.
As others have pointed out, getting your balance is a phone call or website away - arguably easier then a bank account.
Finally, no, you don’t want to use gift cards on any system where a pre-debit happens. Fir instance when you pump gas a hold of $75 or $100 is put on your account (to be sure you’re good for the sum.) This can take days to clear, rendering your stored funds inaccessible. However nearly every person who has handled these knows this, and it is a small price to pay for avoiding prove-your-ID games with checks.
Or should we simply hate every modern bit of banking and next hear how awful it is stores like to be near ATMs?
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my god what blatent bias bg! First you say something bad about sprint, then verizon, and now about AT&T in a verizon article! When will it end?!?!?
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Nice to see you didn’t forget to leave out the important facts. I’ll post them below from an internal email:
Effective September 2, 2008 Rebate Cards will replace Rebate Checks for all mail-in rebates, offering customers more choices to access rebate funds.
Spend Immediately - Customers can use their Verizon Wireless Rebate Card instantly everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
Cash with Card - Use Rebate Card to get cash at any Visa member bank.
Bank Transfer - Move rebate funds to bank of choice online.
Paper Check - Customers can request a paper check online which can be deposited or cashed at their bank of choice.
So really nothing has changed unless you want it to.
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I got a rebate card from rent.com and I no trouble using it and it was easier to use then my rebate check from sprint.
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You can still get a check, don’t get your panties in a bunch….
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BGR has really gone down hill recently. It seems that more and more of the articles here are nothing but complaints.
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I have agree with the ‘too negative’ angle. Almost post is busy putting down or insulting or generally being nasty about something. BGR, it is possible to state a concern without it coming out as a “verizon is going downhill” type comment.
As you can see from the posts here, most people are fine with the rebate card. Hardly seems worth the effort you put into hating it.
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Lefty said:
“It seems that more and more of the articles here are nothing but complaints.”
That is, unless it’s about BlackBerry. Then all is good.
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No doubt some porn sites will take them.
I’m betting the expiring part would be illegal in California. Gift cards must never expire if issued in California. The theory is, they can’t give you money and then take it back just because you don’t spend it right away.
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the only negativity I see is coming the damn commenters who have a comic book guy complex and take things far too seriously when in comes to freaking cell carriers. Just bring it down notch. And if you don’t want sarcastic remarks in your news stories, then start scaning the AP wire or somthing. There is a reason why we come to sites like this, engadget, and gizmodo. And that is to get the news and be entertained at the same time and those sarcastic remarks are what set these sites appart from the standard new sites. So quit taking those things so seriously, just laugh and be entertained.
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The best thing about this article is the coining of the word “fauxbate”. I love it! Is BGR the first? (Google says so).
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El Paso TX? hmm that’s not even elpaso’s zipcode. haha
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I’ve worked plenty of retail and often have to school coworkers on how to use the card. If you encounter problem employees, instruct them to
1. Ring as a credit card. It is not a gift card, and nor is it a debit card because it doesn’t come with a pin number.
2. Type in the balance of the card. (Employees often try to run it through for the full amount of the purchase causing it to be declined and them to be confused).
3. If it is zeroed out, ask for the card back anyway because if you need to return an item, often the card is needed to refund the balance or you’ll just end up with store credit. If a balance remains, write down how much the card was for and how much was spent so at the next retailer you can let the clerk know how much is on the card.
Your life should run much more smoothly now.
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I was hoping to use my rebate card to make a payment on my Bank of America credit card bill. BOA was very rude and would have nothing to do with this card at all. They claimed that it is a scam by Verizon. Also, I called Verizon help line,on the back of the card,not too much help. Since I have 4 cards- each worth $50, they claimed I would only be able to deposit one and needed to spend the rest or submit a request for a check refund. Then, I went to my other regular bank, and they gave me a cash advance on it, no extra charge, and let me deposit the cash into my money market account. I would always rather have the money!! I am very disappointed about today’s hassle. I should have just bought the phones on Amazon, rather than the Verizon store- too many gimmicks…
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