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The Infamous Mystery Means
Dear Mary: My husband has two jobs — he is an artist and a salesman. He earns commissions from both jobs, so we never know what our income will be. I work part-time and am paid hourly. How do we go about setting up a budget? — Carol, …Read more.
Handy Tools Ease the Pain
Manufactures have been making a name — and a profit — for themselves creating tools and gadgets to help consumers get a "better grip" on countless household tasks. And I'm not knocking it. But I love it when I don't have to …Read more.
Let the Decluttering Begin
I know it's time. It's been time for at least five years, possibly longer. I need to clean my kitchen. Now, before you send the Health Department to my address, let me explain. What I mean by "clean" is that I need to clean out and …Read more.
A Glimmer of Hope to Cling To
Think back to a low point in your life. Don't struggle with this, just try to recall when you were going through a difficult season and life seemed bleak. Now recall that first glimmer of hope you clung to as you could see that things were beginning …Read more.
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It's Not Easy To Win the Rebate GameA recent letter from Elle S. in Texas stirred up my personal ire on the subject of rebates. I detest them! It's a game in which the deck is stacked against the consumer. Always. Elle writes: "I purchased my Sprint phone in May 2008. I should have received the rebate by Aug. 2008. I repeatedly submitted the rebate request via mail, fax and email, and each time Sprint claimed they'd never received it. In March 2009, I began filing complaints against Sprint. So far, I have filed complaints with 30 consumer fraud agencies including the Better Business Bureau, Call For Action and the Texas Consumer Complaint Center. I will not stop until I receive my rebate check!" Good for you, Elle. You have a huge throng of "Everyday Cheapskate" readers cheering you on all the way! The goal in the rebate game is to land our business by offering us enticing rebates and then to make the rebate process is such a hassle that we don't bother. Manufacturers hire fulfillment companies to handle the work, reduce fraud and see to it that the fewest possible number of rebates are paid out while staying within the boundaries of the law. Tactics include short deadlines, complicated forms and other terms and conditions that make it difficult for consumers to comply. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that at least half of all rebates go unclaimed. Here's what you can do: —Don't assume that getting a rebate ever will be easy. —Never buy something for the sole purpose of getting the rebate. If anything goes wrong, you don't want to be stuck with something you don't need and cannot afford. —Know the terms and conditions before you make the purchase.
—Do not procrastinate. When it comes to filing for a rebate, sooner is better than later. —Keep a paper trail. Once you've double-checked to make sure the form is filled out perfectly, make a photocopy of everything, including a phone number, address and Web site for the company processing the rebate. —Contact the company if the rebate doesn't arrive within the time promised. If no time is mentioned on the rebate form, the law requires the company to send you a check within 30 days. Many rebates say a check will arrive in 12 weeks or longer. —Cash the check. One rebate processor boasts on its Web site that 10 percent of all rebate checks never are cashed. Companies call this "slippage," and they are committed to getting as much of it as possible. —If you have a problem, complain. Contact the FTC immediately by calling 877-382-4357 or by going to http://www.ftc.gov. Notify your state's attorney general and the Better Business Bureau, even if the rebate is for just a buck or two. A rebate is not a gift. It is a marketing tactic, and it is wrong for manufacturers to trick us into buying and then to refuse to pay up. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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