I purchased the federal version of Intuit's tax preparation software, TurboTax, Feb. 4 at CompUSA. The product came with a $30 rebate. I followed all instructions to receive my rebate and even contacted the company directly to make sure everything was in order. The company demanded originals of everything, but I kept photocopies.
The rebate Web site posted information stating that my rebate was being processed; in fact, the Web site now posts information stating the check was issued March 8. I never received a check issued for my federal software rebate. I contacted the company through e-mail and received a message telling me to check the Web site. I followed these instructions and got this message, "Sorry there are no promotions available at this time. Please check back later." The e-mail itself stated, "Please be assured that we do not offer any Rebate for the Federal Product. [sic]"
Intuit was widely advertising the federal rebate and now denies that it offers the rebate. Yet the rebate obviously was offered, as I can go into the Web site with my tracking number to find a message saying a check was issued for my federal rebate. It seems to me that with the federal version of TurboTax, Intuit does not intend to ever give a rebate. If you persist, even months after it was promised, to ask for your rebate, you will be told it was never offered. I have reported this false advertising to the FTC.
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