I updated two wireless phones recently and was told I would receive a $50.00 cash rebate on each phone for a total of $100.00
The first rebate arrived in the form of a VISA debit card through Citi Prepaid Services. I followed CitiBank instructions on how to activate the card by telephone. Then I followed printed instructions to "use your card the way you want" and went as directed to www.verizonwireless.com/rebates, established a user name and password, and after about one hour, was actually able to have the $50.00 on the card sent by electronic transfer to my checking account. The process was frustrating, duplicitious and time-consuming, but I persevered. This is certainly not my idea of a "cash rebate". Back in the day, Verizon actually mailed a check in the dollar amount of the for the rebate.
Today, while trying to do as above for a different phone number on the same Verizon wireless account, I have be unable complete the transaction despite having spent about 90 minutes thus far online and/or on the telephone being bounced back and forth between Verizon Customer Care (sic!) and Citi Bank employees. Citi Bank informed me Verizon has total responsibility for the rebate website. Citi Bank referred me back to Verison Customer Care — again.
Verizon's deliberately byzantine strategy for forcing rebate customers into a prepaid debit card the cash redemption of which is next to impossible, if not currently impossible, is in my opinion a deceptive, fraudulent strategy depriving the customer of a straighforward rebate easily redeemeable for cash either in hand or by bank deposit.
I urge others in similar straits to post written complaints with this and any other available mass communication websites such as Twitter or Facebook to force Verizon Wireless to remedy this rat's nest of a problem. I have computed my time (hourly rate) coupled with the rebate is worth $370.00 United states dollars.
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