Prime TV
LLC Rebate Scam/Ripoff

I had a satellite TV system intalled on August 5 through Prime TV. I was promised a full rebate of installation costs, which in my case was in the amount of $49. I had 30 days to mail in the rebate form, my form was mailed and fully complete before the 30 day deadline passed. The reverse of the form states that my rebate check will arrive in "6-8 weeks". After waiting just over 8 weeks I decided to call and check on the status of my rebate.

I first called the Prime TV rebate center on or around Noveber 15. I did not speak to a customer service representative, but I was able to access my account information via the automated service by entering the phone number I had listed on the rebate form. Once my record was found by the computer, the automated service informed me that my rebate form has been received, is complete and has been processed. The automated service said that a rebate check in the amount of $49 will be issued "within the time frame listed on the rebate form". Since a little over eight weeks had passed, I figured that the check was in the mail and that it might arrive within a week. Many more weeks passed, and still no rebate check.

I called Prime TV for a second time on December 20. I coasted through the entire automated menu and managed to contact a live representative. I spoke to Jay Carr (ID #0509) regarding my situation. He looked up my account and again confirmed that my rebate information had been received on time, that all of the required information had been received and is correct, and that I should have received my rebate —but he could see that no check had yet been issued. Jay seemed puzzled by this (in retrospect perhaps just a good actor) and he promised that a manager would call me back within 24-48 hours. I gave Jay my personal cell phone, as well as my home phone. No such call from a manager ever came.

I called Prime TV for the third time on December 20. This time I spoke to Harry Abreu (ID #7511). Harry claimed that there was currently a "system problem" of unknown nature that began at an unknown time and would not be resolved in the forseeable future. Harry also assured me that this problem was specific to the Prime TV rebate offer, and that rebates were being sent out on a "case-by-case" basis and that the upper management was personally handling these. No one for the "upper management" was currently available, but I got Harry's "word" that someone would contact me regarding this matter. No phone call ever came.

The next step I took was filing a complaint with the Better Busines Bureau. Unfortunately I didn't realize until filing my complaint that to date there are 2740 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau against Prime TV, the vast majority of which are rebate-related issues.

Doing a search on the internet I learned that the Attourney General of North Carolina (where Prime TV is based) helped secure $300,000 in Summer of 2002 for a long list of customers who complained about not receiving their rebates from Prime TV for satellite TV installation.

I have also noticed a large collection of news stories published regarding Prime TV's inability to follow through with rebate promises. I have contacted my own local news station regarding this latest round/version of the Prime TV "rebait" scam.

I have contacted the Federal Trade Commission regarding this matter, and I have filed a detailed complaint with them.

Since there appear to be numerous people in the public who have been duped by the Prime TV scam, I'm guessing that it will just be a matter of time before there is a class-action lawsuit filed against them.

Phil
Southern Pines, North Carolina
U.S.A.

Company: Prime TV
Country: USA
State: North Carolina
City: Southern Pines
Address: 125 Murray Hill Road, Suite H
Phone: 8774357788

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