jellybeangirl said:Just got my new info from Ashley furniture. As much as I hate to do it, I have done what it says about registering online, reprinting all of my coupons and I am sending the check for $9.95. According to them my first visa card will include the $9.95 plus $25 and thereafter each one will be $25. And according to Ashley, even though I did receive 3 cards at $25 each a couple months ago, the coupons I just printed are for $500 total (20 coupons of $25) so I I will be ahead $75 as long as all works out with this new company.I hope you're aware that you just invested in a Ponzi scheme. If you are near the top of the pyramid, you might see some of your money, but this new company will follow the same business plan as claimyourgroceries. It might last a few months longer, though, because of the $9.95 "application fee", unless the people running the new company decide to take some extra profit.

Your local consumer affairs office might be interested in hearing about what local retailers are doing here. Another option would be writing to the consumer affairs columnist at your local newspaper (if they have one). But first I would do my best to explain to the local Ashley store manager how his company's reputation is being tarnished by participating in these Ponzi schemes. Don't forget to contact Ashley's corporate headquarters:

Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
1 Ashley Way
Arcadia, WI 54612
608-323-3377

...and if you're really serious, send certified mail directly to the company executives listed at the link below, CCing your state's attorney general.
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/people.xhtml?ID=55652


I just got a letter from Ashley Furniture telling me that they found a new, reputable company to replace this former one.How do you know this new company is reputable?

Just an FYI - I don't know how many folks may have received one of these claimyourgas.com or claimyourgroceries.com vouchers for buying a Mitsubishi TV, but we sent Mitsubishi a letter a couple of weeks ago and they are settling with us for $300 cash. It would have taken a year to get that in $25 increments from BBZ - and there's no way we are going to even attempt to try another voucher/gift card program - so I'm happy with what Mitsubishi offered us. They responded to our letter initially within a couple of days and then called us 3 or 4 times to let us know they were working on a solution - so they kept in touch with us the entire time. I am not expecting the same outcome from the furniture who gave us the grocery voucher - but we sent them the same letter and are waiting to see what they offer. My husband and I decided early on that we would accept half of the voucher's worth as a credit to our account or in cash - I think we all have to be willing to compromise because none of these stores intentionally defrauded us. So a letter does help and does get results - much better than the time and effort it would take to file a small claims case. Don't give up fighting back.

I am in the same situation, only I was doing claimyourgas.com through this company, sent paperwork for several month, wrote e-mails, no answer, then called 480-455-5192 it is disconected, another number of 480-786-5478 is not connecting too, so I am not sure what is going on, but I think it is a scam!!!

BBZ Resource Management, Inc. announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in order to preserve the value of its business for its creditors. BBZ also announced that immediately prior to its Chapter 11 filing, it entered into a new strategic relationship in order to preserve and maximize the value of its data mining business for the benefit of its creditors, business partners and other stakeholders.

BBZ’s historical business involved both the sale of rebate certificates and the accumulation and use of consumer data. Recent events surrounding BBZ’s rebate certificate business necessitated BBZ’s Chapter 11 filing. Early in 2009, BBZ entered into a 15-year contract with Kidz Idz, Inc. to purchase $345 million of rebate certificates from BBZ. Kidz Idz’ performance under this contract was personally guaranteed by Michael Pouls, the owner of Kidz Idz. Relying upon that contract, BBZ entered into a long-term lease for a new fulfillment facility and hired new employees to deal with the exploding demand for the rebate certificates that BBZ sold. Rather than honor that contract, however, Kidz Idz and Mr. Pouls not only breached their obligations but also undertook what BBZ believes to be concerted campaign to co-opt the rebate certificate business and destroy BBZ. This effort culminated with the Pouls Parties filing a lawsuit on Thursday, June 25, 2009 falsely asserting that BBZ’s business is a fraudulent “Ponzi” scheme. Ironically, that same day BBZ was working with outside counsel to prepare its own lawsuit against the Pouls Parties asserting their breaches of contract and other wrongful conduct.

The damage to BBZ’s rebate certificate business from the Pouls Parties’ conduct made it imperative that BBZ act to protect its consumer data mining business for the benefit of its creditors, business partners and other stakeholders. Accordingly, BBZ has entered into a contract with an industry leader to take that business forward in exchange for BBZ receiving a share of the business’s revenues. This new relationship will form the foundation of BBZ’s anticipated Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

In the meantime, BBZ has suspended sales, activations, and redemption of rebate certificates, as well as gift card distribution. Consumers awaiting gift cards or holding certificates are encouraged not to contact the businesses or brokers that sold or gave away the certificates, as suspension of this program is beyond their control. BBZ is committed to honoring its obligations and will be working diligently with its outside professionals in the Chapter 11 process to maximize the return to its creditors.

Inquiries may be sent to BBZ’s new mailing address: PO Box 11000, Mesa AZ 85214-1100.

This is a scam, finally looked into it today to find that they declared bankruptcyin July. I have not found one single posting where someone actually received a gift card. I am so angry i could scream. I'm furious that i've been taken in, had it not been a reputable company that talked me into an 8500$ purchase with this 500$ back over a 20 month time frame i wouldn't have thought it was legit. I will be contacting the company to let them know just how mad i am about this!

Another update: Mitsubishi did not pay the settlement of half the voucher's worth as they promised us. We waited the 4 weeks we agreed upon and no check. We are sending a certified letter telling them we will no longer accept half - we want the full $600 of the voucher's worth paid within 7 days. Of course, we're pretty certain that Mitsubishi will ignore our letter so we've already done the small claims paperwork. We will file it the day after our deadline to them. As for Legacy Rooms Express, the store that sold us the TV and gave us a worthless grocery voucher, we wrote to them twice in 3 months telling them that we would NOT accept anymore voucher/gift card programs as payment for the $500 they owe us. So the other day, we got an email from the president of Linders Furniture,Eric Foucrier,(this is the parent corporation for Rooms Express), and guess what? They have now purchased vouchers from My Free Travel.com and THIS voucher company does not allow mistakes of any kind or you will be disqualified and your voucher will be VOID. So this is what we are offered after NINE MONTHS of hassles and drama already? My husband is filing small claims against THEM today. We have copies of everything - including the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General complaints we filed against claimyourgroceries and claimyourgas (BBZ Resource Mgmt) so we did make a very serious effort to resolve the matter on our own before even going to the store - and STILL the store offers us another voucher! Oh - and a $100 credit in their stores, which means they want us to spend even MORE money. Their cheapest item is about $500.

For anyone asking if there is going to be a class action lawsuit - I kinda doubt that will happen because so many different stores and car dealerships gave out the vouchers. It would do no good to sue BBZ Resource Management because they are now protected by the courts. All anyone can do is file a small claims case. Yes - it will cost you $30 to file - but you can fill out the paperwork online in most states and just print it out, sign it, and take it to your local courthouse with the fee. I think the courts will be on our side in this matter, being that we all made purchases relying on the promise of free groceries and gas. It's bad enough the promotion was misleading to say the least - none of us knew until AFTER our purchase that we would be given vouchers, have to mail in receipts and wait for a $25 gift card over the course of 20-24 months - we all thought we'd be getting an actual voucher or gift card for the full amount up front. The fact that we all complied with the program anyway, as time-consuming and problematic as it was, and then were screwed after many months of waiting - well, the courts will surely see that everyone made a profit here but US.

morethanaconsumer said:And now they went bankrupt??? Filed Chapter 11?? This doesn't really sound like a coincidence. Get thousands of people to purchase these certificates and then File Chapter 11. How does businesses get away with this? B/c the regular working person doesn't have deep enough pockets to take them to court.That's how Donald Trump made his money.