Hi xtoclark! Welcome to FatWallet.

Let me see if I can help make the process a bit more clear for you.

When clicking through us to purchase fromm Lenovo they do have a few restrictions"

• Use of coupons not found on FatWallet's Lenovo Cash Back & Coupons page may void Cash Back.
  
• This means if the coupon or discount code is not offered on the Lenovo Cash Back & coupons page then it will most likely interfere with Cash Back. "May void Cash Back" is pretty much a try it at your own risk. Very rarely will it work, but if you use a coupon not offered on the Lenovo cash back & coupons page, and your transaction does not report to your account then we would not be able to ask for it on your behalf.

• Cash Back not available for Purchase Plans such as Employee Purchase, Shareholder, Member Purchase, Contractor Purchase, Corporate Purchase or Lenovo VISA Cardholder Program.
  
• If you have to enter a code or a special part of the Lenovo site to obtain a discount (this does include any Education programs) then you would not be eligible for FatWallet Cash Back in addition to your purchase program discount. Lenovo will grant one or the other of the discounts but not both.

• Cash Back not available for Outlet purchases.
  
• If you click through to Lenovo, then make your way to the "Lenovo Outlet Store" to make your purchase, that would not be eligible for Cash Back

So specifically, if you purchase a T61 "as a student" that sounds like a purchase program, so would not be eligible. And since we do not currently have any coupon codes available on the Lenovo Cash Back & Coupons page, it sounds like the 8% would not be eligible for Cash Back either.

There are links to "Notebook special offers" & the "ThinkPad T Series", and any deals offered through any link on the Lenovo Cash Back & Coupons page would also be eligible for Cash Back.

Basically you have to weigh your chance for other discounts (purchase programs and/or outside coupons) against the any deals listed through us & the 12% Cash Back and see which may be a better buy for you. We do want you to get the best price you can even if it is not through us.

And for payment of Cash Back. Once Cash Back is reported to your FatWallet account (which should happen within three weeks of shipment) then it is in a Pending stage. This pending stage lasts 91-121 days depending on the merchant. Next to the Pending flag on your transaction there is a date, that date is when your Cash Back would be Available. Once it is Available, you can request a payment either by check (if your requested payment is larger than $10) or by PayPal if you have an account with PayPal.

If you have any other questions, feel free to submit them in this thread or in a support ticket if you need more specific information about your account.

Edited for clarification & appearance