CompUSA recently switched to a new processor for their erebates, and the new processor is sending Visa debit cards rather than checks, according to the rebate status for a purchase I made this week. I am not entirely surprised given that the press release (which is in the other erebates thread) said that customers would love getting their rebate on debit cards (yeah, right), but there is NOTHING on CompUSA's site (or ad) that says that this is how they will be paid. There is an entry in the erebates website FAQ about a Virtual Visa account, where you will apparently just get a card number, but they say "if you choose to receive" and there is nothing on the website where you would make a choice of payment type.

Anyway, I just sent the following email to CompUSA:

It appears that your new erebates processor is sending out Visa debit cards instead of checks (or so it says on my rebate status). Your ad does not say this, and the rebate form does not say this. I find this to be completely unacceptable and will be filing a complaint with my local consumer affairs department and the NYS Attorney General if I do not receive a check. I STRONGLY suggest that you change your ads or your rebate practice or I am sure that others will file similar complaints.

Perhaps others would like to send similar complaints.

Actually when you submit the erebate, you can choose Visa Debit, Virtual Account or Check.

I have to admit the choice field is not very obvious to common eyes. Actually I missed it the first time!

But when I submitted my second eRebate, I did noitice it SO I choose to get the check instead. Too bad I am stuck with Debit Cards for my first rebate submitted. But I can always use it to buy CompUSA gift card for future deals! -

Here is the fields I copied from the screen:

Please choose a reward
Visa® Debit Card Yes No
Visa® Virtual Card Yes No
Check Yes No

I fail to see what difference it really make.

It appears that if you request a check then you will have to wait 8-9 weeks after the rebate promotion has ended before your check will be sent. Debit cards are supposed to take only 2-3 weeks.

I guess the previous processor (RebatePlus) was much too efficient. I just received a paper check from them in only 24 days (for a Trendnet router).
The other rebate (from Trendnet) hasn't even been acknowledged on the Young America web-rebates.com site yet. It's obvious how delay is built into their business model.

billrubin said:yesidonoitall said:I fail to see what difference it really make.What? Getting a debit card instead of a check? I think that many of us do not like the debit cards because at minimum you have to go out of your way to use them (and when you do, you forego a credit card rebate you'd be getting). When I get a check, I put it in a pile and I make a deposit once a week or so.

Using a debit card causes people to go out of their way? How? I don't know what kind of debit card you use, but with mine I just swipe it at checkout, enter my pin, and a moment later I'm done. Having to go to the bank is going out of my way. Not to mention, it costs gas too.

scareyou2 said:Using a debit card causes people to go out of their way? How? I don't know what kind of debit card you use, but with mine I just swipe it at checkout, enter my pin, and a moment later I'm done. Having to go to the bank is going out of my way. Not to mention, it costs gas too.I go to the bank once a week when I have enough checks to deposit. There will always be rebate checks to deposit. With debit cards you have to make sure you use it in full or you lose money, plus you lose the rebate that you could make if you were to use a real credit card instead.

yesidonoitall said:RE:
plus you lose the rebate that you could make if you were to use a real credit card instead.

Huh?
No need to lose the value...
You can pay with the balance on the card, and pay the rest of a new buy with another cc or cash.
If I pay for gas with my credit card, I get 5% back. If I pay for gas with this debit card, I get 0% back.

yesidonoitall said:Ok, but you did not bring that up till now.I mentioned it on 10/6:

and when you do, you forego a credit card rebate you'd be getting).

I was just able to sign on. Make sure you're on the right version (new vs old). The new version uses your email address to logon, the old one uses as userid.