Freebee Gas review: Fraudulent rebate service 123

I have also been duped into giving up $5 to this company for sitting through a timeshare presentation, and having gotten no gas cards since starting this charade in July. I reported it to the BBB, and FreeBeeGas tells them they sent me a $100 gas card on 11/26. So far, I have seen nothing. I have been hung up on by FBG, and left voice mails, e-mails - all with no luck. We'll see if the gas card actually arrives. I am doubtful, and I guess I learned a cheap $5 lesson here... My advice is to contact your BBB and register a complaint to shut this company down or make them pony up so others won't fall into the same trap.

These complaints are so on. I was lured into looking at used cars by Billion's in Sioux Falls. They probably gave away hundreds of these things. Looks like I flushed my $5. That adds up if they have thousands of people sending in $5 each. I have a martial arts school and was going to have the kids sell them as a fundraiser for their youth group. That would have been a disaster if these guys are scammers! Stay away! If there's a class action suit, please notify Master KC Estes at masterkc2@yahoo.com. Is the world not bad enough without people like this?

I, also questioned the $5.00 fee, processing why not, part of the dealship promo. (4 months into this gas receipt thing). Why aren't the car dealers part responsible, they listed freebeegas as a promo prize for coming in to see them. If, and I'm sure at this point, it is a scam, beware how easy we fell for it, and we will only be out $5 and some stamps.

Update: The company is no longer charging $5 to enroll in the program. Their website www.gasolineredemption.com does not mention anything about a fee, and I saw an article in a newspaper (http://www.tampabay.com/features/consumer/article912909.ece) saying they will no longer be charging the fee (the reason I checked the site in the first place).

Of course, the General Manager is quoted in the article as saying "People just don't give stuff away, " Barnes said. "The general public sometimes is very stupid." This was after claiming that people weren't fulfilling their obligations... hmmmm...

I was still waiting before I had made a decision about this. I started sending in my receipts to FreeBeeGas in Aug 08. I hesitated with the $5 fee because I thought that seemed odd that they would need $5 to process the gift/gas cards but that they would refund it with the last card. Either they need it to process the cards or they don't, right? I assumed they maybe hoped most people wouldn't follow through for 6 whole months (for my $150--I can't imagine the 20 months for the $500!) and they could get the extra cha-ching.

I felt ok about this as I had continued getting notifications by e-mail that my receipts had been received. Also, with my last one I had sent an address change note, which they then e-mailed me new vouchers from Gasoline Redemption and listed my new address. Seemed to me like they were at least opening the envelopes and verifying receipt. I had noticed that the processing time was 52 days if receipts received at the end of the month (as mine usually were), so I still believed it to be within that time frame.

I will continue for two more months anyway, and see what happens. I wanted to get my comments added to this list so there is a way to become a part of a Class Action if there is one. It's not about the $5 necessarily. There's also (as someone else mentioned) that I often passed up cheaper gas just to make sure I would have $100 for the month at Sinclair (the one in more towns I travel to). Plus the time and postage. And most importantly, if this does turn out to be a scam it's just flat-out illegal. I will, however, withhold judgment on that for just a bit (only a bit!) longer and see what happens.

Lets see, we have a company that gives gas away by collecting receipts...a patently absurd business model. Why do they need receipts and why can't I just get the $500 card I was promised for visiting the Nissan dealer in Fremont, CA? Why does it have to be at $25. a month and most importantly, when will the cards start coming for all my efforts? I knew I smelled a rat right up front and it was the salesman reeking of cheap perfume at the car dealer.

I too have been sending in receipts to FreeBeeGas in Largo, Fl. I've mailed in receipts since July, 2008 and have never received a gas card. I have tried to call [protected] x 55 and have been on hold then told to leave my number. No one has ever called back. I've tried emailing, but I get the message that my email didn't go through. Today, i am sending my receipts for November. I am including a letter of complaint and asking for my gas cards, but I really don't expect a response. I am going to call the Florida Attorney Generals office and file a complaint.

Here is an article in the Saint Petersburg Times, I guess the FreeBeeGas General Manager likes to call the general public stupid.

"People just don't give stuff away, " Barnes said. "The general public sometimes is very stupid."

http://www.tampabay.com/features/consumer/article912909.ece

Same here, I recieved a 500.00 free gas card through Ashley Funiture Home Store and I have followed all directions and have yet to recieve any gas cards. What a scam.

Imagine that. I've sent in coupons since July, haven't received a thing other than an email every month telling me that everything was in order. I did call Lauren at [protected], and she assured me that she would be putting July and Augusts rebates in the mail THAT DAY! (Uh-huh, pull THIS leg and it plays Jingle Bells!) Let's see, $5.00 x the 100+ complaints on THIS thread, plus who knows how many others...
I actually got another phone call last night saying that I "Won a drawing, and would get $300.00 in Free Gas and a 2 day trip to one of several destinations...
Imagine the fun I had with that guy! I made sure I kept him on the phone for an HOUR before I let him off the hook by telling him that I had given up all my worldly goods and joined the peace corps! Hopefully I kept him from taking in at least a few more suckers.

The Attorney General's Office is working on a number of compaints against
Freebee Gas-------------The FBI may very well enter the scene since FreeBee
Gas has scammed people in other states beyond Florida---------------This is great!
While they are at it, they may as well investigate Grand Incentives of
Sarasota, Florida-----another corrupt company trying to fleece the public.

I joined "Freebee Gas" in march thru my travel club, castaways. I have been sending in my receipts with all the correct documents for $100 at their specified gas stations but have not received any response. I did receive an e-mail in Oct. that they would be sending me my $25 cards. I tried to send another e-mail bit it bounced back as a dead address.
If we can get together I would like to file a fraud suite they are located in Largo, Fla [protected]

I too am part of this deal. I have been sending in my receipts since September. GUess what!? No gas cards yet. I too have contacted these a**holes several times. I believe this to be a true scam. What a rip off!

Scamed me too. I Just talked to James at Freebeegas.com says my July and August cards are overdue. .(No kidding, haven't gotten a single card yet - in since July) He Said he will call me when he gets the cards in my envelope that he filled out (Yeah right) while I was on the phone with him. I asked if it would be today. He said when he gets the cards he will call me. Said they are in the process of trying to streamline things there. Could hear phones ringing off the hook in the background.

Oh by the way it is no longer freebeegas.com it is now gasolineredemption.com. Another scam or what. Same address

I also contacted where I received my certificate to let them in on the deal so they don't make the mistake of offering this scam to more innocent people that will send in their $5.00

Sorry for my typos above.
One erroneous sentence should read, " I was instructed to fill out a form detailing my claim and send any supporting documentation to Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services and was also advised hat they had already contacted FreeBeeGas (Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants, Inc.) on my behalf, advising them of my complaint." Hope that clarifies my poor typing. Let's get these cheats! NB

I also attended a timeshare presentation (at InnSeason Resorts in MA in my case) and received my FreeGas offer for $150 worth of free gas coupons. I also have sent $100 worth of gas receipts each month since June and received the perfunctory email acknowledging that my receipts were received "in good order." I also tried to call FreebeeGas--unsuccessfully--and was unable to speak to a human being or leave a message as the message box was "full." Last week I filed a complaint for Internet Fraud with the FBI and today i received a letter that my complaint was passed on to the "Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services." I was instructed to fill pit a form detailingmy claim and supporting documentation to Pinellas County and also advised that they had already contacted FreeBeeGas to notify them of my complaint. We'll see if I get any results. I'll let you all know. Meanwhile, you too can also file a complaint for internet fraud by going to the FBI website or by contacting the Pinellas (FL)County Department of Justice & Consumer Services to complain about FreeBee Gas (a.k.a. Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants). Here's the info for filing a claim with Pinella County (FL) Department of Justice and Customer Service: PHONE: [protected]; FAX: [protected]; EMAIL: Consumer@pinellascounty.org. Good luck to everyone out there. We've all been cheated. NB

This company is nothing but a scam. I went to a car dealership and was given the certificate. I called and gave them my $5.00 "processing fee". I sent the the gas receipts for May, June, July, August, September & October - I have copies of all of them - I have not received one gas card - and every time you e-mail them and they answer you back (of course now they aren't answering) they would always say "this isn't normal" everything is in order and your cards will be sent out. Something needs to be done about this company and they need to be shut down.

I sent in my gas receipts for 4 months and never saw a single thing back from these liars. It must be a fraud!

I believe many, many people have filed a complaint against this company, but there
are too many to list-----------------I just filed a complaint yesterday and already, it
does not appear---------------What happened? We must all take that extra step and
notify the authorities------even your sheriff's department------------let's gat after these
###!
Don Dominguez [protected]
ddominguez@tampabay.rr.com

I too have timely sent in $100 worth of gas receits for the months of august, september and october and have received no gas cards...amazing how such outfits can get away with deliberate fraud yet an honest mistake on a retailer or small business person can potentially lead to fines and jail sentances and high legal defense costs.

I received a free bee gas deal at a time share resort tour in Atlantic City. $300 worth. Free bee gas says we get our $5 back on last card. This was supposed to be my first month to send in receipts. While looking for my mortgage company complaints I found this site. Thank you! At least I won't be wasting postage. Yes, someone with the knowledge and contacts needs to get a law suit started. If this happens, I'm on board. I'm going to call Kathy McCarron. Maybe she can help all of us.

thanks for the information, my sister got a free coupon for $250 and wanted me to check into it for her. She wouldn't never spend $100.00 a month, especially now with the prices down some. I felt it was a scam, but felt I needed to do some research, glad I did.

I see where the complaints against FreeBee Gas are c oming in at a rapid pace---------If you are a victim of this fraud by Big O Tire Company, Tire Kingdom, or any other tire dealer,
call Kathy McCarron at Tire Business magazine. She is working on a story to expose this
obvious scam by Freebee Gas, Largo, Florida and Grand Incentives, Sarasota, Florida
Kathy's number is [protected]------------It's important that we collectively report
this scam and hold these "sleezey" people accountable.

Ok, I just tried to call free bee gas. Their hours are only 10-4pm?! Scam Tip-off #1. IS there any way together we could start a class-action law suit?!? This is false advertising, and as it has reached the Florida State Attorney General's office and the BBB-maybe we can take this issue national and do something about it.

I used to be a reseller for FreeBeeGas.com and sold hundreds of certificates. Now I'm getting complaints from my customers that they have not seen their cards for 2 months. I thought I would help them out by calling FreeBeeGas customer support which I did and the background noise sounded like a cattle market, probably hundreds of people calling to complain. When I got through they told me to call [protected] extension 55 I did this 3 days ago and have called for 3 days straight and left messages after being on hold for 15 minutes at a time. They do not call back, they do not pick up the phone. This is an unorganized company that sholuld not be alowed to continue anymore. This whole problem of not getting cards is making my business look bad and it might be time for me to file a law suit for not delivering as promissed.

I have stayed consistant in sending my receipts to this company with no return for gas. I went to a seminar and sat through an hour and a half presentation to get $300 in free gas. Anyhow with that being said we still have no gas cards not even a thought of a gas card. The company has replied that they received my receipts but yet to send the gas cards. They owe me for August, September, October and soon November. We called and they said they are just behind this was a recording and to bare with them. I wish there was something I could do about this.

My wife and I also attended a timeshare which offered the Free Gas. After completing all of the requirements and sending $5.00, we have heard nothing and we have not received any rebate cards. The fee of $5.00 was requested as a money order. I wonder WHY! The Attorney General should be notified of the outrageous and fraudulent scams.

My parents visited a timeshare and "won" $300 in rebate gas. I am in the same boat and noticed the website doesn't work either.
I am out five bucks and frustrated about the deceit. It would have been a nice deal.
David

I urge anyone that has been scammed by this company that has paid via paypal. To file a report against paypal.

This plae is a scam. I too sent in my gas receipts since August.

I have not received any to date. I am so disappointed.

I also emailed them and was told to be patient.

I called the place where I bought my car; that I was suppose to get a $100 gas card and instead got this crap. I let them know they are promoting this scam and I want my real $100 gas gift card.

I wish I had seen this before registered...same thing, we get the "we received your rebate submission and receipts in good order" email from them and then NOTHING. I have yet to receive anything from them. I got the certificate from them at Findlay Toyota in Henderson, Nevada and paid for the registration and started submititng receipts right away. What a rip off!

I have been sending my receipts since August with no response back, I also tried to call the
1-800 number with no luck...Sucker Punched!

I am sooo glad I came across this web page, by accident-while trying to register for my free gas! For some reason their website freebeegas.com is not working-I wonder why?! I guess because it really is a scam! I'm not going to waste my $5.00 trying to register, but it just sucks that we kinda got "roped in" to a time share presentation by them advertising $150 in free gas! Thanks for the info everyone!

The 99 complaints I mentioned pertains to the UNSATISFACTORY rating that Free Bee Gas and Tidewater Marketing has with the Better Business Bureau. Can we say class action?

I found this thread after submitting my own complaint on another one about this company. So I went looking around the Internet for more information on their company. I not only found other threads here on complaintsboard.com about Freebee, or Freebie or whatever name they are using, but I also found many message boards with hundreds of complaints AND I found out they are under investigation by the FL State Attorney General for unfair business practices... Ya' THINK!

http://myfloridalegal.com/lit_ec.nsf/investigations/413FC15DB9CFC85385257488004EDACB

You should call the Attorney General in FL and submit your complaint too. I did and they said the case is still under investigation. That number is: [protected]. Tell the switchboard you want to file a complaint.

Update* I called the company this morning to complain. I even mentioned the 99 complaints (as of October 22nd) pending against them. The rep on the other end of the line didnt respond. He was clueless. He said to call back (on the same number I called in on and gave an extension) I checked with the Lauren too about the approval shes a ###.

I believe this to be a scam, too. When I moved in to my apartment complex they had a special running for $300 in free gas/year. I followed the directions and mailed them my receipts 6 weeks ago. I mailed it in the same day I mailed a rebate for a new cell phone; I got the cell phone rebate WITHIN A WEEK. That was Sept 20th; it will be November on Saturday and I still don't have the gas card. I sent a comment on their website, since they don't post their phone number (another tip-off they might be a scam) and they responded that I should be patient; they had many requests coming in. It CANT be that difficult to simply mail a damn card; that's all that they do, that's their only business so it should not be that complicated. I'm totally dissatisfied, but thankful I didn't have to pay money up front to get a free bee.

This is a scam. They sell these cards to businesses to give away to customers and then charge the customer $5 and never send a gas card. I started sending receipts into them in July and I have not received one cent from them. They don't return phone calls. Scammers.

Obviously, the rebate is a hook. I mailed out two receipts for $25 each about three month ago. About a month ago, I called [protected] and was told that I would receive the gas card of 2 x $25 within two weeks. But I received nothing so far and nobody answer the above 800 number. My question is that is there anyway to sue these cheaters and punish them?

i got this thing threw the mail and i won a 300 dollar gas card and i sent it off with a 5 dollar money order and the gas car should of came already but it didnt, what is the hold up.