My Free Travel/Grocery Rebate review: fraudulant claims 63

I justified the purchase price of a vacuum cleaner based on the $300.00 grocery rebate. We have sent receipts in for Sept, Oct. and November and, like everyone else, nothing. When I called, they said I should have received email (which I didn't) stating there were delays. Really?! I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If you look on the BBB website, it states their accredidation was suspended in October, 2009 pending reviews of customer complaints. I have sent letter to company I purchased vacuum cleaner from but have had no response as of yet. SOMEONE needs to satisfy this. I am going to take another's advice and go to the Illinois Attorney General's website. I can't believe this company is still in business. Oh, by the way, if you go on groceryrebate.com, their website is "under constrution".

Hello from California. Sounds like a lot of us have been scammed by My Free Travel. As of a few days ago their webpage to check the status of our rebate visa cards has been suspended. Also, the customer service phone line indicates they are closed for the holidays with no indication of when they will reopen. I have filed BBB complaints in CA againist the furniture company that promoted this scam: with the BBB office in IL, and with the Attorney General Offices in both CA and IL. We all need to fight back so these companies will stop riping us off.

Just finished reading all of the above complaints & I'm amazed at how many people have been going through the same crap as I have. I joined Curves and they were having a membership drive that included $300 in VISA gift cards, and that really helped me make up my mind to join. Ok, got registered with the first company & sent in my first set of $100 food receipts & you guessed it, they went belly-up. Then we were given a "new" certificate with a "new" company - My Free Travel. This company has been a freaking nightmare to deal with. I too, sent in the $9.95 registration along with all that was requested of me (very hesitantly sent in the copy of the driver's license) but did it anyway. It took me weeks to get my registration "validated" then of course they told me that I had made an "error" on my September receipts (which was my first set of grocery receipts). I was informed (when I finally got to talk to a Customer Service Rep.) that we are only allowed one mistake, so ok, I'm very careful to submit way more than the $100 required in receipts. I only submit those for food because I had paper towels, candles, etc. on the ones that I made a mistake on. Well, my October & November receipts show that they are "approved" & that the VISA cards are in "process". Well, guess what, the site to check your status is "under construction" & I called the office to try to speak to someone about this & guess what, they are closed for the holidays. Now, I ask you who will be there to process any new receipts we submit, or better yet process those dreaded "pending" VISA cards? This company is a joke & I've questioned their validity from the beginning. I called the Attorney General's office & got some idiot who did'nt have a clue what I was talking about when I inquired about any possible complaints against My Free Travel. I agree with everyone else on here that have said that something needs to be done. I mean they cashed my $9.95 within 3 days of receiving it, but I have yet to get any of the VISA cards and I've been going through this crap since August of this year. I will never accept an offer like this again. Once is enough for me. I would not be surprised if they have gone out of business.

I went through the business that gave me the promotion and after they contacted the company, I had my first card within a week. Now I just have to pursue getting my cards for September, October and November! The parent company seems to be Loyalty Products International based in AZ. Good Luck to everyone trying to get these scammers to pay up!

Submitted my documentation in September, which suprisingly was approved when you send them $9.95. Submitted receipts every month since and checked the status on line. States Visa card is "in process" and it's now been over 100 days since I submitted the first one. I submitted an inquiry a month ago and no response. I agree with a previous poster and will notify the Illinois BBB and perhaps the Illinois Attorney General.

I called the rep who sold the carpet company I bought from. The carpet company said to call him for immediate redemption. I called him directly and received my card right away.

I think he owns the company behind the promotion.

Good luck.

TS

Today I am going to file a complaint with the BBB regarding the Grocery Rebate program through My Free Travel. We bought into the program In July of 09 to help support a fund raiser for the local high school. We shop at Costco all the time anyway so we thought it would be easy to do. First thing, my husband got online to register us. The next month we started sending in the coupons with the reciept. Months went by and we had not received any visa card rebates in the mail. Finally, by the first of December I called to find out why we hadn't received any rebate cards. It was then that I found out we had made a "mistake" when registering. Apparently, we didn't provide an ID number (or something like that). I said, okay, so how do we do that so we can start getting our rebates back? The guy tells me that they sent an email to my husband back in August regarding the ID. I got my husband on the phone and he cannot find an email in his account, nor does he remember getting one. He said if he had he would have responded to it. But it doesn't matter anyway because apparently it's too late, we are disqualified for not answering the email we never got. In addition to this initial "mistake", which by the way, you are only allowed to make one "mistake" or you are disqualified, we made another "mistake" the first two months we were sending in our reciepts. Had we read the fine print we would have known this, but like most people we did not and of course they count on this in order to make money, nevertheless, we sent in receipts from Costco that included non-food items like paper products or cleaning stuff. I guess we have to take responsibility for that. This is why I am never going to support these fund raiser things again. The kids selling them don't really know all the rules to inform you before you buy. And, the way that these type of companies make their money is to count on a large percentage of people not reading all the fine print, or if they do, then they may catch them making another mistake that will disqualify them. And, they don't want to work it out with you when you accidently make a mistake or misunderstand something. I could have easily provided an ID number, and submitted receipts that included enough food purchased in those months once I found out the problem. Costco has a record of everything you buy and we spend enough there every month to qualify for the "food only" rule. Still, I would have been willing to just forget those months and start doing it the "right" way from here on out. But no, I've already made more than one "mistake" and that's just unacceptable; we are hereby disqualified. Why can't I just get the damn ID and start sending in my receipts; there's still 18 months left in the program! It's like I've broken the law and there's no going back to make things right. The fact is, the company wants to make it complicated and loaded with "rules" so that most people don't want to deal with it. One more thing...groceryrebate.net does NOT have a rating with the BBB as their pamphlet states: "A" rating. Sorry kids, we will no longer be supporting fund raisers period!

I pursued my complaint with the store I received the grocery rebate certificate from. They e-mailed My Free Travel and got a message back that says my gift card has been sent as of 11/30. We will see if it really arrives and if I can activate it. Stay tuned!

I have had similar experiences with My Free Travel and I just filled out my complaint on the BBB website. I included in my complaint that the BBB should check out the marketing materials My Free Travel uses because on my Certificates it says, "Log onto www.bbb.org to check our our 'A' rating with the BBB!" but if you go on the BBB site My Free Travel is categorized as "Not Rated." I bet that will get them fired up.

I would like to see everyone do this! Go to the Better Business Bureau web site, choose the state of Illinois and register a complaint against My Free Travel. It is easy to do. I did one today and they have already e-mailed me that the complaint has been reviewed and has been forwarded to the business. You will get a case # to keep track of the progress. Also - look at www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov and find the consumer complaint form. You have to fill it out on-line, print and mail it in. I think we should all follow through on our complaints and see if we can't get something out of this company. I HATE SCAMS!

Still waiting on gift cards...I've done everything by the book, and sent in "valid" receipts after they denied my first one. I'm out $9.95 and a bunch of wasted time. These people suck.

still waiting for my Sept. Visa card. I guess I have longer to wait ince the above person just got hers from June. Hope I live long enough to receive it since I am a senior. Disgusted in Ct.

I have been told that there is a law suit pending against My Free Travel for not sending the gift cards. You can contact the Illinois Attorney General's Office at [protected] to get forms to fill our so you can become one of the class action participants. If there is any money awarded, you can then get some back.

I am experiencing this same problem from a store in St. Cloud, MN. I submitted receipts for two months and thought it was odd that I still have not received my first month's gift card. And my $9.95 check was already cashed. Interesting to hear others are having the same problem for even more than a couple months...do we keep sending in the receipts or what?!?!?

I, too, have been waiting for my VISA cards. Should have one for Aug, Sept., Oct. but as yet nothing. I wondered if anyone has had any luck going through the business that gave you the coupon in the first place. Ours was a furniture store in Billings, MT. I am going to contact them today. If I get any positive suggestions I will pass them on.

Tried to contact them at rebates@myfreetravel.com and the note came back undeliverable. I will be contacting Nicole Monday. Interesting that we have to wait months before they send us the giftcards, but I noticed they cashed the $9.95 registraion check within 4 days of me writiing it.

still waiting for $25.00 card from October and about to send in November certificate, this company needs to be investigated, maybe it's another Bernie Madoff type scam where they take all the money and run until they get caught,

Update from my post of 24 days ago (that's me up there: Annoyed10272009).

After several weeks of dealing with two phone numbers, each of which were disconnected at alternating hours, I got in touch with Nicole. She, as one might assume by her bot-notes, was useless. She continued apologizing, saying it was delayed, the card was processed the 10th, and I should be getting it any time now.

WELL..I finally did get my first card. The one I've been waiting for since June. Got it in today's mail. I called the number to activate it, put in the card number and the PIN it told me I needed to put in (the brochure in the envelope even instructed me what the PIN is). And - you guessed it - invalid.

So I'm staring at this lovely $35.00 VISA debit card that is invalid, and I got it on Friday when I came home from work. Of course I do my grocery shopping on the weekends, but I'll have to wait *another* week to use this, assuming I can actually get it validated, because there is no actual person to talk to until Monday, between 9 and 5 CST.

Anyone that is experiencing any difficulties with their rebate, please contact me. I would be happy to help and assist you in anyway that I can. I can be reached Monday thru Friday, 9 am to 5 pm cst, at [protected] ext. 129. If I am unavailable, please leave a detailed message and I will return your call within 48 hours. You can also contact me directly at nicole@myfreetravel.com.

Sincerely,

Nicole
Customer Service
My Free Travel

Tried to register on line www.Claim Your Visa Cards .com that was okay. Went ahead and put infood certificate password. That was easy all you had to do was click continue. The next thing was to click the button where it says that you agree to the terms and conditions when you click it thats it you can not go any further. Tried it numerous times nothing. My E-mail is kkilgus@sc.rr.com tell me what to do.

To Whom it may Concern:

My name is Nicole and I am a supervisor at My Free Travel. I would be happy to assist you with your rebate and any concerns you may have. I understand you are frustrated, but I would like you to know that I will help you in any way that I can. Since I do not have your contact information, I would like to offer you my telephone number so that you can contact me at your convenience. I can be reached Monday thru Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CST, at [protected] ext. 129.

In Feb I purchased furniture from Carl's Furniture outlet in Upstate NY, received a $500 rebate, sent in all necessary information, heard nothing, received a letter from Carl and he advised me the company that was giving the rebate went out of business, I already knew they had filed bakruptcy after searching on the web, I had to to back to the outlet store and pick up another rebate certificate, which was also with My free travel.com, I submitted all my paperwork per the instructions on the website, no where did it mention a copy of my drivers license, but I was to send a check for $9.95, this was in August, I received a decline letter via email due to no copy of my drivers license, one week later I receive a nother email indicating they are giving me a 2nd chance, just send in another $9.95 to register, I did all this and have submitted, Sept voucher for $25. gift card and also Octobers voucher, still nothing, called the phone number on the email and low and behold it has been disconnected...what a scam...

In May, I purchased appliances from Bernie's. A grocery rebate was offered as incentive to buy. The original certificate was invalidated, because supposedly, the original company that offered it went out of business and a new company was taking over the offer. The new company - which I guess also took over the web domain, required a $9.95 payment to register. By August, over 2 months after the Bernie's purchase, we were finally set up and I sent in my first coupon. It's October 27 and I've sent in my September coupon, and I have receipts for my October coupon all ready to go. Except, I haven't received my first gift card with the promised full refund on the registration fee.

I went to call their customer service number, which is posted on their website, and the call was forwarded to a disconnected line.

I don't frankly care who gives me my money, all I know for sure is -someone- owes me $500, and that rebate was offered through Bernie's as incentive to do business with their store.