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nbleifeste · Sep 17, 2009, 08:24 PM

On 11/21/2008 I signed up for a Free Black MacBook Air valued at $2,500 from TheRewardDepot.com using a @cox.net email address. In order to receive the free gift I had to signup for 8 sponsor offers. On 11/21/2008 I signed up for all 8 offers. On 2/17/2009 6 of my 8 offers credited. Each month for the next 5 months I emailed customer service to inquire about my account but was told they were still waiting on the last 2 offers to credit. On 5/7/2009 I emailed customer service asking to change my email address to an @me.com address because I no longer had access to the @cox.net due to moving to Hawaii. 4 days later they replied to the new address letting me know they were still waiting for the last 2 offers to credit. 2 months go by and still nothing got credited so I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint against the company. I emailed them proof of my participation in the last 2 offers but my account was turned off. After I filed my BBB complaint, customer service emailed me on 8/17/2009 and told me I could complete 2 more offers to satisfy the requirements for my free MacBook Air. That same day I completed 2 more offers using my new @me.com email address. On 9/10/2009 I received an email from customer support saying I broke their Terms and Conditions when I used a different email address from the one I originally signed up with and that I will not receive credit for the 2 offers I just signed up for. The problem I have with this is that they told me I could complete 2 more offers and they told me this at my NEW @me.com address!

I filed another BBB complaint but the company still refuses to honor our agreement. Do I have a case in small claims court?

ballengerb1 · Sep 17, 2009, 08:39 PM

Can you show us the terms you agreed to?

nbleifeste · Sep 17, 2009, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Can you show us the terms you agreed to??

"Offers must be completed using the same information (including name, address, email address) as listed in your Member account. We reserve the right to deduct or remove additional Credits from Your Member Account if You do not comply with all applicable Program conditions. Violations of the Agreement may result in termination of Membership, loss of all Credits and a permanent ban on Your future participation in the Program"

But again, they emailed me at my NEW @me.com address to tell me I could complete 2 more offers KNOWING I no longer had access to the old email account.

Rhiannnonn · Sep 17, 2009, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by nbleifeste

"Offers must be completed using the same information (including name, address, email address) as listed in your Member account. We reserve the right to deduct or remove additional Credits from Your Member Account if You do not comply with all applicable Program conditions. Violations of the Agreement may result in termination of Membership, loss of all Credits and a permanent ban on Your future participation in the Program"

There you go. That's their loop-hole in your case. They usually can't or won't get people to work at getting all the documentation in the first place. Often, you could find a decent sale on a computer that would make buying one better than playing games to try and get one of the ones they advertise and never give away. I'm surprised that anyone was nieve enough to think they could get a computer that way. By the time you spend all the money on everything on everything else... you might as well have bought the computer out right.

nbleifeste · Sep 17, 2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Rhiannnonn

There you go. That's their loop-hole in your case. They usually can't or won't get people to work at getting all the documentation in the first place. Often, you could find a decent sale on a computer that would make buying one better than playing games to try and get one of the ones they advertise and never give away. I'm surprised that anyone was nieve enough to think they could get a computer that way. By the time you spend all the money on everything on everything else.... you might as well have bought the computer out right.

Actually, I've received the following from companies like this:

$50 Visa Gift Card (cost $2)
Nintendo Wii System $250 (cost $15)
Apple MacBook $1,299 (cost $75)
$1000 Visa Gift Card (cost $20)
3 $250 Visa Gift Cards (cost $15)

I'm looking for legal advice... Thanks

JudyKayTee · Sep 18, 2009, 05:33 AM

The Small Claims Court venue is where the DEFENDANT resides or does business. Do you know where that is and are you willing to travel there to file the complaint, return for the trial/hearing, return for any adjournments?

I think the "contract" is full of loopholes which favor them, not you, but if you feel strongly about this, sure, sue the company and let a Judge/hearing officer decide.

this8384 · Sep 18, 2009, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by nbleifeste

"Offers must be completed using the same information (including name, address, email address) as listed in your Member account. We reserve the right to deduct or remove additional Credits from Your Member Account if You do not comply with all applicable Program conditions. Violations of the Agreement may result in termination of Membership, loss of all Credits and a permanent ban on Your future participation in the Program"

But again, they emailed me at my NEW @me.com address to tell me I could complete 2 more offers KNOWING I no longer had access to the old email account.

Based on what I've placed in bold, I don't think you have a case.

But like Judy pointed out, you can always try to locate the defendant, file in their county, take time off work to travel to the hearings, and then maybe win.