My Sandisk $90 Rebate credit expired! Help!

[lsquare]

OMG, I can't believe the card expired. So I bought a 16GB Sandisk E3 a while back and got the Visa with $90 credit mailed to me. I think I bought it from B&H. Anyways, I had no use for the card when I got it so I stored it away. I didn't realize there was an expiry date. So it was just today that I decided I want to buy something and then I went to find the card. I tried to activate it, but it didn't work. So customer service talked to me and told me it expired and there's nothing that they can do. The only advice the lady offered to me was to call the retailer where I order it from and see if they can do something for me. However, B&H is closed right now and I'm not sure what to do. Anyone here have any advice for me?

[Woolburr]

Chalk it up to experience. Lots of cards like that expire...should be illegal, but unfortunately, it isn't.

[jedi1354]

I have a card in my wallet best go check to see if it expires soon.

[heycow]

http://blogs.creditcards.com/2007/12/persistence-pays-got-a-refund-on-expired-rebate-gift-card.php

Read that article. Take a few deep breaths, and see if it works for you.

[lsquare]

http://blogs.creditcards.com/2007/12/persistence-pays-got-a-refund-on-expired-rebate-gift-card.php

Read that article. Take a few deep breaths, and see if it works for you.

She mentions some by-law, but I'm not sure if it'll apply to me. I bought the card and had it shipped to Boston, MA. I backed down from the earlier discussion with the customer service representative. I guess I'll consider calling them again later to try that tactic. Is there anything else that I can do?

[heycow]

Honestly, if you have one of those TV reporters who fights for consumer rights, contact him/her. They're amazingly effective (based on Internet readings).

[finch13]

I got 2x4GB E4 cards and a $100 VISA debit rebate from SanDisk... I knew very well it said it expired and made sure I used it beforehand. I believe it was printed right on the sheet of paper the car was glued to.

[lsquare]

I got 2x4GB E4 cards and a $100 VISA debit rebate from SanDisk... I knew very well it said it expired and made sure I used it beforehand. I believe it was printed right on the sheet of paper the car was glued to.

Geez, thx :(.

[Tdragone]

Where do you live?
In California; State Law prohibits "Service fees" if you use part of a gift card and Prevents gift certs or cards from "Expiring"

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/s-11.shtml

[lsquare]

Where do you live?
In California; State Law prohibits "Service fees" if you use part of a gift card and Prevents gift certs or cards from "Expiring"

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/s-11.shtml

Massachusetts. Do I have any hope?

[Nathan]

I work for the MA State Legislature. I wish I could say that means you're in luck, but alas I only remember some laws passed back in 2003 that affect gift cards and gift certificates, including those issued for returned merchandise. I'm not sure if the law applies to rebate cards and I'm not sure if it applies to cards obtained from out of state (assuming BHPhoto, New York).

Here is a link that describes the laws. They are designed to be consumer friendly and are intended to protect people from being taken advantage of by card fees and expirations.
http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/Consumer/giftcards.pdf

There are some contact numbers there and you may be able to call the Attorney General's office for some clarification. What might be faster is if you'd call your state representative or state senator for them to contact the AG's office for you.

Where do you live in MA?

[lsquare]

I lived in Medford. What do you think is the most likely outcome here? I was going to call the Visa office again and request that they send me a new card, but exams kept me from finding the time to call them. I think I'll try again this upcoming Monday.

[Nathan]

I honestly couldn't tell you. If this is considered a gift card issued in MA, then the laws in MA should control. I think they can't expire sooner than 5 or 7 years; I didn't look it up. 16GB cards haven't been around long, so I'm guessing that your card may be less than a year old? Is it more?

I'm really not sure how this works. If Visa is nice, they could reissue it. In this economy, would they want to keep that $90? The larger question is whether this violates MA gift card laws. If I wasn't working on my own finals and exams, I'd try to look up for information for you. Sorry.

[Nathan]

According to MGL ch. 255D sec. 1:
'"Gift certificate'', a writing identified as a gift certificate purchased by a buyer for use by a person other than the buyer not redeemable in cash and usable in its face amount in lieu of cash in exchange for goods or services supplied by the seller. A gift certificate shall include an electronic card with a banked dollar value, a merchandise credit, a certificate where the issuer has received payment for the full face value for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services and any other medium that evidences the giving of consideration in exchange for the right to redeem the certificate, electronic card or other medium for goods, food, services, credit or money of at least an equal value. A gift certificate shall not include pre-paid calling arrangements, as defined in section 1 of chapter 64H, or any electronic card usable with multiple unaffiliated sellers of goods or services.'

My interpretation of that language means that a rebate card, which you received after you had paid BH Photo the full face value to purchase a 16GB Sandisk card, might still not be considered a gift card. The issuer in this case is Visa, not BH Photo. I think arguments can be made on both sides of the issue. One argument is that from a consumer perspective the rebate card functions exactly as would a gift card. The counter argument is that the law defines a particular type of transfer between a retailer and consumer, rather than transfers and contractual relationships between a retailer, manufacturer, and financing institution. The law, therefore, may not apply.

That's the long way of my saying, I have no clue.

[ryant35]

Where do you live?
In California; State Law prohibits "Service fees" if you use part of a gift card and Prevents gift certs or cards from "Expiring"

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/s-11.shtml

A rebate card isn't a gift card. I just got a rebate card from my mail in rebate from Verizon Wireless and it expires in 1 year. And I'm in California.

[lsquare]

I honestly couldn't tell you. If this is considered a gift card issued in MA, then the laws in MA should control. I think they can't expire sooner than 5 or 7 years; I didn't look it up. 16GB cards haven't been around long, so I'm guessing that your card may be less than a year old? Is it more?

I'm really not sure how this works. If Visa is nice, they could reissue it. In this economy, would they want to keep that $90? The larger question is whether this violates MA gift card laws. If I wasn't working on my own finals and exams, I'd try to look up for information for you. Sorry.

It's been less than a year since I got my 16GB Compactflash. It's not Visa that issued the card anyways. It's a Visa card issued by some bank.

[Nathan]

Essentially the same thing. I'm leaning heavily towards rebate cards not being the same as gift cards. Remember that when you filled out the rebate form, you were essentially sending in terms of an agreement. In essence, Sandisk made an offer to you that if you purchase their product from BH then they would reimburse you with a rebate. In order to get the rebate, you filled out a form and sent it to them. That form more likely than not included information about the rebate card's expiration and that by expiration you would not be able to redeem. You will unlikely get any credit unless you find someone very kind on the other end of the phone line.

[lsquare]

http://blogs.creditcards.com/2007/12/persistence-pays-got-a-refund-on-expired-rebate-gift-card.php

Read that article. Take a few deep breaths, and see if it works for you.

I'm quoting your post again because the information provided in that link really did work! Although I had to spend close to 20 minutes on the phone telling her how ridiculous that my own money would expire on me, I talked to her supervisor and pleaded with her to reissue a new card. I kept on reiterating how stupid I was not to spend it and that $90 is a lot of money for a student. Eventually she relented and promised that I'll get a new card in 7-10 business days!

So yes, I'm now officially happy again! Yay!!!!

[blueM]

I'm quoting your post again because the information provided in that link really did work! Although I had to spend close to 20 minutes on the phone telling her how ridiculous that my own money would expire on me, I talked to her supervisor and pleaded with her to reissue a new card. I kept on reiterating how stupid I was not to spend it and that $90 is a lot of money for a student. Eventually she relented and promised that I'll get a new card in 7-10 business days!

So yes, I'm now officially happy again! Yay!!!!

Good for you. It pays to be assertive

[heycow]

I'm quoting your post again because the information provided in that link really did work! Although I had to spend close to 20 minutes on the phone telling her how ridiculous that my own money would expire on me, I talked to her supervisor and pleaded with her to reissue a new card. I kept on reiterating how stupid I was not to spend it and that $90 is a lot of money for a student. Eventually she relented and promised that I'll get a new card in 7-10 business days!

So yes, I'm now officially happy again! Yay!!!!
Awesome! Glad to hear it. Now, clearly, you need to figure out what you're going to buy the MINUTE the card arrives. :D

[Nathan]

I say you got lucky. So what are you buying?

[lsquare]

I say you got lucky. So what are you buying?

lol, I don't know right now. I just bought what I wanted to buy last week when I thought I wouldn't get the Visa reissued to me. I'm going to think of something and spend it the minute it arrives here. There's no way I'm putting this off again!

[cc3078]

Similar situation for me today. I received a SanDisk $60 rebate card late last year - it expired shortly thereafter in Feb of 2010. I find it in my wallet in June 2010, try to use it and of course it's expired. I get upset - call Sandisk - blame it on them for the short amount of time allowed to use it and they tell me no dice. I call back a week later - much calmer - tell the lady that I screwed up and I need her help for my mistake. 10 minutes later after being on hold for 9 of those - I'm issued a replacement card that should arrive in 20 days! Wow - thought I was screwed!!!

[blackshadow]

You're damned lucky to even have the rebate cards - here in Australia we are ineligible.

Suck it up and learn to read the fine print instead of whining.

[mickeyjuice]

You're damned lucky to even have the rebate cards - here in Australia we are ineligible.

Suck it up and learn to read the fine print instead of whining.

I don't think this thread is as stupid as the one where the bloke kept exchanging his new camera body at BestBuy for a different model every month.

But it's WAY up there.