CyberRebate/First USA Bank
 

I'm one of those who got taken by CyberRebate. Has anyone tried protesting CR charges with United's affiliated VISA card--Mileage Plus through First USA Bank? If so, what response did you get?

OMG, if you're disputing with First USA, God help you.

They are historically the WORST bank to do any disputes with--bar-none! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Actually, I have had rather good experience with First USA's disputes, they are tough and when a vendor screws you, they screw the vendor even harder. Its those sort of situations that I like to have the FUSA UA card in my pocket. Others

I had good luck with First USA concerning a deposit made on merchandise that was never delivered and the merchant had subsequently filed for bankruptcy. The charge remained off my account until I received a refund from the failed company's escrow account.

I'm one of the unfortunate schmoe's taken by CyberRebate, and recently talked to the dispute dept. at First USA. They told me that if I returned all of the merchandise to CyberRebate, even if it is not accepted by them, they could dispute the charges with the bank that underwrites them. Supposedly their bank has funds set aside to deal companies that go out of business, which takes the responsibility for payment to a bank rather than the bankrupt company. I've just shipped the goods back to them, I hope it works. Otherwise, I'm left picking up the scraps after the bankruptcy proceedings.

FUSA sucks. I called and protested a double charge, the CSR took all my information and indicated that it would be investigated. I routinely note the name of the CSR that I spoke with along with the date and time. Nothing was done so I called back and was informed that I should have submitted a written request. I did so immediately and received a reply that it was past the 60 day period. I argued that the first CSR should have informed me of that requirement but to no avail. I was finally able to track down someone at the vendor and after submitting documentation, they issued a credit.

All disputes, even if given to somebody over the telephone have to be made in writing or they can be considered never to be made. The federal laws very clearly state this, and it should be so indicated on the back of your bill with the terms something like "you may make a claim over the telephone, but your rights will only be preseved if followed up with a letter".

It's an important lesson everybody has to know, to preserve your rights you have to follow up with a letter.

Like any monstous-sized company, service will lack the consistency we all would like to expect.

On average, FUSA has exhibited good follow through on disputes. Some resolutions took 10 days, other 8 weeks; some CSRs were thorough, others thoroughly clueless!

Again, realistic expectations (though NOT the absence of expectations) help avoid the temptation to get too aggravated.

BBQ,
You really shouldn't return merchandise when a company goes bankrupt. They have no obligation to acknowledge its existence and most likely will go into the liquidation pile.

Most likeley, if you did such a thing, you'll LOSE the PRODUCT for good AND still have to pay the credit card.

That WRONG piece of advice that First USA customer srvice rep gave you show their COMPLETE LACK of competent advice they shell out.

This topic has been discussed thoroughly at several Cyberrebate support sites.

Good luck.

Not just First USA, but picture what all the minimum wage or slightly higher clerks taking all these calls at credit card companies all over the counrty must be thinking.

Hello, let me understand this, you paid $200 for a DVD that I just bought for $10, and a computer monitor that cost four times as much as my car? The company has gone bankrupt? Were you surprized? Why did you pay $350 for a music CD again? But you agreed to the price and have the CD, right? How was it again you want us to help you?

Can you hold one minute?

Puts down the phone, yells out the details and they all get another good laugh at everybodies expense.

It's absurd to expect the credit card companies to bail people out of this which will eventually end up wth me paying a bit more for my credit card usage.

You might as well just ship back a box of rocks. At least you'll still have the merch if the credit card claim fails.

You obviously don't have one of the Citibank AAdvantage cards, or have never dealt with that brainless bubble machine!

Just another operation very similar to Cyber rebate BEWARE It is called URBAN-Q

I used UPS, which provides a tracking number. If CR accepts the package, theoretically they owe me a refund, or else UPS will just return the merchandise to me. It's worth a try at least, hopefully better than getting pennies on the dollar from the bankruptcy proceedings.

I wouldn't send them back anything, except maybe a box of newspapers. Though I am not a lawyer!