AT&T rebate offer - misleading way to donate to American Red Cross

# 5 for January 23, 2002

Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 22, 2002:

From: Steve Ott [Email User]

AT&T rebate offer - misleading way to donate to American Red Cross

Dear Manager, I purchased yet another cell phone in November of 2001. This one came with a mail in rebate offer. I sent in the appropriate form and received another form in the mail from the rebate center. I filled in the form and signed it at the bottom. What I didn't do was read the box with the signature line in it. It said that I was requesting my rebate to be donated to the American Red Cross. I am in favor of the American Red Cross and the fine services they provide our citizens in need. I am opposed to this type of scam mail form that requires us to read every single line wondering if a company such as AT&T would dare sneak in a line that would divert money to another cause rather that send it back to the consumer. Steve in Tahoe