Do I keep the money, or send it back?

[EMSnurse]

OK, I need some advise, I'll try to keep this short. I had a rebate coming on a computer I got for Christmas, but I mailed it after the deadline and didn't think I'd get it. I emailed the company the other day to ask if I was still getting it. The amount was $150.00. They sent an email saying that the check was mailed long ago, so they would stop payment and reissue. Well, today I got an email saying my $350.00 rebate had been mailed on 4/14. So if they send me $350 instead of $150, am I supposed to keep it, send it back, or what? Cripes, I'm counting change for food, so I need some sane folks to help me out here. Is it like mail order, where you get to keep whatever they send you even if you didn't ask for it? Or am I doing something wrong/illegal by keeping it? (I really hope they made a typo and I won't have to decide). Any legal-eagles out there? Thanks

[freeby4me]

it sounds weird but keep the extra set aside for awhile. That way if they want it back you'll have it.

[catssass]

Keep it, they might have upped the rebate amount since you bought it......

[VALENA-)45]

ok, here's my take on this, you were suppose to get $150.00, but got $350. cash the check and get some food in the house. only use $150.00, and hold the $200, untill monday, email or call the rebate company and findout what the rebate is suppose to be. if, it is only suppose to be $150.00, send them the rest back. jmo even though, i would think of it as a wind fall, that came when i really needed it. one half of my brain says "spend it", the other half says "no, be honest". now what side do you want to listen. lol.

[iowakat]

OK, I need some advise, I'll try to keep this short. I had a rebate coming on a computer I got for Christmas, but I mailed it after the deadline and didn't think I'd get it. I emailed the company the other day to ask if I was still getting it. The amount was $150.00. They sent an email saying that the check was mailed long ago, so they would stop payment and reissue. Well, today I got an email saying my $350.00 rebate had been mailed on 4/14. So if they send me $350 instead of $150, am I supposed to keep it, send it back, or what? Cripes, I'm counting change for food, so I need some sane folks to help me out here. Is it like mail order, where you get to keep whatever they send you even if you didn't ask for it? Or am I doing something wrong/illegal by keeping it? (I really hope they made a typo and I won't have to decide). Any legal-eagles out there? Thanks


I think the real question here is what is morally right and wrong? You know you aren't entitled to $350 so what do you do?

[twinkiesmom]

What I would do is keep it. It's their mistake. But if they want the extra 200, don't be surprised. But if not, Yippeeee!!!

[silvermist]

I'd ask them. Easier solution to it all lol And it might just be they upped the rebate.

[guesswho!]

I've had similiar happen, where too much money was sent in rebates. What I did was called the company & told them the amt was higher than I remembered. So far, they've said "keep it." At least then my conscious is clear,b/c it's their call.They just appreciated somebody being honest w/them.

[DAVESBABYDOLL]

keep it,load up on food.

[EMSnurse]

Thanks for all your advise...here's what I've decided: no way can I sit here with no food and the check in my hand, so I am going to cash it and get a money order for the extra. Then I will email them and tell them I think it's the wrong amount. If they want it back I'll send the money order, if not, then I take the money order to the grocery store. I am usually the type of person who would take an extra dollar back to the store if they gave me too much change, but my current desperate situation has clouded my judgement a bit. I'm gonna stick with what I know is the right thing and remind myself that what goes around comes around.

[YankeeMary]

I am glad that you decided to do it this way...to keep from sounding corney..I am proud of you...in times of desperation its hard to make the right decision and I know its hard on you but I believe you have done the right thing...and I agree what goes around, comes around.

[Damnifiknw]

Do whatever you think is right..If you intend to send the 200 back contact them prior to buying a money order. If they want the money (in which I doubt) then buy the money order.

I personally wouldn't even bother with contacting the company. They know how much they sent you..It's their loss & your gain...It sounds like you need the money & it's coming at a good time for you........Nothing bad will happen to you if you choose not to contact the company if you are over paid. (what comes around goes around, doesn't apply to something like this.)


....and, anyone on here who tells you they'd send it back if they are down and out. (no food in the house) They are lying through their teeth, they would keep it. Not that anyone has stated it as of yet..

[VALENA-)45]

EMSNURSE~I am proud of you, cause you are going to be honest about the whole situation, which is good. If, i were in your shoes i would have thought of keeping the money, but i do believe that honesty is the best policy. And thanked god that the money came at a time when i really needed it. i would have done just what i told you in my post. i had a credit card account, i had sent a payment, i called automated, to make sure they got it. automated kept telling me i had $500.00, on my card, i told myself, somebody made a mistake, that was somebody else's money not mine. after a month i called and spoke to a human being, she told me the money was mine. the company had gave me a $500.00 upgrade, that i didn't know about. then i spent it, i bought this computer. always follow your mind, it will never steer you wrong, well most of the time.

[bigbunny]

my heart says be honest,but in tough times ,who knows,maby if they let you keep it you can donate just 5 bucks to charity,it does come back to you! :)

[JKATHERINE]

If I were in your current situation, I'd keep it.

[MamaFairal]

They know how much they sent you....and, anyone on here who tells you they'd send it back if they are down and out. (no food in the house) They are lying through their teeth, they would keep it. Not that anyone has stated it as of yet..

ITA.....the company knows exactly how much the check was that they cancelled and if they cut you a check for more they did it on purpose...possibly because of the hassle of you have been waitng on it and had to inquire where it was???...KEEP IT AND ENJOY!......JMO!

[buttrfli]

I'd call them and tell them they overpaid. If they tell you to keep it then great! It was meant to be.

I am a BIG believer in Karma... if you keep it and not contact the company, it will come back on you in some way.

Honestly I'd be tempted to keep it myself, but in the end I would call the company.

[FreeBnutt]

If you got a DELL around that time, they had a piggyback rebate, (not too many know about) that did total $350 combined!!

And in November there was about $450 (combined) in rebates for one purchase!

[EMSnurse]

Well, I cashed the check so I could get something to eat and then came home and called Dell to tell them they had sent me too much and asked what I should do about the extra $200.00. A supervisor came on and said that I could keep the money. So, I did the right thing and I still get to go grocery shopping and put gas in the car. WOOHOO! The Lord always provides somehow...Thanks all...I'm off to the grocery store...lol

[MamaFairal]

A supervisor came on and said that I could keep the money.

SO "YOUR" buying lunch today for all of us right??.........LOL
have fun grocery shopping and stock that freezer

CONGRATS

[freeby4me]

Im so glad that you called and checked!! Now you know for sure that all the money is yours to spend and you wont be looking over your back all the time! Go and buy something nice for dinner that you usually wouldnt, You deserve it :)

[Tracy'sMom]

Pack that freezer full. Ours stays full with chicken cause hubby works for Tyson. But when hard times hit We have been known to empty it. LOL!!

[twinkiesmom]

I'm so happy it worked out in your favor!! Enjoy!!!

[EMSnurse]

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO...groceries in the house AND a clear conscious. (We did splurge and order a pizza...been craving it for weeks)

[justinenycole26]

You should be very proud of yourself. I would have been hard pressed to call knwoing I needed the money. You did the right thing and were rewarded for your honesty. Now you can sleep tonite with a full belly and a clear conscience.

[VALENA-)45]

Congrats, I'm Happy To Know It All Yours. God, Works Wonders. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

[schsa]

They probably won't want the money back because they won't know what to do with it. No one sends rebates back.
Glad to see you stocked the fridge. Now hold on to some just in case.

[tsquared]

I think you did the best thing..Keeping it is the easy part.........living with it is the hard part...........

[justme23]

Don't spend it yet... we had a company send us too much one time (but we didn't actually realize it)... we cashed it and spent it and then got a letter from a collections company 2 months later. A phone call isn't enough, you need a letter saying it's yours so they can't come back later and say they didn't say you could have it.

[HoustonGal]

The same thing happened to us when we were expecting a $50 g/c from Home Depot as a rebate for buying a garage door. Mail everything on time and sent it special delivery to assure they got it. 8 weeks later, 2 longer than stated we got a $500 g/c. I called the corp office toll free and she thanked me for calling. The clearing house had messed up about 3/4 of the rebates and she gave me her name and extension, and said happy shopping. Which we did. But imho I think it is always better to let someone know up front that there is a problem, instead of them coming back for it when you can least expect it and might not have the money to give back.

[reneep45]

i say keep it ! if its DELL ,, OH YEA , KEEP IT !!! I was supposed to get a $150 rebate & never got it !!! i sent in all the crap & they said they didn't get it !!! lol !!! figger that !!! ya got 30 days to send it in & of course they are not responsible for LOST MAIL !!! LOL !!! What a joke ! i sent it , they got it ! but they say they didn't ! So where is it ?? it had my return addy on it , DELL !!! RIPP OFFS !!! I WILL NEVER BUY FROM THEM AGAIN !!!!

[dream walker 2]

I agree with who ever said that anyone that says they would send it back, when they didn't have a penny or a thing to eat in the house is telling a little fib. Because If it was me I would keep it spend it. You earned it from all the money some of us have supposed to have gotten back on rebates, surveys etc. I did several surveys for a certain company and when they finished said 10 dollars would be put in my paypal. NOT never got it. About 7 surveys too. thats 70 bucks they owed me. Right now I don't have a dime to my name and won't have until next month, social security. Let me get a check in the mail. Be some food in my fridg for sure. and I would sleep well with a full stomach. I assure you that company is not out one penny because they put an 80% mark up on everything anyway. If it cost you 1.00 it only cost them 20 cents. go figure.

don't go to bed hungry tonight.