Broadbandoffers.com -- FINALLY!

So this is random, and please don't forget to scroll down and see our family vacation slide show, but I thought this was really funny. I FINALLY got a rebate of $50 from Broadbandoffers.com for services I purchased in February...2007! We got the internet and it came with this $50 rebate that was promised to get there in 6-8 weeks after sending in the proper paperwork. So I did all the paperwork, never got it, finally remembered when we moved apartments because I didn't want to miss out on my hard earned $50!

So I started contacting Broadbandoffers.com to let them know we hadn't received it yet and to make sure they sent it to our new address, even though our mail was being forwarded, JUST IN CASE I contacted them. Here starts my email inquiries (I saved them all) and funny answers as follows: (be sure to check the dates!)

Me: (July 7, 2007) Hi, 3 months ago I submitted the paperwork for a $50 rebate for our road runner service. It was offered through a Time Warner cable partner, BroadbandOffers.com. I remembered recently that we haven't received the rebate and when I checked at BroadbandOffers.com, they had no record of receiving my paperwork. I know I sent it out on time and while it may be blamed on the Post Office, it is past the due date and so now I can't just send copies and expect the rebate. What can I do to receive my $50? Thank you, Chelsea Rowan

BBO (Broadbandoffers): (Aug. 9, 2007) Your rebate(s) from your recent Cable service online purchase have been successfully processed.A pre-paid debit card in the amount of your rebate(s) will be mailed to you from “Swift Prepaid”via USPS first-class mail and should arrive in the next 10 days.
Enjoy your new service.

Sincerely,
Customer Service

Me: (Oct. 28, 2007) I received this email [see above] months ago and I have yet to receive my rebate. We moved inbetween submitting the rebate paperwork and receiving this email, so it would have been sent to our previous address. However, we had a forwarding address put on all USPS mail and we still haven't gotten the rebate, but we have received other forwarded mail. How can we get this re-sent to our new address? Thank you, Chelsea Rowan

BBO: (Oct. 29, 2007) Thank you for contacting BroadbandOffers.com.
At this time we require additional information from you to locate your record in our system. Please provide your full name and the mailing address that you provided on your rebate forms as well as your service provider and service order date.
Sincerely,
Customer ServiceBroadbandOffers.com

Me: (Oct. 29, 2007) [I sent them the information requested]

BBO: (Oct. 29, 2007) Thank you for contacting broadbandoffers.com. Please provide us with your new address. We look forward to your response. Thanks again for contacting broadbandoffers.com, have a good day.

Me: (Oct. 29, 2007) [I sent them my address again]

BBO: (Mar. 27, 2008) Thank you for contacting Broadband Offers
According to our records we show that the rebate checks should be mailed within 2-4 weeks. We do apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
Sincerely,StacyCustomer Servicebroadbandoffers.com

Me: (May 10, 2008) I really don't want to keep writing about this, but I'm afraid that I'm being given excuses instead of being taken seriously. It has now been 14 months since I sent in the paperwork for my $50 rebate. Regardless of any delays, it should have arrived a year ago. I don't know how to get the frustration across without being rude, so suffice it to say that if I don't receive my check within a month, I will be forced to contact the Better Business Bureau and issue a complaint. Thank you.
Chelsea Rowan

BBO: (May 12, 2008) Thank you for contacting Broadbandoffers.com
I have escalated your e-mail for further review and should have an answer within the next 5-7 business days. I apologize for any inconvenience you might experience and appreciate your patience.
Sincerely,Doris
Customer ServiceBroadbandOffers.com

Me: (May 28, 2008) It's been well over 5-7 business days. I'm trying to be patient, I really am, but this is ridiculous! I sent in all the paper work in February of 2007 and I'm still waiting for this check to appear! Please, just send me my $50 and we'll be done!
Chelsea Rowan

BBO: (May 28, 2008) Thank you for contacting Broadbandoffers.com
I have escalated your e-mail for further review and should have an answer within the next 5-7 business days. I apologize for any inconvenience you might experience and appreciate your patience. We have escalated for address change.
Sincerely,Pam
Customer ServiceBroadbandOffers.com

Me: (June 25, 2008) It's been another month! My rebate should have been received by me 16 months ago! When can I expect it?!?!?!?!?! Chelsea Rowan

BBO: (June 26, 2008) Thank you for contacting broadbandoffers.com
Our records shows your rebate check was mailed on 6/27, allow 2-6 weeks in receiving your check. Sorry, for the inconvenice.
Sincerely,Pamcustomer servicesbroadbandoffers.com

After this last one, I searched online and found a whole forum dissing Broadbandoffers.com for never owning up to their rebate offers and constantly giving excuses, so I figured my $50 was gone. But hooray, it came today...just a year late is all!

The Rowan's Family Vacation - Summer 2008

We had such a great time with Matt's parents in town! What DIDN'T we do? We had so much fun going up to Door County, a beautiful little peninsula about 3 hours away, just north of Green Bay. We stopped in at Lambeau Field, saw lighthouses, walked some trails, rode bikes, climbed a tower, visited a farm and fed the baby animals, you name it! We were also able to get some fun shopping done, tour Miller Brewery, visit the Children's museum, play frisbee and just enjoy being together. Thanks Jack and Robbi! We loved having you here!!!!!!

Sorry!

Our internet has been down for over 2 weeks and will continue to be so for at least another week (we're waiting on a backordered router...sigh) so I'm just quickly posting this from work. Matt's boards went well, we're currently vacation with his parents and then my parents come next week...so then we'll have tons of good pictures and stories to post!

Severe Weather

Finally, something interesting to blog about! We were attacked by some severe weather here in Milwaukee! Yesterday afternoon Matt was at school and I was just at home, trying to escape the heat outdoors. It started raining on us and I went indoors to feed Isabel a snack and see what was on TV. All the channels were covering the TORNADO WARNING in Milwaukee and then I heard this really weird siren right as the weatherman was telling everyone to seek shelter immediately. So I closed up all the windows and blinds to keep the rain out and my neighbors stopped by to let me know they were heading to the basement. Isabel and I joined them for about an hour. Fortunately, we weren't hit by a tornado, but we were hit with flooding. We were enjoying our time downstairs, nice and cool temperature, a pool table, our old couches and chairs to lounge on and the kids were all entertained by being in a new environment. On Matt's end, the school fire alarms started going off and everyone headed to the basement as well, where Matt was able to exercise in the student gym and hang out until it all passed. :)

So there we were, content in the basement, but then a window started pouring in water! We quickly moved the couches and carpet out of the path and started scooping it into garbage cans. We were so glad we were in the basement when it happened so that we could contain the damage. HA! After the National Weather Service canceled the Tornado warning, we went up stairs and resumed life. About an hour later my neighbor came to make sure all our storage stuff was up on pallets in the basement because it was completely flooded. ALL the windows were pouring in water by that time and it couldn't drain fast enough. All our stuff was safe, so no harm done, but it was pretty annoying!

At church today, there was a little flooding and then the power went out, so we actually canceled Church about 10 minutes into Sunday School. Crazy!


We thought the couches and carpet were out of harms way...not so. But I think they were raised enough to spare them any real damage! Hooray!
Our garbage cans hard at work.
The overworked drain...it was about 3 inches full of water when I took this.
What our windows looked like, water streaming in...
dn't drain fast enough. All our stuff was safe, so no harm done, but it was pretty annoying!


On a lighter note, check out our little Farrah Fawcett here. Matt was taking a photo shoot of her eating raisins and just being happy and calm. She's been a little grumpy as she's finally getting in her molars on top...maybe one day she'll get some front teeth on top too! Matt watched her all morning while I worked and then went "rummaging," or checking out the garage sales. I spent $10 and came home with a mother lode. Tons of good summer clothes for Isabel, some VHS videos (I think we're the only people who still own and operate a VCR, so more for us!) and some good toys as well. I'm still bummed that I didn't get this $10 road bike. Right when I was talking to Matt about it on the phone, another guy made a decision on it and beat me to the woman selling it and snatched it up. Sigh. But next Sat. is our neighborhood's rummage sale, so I'll have to keep my eyes open for some more good deals!