I got an offer in the mail, from my bank, to receive 2 ExxonMobile Gas Cards ($20.00 each). I have to sign up for their "Buyers Advantage" program in order to receive the cards. The "Buyers Advantage" program can be cancelled at any time, but even if I cancel, the gas cards would be mine to keep. The first month of membership would be "free".

Now this offer sounds great, with the chance to get gas cards (who wouldn't want them, with the price of gas being what it is today)? Trouble is there are no ExxonMobile gas stations anywhere near the area where I live. I would have to drive a good 2 hours to even get near one in order to use the cards, if I chose to accept them.

This makes no sense to me. I mean, shouldn't the bank, before they send out such an offer, make sure that there are ExxonMobile gas stations nearby, so that the clients who are accepting the offer can use the gas cards? Of course, I'm not going to accept them, but damn. It just doesn't make much sense to me. I realize that ExxonMobile and my bank are working in conjunction in order to be able to offer this deal. But you would think that they would be in conjunction with a gas station that was more prevalent (like BP or Shell).
[Edited 3/13/09 19:49pm]

Of course that would make sense, but we're talkin' about BigBankCo.

What they're "banking" on is that you'll accept said cards not realizing there are no stations near you.

This distraction then leads you to "forget" about the "membership" and before you know it 1 or 2 months went by with you paying a small but altogether useless fee.

Now THAT'S customer service!!

RenHoek said:

You know what, you just hit the nail right on the head with what you said. I'm thankful that I looked on the internet first, before accepting the gas cards, to see if there were any ExxonMobile stations near me.

psychodelicide said:

I too, am thankful that you did a little homework... what was the fee, I'm just curious...

RenHoek said:

I have called to cancel those "first month free" programs before and been told "sorry you are one hour past the deadline and we can't do returns to your type of card". And had to go up thru three suprvisors to reverse it

ThirdandFinal said:

yuuup! that's how they get'cha!!

RenHoek said:

I threw the paperwork out already. Think it was something like $11.99 or $13.99 per month to belong to the "Buyers Advantage" program. No thanks, they can keep the darn thing.
[Edited 3/13/09 20:30pm]

ThirdandFinal said:

That's not right at all.

RenHoek said:

Glad they didn't get me.

psychodelicide said:

As a side note to this type of crap my wife and I just recently paid off our :cough:homedepot:cough: accounts

A month went by with no bill, the next month we each received a bill around $20.00, including a late fee. When we called to complain they actually told us it was an intrest charge for them having previously maintained a balance for us. When we raised hell we got the "I'll be happy to reverse that, but let me explain" BS.

I find BS charges regularly attached to credit and utility bills that would go thru if I didn't look for them and then call to have removed

ThirdandFinal said:

Wow, I'm sorry that happened to you and your wife, but thankfully, it got straightened out. You're right, it is wise to check all bills carefully before paying them.

ThirdandFinal said:

I betcha that's dodgy

we have a 10 day legal cooling off period here for ANY contract you sign up for, and even most companies still let you after 11 days, because really they don't need any bad press these days!

ZombieKitten said:

That does sound dodgy. It's good to have a cooling off period, in case someone changes their mind.

hi Nancy! i would not even bother in my case...20 bucks barely gives me half a tank i have not seen an Exxon in years is why they are trying to push Exxon on customers


[Edited 3/14/09 9:50am]

babooshleeky said:

Hey, Crissy! You're right, Exxon has not been around this area in years, which is why I was surprised when they were offering gas cards.