When do you need to send in your rebate?
Rebates only pay if they arrive in time and complete. Enter the dates from the form to see the last day to mail it, and when to expect the money.
Enter the dates from your rebate form to see when to send it.
That’s passed. Call the number on the form before you give up: the rebate center can tell you whether it still accepts your claim.
When the money should arrive
Before you mail it
- Fill in every field, and include everything the form asks for, usually the barcode cut from the box and the receipt.
- Take photos or copies of the form, the receipt and the barcode, and note the rebate’s tracking number or website.
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How to make sure a rebate pays
01
Read the fine print first
Note the deadline, whether it’s postmarked or received by, and exactly what to include. Leaving out one item can be enough to have it turned down.
02
Send it early
There’s no prize for waiting. Mail it as soon as you have everything, and get a postmark at the counter if it’s close.
03
Keep copies
Photograph the form, the receipt and the barcode before they go, and note the rebate’s website or tracking number.
04
Check on it
If it hasn’t arrived in 8 weeks, look it up online or call. A missing rebate gets found faster when you ask.
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OwedTab keeps a running tab of the rebates, refunds and deposits you’re waiting on, and nudges you when one is late. Join the early-access list to try it on your iPhone before it’s out.
Questions
How long do rebates take to arrive?
Usually 6–8 weeks after you send them in, though some take longer. The form or the rebate’s website often says, and most let you check a claim’s status online.
What’s the difference between “postmarked by” and “received by”?
“Postmarked by” means it has to be in the mail by that date: the post office stamps the day it was sent. “Received by” means it has to arrive by then, so mail it about a week early.
Do I need to send the original receipt?
Check the form. Many ask for the barcode cut from the box and a copy of the receipt, and some want the original. Keep your own copy of everything either way.
What if my rebate never arrives?
Check its status on the rebate’s website, or call the number on the form, with your copies to hand. If a company won’t pay a rebate you qualified for, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
My rebate came as a prepaid card. Does it expire?
Often, yes. Rebate cards usually have an expiry date printed on them, so spend the balance before then.
Sources
This is general information. Every rebate has its own rules, printed on its form, and those are the ones that count.