The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Clearwater has released a news alert regarding a business in their service area: Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants, Inc. The company uses different websites and business names under its program, including Gasoline Redemption Center and FreebeeGas. The company's rebate program offers a program where businesses can purchase incentive certificates to give to their customers and/or employees. Consumers who receive these certificates are lead to believe once they have entered the program and submit their gas receipts to the company that they will receive $25 gas gift card for every $100 of gas they purchase. The company allegedly has failed to honor its obligations to consumers under the terms of the program as about 1,500 complaints have been filed with BBB.
PRESS RELEASE
Clearwater, Florida – February 13, 2009 The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning businesses and consumers across the country about Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants, Inc., a company that offers a gasoline redemption certificate program. The company uses multiple websites and names in connection with its program, including Gasoline Redemption Center and FreebeeGas.
Tidewater offers a program where businesses can purchase incentive certificates to give to their customers and/or employees. Consumers that receive these incentives and enter Tidewater’s program purchase $100 or more of gasoline from a participating gas station in a given month. The consumers then submit their receipts for that month to Tidewater in order to receive a $25 gas gift card.
BBB has received 1,498 complaints against Tidewater since October 2007 - 1,162 of them since December 2008. Most consumer complaints are similar in nature, alleging that Tidewater is not fulfilling its obligations to consumers under the terms of the program. Consumers allege that once they turn in their gas receipts, they either never receive the gas cards, or the gas cards owed to them do not arrive within the time frame promised by the company.
Tidewater currently has an ‘F’ rating with BBB. In addition, BBB has over 700 unresolved consumer complaints against the company, and an additional 459 complaints that are pending resolution.
The Florida Attorney General’s office recently announced a lawsuit against Tidewater for violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for a pattern of deceptive practices.
The following are websites featuring Tidewater’s gasoline redemption program, including:
- GasolineRedemption.com
- FreebeeGas.com
- Freegasredemption.com
- Freebiegas.com
- Freegascentral.com
- Freelegacyfuel.com
- Gasolineredemptioncenter.com
- Gasregistration.com
Businesses and consumers who believe they have had problems with Tidewater should file a complaint online with the BBB at www.bbb.org.
The BBB suggests that businesses and consumers looking to do business with a company that offers incentive and/or certificate programs do their research and diligently look into the company and its owners. Make sure that the company is trustworthy by checking it out with BBB.
About BBB Serving Clearwater
BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability Reports and charity BBB Wise Giving Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.