Sent rebate form back around 4/28/2010, even rushed to the post office the same day right after delivery. Months later, received a postcard that the model number provided was not an approved model. This was for a refrigerator: model GSH25ISXSS. The approved model on their list is: GSH25ISX****

Kept calling them but got busy signal. I finally got hold of someone today (8/26/2010). I was told to re-submit the application form and change the model number. There is no actual model number w/ 4 *s at the end in the real world. After talking to Home Depot, our vendor, appears that those *'s are just wildcards to cover color codes. Ours is SS for stainless steel.

What kind of morons designed this program? The people processing these rebates are not smart enough to figure out that these are the same models. And, the application form should have had something that said on the rebate form to write in the made up (AKA secret model number that can only be seen by looking at the spreadsheet under the partners section of the website) Cash4appliances model number instead of the real model number.

This whole program was designed to encourage people to buy more energy saving appliances to help the environment. So, what was required to participate? submit a stack of paper via snail mail, drive to a store to buy it (can't buy online), call a thousand times to try to reach someone. Send a new application via snail mail b/c they can't pull up your rebate form and adjust it on the spot.

I sent mine about seven weeks ago and called them to make sure they received it. They cant find it. Said they had some probs with the postal service and it would turn up. I think state workers minds go numb after a while.... lack of using them like the private sector. I think I will have my wife take this one over. Shes on her period, so I should get some results.

I submitted application under the program at end of April (2nd week after the program started).

In May, I talked to a representative on the phone, followed up multiple times and later received a post card in July indicating that the application was denied because of missing serial number for the new appliance. It was simply untrue since I have entered on the application all required information.

I resubmitted the application copy as requested on the postcard. Now when I tried to contact the service center at the phone number listed on the official website, the phone rings once and follows with busy signal. This has been the case since early August. Many people seem to report similar issue as they commented on Consumer Report websites here http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2010/08/cash-for-appliances-rebate...

After finding this website today, I talked to a person named Harriet at the California Energy Commission Media & Public Communications Office (916-654-4989). I was asked to provide the case number from the post card and a contact phone number. I was told that a staff member will look into their database and follow up with me. I will see how it goes.

This is such a totally massed up process. They are rejecting application for no reason. We should all contact media and other organizations to expose this level of incompetence.

First of all I'd like to thank those of you like "TShein" who kept me from waisting my time by showing me another contact number. When I got through with this info:

Media & Public Communications Office
Phone Number: 916-654-4989
E-mail Address: mediaoffice @ energy.state.ca.us

they told me that the 888 number only handles 40 calls at a time. So I guess there are a lot of people calling about their rebate (most likely because as "Thomas" put it: The reason California still has so much money left to disburse is that they are finding every reason not to reimburse people who have submitted rebate forms.)

Anyway, my post card said my model was not eligible but then I looked it up on the website and it's listed as eligible for a $50 rebate so I suspect I have some further battle to fight once we get that settled. The lady I talked to said she would have someone call me back in a day or two after looking into my issue.

I then called the 888 number a bunch more and was on hold for a bit after finally getting through. Talked to a guy who said "it looks like you have an approved model but because you added 3 extra digits***(see below) than they use to ID the models they probably declined your application. So fill out the application again and send it in. And put "exceptions department" on the addressed envelope."

***They ID a model like this:

253.70151 when actually the model number may contain 3 more digits like 010 or 001. So when I wrote the model number I put all the numbers on the side of my AC unit. Whoops TOOO MANY NUMBERS!***

Annoyingly the more time I spend on this the less my rebate becomes worth. Because I could just go work at starbucks for an afternoon and make the rebate money back.

So NO. I don't think the program works very well.

Good luck to everyone.

There seems to be a common theme here...I received a card after 3 months of waiting for the rebate that says "The purchase receipt provided does not match information on application for..."
Then it stops...when I looked at copies of all that was forwarded to them it's the EXACT same info. It says to call the 888 number and suprise...I cannot get an answer just busy for the past 2 weeks. It's good to hear from others that it is a working # (sometimes) I was starting to think it was a scam. I will now follow up with the numbers you all have provided. Thanks and good luck to everyone else.

Ditto Tomas' comments above. Very frustrating that only 31,520 rebates have been approved out of 83,158 applications. They can't seem to process the paperwork they have in front of them and yet they are adding more models and other types of appliances that qualify. I am still waiting for my $200 from an application that was mailed May 3rd. After more than two months of waiting for my check, I called and learned my name "was not in the system." Where did my application go? They could not even tell me if it had been received. I was told to continue to wait. While debating a few days whether to resend all the paperwork, a postcard arrived with the news that my recycler form was not complete. WELL, that is the form JACO handed me when they picked up my old refrigerator. Called JACO and was told that was the only form I needed. Spoke to a supervisor who offered to mail me a second page that is generated in their office after the recycled appliance gets to their yard. It has more information Cash 4 Appliances wants such as the brand name, age and model number of the recycled appliance. Mailed that form last week. Still don't know if I have all that is required. Am calling to check my status only to get the annoying one ring followed by a busy signal. Somebody at the CA Energy Commission needs to check into the whole rebate process. It should not be this difficult, require this much detailed paperwork OR take THIS long to get our rebates!!!! Typical for the State of California!

Reading these comments is not encouraging. I submitted my app (after purchasing one of the only refrigerators in the program)on 5/13/10. As far as I can tell it is complete and I have never received one of the postcards telling me otherwise. Called to ask about rebate status on 7/8/10, was told the same thing as everyone else about it being in process, should be another 2-3 weeks. Tried to call today - 8/9/10, busy signal for the last hour or so. I will try to follow up with California Energy Commission (916) 654-4989 as others have and we'll see what happens.

The reason California still has so much money left to disburse is that they are finding every reason not to reimburse people who have submitted rebate forms. I sent in my application the day the program opened and it has been four months and nothing. The 888-390-4034 is always buisy and when you do get through, no one seems to be able to give you specifics about the status of your application. I got a post card stating that the model washing machine I purchased was not on the approved list, but it was (and the person on the phone agreed with me, but they couldn't do anything about it - instead they told me to resubmit my application again! - what a waste of time). I finally called the California Energy Commission (916) 654-4989 and they were able to figure out that one of the numbers was entered wrong into the system, but was told to resubmit the application again to their exceptions department. Lets see how well this works - I'm not optimistic about this.

Mailed in request for rebate 4/24/2010 and it was received on 4/28. Called 888 number several times since, and kept being told it was in process and to wait two more weeks. Finally, two weeks ago, I called the number listed on the CA Cash for Appliances web-page for media contact: California Energy Commission
Media & Public Communications Office
Phone Number: 916-654-4989
E-mail Address: mediaoffice @ energy.state.ca.us
I spoke with Amy Morgan who confirmed they had my application but could not process it because they didn't like Home Depot's receipt! She insisted that I send the original receipt because she didn't believe I had sent an exact copy of it! I then spoke to her supervisor, Laurie white, who claimed I never submitted an application! A few seconds later, she acknowledged they had my app and all was fine with it. Crazy! Not too happy with the odd information I was being given, I then spoke to Adam Gottlieb who listened to me then said (after making excuses for why the rebate program is such a mess), "I hope you get your refrigerator." HELLO! I have had my refrigerator since April - IT IS THE REBATE I SEEK. I have applied by mail, then followed that up by sending copies of the documents by email and fax to Amy Morgan - only to have her come back and say it wasn't enough. I even sent copies of the packing slips.

In california, I purchased and mail my my rebate stuffs over 12 weeks ago. Never heard back from them. Try to call 1-888-390-4034 for several days and always get the busy signal. It is very frustrated.

In Minnesota where I live, the rebate offer was over in about 36 hours after it launched. I was lucky enough to get on the waiting list for a $200 rebate for a washing machine, which I eventually received. Between the manufactures rebate, haggling, store sale and federal rebate, I received a front load washer for about $200. The original retail value was about $600. To put things in perspective, the cheapest top load washer was $300.
Not only will my washer save me money by using less electricity and water but it will also add value to my house when I decide to sell it. This program was awesome but it's a shame some states couldn't get the money out more effectively.

In CA they acknowledge they rcvd my paperwork over 11 weeks ago. I still have not rcvd my rebate and it is "In - Process" what kind of answer is that? Maybe next year at tax time I should tell them the same thing. It is very frustrating, I did everything that was asked of me and I cannot get the State of CA to hold of their end of the deal.