Support legislation that makes mail in rebates illegal and put a stop to a widespread practice that is consumer fraud

Mail in rebates are pure and simple consumer fraud. The scam begins with a company offering you a product or service for sale that is marketed as discounted because there is an associated mail in rebate. However, actually getting your rebate, even when following diligently the rebate instructions is next to impossible. Often the rebate payment is handled by a third party company like Parago who are masters at denying rebates on frivolous grounds, purposely do not issue valid rebates hoping the consumer does not follow up or simply lie and claim the rebate was issued when it was not. This is plan and simple consumer fraud and offering mail in rebates should be made illegal. Instead companies should only be allowed to offer instant fulfillment rebates to the consumer.