AMARILLO, TEXAS -- We started an investigation along with the Better Business Bureau in late January.
It centers on one of those gas clubs, where you become a member, and you can reportedly get cash rebates for being a member and filling up your vehicle.
It's called the Fill 'Er Up Club. It's a Houston based membership organization that claims you can get your gas for half price if you sign up. Sounds too good to be true, right?
So, the Better Business Bureau here in Amarillo decided to check them out posing as a customer.
Signing up was a major endeavor. It took a couple hours using a credit card. The website re-directs you to a credit card money transfer location in Canada. You have to become a member of that organization to transfer your money into the account.
Then, the membership costs $10 a month and you have to buy gas certificates in $200 bundles.
"What we want to know is if these vouchers work and when we take them with the receipts, will we get money back as promised. That's what we're waiting to see, "says BBB Director, Janna Kiehl.
Fill 'Er Up sends you vouchers, you get gas, and turn in your receipts for a $200 dollar voucher: $135 dollars per month. Of that, you get roughly half or roughly $66 dollars a month. Almost.
Half of that is allegedly returned to you in the form of a check for $33.00.
The other half goes into an online virtual gas tank. In six months, if you fill up to the maximum allowable, send everything in on time, cross all the t's and dot all the i's, you get another gas voucher worth $198.00 and you start all over.
"We've mailed in the receipts and vouchers and we'll see if we get the money back as promised," says Kiehl.
A quick total shows in 6 months, with the maximum amount being recouped, you've spent the $200 dollars in vouchers, $60 dollars in membership dues, and received $198 in reimbursements. So after 6 months, you're still at least $62 dollars in the hole. In short, you have to be in the club for longer than 6 months to see any savings.
Kiehl said her office is waiting to see what happens. "We'll keep doing the investigation and we'll see if its beneficial and see if we have any cost savings."
February receipts have just been sent in and we have no idea if or how long it will be before we see a refund check.
