Legal Question in Consumer Law in Iowa

About a month ago I had signed up for a satellite service through a websponsor, the offer was if you complete the offer through their link they will reward you with some virtual money for an online game (which equals to about $200-$300USD or so). Since we were going to cancel cable anyways and was thinking of satellite, we went with this offer instead of others because of the high reward it gives.
So I completed the satellite service order on their link had it installed paid first bill etc...and still no credit from their end. I emailed them at least a dozen times, provided them email/header/ip from the satellite service company and everything and all I got was 2 replies stating "We are waiting for advertiser to verify." So I waited and check up every 2 days or so and keep asking and being ignored. Yesterday someone emailed me and told me that they spoke to the advertiser and they said I did not complete it through their offer link so they cannot credit me. I called the satellite service company and they have no knowledge of this offer or that they called them to verify anything, so they gave me their web promotion people to call, I called and left a message, no call back yet.
I emailed the customer service guy at the websponsor and told him the satellite company had not receive a call from you, who did you talk to? He said they do not call the satellite company directly they call a different company to verify and track info. So I ask if I can have their phone # so I can provide my info/cookies etc... to them to see if there was some misunderstanding. He told me he cannot give that information out. I asked him then how do I know he actually called to verify? And why can't I have their phone#? He did not respond.
Is he in the right to withhold the phone# from me? When they are accusing me of not completing the offer through their link when I 100% did. I can't have the contact info to the company to verify it myself?
I'm just ticked off, because I feel like I've been tricked into getting this 2-year contract with this satellite service mainly because of this reward they were giving out.
If anyone can let me know if they can withhold information from me that can verify my claim, I'd appreciate it or what I can do, because if I don't get this credit, I rather go with a different satellite service or digital cable which is a little bit cheaper but thought with the reward this offer was giving was worth it, but now I'm in a 2-year contract with the company and if cancel will be charged up to $499USD. Thank you! I'm in Iowa and the websponsor company is in California.

Asked on 6/16/10, 2:38 pm

Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

0 users found helpful

0 attorneys agreed

As a practical matter there's not a lot you can do about it on your own. I suggest you contact the attorney general's consumer fraud department.

Answered on 6/18/10, 10:39 am

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