Did Tesla just steal $450 from me?

[FarAway]

That's how I feel after Tesla took my remaining store credits before the full year. Let me explain, I will feel better after getting this off my chest and maybe one day someone from TESLA may read this.

I purchased my CT on the evening of 15 Oct '24. I received the $2500 in Tesla store credits instead of the home charger hardware & install. Knowing I was approaching my one-year anniversary, I checked on my expiring credits at the beginning of this month (Oct '25) and had $450 and change remaining in my wallet, expiring on 15 Oct. All good, just what I expected. I told my wife to check out the store and see what she might like. I had most of what I wanted and thought maybe a couple of hats or shirts for gifts. We sat down together after work on the 15th and filled up our cart and when I went to check out it now shows $0.0 credits remaining, telling me they expired on 15 Oct. Huh? It is still 15 Oct '25.

I took some screen shots and sent a message to Customer Service. Of course, I get no response. So, I call the Customer Service line on the afternoon of 16 Oct and after being on hold for 45 minutes finally get to speak with "Zee", he looked at a couple of screens and agreed there was a problem. He put me on hold to check. About 5 minutes later he comes back and said after checking with his supervisor that is the way Tesla does it. The credits are expired on the date listed at 12:01am not 11:59pm. I asked, Aren't the credits supposed to be good for a year? Yes, he says. I explained, but the credits expired one day short of a year and 16 hours short of my one-year anniversary. He agreed but said there was nothing he could do. I asked if he could elevate this problem to a supervisor and he agreed.

I then got to speak with supervisor "Cameron". I again explained the problem to him. He starts with the (really offensive to me) customer service platitudes, what I call "shining me on". Why yes, I can see why you feel this way, I will note your feedback, yes, yes, blah, blah, blah (all the time meaning No, No, No... all totally BS. He explains, why yes, I see the problem but unfortunately once Tesla takes the credits there is no way to get them back.

Upon further questioning, I am told there is no one else available to elevate the problem to, Cameron's word is the final say. He then asks me, why did I wait until the last day? To which I replied, why can't I wait until the last day? Why did I not get the full year, but a day less. Why does Tesla not follow the normal convention of listing an expiration date that is the actual date something expires versus the first day after it HAS expired? He says, "I will note your concerns, thank you for the feedback." After about 10 minutes of fruitless conversation, I thank him for his "no help".

In all my dealings with TESLA this is probably my lowest moment. I can't believe that it is not a mistake, and I can't believe no-one can fix the mistake. I don't like being cheated. No, $450 is not going to break me, nor would it make me. I should note, it also is not going to break TESLA. I am tremendously disappointed in their customer service. This is how you a ruin a good company and as an investor THIS concerns me even more than the "stolen" store credits. Let me know your thoughts.

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[cybergriz]

Reasonable. Maybe you can get more help/leverage through your local service center?

 

[Moter3d]

https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5LWNvcHk=_da8040f7-f76c-4e55-9eef-aec217d80e35

you had 364 days to decide

 

[Lasttoy]

Write letter to HQ SERVICE
Palo Alto, Ca.
Attn: Mr zuh
I forgot street. Google it
Include every picture you have.
The service center doesn't care. These are company employees. They don't care. My LR brake on CT didn't work for 6 months. They didn't care. You need to do "burn in" really

 

[kdn]

Personally I don't like any company takes away what is your be it credit or reward points. I feel if you earned it how can you loose it? But why would you wait until you only had hours left if you knew they expire. I can see you letting $12.85 slip through your fingers but $3500 is a significant amount and someone who holds so much for so long and then has this happen to them.....well my brother would say.....snooze you loose! Be nice to Tesla perhaps they will give you a second chance. I have never had a problem with customer service but then I never let my credits expire. I recently used my credit for my wrap on my cattails for the adapter kit. I think it took me 45 days for me to use it.

 

[Cyberham]

As I started to read this I thought to myself "Oh no they expired at the start of October, glad I spent mine this week instead of waiting for them to expire in Novemeber!"
Then I read the rest and the only thing I heard was the tiniest violin playing. Especially your last paragraph. Sorry.

 

[hemiarch]

That is utter bullshit. Sorry that happened to you.

 

[jjban]

Tesla has no emotions, you can think of it as being run by Grok.

 

[AverageJoe]

Most unfortunate.

I had my tires rotated and had to select my card instead of credits to pay for it. Fast forward I purchased the powershare bundle for $1909 with my credits...I thought. Next day I see $2100 and some change hit my debit card for the powershare. After a few phone calls and emails I have to wait for them to be delivered then return them and wait 7-10 days for refund after they inspect them and reorder with the credits

 

[ABILISK]

Tesla has always done it this way. You’ll notice your warranties expire the day before your delivery day also. I took delivery 11/6/24. Not saying I agree with it, it’s just how it is and always has been.

 

[Tremendo]

Expires the 15th. That means use it by the 14th. That's what I understand. Nobody stole anything. You procrastinated until the last minute. ok. It's happened to most all of us at some point in life, but we learn take accountability and not wait until the last minute.

 

[FarAway]

Expires the 15th. That means use it by the 14th. That's what I understand. Nobody stole anything. You procrastinated until the last minute. ok. It's happened to most all of us at some point in life, but we learn take accountability and not wait until the last minute.

Yes, that is one interpretation.... and NO, that is not the norm. Do you work for Tesla customer service, lol?

If the last day wasn't good enough, then it wouldn't be the last day. Anyhow below is what Grok says:

 

[REM]

But why chance it and wait to the very last second to spend your remaining credits?

 

[sourdoughbaker]

Tesla doesn't restore credits, but they are able to re grant credits that expired prematurely or erroneously. I know because I had a similar situation and I called customer service and she put the credits back onto my account.

 

[cyberjeff25]

Actually I was told I had to use the entire $2,500 credit at one time- any remaining dollars after first use would disappear.

This is after I had to fight to even get my credit —
In the first place because their installation service for the PowerShare had cleverly grabbed my credit even though I told them I did not want the PowerShare. That caused a big problem until this company canceled the install.

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