Did Tesla just steal $450 from me?

[FarAway]

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

That is a fair question.

I was hoping something better would get added to the store was why I waited to spend the remaining credits until the last month.

So, why wait until the last day?

Just life, I was traveling the week before, then the wife was gone dealing with elderly parent. I did my diligence and verified the expiration date on the app and believed it to be correct, the date listed as the expiration also corresponded with what was the date of my one-year anniversary. I set a reminder in the phone for that day for us to sit down and complete the order. If TESLA wants the credits to expire the day before then say that... even though that would be one day less than a year.

No one would like it if their taxes were due on April 15th, but then they get charged penalty and interest, because that really means they are due on the 14th... that seems to be what some here are insinuating.

I try to play by the rules... but the rule maker gets to interpret how the rules apply, even if it is BS.

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[hemiarch]

One thing my dad always used to insist on was, “if you’re on time, you’re late”.
At the time, I thought this was just one of the many asshole things he would say but as an adult I’ve really come to appreciate that value.
Annoys the shit out of me when people don’t respect my time. It’s a non-starter for me. Being late.
Now, we’re dealing with a company here not a person , but my habits would never allow me to proactively procrastinate to that extent.
Seems to me you were reasonably in the right here though. What is this? The Hebrew calendar? Day starts sunset of the day before?

 

[sourdoughbaker]

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 was the case for a while, right? And then they changed it to credits that posted to your account that you could use bit by bit (much more sensible, of course). Not sure if anyone that "lost" the remaining balance was able to get Tesla to credit their account back

 

[Tecyber1]

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.

This is a self inflicted problem, suck it up and move on. Jesus!

 

[cyberjeff25]

Your dilemma brings up another question- I put down the deposit on the extended cybertruck battery but Tesla cancelled this option and I don’t recall getting my refund of $500 —/ did anyone else get this refund on their cybertruck original order??

 

[FarAway]

This is a self inflicted problem, suck it up and move on. Jesus!

Appreciate your empathy.

 

[hemiarch]

Appreciate your empathy.

He in turn appreciates your sarcasm.
Not defending or endorsing the asshole comment, just saying.

 

[no%X#XMVk65v#cq]

October 15 to October 15 would be one year and one day.

 

[FarAway]

October 15 to October 15 would be one year and one day.

The truck was picked up at 6:30pm on the 15th.

 

[hemiarch]

Also, if that policy continues till 2028, one should consider the leap year thing.

 

[hemiarch]

It’s dumb customer service. It’s picking a fight with paying customers over nothing. I wouldn’t allow it in my small business and I’m bummed Tesla allows it.

 

[FarAway]

Also, if that policy continues till 2028, one should consider the leap year thing.

Now you've done it... peoples' heads will explode!

 

[FarAway]

One thing my dad always used to insist on was, “if you’re on time, you’re late”.
At the time, I thought this was just one of the many asshole things he would say but as an adult I’ve really come to appreciate that value.
Annoys the shit out of me when people don’t respect my time. It’s a non-starter for me. Being late.
Now, we’re dealing with a company here not a person , but my habits would never allow me to proactively procrastinate to that extent.
Seems to me you were reasonably in the right here though. What is this? The Hebrew calendar? Day starts sunset of the day before?

I will say I have always preached to my kids about being on time, that is Vince Lombardi time.

Personally, I learned my timing in the military. I am not late, but I am rarely early either. I was never a big fan of the "hurry up and wait crowd". It is important to know, in combat being early can sometimes be even more disastrous than being late.

 

[CyberGus]

To prevent such misunderstandings, most companies will interpret the rules to the benefit of the customer. Extending a deadline by 1 day costs virtually nothing, but annoying a customer costs in the long-term due to the tarnished reputation.

Tesla has customers, but they are not in the customer-service business. At least, not aggressively or even proactively.

 

[TeslaKen]

You could always file a small claims court action in your state and see if you can convince a judge that you are entitled to the credits back. Of course, if the judge decides in your favor, you still have to be able to enforce that judgement against Tesla which might be difficult to do if they decide to ignore it. In some states you will have an argument that items like rewards points, credits, etc. are "earned" at the time granted and thus cannot as a matter of law be taken away without your consent. You would need to check with an attorney in your state to see if that applies. Of course, doing so is likely to cost you more than the credits you are out. Small claims court filings are usually pretty cheap though, $50-$100 filing fees in most jurisdictions that I am aware of.

I am curious if Tesla's agreement states 1 Earth year, what with Elon wanting to go to Mars and all, maybe you thought it was a Martian year. As others have said, valuable lesson in not waiting until the last minute to do something. I waited about a week shy of my 1 year and then pulled the trigger on some items because I was simply waiting to see if anything new showed up for the Cybertruck or if some items came back in stock before I made my purchase, so I do believe there are legitimate reasons to wait before using your credits but at some point you have to give yourself a deadline to make a decision.

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