by CBS3′s Jim Donovan for KYW Newsradio –

When Edgar Dworsky purchased computer software, he knew he was getting a rebate.  But he didn’t know it would be in the form of a plastic rebate card.

“It is annoying, number one, to receive a prepaid card instead of a rebate check. You’re expecting a check and you get the card, and then it’s difficult to use.”

Customers complain about lost money due to maintenance fees, “dormancy” fees, and expiration dates on the cards.  And although they look and work like gift cards, they aren’t regulated.

Michelle Jun is an attorney with Consumers Union:

“Gift cards, for the most part, have protections, whether it be from state laws or federal laws. Unfortunately, prepaid rebate cards do not have these protections, which means there aren’t any restrictions on expiration dates or fees.”