The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses and consumers nationwide about Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants, which offers a gasoline redemption certificate program.

Tidewater uses multiple Web sites and names for its program, including Gasoline Redemption Center and FreebeeGas.

In Tidewater's program, businesses can purchase incentive certificates to give to their customers and/or employees.

Tidewater sold the vouchers to retailers for as little as $7, and the retailers gave consumers vouchers in denominations as high as $500 when they made a purchase, test-drove a car or visited a retailer.

To redeem the vouchers, a $5 registration fee was required.

Once enrolled, the consumer was required to send $100 worth of gas receipts each month (from one particular gas station), for which they would receive a $25 gift card until the full value of the voucher was reached.

One local consumer, who filed a complaint with the BBB, bought a car last July and was offered $500 in free gas as a special promotion. He says he has done everything he was supposed to do, and he still hasn't received any gas vouchers. Other local consumers have also filed complaints against the company.

The bureau has received more than 1,600 complaints against Tidewater in the last year. Most consumer complaints are similar in nature, alleging that Tidewater is not fulfilling its obligations under the terms of the program.

Consumers allege that once they turn in their gas receipts, they either never receive the gas cards or the gas cards owed to them do not arrive within the time frame promised.

More at: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090227/BUSINESS/902270391/1003/BUSINESS