GET YOUR FREE GAS HERE!!!
The more gas costs, the better it works as an incentive. Right now, you can get free gas for
buying a new car, eating a chicken dinner or taking a vacation. You can even earn free gas for not driving.
But $4-a-gallon gas also can lead drivers to make some foolish decisions. In some promotions, gas
is a prize, absolutely free for the few who win. In others, it's an eye-catching trade-off, a headline-grabbing discount in place of a boring old
price cut.
The following are good examples of ways in which you can get free gas:
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Suzuki will give consumers who buy a new 2008 or 2009 vehicle through June 30 a Visa
debit card for free gas. Buyers must qualify to finance their vehicles through the company's American Suzuki Financial Services, and,
if so, they'll get 0% interest for up to five years.
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Chrysler's offer is for $2.99-a-gallon gasoline; the company will pay the difference
between that and the pump prices for up to 12,000 miles a year (figured at Environmental Protection Agency estimates). But the deal
is good only for gasoline with up to 87 octane regular unleaded fuel, E85 fuel (an ethanol-gasoline mix) or diesel fuel.
One innovative solution can be found an hour from Minneapolis in St. Cloud, Minn., a city of about
65,000 people where some 11,000 have locked in prices at the family-run First Fuel Bank.Residents can buy at today's rate and lock in that price
for future gas purchases.According to First Fuel's Linda Ernster, a few farsighted customers are paying 98 cents a gallon. The family operation,
started in 1983 by Denis Feneis and sons Jim and Dan Feneis, has six filling stations.
Hertz is offering a free tank of gas for rentals three days or longer through June 30. For a long
trip, leaving your gas guzzler at home and renting a fuel sipper could make sense, even with the rental costs. Most other major car rental
agencies are offering discounts up to 25 cents a gallon for prepaid gas purchases, but that makes sense only if you burn every last
drop.
FreeGasHelp.com offers motorists driving more 1,000 miles a month up to $2,400 a year to wrap
their vehicles with advertising. Motorists are given a dry run of sorts, starting with door-magnet ads to ensure everyone is happy before
committing to the costlier conversion.
Eating chicken doesn't typically give diners gas, but they could win a year's worth of fuel if
they're lucky. Mrs. Winner's Chicken and Biscuits locations in metro Atlanta are registering customers for weekly drawings to receive 52 weeks of
prepaid $50 gas cards.
The First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga., has a "free gas" sign out front. Each time newcomers
or members attend a church event during a Sunday-to-Wednesday revival, they get a pink raffle ticket for a chance to win one of two $500 gas
cards.
The Houston Chronicle, in a circulation drive, is enticing readers with drawings of $100 gas cards
and a grand prize of 26 of them. The Orange County Register has a $250 card for a lucky registered winner. The News and Observer of Raleigh,
N.C., offers readers a chance to win $100 gas cards.
Golfers can drive a bit more cheaply, getting gas cards ranging from $50 to $100 from Dick's
Sporting Goods when they purchase certain Calloway drivers.
Many resorts, lodges and hotels are offering gas cards to entice road-weary
travelers.BedandBreakfast.com's "Tanks a Lot" promotion features mostly $20-$25 gas cards for each night of lodging at some of its member
establishments. Hotels.com has mail-in rebates, mostly for $25 gas cards for each night that travelers book. BnBFinder.com also can direct
travelers to gas-card lodging deals, linking those to its "One Tank Trip" destinations. Bear Mountain Lodge in Bethlehem, N.H., is offering $100
gift cards for three-night stays.
Some state tourism offices are helping connect travelers with those looking to stay closer to home and save on gas. For instance, you can log on
to Travel Michigan's Web site for more gas deals.
Commuters in certain regions of the United States can cash in on incentives and help clean the air
at the same time. Cumberland, a business district in metropolitan Atlanta, is aggressively looking to cut pollution by offering car pools of
three or more $40 in monthly gas cards and $60 a month to pools of four and more. Over three years, poolers can earn 12 gas cards. The Clean Air
Campaign is something of a pioneer in the field, said Brian Carr, the director of communications, but seemingly every urban area facing pollution
and congestion issues has incentives commuters can cash in on. Check your state, county and city transit or environmental agency for
information.
Those starting a van pool in Contra Costa, Calif., can receive $1,000 bonuses. Portland, Ore.,
municipal employees can get $30 a month by walking or biking to work. In an area of central Pennsylvania, motorists willing to skip driving 10
days over the summer can earn $20 shared-gas cards, $5 Starbucks cards and transit tickets. New van pools receive $100 gas cards for each seat
they fill.
NuRide links commuters who wish to share rides and uses a points system that rewards users with
discounts on items from a range of local and national sponsors. The site grades drivers and riders to better ensure safety, compatibility and
reliability.
Consumer advocates stress doing homework before committing to deals that could be predatory and
take advantage of those desperate to ease the gas pinch on their wallet.
Will an offer of free gas cause you to spend money you otherwise wouldn't? For example, Circus Circus in Las Vegas has a deal for a $50 gas card,
but shop around because there may be deals off the strip that will save you more than that, Gorman said. If you'd planned to stay at Circus
Circus anyway, the deal might make sense.
A bigger problem that's likely to grow worse is gas-related scams. Your e-mail inbox might be
flooded with offers of free gas cards simply for returning a survey or giving the names of six friends. You might get a phone call saying you've
won a free tank of gas, coupons for discounted gas or gas as an incentive for a free-trial offer.
INTRODUCING THE NEW $2.99 GUARANTEE FROM DODGE, CHRYSLER, AND JEEP
Prices for fuel continue to rise at a seemingly alarming rate. However, the Let’s Refuel America Program helps
provide stability to that problem with a simple solution.
Using a special card, program participants pay $2.99 per gallon for a maximum number of gallons (which varies
depending on model) of unleaded gas or diesel fuel in each of the next 3 years. So no matter what the price at the pump says, you’ll never
have to pay more than $2.99/gallon.
To qualify for the program, you must purchase or lease an eligible Chrysler vehicle from May 7 through July 7,
2008 and have a valid MasterCard or Visa credit card or check card.
These are some challenging times. Fortunately, the Let’s Refuel America Program is doing what it can to help
you get through it.
Here’s how it works:
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When you buy a qualifying new 2008 or 2009 (Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep vehicle) you tell us the Visa or
MasterCard credit card you use to pay for your gas.
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We issue you a Let’s Refuel America card that you will use to buy gas in each of the next three
years*.
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Each time you buy fuel with that card, your credit card will never be charged more than $2.99/gallon –
no matter what the pump price may be.
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It’s our way of helping to refuel America.
Your Let’s Refuel America Card is valid at approximately 97% of all gas stations in the US. Click here to find
a participating station near you.
“LET’S REFUEL AMERICA” FAQS HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM?
You will need to purchase and take delivery of your new and unused eligible 2008 or 2009 model year Chrysler,
Dodge or Jeep vehicle (excludes all SRTs, Dodge Sprinter, Dodge Viper, Dodge Ram Chassis Cab, Dodge Challenger, Chrysler Crossfire, Jeep
Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited) between May 7, 2008, and July 7, 2008. In addition, you will need to have an active Visa or MasterCard
credit card account.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT THIS WILL SAVE ME MONEY?
The $2.99 Gas Guarantee will save you money because you are guaranteed to never pay more than $2.99 per gallon
on qualified fuel purchases in each of the next three years. You will be protected against fluctuating fuel prices.
DO I NEED TO HAVE A CREDIT CARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
Yes, an active Visa or MasterCard credit card is required to participate in the "Let's Refuel America"
program.
IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR ENROLLMENT INTO THE PROGRAM?
Yes, all customers must enroll at the Enrollment hotline at 800-866-4656 by July 31, 2008.
HOW DO I ENSURE THAT MY CARD IS READY TO USE?
When your card arrives, you will receive details in your Welcome Package that will include card usage
guidelines, rules, and account set up instructions. You will also receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in the mail approximately
two days after you receive your card. Once you have received your card and set up your account and PIN, you can start using your card at any
"Let's Refuel America"/Voyager affiliated gas stations, covering approximately 97 percent of all gas stations in the United States.
WHAT IF I SELL MY CAR WITHIN THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD? WILL THE CARD CONTINUE TO WORK?
The card is not transferable; the original purchaser retains the card for the full term of the program.
However, you can continue to use the card for the entire three-year period for gas purchases on any vehicle within the fuel eligibility
guidelines (i.e. if your "Let's Refuel America" card was issued for a diesel vehicle, you can not change the fuel type eligibility of the
card with subsequent vehicle purchases. A diesel card will only allow diesel fuel purchases regardless of the next type of vehicle
purchased).
WHAT TYPES OF FUEL MAY I PURCHASE WITH MY CARD?
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If your vehicle uses unleaded gas, the $2.99 offer covers up to 87octane only.
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If your vehicle can use E85, the $2.99 offer will cover E85 and up to 87octane gasoline only.
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If your vehicle requires diesel fuel, the $2.99 offer will cover diesel fuel only.
IS THE PUMP CHARGING ME $2.99 PER GALLON?
No. When you purchase your fuel, the charge will appear on your receipt for the full retail pump price. Your
purchase will appear on your account statement showing your “Let’s Refuel America” adjusted price (i.e. $2.99). Your account statement will
list the retail price at the pump, the $2.99 per gallon you charged on your designated Visa or MasterCard, and the amount you saved after the
price adjustment.
DO I HAVE TO USE THE CARD WITH THE CHRYSLER, DODGE OR JEEP VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED?
No, although this card is intended to be used with the Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle that you purchased, you
can purchase fuel for any vehicle provided you use the same type of fuel allowed on your card.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY CARD?
If you have not received your card in 4-6 weeks, please contact the “Let’s Refuel America”
Enrollment hotline at 800-866-4656.
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