Some denied Ohio appliance rebates over model number mix-up

CLEVELAND (AP) — Some Ohio consumers were mistakenly told they didn’t qualify for a state appliance rebate and must now reapply for the money-back offers.

Officials say eligible Sears products were inadvertently left off a state list of energy-saving appliances covered under the program. So, the Ohio Energy Resources Division says some consumers whose rebate applications should have been accepted instead got postcards saying they were rejected.

The Sears model numbers are now in the system, so officials say the postcards should be mailed back with new store receipts so the applications can be reprocessed.

An estimated 20 percent of the thousands who have sought rebates since the program began March 26 have been notified their paperwork was invalid or incomplete.