[MattyZ]

I got my first Volt in August of 2015. I applied for the rebate after the 3 month "window" for this program, but I appealed it on the grounds that the dealer never notified me a rebate program even existed (they didn't.)

That Volt was totaled by a negligent driver in early September of this year. To add insult to injury, a few days later I received an email notification that my rebate request for it was "still under review."

I got my 2017 in mid October, and submitted my rebate application a few days afterwards - certainly well within the deadline. It's been going on nine weeks now, and other than an acknowledgement the application has been processed I've heard nothing.

Overall I've probably put in well over a dozen phone calls and about a dozen emails to these guys over the past year, and have never received an answer of any substance as to when I can expect my rebate check. Most calls simply bounce to voicemail.

My intuition is that while their website claimed this program had something like $2 million in funding initially, it was "government funded", not "business funded", i.e. that cash was not actually sitting around liquid waiting to be disbursed, but they have to wait until it dribbles in from wherever to dribble it out.

To my mind, an honest program should've essentially been automatic. A regular rebate check arrives in two weeks, and an appeal is processed in four. I shouldn't have to call and call and email and email over weeks and months and years in the hope of maybe someday being granted something.

Their site claims they still have $300k in funding remaining and $1.something million has been sent out over the life of the program. If those numbers are to be believed, somebody got something. Maybe I just didn't get enough Volts. I guess I didn't deserve it.

To anyone thinking about buying a Volt in MA at this point, if my experience is par for the course I can't advise pulling the trigger on it in the hope that a nice $2500 check is going to show up in the mail anytime soon. I have serious doubts about whether I will ever see a penny, frankly. I don't think they really have any money.

It seems to be pretty much a complete smokeshow at this point.

 

[llninja]

In Illinois, when they had an EV rebate program, your applications went in, but they didn't start opening envelopes and reviewing the applications until Jan 20th. Then they did it again in July. New fiscal year started in June so often people had to wait, until they decided to suspend the program because the governments coffers were empty. Good luck. I was lucky enough to get my state rebate about 5 months after submitting, but had I purchased the volt a year later, I would have been screwed.

In general, government bureaucracy is just slow, and sometimes incompetent.

 

[MattyZ]

In general, government bureaucracy is just slow, and sometimes incompetent.

I could've sworn I saw one of the Model X or i8 drivers around here using a rebate check to light their cigar...

 

[Lumos]

MA MOR-EV does work!

I'm sorry this is taking a while, but since they have acknowledged receipt of your application, the process sounds like it is running the course. As you wrote, you shouldn't have to follow up with an email, but it would be advisable after 9 weeks.

I'm also from MA, and MOR-EV did work for me. It did take a while to get the check - I think it was at least 2 months to get the check, so 9 weeks isn't out of line - but the money did arrive.

About a year after I got my Volt, a CMax energi owner I know who got their $1500 , also with the acknowledgment shortly after the application and the check out in time a whole bunch.


The pool of money was allocated for this, there is no waiting for this fund to get stuff transfer over to it. And while there's been cuts from Baker because of revenue shortfalls, I haven't heard that this fund got raided - but that is within the realm of possibility - other budgeted items were reduced mid year. But if this occurred, the MORE-EV should have made it clear, and I stress, I haven't heard that such a thing happened.

The appeal for the 2015 is far more awkward - I didn't know there was any process for appeal, I suspect there is no prior protocol for how to deal with it.

I still encourage other MA people toward EVs and still cite MORE-EV as an incentive. I'm even trying to get my employer to take advantage of the 50% toward workplace EV charging capital costs, another aspect of MORE-EV And that's going nowhere on the private industry side - lack of action on things isn't a government monopoly!

MOR-EV is not scam, but funds will soon deplete and I doubt Baker will add more funds ( he surprised me by re-funding this once already).

Lumps
2014 gen 1

 

[emartin00]

It's a government run program. It's going to be slow, that doesn't mean it's scam.

 

[bjrosen]

MA takes several months before they issue the check but they do do it. I bought my Volt at the end of May, I submitted my request on May 31, they sent me the application form immediately, I filed it on June 1. My application was approved on Jun 8, they sent the check on Aug 11. Earlier in Aug I e-mailed them about the status, they sent a response that it takes about 75 days. From application to the check being mailed it was 73 days for me, assuming that it was in the mail for a couple of days 75 days is exactly right. You should get your check in about two weeks from now.

 

[Chispa]

The MOREV program is not a scam. I believe you need to commit to driving the car for three years. I hope your recent accident doesn't jepordize your qualification.

We used the program for our volt.

 

[Joe67]

I got my first Volt in August of 2015. I applied for the rebate after the 3 month "window" for this program, but I appealed it on the grounds that the dealer never notified me a rebate program even existed (they didn't.)

That Volt was totaled by a negligent driver in early September of this year. To add insult to injury, a few days later I received an email notification that my rebate request for it was "still under review."

I got my 2017 in mid October, and submitted my rebate application a few days afterwards - certainly well within the deadline. It's been going on nine weeks now, and other than an acknowledgement the application has been processed I've heard nothing.

Overall I've probably put in well over a dozen phone calls and about a dozen emails to these guys over the past year, and have never received an answer of any substance as to when I can expect my rebate check. Most calls simply bounce to voicemail.

My intuition is that while their website claimed this program had something like $2 million in funding initially, it was "government funded", not "business funded", i.e. that cash was not actually sitting around liquid waiting to be disbursed, but they have to wait until it dribbles in from wherever to dribble it out.

To my mind, an honest program should've essentially been automatic. A regular rebate check arrives in two weeks, and an appeal is processed in four. I shouldn't have to call and call and email and email over weeks and months and years in the hope of maybe someday being granted something.

Their site claims they still have $300k in funding remaining and $1.something million has been sent out over the life of the program. If those numbers are to be believed, somebody got something. Maybe I just didn't get enough Volts. I guess I didn't deserve it.

To anyone thinking about buying a Volt in MA at this point, if my experience is par for the course I can't advise pulling the trigger on it in the hope that a nice $2500 check is going to show up in the mail anytime soon. I have serious doubts about whether I will ever see a penny, frankly. I don't think they really have any money.

It seems to be pretty much a complete smokeshow at this point.

It is not the dealers responsibility that you are aware of any rebates or programs. That is on us, the buyer to be informed AND submit any request within the provided window of opportunity. At what point does personal responsibility become a factor?

 

[bro1999]

My cousin leased a Volt earlier this year in MA, and he got the MOR-EV rebate. Took around 2 months I think.

 

[AJDare]

MOR-EV Does Work

I just want to add another voice to the MOR-EV program works side.

Here is my experience, so you have a reference to compare your experience to.

I purchased my 2015 Volt on August 6, 2015 and submitted my claim that day.

On August 7 I received what looked like an automated email with a PDF attachment of the claim form to be signed. I also received a second email asking for copies of required documentation.
◦The printed and signed MOR-EV Application Form;
◦Copy of the Massachusetts registration certificate for the vehicle;
◦Copy of final, executed vehicle lease or purchase agreement;
◦Copy of a Massachusetts driver's license or other valid form of Massachusetts residency as approved by the Administrator.

I sent the documentation on August 10th.

On August 12 I received an email that my application was approved

On Sept 22nd my final email arrived noting that the check had been mailed. And by Sept. 30th I had deposited the check in my account.

From your post, you note that - It's been going on nine weeks now, and other than an acknowledgement the application has been processed I've heard nothing.
If you haven't received a copy of the application or the request for the supporting documentation, then something is definitely wrong. If you have then the process would seem to be working.

Good luck, and I hope it works out for you.

 

[Andy00778]

Sounds like a real mess, here in Ontario the EV rebate (think it's about $12k for Volt now) comes off the purchase price when you buy the car ( dealer submits paperwork). What can be easier?

 

[bjrosen]

Sounds like a real mess, here in Ontario the EV rebate (think it's about $12k for Volt now) comes off the purchase price when you buy the car ( dealer submits paperwork). What can be easier?

In the US the EV incentives are a combination of a Federal Tax credit, $7500, which you apply to your income tax (your tax liability must exceed $7500 to collect it all) and state rebates which vary from state to state. MA has a $2500 rebate as do most of the New England states, New Hampshire being the exception, of course NH has no sales tax so you are still ahead even without the rebate. The rules for rebate differ by state. MA gives you the rebate even if you bought your car in another state, I bought mine in New Hampshire. MA collects the sales tax on the car when you register the car, it's not collected by the dealer, that ensures that they collect the sales tax on out of state purchases, so giving the rebate to people who purchased in New Hampshire is consistent with that. I saw mentioned in this group the Rhode Island will only pay the rebate to people who bought in RI so they are more concerned with protecting their dealers than MA is.

My guess is that the Federal EV tax credit will be replaced in the next tax bill with a Steam Vehicle tax credit so I'm glad that I bought my Volt this year.

 

[MattyZ]

It is not the dealers responsibility that you are aware of any rebates or programs. That is on us, the buyer to be informed AND submit any request within the provided window of opportunity. At what point does personal responsibility become a factor?

Fair enough, but should it really take well over a year for someone to get back to me with a "Yes, we'll cut you some slack this time" or "Sorry, tough break" decision on the appeal?

Why even offer an appeal process at all and take the time to solicit the documentation for the 2015 and process it if it's just going to get dumped into the void?

And yeah, I actually do think it is the dealer's responsibility to make potential buyers aware of the incentives that are available. From a sales perspective in this case it certainly seems silly not to, as it's someone else sending you "free" money for buying their product. If I'm guilty of ignorance than certainly the sales department at the dealer I purchased it from is right there with me.

The MOREV program is not a scam. I believe you need to commit to driving the car for three years. I hope your recent accident doesn't jepordize your qualification.

Well, sure! I would've definitely liked to drive the 2015 for three years. Someone driving into the back of me and destroying it wasn't on my to-do list at the time I filed the appeal. I don't see how that should fairly disqualify me for the rebate on that one, either.

If they had somehow got the appeal processed and the check sent to me prior to the accident, would they have come asking for it back afterwards? I did commit to driving it as the rebate terms state - the lease was for 39 months. I don't recall the rebate terms saying anything about monitoring the fate of the car after the application.

Not my fault someone else had other plans...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[bjrosen]

Fair enough, but should it really take well over a year for someone to get back to me with a "Yes, we'll cut you some slack this time" or "Sorry, tough break" decision on the appeal?

Why even offer an appeal process at all and take the time to solicit the documentation for the 2015 and process it if it's just going to get dumped into the void?

And yeah, I actually do think it is the dealer's responsibility to make potential buyers aware of the incentives that are available. From a sales perspective in this case it certainly seems silly not to, as it's someone else sending you "free" money for buying their product. If I'm guilty of ignorance than certainly the sales department at the dealer I purchased it from is right there with me.



Well, sure! I would've definitely liked to drive the 2015 for three years. Someone driving into the back of me and destroying it wasn't on my to-do list at the time I filed the appeal. I don't see how that should fairly disqualify me for the rebate on that one, either.

If they had somehow got the appeal processed and the check sent to me prior to the accident, would they have come asking for it back afterwards? I did commit to driving it as the rebate terms state - the lease was for 39 months. I don't recall the rebate terms saying anything about monitoring the fate of the car after the application.

Not my fault someone else had other plans...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Have you give them a phone call? The number is in the e-mail that came with the application. In case you've lost the e-mail here it is

MOR-EV Staff
Center for Sustainable Energy®

866.900.4223 phone

 

[MattyZ]

Have you give them a phone call? The number is in the e-mail that came with the application. In case you've lost the e-mail here it is

MOR-EV Staff
Center for Sustainable Energy®

866.900.4223 phone

Many times, it always goes to voicemail.

It's extremely frustrating as I currently also have an active small claims lawsuit against the other party in the accident and likely their miserable insurance company (National General) by proxy, who notified my insurer that they accepted responsibility and would compensate me for my rental expenses, but have for two months now ignored my requests to SEND ME THE MONEY.

Interest charges resulting from the delay were included in the demand notice at court. And the fuel. And the cab fare for the ride to pick it up.

 

[Iggy2]

I applied for the rebate on my 2014, and was turned down since it was purchased by, and registered to my company, not me personally. I appealed asking for the regulation or legislation that says no business purchases are eligible, and they said "see the FAQs". I said the FAQs are not the law, and asked again - show me the law, which they never did. I contacted my legislators, and their denial of my application was reversed... I forget how long it took from start to receiving the check through.

 

[BadWolf]

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of "not a scam". I bought my volt in MA in 2016 and submitted my application within a week of purchase. 9 weeks or so later I received (and cashed) the rebate check. It couldn't have been easier.

MA might be slow in processing the rebates, but they are doing their part to get more EVs on the road.

I hope your appeal gets resolved soon!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rptanner]

I had an easy experience with MA Mor-ev in 2015, and am awaiting the check for a second car right now from December. Staff was very responsive and polite in 2015 (answering questions by phone) and efficient by email on December this year.

 

[Mc2wheels]

My experience was easy too. Applied a week or so after purchase. I got the money about 9 weeks later. You may be an outlier.