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When I purchased my copy of TaxCut to do my taxes this year, it came with a deal to purchase Norton AntiVirus for $30 and get a $30 rebate in the mail. So I bought it.

Why not? It's basically free software.

And then I got my "rebate."

Instead of receiving the normal rebate check — or the "you screwed up the paperwork" claim — Symantec sent me a $30 debit card.

They didn't give me an option to get a check or a card. They just sent the card.

The ironic part is that I was on my way to the ATM to cash what I thought was the check when I opened up the envelope and saw the card.

But here's the thing: the are fees attached to the card.

From the PC World forums:

Just got my Symantec Systemworks 2006 $50 rebate - surprise(!) in the form of a debit card. Better than a check you say? Read the fine print - monthly fees for non-use, $9 cancellation fee and who knows where your info will actually go.

Getting a card instead of a check works for me, because I'm going to be spending the money anyway.

But I could certainly see why it wouldn't — why should Symantec decide how you use the money?

What do you think? Is it really a big deal?