11.   But Craig Skeels, a financial adviser with American Express, said people should use an ebb-and-flow approach to the rebate checks.

12.   But insurance industry officials said consumers might not be seeing rebate checks any time soon.

13.   But Joel Goldberg, a certified public account in Bethesda, Md., says your rebate check can become something big if you invest it wisely.

14.   Consumers will also receive cash back for any unused portion of their rebate checks.

15.   Customers must install the Prodigy service to receive the rebate check.

16.   Consumers have to pay for the CPU up front, then send for a rebate check after installing the Internet service.

17.   Democrats generally would like to give the stimulus money back to taxpayers in the form of rebate checks.

18.   Earlier notices about the rebate checks also triggered Democratic criticism and unsuccessful attempts not to pay printing and mailing costs.

19.   Even if the corporate rebate checks are not part of some eventual legislation, Democrats plan to use the idea against Republicans next fall.

20.   Fuel prices have dropped, low mortgage rates on houses have touched off a wave of refinancing, and the last of the federal tax rebate checks arrived.