Cingular's stupid rebate system: Debit card to cash?

meatflower

So I got a new phone a while back, which my mother paid for. There was a $100 rebate on the phone. Well it finally came, in the form of a Visa Debit card. The account is in my dad's name but my mom pays it, the rebate is hers and she said I could have it.

Problem: Since my dad is the account holder, the card has his name on it.

I highly doubt I can take this somewhere and use it, as it has the visa logo on it and for all intents and purposes looks like a regular debit card. Same last name regardless, I don't think any (responsible) cashier would let me use it.

I'm not gonna drag him across town to go buy something with it. Is there any way I can painlessly get the card changed into cash? Would a bank do this? I realize he'd probably have to authorize it since it's in his name, having him go to the bank is different than going shopping around for a used PS2.

This shit really makes me wonder, wouldn't a printed check be cheaper AND give the customer more freedom? Oh wait...fuck the customer. Thanks Cingular.

edit:

I just thought of my own solution. Just have my dad withdraw $100 at an ATM and give him the card to use for gas or whatever.

I guess this can be locked. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the farthest from your mind.