Annoyed with Sears (long sorry)

[Ephany]

Our microwave went out last week, we bought it 8-10 years ago so it's been awhile since we looked at them. We could order the updated version of our dead microwave online, but the store couldn't guarantee delivery before 7/4. We've been without for a week and DH agreed to replace it now, rather than wait until we moved (next month). We went shopping today, I'd looked at reviews online and had a pretty good idea of what we were looking for and what to avoid. We only have Walmart here, and they had nothing in stock at the store we liked. We drove to Target down in Florida, but the ones they had in stock had awful reviews online, so we thought we'd try Sears.

They had one in stock we liked; it had good reviews online and met our price point. I ask the guy if he can look up my card (I didn't have it on me since we didn't think we'd be stopping at Sears) and he said it'd be no problem. He couldn't find my account, which is weird because I've had that account for at least 15 years. It was the first credit card I ever had in fact. He called the help center and she told me my account had been deactivated! We've never missed a payment, and over our life together we've bought siding, 2 fridges, a washer, 2 dryers as well as other miscellaneous things like tvs and clothing. I didn't receive a letter or any kind of notice and I do read all of those little pamphlet thingies and letters they send in the mail.

It was rather embarrassing, although I'm sure that the clerk seen it before. He kept offering to reactivate the account, but it really bothered me they'd just turn it off without notifying me. I could understand if we'd ever missed a payment, but like I said we always were on time and often just paid it off completely, (I wonder if that had anything to do with it, we didn't let the account accrue interest). I just paid cash for the microwave and we left. We were planning on replacing our washer/dryer when we moved next month, guess we'll be going somewhere else instead.

 

[rcraw45425]

I absolutely hate Sears. Their customer service is the pits. Every appliance that I have bought from there has been nothing but trouble and they no longer stand behind their product. The only items I buy there are bags for my trash compactor, and if I could find them somewhere else I'd never enter Sears again. Sorry you had to deal with them. I've started buying my appliances at our local Brand Source appliance store. Their big selling feature is "service after the sale" and they truly do provide that.

 

[sherry7]

If it makes you feel better, it won't negatively affect your credit score. I've had several cards canceled for non-use...mostly store cards like Sears, Fashion Bug, Macy's, etc. It's a pretty common practice.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

If it makes you feel better, it won't negatively affect your credit score. I've had several cards canceled for non-use...mostly store cards like Sears, Fashion Bug, Macy's, etc. It's a pretty common practice.

Yes, common practice. Nothing to worry about. People looking at your credit know that, and so do the cashiers at Sears.

I think they started doing it more, when they started accepting other types of payment besides cash & Sears cards only.

 

[kaytieeldr]

NOT excusing Sears - but how long has it been since you used the card? I recently discovered one of my checking accounts was considered inactive (I know, not the same thing) because I hadn't touched it in over a year. Is it posssible Sears deactivates accounts when they haven't been used for a while, for the protection of the consumer?

 

[msmayor]

NOT excusing Sears - but how long has it been since you used the card? I recently discovered one of my checking accounts was considered inactive (I know, not the same thing) because I hadn't touched it in over a year. Is it posssible Sears deactivates accounts when they haven't been used for a while, for the protection of the consumer?

That's exactly my thought.

Dormant accounts are deactivated to protect both you and the retailer from fraudulent use. Each company sets their own timeline as to how long they'll let an account sit without use before closing, but it happens...and your notification about when/how it will happen is probably buried in your account agreement.

Right in the Card Agreement for my new Home Depot charge is the following statement:

"We may also close your account or suspend account privileges at any time for any reason. We may do this without prior notice to you."

My guess is your Sears Agreement has the same verbage.

 

[pooh's honey]

I had the same thing happen to a Macy's card that I had. I hadn't used it in over a year so they deactivated my account. When I went to use it later on, it seemed simple enoguh for the sales associate to get it reactivated.

 

[cvjw]

I just had the very same thing happen to me at the GAP. They sent me a coupon for an extra 25% off your purchase when you use your GAP card. I go to the GAP, have a bunch of items to purchase, and try to use my GAP card to pay, like the promotion requires. Card had been deactivated for lack of use without me knowing. Oh well, just used the VISA. The funny thing is that the GAP is still sending me coupons to use with my GAP card, but they closed the GAP card! This card could not be reactivated, I would have to apply all over again. No thanks GAP!

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

I work at Sears. If you do not use your credit card for a certain amount of time the credit company(which is Citicorp, not Sears) they deactivate your acct. Nothing to get upset about. You cna always just reapply for a new cc.

 

[Schachteles]

It was totally deactivated to protect both you and the retailer from fraudulent use!!

I am not sure how long Sears waits, but I know we hadn't had a purchase on ours in about 3-4 years and when we used it there were no issues.

 

[dogodisney]

My DH has had an account with Sears for many years. We have been married for 21 and he had the account longer than that. We have always paid our account on time and they just recently raised the APR to a crazy amount. We won't be using that account anymore.

 

[SandrA9810]

Citi is big for store CC... Home depot and goodyear are with them as well.

I've found Target to be the only national company that uses thier own bank for thier CC, even thier visa CC.

GE likes department stores, macy, dillards, Pearle Vision (formerly DOC), and even wal-mart

So you can expect the same sort of treatment from CS if you have more than one card through them. And sears probably has the same statement as HD since they're both Citi.

 

[psimon]

My DH has had an account with Sears for many years. We have been married for 21 and he had the account longer than that. We have always paid our account on time and they just recently raised the APR to a crazy amount. We won't be using that account anymore.

Dumb question time.... if you always paid on time and do not carry a balance (which I may be inferring incorrectly ) why would you care what the APR is? If there is no carrying balance, the APR could be 1000% and it wouldn't matter.

Just thought I would add my $0.02!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[FLAngie]

Count me in for being annoyed with Sears. I had a $10 off any online pick-up at store or delivery purchase. I was looking at swimsuits for DD6, but I didn't know what size to get her. I went to the store and found the exact suit I was looking at online and found the size we needed. Then I went to one of their computers to order online and pick up at store since I was holding the suit in my hand. The order came up with delivery only as a selection and they wanted $8 to ship this tiny swimsuit! I spoke with a manager and he said that there were a few items that you couldn't pick-up at store and that was one of them. It made no sense to me other than they wanted an extra $8. The manager then suggested that I pick out something else that I could use the coupon/pick-up at store. By then I was so annoyed with them that I walked out without anything.

 

[PinkRhombus]

I REALLY have not liked them since I heard...even 10 years ago...that they were making more money from the interest on their credit cards than they
were in sales...tried to avoid them unless it was just too good to pass up.

Then their paint department made me mad, and they just have had a bunch of immature and rude people working there. I've shopped there one time in the past...5 years maybe. Exercise bike.

 

[disdanny]

Sort of OT, but related...

A couple years ago, I was doing some Christmas shopping and happened to see something I wanted while walking through Sears. I had my Sears credit card (also the first card I ever owned) in my wallet so I thought I'd try to use it.

I told the clerk that my card was old and that I hadn't used it in a while. This was well before the current practice of deactivating cards had begun, so the clerk said "No problem, I'll just run it through the register and see if it's still valid." I handed her the skinny little white credit card and she looked at it like it fell from Mars. "There's no magnetic strip on this card. I don't think it will work."

She proceeded to laugh at me for having such an old card. I think the card was probably older than she was.

 

[Ephany]

I think it was probably from disuse, it's been 6 months or so since we used it. A friend told me that they had closed her account and the letter she received stated it was because they hadn't used it in 6 months, although she did have a balance at the time. I still think a letter or email would have been nice, but it's ok.

 

[jax677]

I had the same thing happen to me with JCPenneys. I hadn't used it in a year or so and when I went to use it , it was closed. I never got a letter or email from them. Oh well, Ididn't use it that much anyway

 

[ShanPooh]

Sort of OT, but related...

I handed her the skinny little white credit card and she looked at it like it fell from Mars. "There's no magnetic strip on this card. I don't think it will work."

She proceeded to laugh at me for having such an old card. I think the card was probably older than she was.

Uhh, she didn't think to TYPE in the number???

I remember when cards were put on the metal plates and carbon paper run over them to make copies. Heck, I'm only 34

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My mom still has one like that... and it doesn't have her first name but rather my dad's name with Mrs in front. Opened in the mid 1960's...

Sort of OT, but related...

A couple years ago, I was doing some Christmas shopping and happened to see something I wanted while walking through Sears. I had my Sears credit card (also the first card I ever owned) in my wallet so I thought I'd try to use it.

I told the clerk that my card was old and that I hadn't used it in a while. This was well before the current practice of deactivating cards had begun, so the clerk said "No problem, I'll just run it through the register and see if it's still valid." I handed her the skinny little white credit card and she looked at it like it fell from Mars. "There's no magnetic strip on this card. I don't think it will work."

She proceeded to laugh at me for having such an old card. I think the card was probably older than she was.