I should know better than to trust Sears and MasterCard

[Towncrier]

A couple of months ago, we purchased a new washer from our local Sears Hardware store. They offered us an immediate 10% discount if we would signup for a Sears MasterCard. What the heck. 10% is 10%. So I signed up.

Fast forward to this past Saturday when MasterCard called me to inform me that I had missed my March payment and they demanded immediate payment of the debt. I told them that I had not received a statement from them and I apologized for my mistake. Only I don't think that I made a mistake. I have searched high and low and I swear that I never received a statement from MasterCard.

In the mail today, I received my April statement from Sears MasterCard. It looked completely unfamiliar. Now I know that I didn't get the statement last month. So I opened up the envelope and was greated with the fact that, due to "my mistake", I was charged a $35 late fee and $1 interest on the outstanding balance. That pretty much wiped out the 10% that we saved. I'm sure that there is a note in my credit history about this as well. Anyway, I called Sears MasterCard and cancelled the brand new credit card. When the customer service rep asked for a reason, I related my story to her. She cancelled the card for me and told me that they would send out a confirmation letter.

Maybe I should have demanded that they send out TWO confirmation letters. That way at least one of them might show up.

In the end, Sears and MasterCard got back their 10%. And one VERY unhappy customer.

 

[Doug123]

There should be ways to fight the charge. If not, I would contact the Attorney General of your state. They keep track of consumer items such as the one you stated.

 

[RitaZ.]

I'm sorry that happened to you. I guess it's their word against yours. I wonder if there is anything else that you can do. For what it's worth, I hate Sears and avoid them. The most I'll buy from them is clothes for the kids, but no appliances, electronics or furniture.

We bought a dinette set from them years ago. The chairs started to fall apart before the set was even a year old. One customer service rep that I spoke to, said that perhaps we were overweight (which we weren't) and that was causing the chairs to come unglued. They were junk and Sears did nothing about it. So I told them to cancel the credit card and that I was done with them. They didn't care.

 

[FranP]

Also, you might want to check your credit report and put a letter of explanation in it to diffuse any problems this might cause

 

[zurgswife]

Sounds like the Best Buy 0% I got on a Tivo last year..


Cost me an addtional $104 because they got my address wrong and I never received a statement.

 

[shelbyjosh]

There have been several occasions when my payment got posted 1-2 days late. I have called the card company and asked them to reverse the charges. Not 1 ever showed up on the credit report and I have yet to pay a late charge or had my 5.9% rate increased. Make a phone call and ask them to credit you. Speak to a supervisor or manager. Take it as far as you need to. Persistance pays!!!

 

[snoopy]

Also, you might want to check your credit report and put a letter of explanation in it to diffuse any problems this might cause

I second this advice.

 

[monkeyboy]

SEARS hasn't been the same since it sold it's CC division to citibank

 

[Dcat2u]

In 1999 we paid off my husbands Sears account while in the process of buying our house. 3 years later we started getting collection notices saying we owed $365, it took forever but I found a copy of the certified check paying the account off, but we still have problems with it showing up on our credit. We call Sears they say call collection company and vice-versa. I now always ask for a certified letter when paying off companies and closing accounts.