So upset with Sears right now

[DianeV]

Had a problem with Sears online too. We picked out a treadmill and there was a special if you use the Sears card so right next to the item and on the checkout page it said to apply for the card and find out instantly.

We do so and are told we are approved. However there is no way to use the card. It doesnt let you charge it unless you have the number. You cant get the number until the card is printed and mailed to you. By then the item is not on sale anymore or have the special offer they advertise

We called and no one was any help. Nothing they can do even though its very misleading to have the apply for the card thing right there making it seem like you can use it instantly for that purchase

Oh but if we wanted to go in the store and apply we could use it right then for the item. But they didnt have the same deal and why would we assume they would approve us again when they just approved us.

They had no answers so we canceled the card.

So for anyone who thinks there arent issues with Sears itself think again

 

[vicki_c]

AprilFool -- there's an ignore feature on the DIS. I'm just sayin'.

 

[dallastxcpa]

So how did you make your payments on your Dyson if the bills were sent to the wrong address? You knew your card was cancelled months ago and you wait to reapply or have them look up your old account on black Friday... am I the only one confused
I think the lesson learn should be to keep your finances in order. And BTW why did you expect them to extend credit to you when EVERY OTHER TIME your husband was primary account holder

WOW!!!! Why are you ATTACKING the OP? Do you work for Sears or Citibank?

OP, I am sorry for your situation today. Obviously you did nothing wrong today. Here in Texas we are a community property state and if I were a SAHM I would expect my DH income to be used in granting credit. I am sorry Sears gave you misinformation and treated you so poorly.

 

[MIannie]

We were great Sears customers for years. My kids wore nothing but Winnie the Pooh pajamas. And Toughskins jeans, loved their wear out guarentee. I loved shopping from the catalogue. In The first thirty years of our marriage every appliance in every house came from Sears. Now we live fifty miles from a Sears store, and only visit it occasionally to buy toughskins for the grandkids. They cancelled our charge card due to inactivity. Guess the appliances aren't wearing out fast enough. Now when I buy something at Sears, they want me to use my card. I explain why ours was cancelled, and they immediately want me to apply for another. No Way. I'll use my Disney Visa, and get the points!

 

[hipchickie]

... am I the only one confused

yes.

 

[Mrs D]

AprilFool -- there's an ignore feature on the DIS. I'm just sayin'.

Wow! I can't believe after 3 years on the DIS I'm ignoring my first person.

Ahhh!!! That's so much better!

OP- I haven't used my Sears card in years either. And frankly the last time I checked my credit I don't recall seeing ANYthing about that card. I'd bet ya mine is closed too.

 

[Planogirl]

Citibank is probably the one closing the cards but Sears would likely be who you talk to when you want to order something. That makes it confusing doesn't it?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

When accounts are closed for inactivity... it usually means the balance is $0 and they haven't been used for a period of time. Cardholders aren't always notified.

And yes... you appear to be the only one confused. Congratulations.

So how did you make your payments on your Dyson if the bills were sent to the wrong address? You knew your card was cancelled months ago and you wait to reapply or have them look up your old account on black Friday... am I the only one confused
I think the lesson learn should be to keep your finances in order. And BTW why did you expect them to extend credit to you when EVERY OTHER TIME your husband was primary account holder

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I was buying a washer and dryer at Sears a number of years ago. They had a 0% financing offer if a Sears card was used to purchase a major appliance. I had a Sears card years before but hadn't used it in a decade and it had been inactivated by Sears years before. Instead of reactivating my store-only card they opened up a new sears branded citibank mastercard card for me on the spot and put the washer and dryer on it. I think delivery and haul-away was free, as well. Haven't used the card since but I'm fairly certain it remains open only because I have another Citibank card I use regularly.

Citibank is probably the one closing the cards but Sears would likely be who you talk to when you want to order something. That makes it confusing doesn't it?

 

[beaucoup]

Wow, you sure have more patience than I do. I would have just placed the order early in the day with another credit card and been done with it.


Years ago, I tried applying in Sears store for a card based on my fulltime income alone and was denied. Its the only card or loan I have ever been denied for and we have excellent credit. After that, I simply never wanted a Sears card again.

I just use our MC or Visa when shopping at Sears.

 

[Swimalie]

I personally don't shop at Sears except for Lands End (which I love) but my mother-in-law, despite having major issues with them, loves them. After her husband passed she went in to tell them that the account holder on her Sears card had passed away and to change the account. They asked her about me being on the account. Huh?! Somehow I, their daugther-in-law, got on their account. I never in my life applied for credit through Sears (this was prior to Citibank taking over and I've never applied for credit through Citibank either). I've never owned an account jointly with them, either. But all was taken care of because once Sears found out that the income earner (my father-in-law) was no longer alive, they cancelled her card. It didn't matter that she had that card for about 30 years, paid faithfully on it for all those years and still had a good income coming in, they cancelled it and refused to give her one in her name. How nice was that?!

 

[horseshowmom]

While we havent had any credit card problems with Sears, they have really upset us and lost our business over inaccurate and unhelpful employees.

Quick details on our recent situation: Dh was at our local Sears store a few months ago, they had their Disney Princess TV clearanced out for like $40. DH asks if they have anymore, they say yes. He goes to buy it, processes the order, buys the protection plan. They go to get the TV from the back and find out that they already sold the one they just sold him. So, then they offer to go ahead and let him have the display one, he looks at it, it is missing a jewel from the TV, no box, no warranty papers. They tell him that they will give hime a BIG 3% discount on it. He asks them if they get more in soon if he could trade it in, they said they wont get anymore, but other Sears might have some. He takes it home, we call the next closest Sears, nope the dont have any. We call our sears again, said NO WAY will they get anymore of this item. Call the main Sears number, they tell us that our Sears can call around and find us a new tv since it is under warranty and replace it at no additional cost. So, again I call our Sears again, he says no way will he do this, we bought this TV cheap and if we have a problem with it, we can return it for what we paid for it. We decide heck with it and just keep the TV, DD3 wont know it is missing a jewel or anything.

Well, we were at Sears last weekend and guess what They had a big new display of this Exact Tv . I tell DH to talk to them, we waited and waited and waited for the Mgr. He remembered us and said toget the TV and he will see what he can do. DH drives the 20 minute drive to our house and back with the TV only to get there and the mgr say nope, cant do anything about it. SHouldnt have been sold the warranty and the MFR warranty expired 5 days agi.

SOOOO, I do not wish to shop Sears again, and we were pretty big shoppers there.

I know this ended up being long. Sorry

You should have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. That's no way do do businesss.

 

[Pigeon]

If Sears has outsourced its credit card functions to Citibank, then Sears should still care about and monitor the services Citibank provides. Sears' name is on the card and credit card service is a reflection on the company.

 

[eliza61]

I'm a firm believer that
1) Customer service in stores is pretty much a thing of the past
2) credit card companies are 1 step up from the mob. they make the rules, they change the rules whenever.

Nothing they do anymore surprises me.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

you know you actually have issues with two different companies right? Sears no longer administers thier own cards-the cards were taken over by Citibank about three years ago and Sears has nothing to do with issuing them-so gripe about sears-but if you are griping about the credit cards-your grip is with Citibank-and they are god aweful.

The credit market has changed over the last year or two. A good credit rating 5 years ago is just an ok credit rating these days...

 

[Kathi OD]

The problems with Sears and their credit department have been going on for YEARS...long before Citi took over.

DH and I have been married for over 30 years. In the first year of our marriage, we went to buy a new car. The salesman told us that we had great credit, except for the late payments on our Sears card. Sears card? What Sears card? Neither one us had a Sears card. Called Sears and was told that we "must have forgotten that we had a card." Ummm...NO, I don't think so. I'm 21, DH is 22. We would know if we had ever had a Sears card, especially since, at that time, 18 year olds were rarely, if ever, granted credit.

About a year later, DH was away on business and went to a mall where a new Sears store was opening. They were actively soliciting new accounts, so DH applied. Got a letter about a week later that he was denied and on the same day, got a letter inviting him to apply because of his excellent credit history. Called them again and told them they couldn't have it both ways, either he had good credit or he didn't. They issued us a card.

While we did use it fairly frequently when we were younger and raising our children, I haven't tried to use it in about 2 years. My bet is that it's closed. Owell....

 

[PatMcDuck]

This thread just reminded me to call Sears, thanks! I paid my bill at the store, they run it thru a little machine. A few weeks later I get a late fee letter, and when I returned to the store, they said their little machine did not work right, and that the late fee would be reversed. I had a my receipt proving I paid it before the due date. Of course, I get the bill, and the fee is still on there. I think it was $25.

I would like to carry just a Sears card, not a Sears VISA (or MC whatever it is). Not sure if I can switch it though. I should just close it, I just like the coupons and extra % off the card gets you sometimes.

 

[Swimalie]

Called Sears and was told that we "must have forgotten that we had a card." Ummm...NO, I don't think so. I'm 21, DH is 22. We would know if we had ever had a Sears card, especially since, at that time, 18 year olds were rarely, if ever, granted credit.

See, that's similar to what they did to me. They added me to my father-in-law's card without my or their knowledge. This was back in 2001 so I agree with you, they've had problems for years. I was not happy to find out that my name was on my in-laws account since they used the revolving credit where as I pay my cards off each month. They could have caused my credit score to take a few points off and I work hard to keep it in the 800s.

 

[MissBritt]

I find it amazing that they closed your account without telling you or asking if you wanted it closed! When I tried to close my Macy's card, I still got statements and flyers for a YEAR after I called to close. I had to call 4 times to get it completely closed, and tell them repeatedly I did not want to keep it in case of emergency. Um, yeah... what do they expect? Me to max out my card on clothes if our house burns down or something???

 

[pixiewings71]

Sears sends the bills to the address provided, if you move it is your responsibility to call and provide your new address.
I can’t believe that you are bashing sears because you got denied. I would be too embarrassed to even post something. BTW I’m sure you didn’t get the letters stating that your card was being cancelled either

You aren't always given a letter. DBF had a Best Buy card (not the Visa/MC, just the BB card) but he rarely used it. After our house fire we opened 2 accounts (1 in his name, 1 in mine) to purchase things like a new TV, DVD player, computer, etc etc. We paid his off and set it aside, I used mine on the occasional DVD, CD, video game or gift card and then paid it off within 2 months or so. We went to use his last year to purchase a new laptop and we found out his account was closed, NO notice to us, we didn't know until we tried to use it! I also had a Visa card that was closed with no letter to me, I had no idea it was closed until I tried to use it to pay for dinner and was told it was denied. That wasn't fun, especially with the people at the restaurant laughing at me because it said "do not honor" instead of just decline. I went home and called the CC issuer and found out it was closed, no fault of mine, it had NO balance but I did use it for rewards, because they closed it I lost all my rewards too.

I find it amazing that they closed your account without telling you or asking if you wanted it closed! When I tried to close my Macy's card, I still got statements and flyers for a YEAR after I called to close. I had to call 4 times to get it completely closed, and tell them repeatedly I did not want to keep it in case of emergency. Um, yeah... what do they expect? Me to max out my card on clothes if our house burns down or something???

To be 100% honest, if I'd had a Macy's card when our house burned down (yup, almost 5 years ago now) I would have maxed it out buying clothes for the kids.......

OP sorry you were so mis-informed. Sears needs to get a handle on their cc situation! I rarely shop there, when I do it's mostly to get a new water filter for our fridge, we went with a Sears fridge after the fire. Love the fridge, hate the filter costing us $40 each. lol