Another Credit Card Debacle

[kristie]

Where is 'the Lakes', Nevada? The Nevada map doesn't show it anywhere. I need to close out an account that I never new I had but am afraid to send anything to that city. Help!

[Pam]

I have found that in the last 2 years, they throw your account terms & conditions in amongst the garbage ads they enclose in your bill-instead of printing it on your bill. I don't deal with the junk mail, so quit telling everyone to quit crying. The co. needs to be straight-forward

[Just trying to help]

kristie wrote:

Where is 'the Lakes', Nevada? The Nevada map doesn't show it anywhere. I need to close out an account that I never new I had but am afraid to send anything to that city. Help!

Ok heads up to everybody. The Lakes Nevada is actually a part of las vegas, a lot of major credit card companys have their bill processing centers out there. If you can get an adress in columbus ohio which is another major processing city.

[Fightin 4 Granny]

Robert Mills wrote:

I am a class action lawyer investigating improper credit card billng practices. I would like to speak to anyone who has had a CITIUSA credit monitor bill attached to their monthly credit card bill. Contact information at millslawfirm.com .

[e-mail]
Can you help us?
My granny has had a sears card for more than 27 years. Never a late payment. Last year thousands of dollars of items were stolen that were bought with the card within days of purchase. Card people said insurance would cover, police reports were filed, insurance claims made, no insurance payment made and 7 months later account sent to collections. Demanding payment in full, "not showing any records of a insurance claim", continue to contact us after the lawyer has contacted them and we have requested them to stop calling. Isn't that illegal?

[Twick and sisted]

Qoute:
Credit Services wrote:
It just so happens that I work for Citi, which handles the portfolio to the Sears card. In a typical day, we deal with about 300 calls in an 8 hour span from customers that I would never in my life consider to be "intelligent" individuals....
Oh, and every time you call customer service to have a late fee removed, that is still reported tocharged a the credit reporting agencies......
We get blamed for a lot of things.....I could go on and on for days about how irate customers think that because we are taking their calls that we are life counselors, personal bankers, punching bags or that the things they say will have some effect on us as representatives. End Qoute

Must be the idiot who asked me to put a pen in my brain injured brother in law's hand to sign a check because his payment was overdue. Must be the idiot who won't tell me how to implement his credit insurance, which he paid every month thinking he'd be covered if he got hurt, because HE didn't call and let Citi know he was brain injured.
Yeah, right, I'm rude, surly, and totally unintelligent....You want to get paid? Call someone who cares, cause I'm not responsible for his bills. Call AccountCare or whichever fraud-of the-month club you represent, and get the money from them. That's what he paid for.
Put your (employers) money where your BIG mouth is. Don't call me looking for money, I don't owe you squat. Not my problem if you gotta figure it out without reading a script. I could tell ya what to do, but then you'd probably miss the fine print.

[MarkE]

Robert Childers wrote:

...They changed my due date without any mention. I was one day late in 30 years and was charged 39.00 late fee.It will never happen again....

YES! I have experienced EXACTLY the same thing! When the balance gets attractively large one month, they jump the due date ahead 10 days or so from whatever you may be accustomed to.(It's legal, but hardly proper.) This allows them to collect interest and penalties from customers (like me) that normally avoid both altogether. They don't really WANT customers that pay promptly and carry a zero balance; they make more from those that carry large balances, as long as they keep making payments.

Jumping the due date around is simply one technique to either collect interest, or to get you to leave voluntarily. I strongly suggest the latter; they are sending you a message-- listen to it.

[Harvey --Texas]

Tanya Wallace wrote:

Today I recieved my Sears cc bill in the mail. It was forwarded from my 9 month old previous address. This is the 2nd time that my bill has been suddenly sent to an old address. They rack up late fees and a higher interest rate. Has anyone had this happen to them?

Yes, CityBank-Sears dropped one number in my address and no bill was received for about 6 months. My interest went to 32% and late charges added without my knowledge. They will not even acknowledge my request for an adjustment stating that the billing process is not an obligation, but only a courtesy. I now consider any payment to them is also a courtesy which I do not elect to extend. I am afraid that I need legal counsel, but refuse to reward these crooks.

[Harvey --Texas]

Yes, Citibank-Sears dropped one number in my address and I received only the last two of about 8 months of bills. They will not adjust the 32% interest or late bills imposed because two of my payments were late.

They claim that sending a bill is not an obligation, but only a courtesy. I now consider that my payment must then be a coutesy that I do not elect to extend.

I expect trouble, but refuse to make any additional compensation until and adjustment is made in writing.

[Michelle L]

I opened a Sears account in 2000 with a credit limit of $300.00. I had paid off the account back in 2001 and asked them to close the account. I have recently got a credit report and it shows that my Sears account is still open but not balance is listed. I am trying to get this closed and removed. If anyone has noticed the same type of issue, please let me know. And also if anyone has a customer service number. I have tried to find one and have got nowhere! Thanx

[Michelle L]

Sears Customer wrote:

<quoted text>
Sucky, rude customer service reps like YOU are the reason everyone is complaining in the first place! But, hey, I'd be bitter too if the only job I could get was being a phone rep. Sucks to be you.

Actually, Sears Customer, this phone rep probably makes more money than you do and seems to be well educated in what he does. 98% of everything he commented about is true. What kind of job do you have? Im sure with the comment like yours, not too good of one....also based on what seems to be a lack of education!

[Elektron73]

I believe these changes are made to increase income from late fees that many regularly-paying cardholders would otherwise have never incurred. In my case, my due date was always the 26th thru the 28th.(I typically pay online on the 20th.) The shortened grace period now gives them a wider interval in which to make the formerly-stable due date "jump around". In my case, the date was switched to the 18th for one month, thus triggering a $39.00 "late fee" when I paid on the 20th. It happened again a few months later. When I called to cancel the card, I was asked what could be done to keep me as a customer. I replied, "Moderate stability in the due date, like you had before for the past 10 years." They acknowledged they could not promise that.

I know that this practice is legal. I know if I'd scrutinized the statement more closesly for monthly "gotchas" and instead run to my Sears store and paid it upon receipt in those instances, I could have avoided the fees; but Sears is the ONLY creditor I have that has modified their systems to behave this way, and they're simply not worth the trouble! Cancel now, while you're still in good standing, and save money donn the road.

Grace Period Change wrote:

Guess the 25% APR on the Sears (Citibank) Credit card isn't making enough money for the greedy owners. Now they have shortened the no-interest grace period. I received my bill yesterday and it is due in five days! If you're like me and always pay the balance in full to avoid interest, you'd better check you due date this month.

[Annette Sparks]

I recently got a phone call from a collector concerning an unpaid Sears bill for $800. I was in a panic. I only bought a little discount camera at Sears more than a year ago, and it was less than $100. I knew I paid had paid for that so I didn't understand what was going on. I went to the Sears Store in Lexington, Ky. and they contacted their credit card office and they said it was for a Sears Visa Card which I KNew I had never applied for. I was begging them to help. They said they could not help me. I am still begging anyone who knows how to fix this mess to help me. I don't have eight hundred dollars to just hand over to strangers
[e-mail]

[Common Cents]

Americans have been writing their Congressmen about problems with their credit cards and the politicians were on the news demanding that the companies stop those unfair practices.
Hopefully you can shop around for a card with a better interest rate, Click:
http://wn.goldenprose.com/...

[frustrated]

sales reps, look i know its your job to sell the friggin card to each customer. BUT IF THEY SAY NO IT MEANS NO and if they already have one DO NOT TRY AND SIGN THEM UP FOR ANOTHER ONE.

[Tanya]

I think all these big department stores make you sign up for all kinds of additional services, including some kind of "protection" services. Thsi is the way for them to make additional $9.95 per month or so. However, they ususally ask you for your authorization, either verbal or written. They can not just "add" charges on to your account and make you pay for it. If I ever had these type of charges occur on any of my accounts, I would call them and dispute it. They have to take it off, adn not penalize you for this. Another words, you always have to check for these "extras" on you credit card bills.
And hte late fee, they are the pain of course. But most of these stores will waive it once or twice a year. But you got a wathc out, not to get more then once every six months.

http://www.rmcfunding.com/credit/free_credit_...

[Rosewood]

I too just got scammed by Sears AccountCare. I've been trying to file a claim for weel over a year now. First 2 times they sent application , they left out part of my address and didn't get needed forms delivered. Also left off address on my bill durinf same time and I got dinged for 2 $39.00 late fees and had changed my bill date. Sears Customer Service said they'd reimburse that , but only after AccountCare was satisfied.(why?)I finally got the correct application and called them at every step of the process to verify it was being filled out proper- after second attemt to clarify what needed - I was informed I had the wrong form. Finally received correct form which entailed a Doctors report. Not the easiest to get when you have 10 minutes for your office visit. Finally got that and send all off and now they tell me I'm ineligible because they went all the way back to my last day I was physically in the office - not my last day employed as previously verified several times with their Customer Service. I was also advised since the beginning to keep paying for the AccountCare service and it would be refunded at the time the claim was paid. That alone is nearly 2 thousand dollars! Bogus! I questioned my eligibility at the first call and questioned why should I continue paying on a Service that I clearly couldn't use. I was advised to continue to pay because they could not cancel until claim taken care of and it would be taken care of retroactively. Now I'm told there is NO recourse - not even a supervisor to talk to since their decision is final.

[Deb Ortiz]

Anyone And everyone who has a Sears credit card should just get red of them, they charge the highest interest of any other. At 35% + interest I call that loan Sharking. To all please do not get a Sears card what every you do.

[Ivan Been Had]

I had aplied for a sears credit card during christmas time 2007, and was excited to find out that i was approved for up above $2000 at an incredibla 17.15% APR. So I made a small purchase that afternoon.($150.00 or so) Thinking I could save this card for any future problems i might have at home, This would ba an easy way to fix any household problems that might happen.(water heater, furnace...stuff like that) Well...not one month later...i receive a letter in the mail from sears...Lowering my credit limit to $200.00. I was crushed. But wait...there's more...2 or 3 days after that...i received yet another letter from sears. RAISING my APR to a wopping 22%. so of course i called. hm. there response, sorry about your luck is basicly what i got!!! "there was a problem with the system." was yet another response. "Sorry but there is nothing i can do." was my last response. STAY AWAY FROM SEARS CREDIT!!!!!!!!!! they lie, cheat, and steel...they should run the country.(wait did i say that)

[Colleen]

Felicia Texas wrote:

I have had a Sears card since 1992. I pay my card on time and usually more than the balance. I used the card for emergency auto repairs, electronics, furniture ect. I even use to work for Sears. I only had a balance of about 690.00. I recieved a bill for $22.43 due 3/12/07. I paid $50.00 on 2/26. My next bill was for $20.62 due 4/10. I paid $50.00 on 3/9. I got a late charge of 29.00 on 4/11. When I called to ask why I recieved the late charge I was advised because I missed the payment due 4/10. I advised I did not miss the payment I paid it on 3/9. They advised me that I paid it too early. My account did not have and I quote "early pay" option. Since I paid it too early I was assed a late charge because the payment made in March has credited for march and not april. I said but the payment due in March was paid on 2/26. They said well we have no pay of crediting that to the previous month beacause my account did not have early pay. I said well how do I get "early pay". I was informed that Sears does not offer it. I explained that it did not appear fair that I am penelized for being a good trustworthy customer for 15 years and assesed a late payment. If we could not adjust or correct this then I no longer wanted the account. The girls said ok and closed the account offering no solution. I asked for a supervisor who told me that I could pay the 76.43 today and then call back to see if I "qualify" for the adjustment. I said let me get this right...I pay 76.43 today which is for the late charge for a payment that I didn't pay late and then call back tomorow and see if I qualify for an adjustment..so at that time you can still tell me no I don't qualify..he said that is how it worked and sent me over to make the payment. I paid the 76.43 and John the only person who really helped said that he would definitly credit me the late charge has I had been a loyal responsible customer. When I thanked him and confirmed that the account would remain open he said not its closed. He could not correct that and refered me back to customer service who advised me after 15 years I would have to reapply. I will never reapply for this account and I will never shop in Sears again. My family and I had a relationship with Sears that went back over 50 years. You can bet that all our accounts and that's over 20 will be shortly closed down as well.

Oh.. I so empathize. I too am having similar issues. Except because I paid more than the min balance, the min balance shows $0 each month, so now I don't get bills, even though I have a balance. They say they send them but I dont' get them. If I request a copy I get those. Its a major rip off.. they are now charging me finance charges even though it suppose to be a deferred int with payments thing.. No one can help me resolve this and I keep getting the run around. I just want a frickin bill so I have a reminder to pay each month.. Is that too difficult? I will NEVER and I repeat never shop at Sears again if they affililate themselves with such a poor instituation as Citibank

[Colleen]

Harvey --Texas wrote:

Yes, Citibank-Sears dropped one number in my address and I received only the last two of about 8 months of bills. They will not adjust the 32% interest or late bills imposed because two of my payments were late.
They claim that sending a bill is not an obligation, but only a courtesy. I now consider that my payment must then be a coutesy that I do not elect to extend.
I expect trouble, but refuse to make any additional compensation until and adjustment is made in writing.

Same here.. never get a bill. address is right but never get a bill and they won't fix it. They said not getting a bill is not an excuse for not paying a bill.. HMMMM wonder how they mentally keep track of all their payments without getting paper bills or reminders.. Nice work Sears.. YOU SUCK