I had my Sears charge AND Sears Plus Charge for over 10 yrs. I closed down the Sears Plus about 2 yrs ago. Last December I paid off the remaining balance on my Sears card and requested the account be closed. Now I had always paid at the store with cash, (not anymore), because I never had a dispute and silly me thought that the receipt with the payment made and acct. number would count as a receipt for payment! I get a phone call in JUNE of this year saying that I am in collections with a balance of $900!!! (the balance I paid in Dec was only $240) I was also informed that the receipt I had was no good! I was ticked.
After many phone calls between me and Sears and Citibank, they finally agree to ONLY a settlement. Making me pay in 2 payments a balance of $700. I was mad, but decided to get them out of my hair once and for all. Payments made by check this time, and I waited for my letter that should have show a zero balance. NOPE...I get a letter saying thanking for payments, balance due $200. I called again, and FIRST they said they show no settlement, then they say it will take 30 days to reflect the settlement. So I waited, 30 days...and what do you know..ANOTHER bill with balance...WITH interest chargest. THEN I was told that it will show the balance after the settlement! SO I asked, they why a settlement if you won't settle. Then they claim that I will recieve a letter by Nov. showing zero balance. Lets see if it actually happens!
To top it off, an account that was cleared and closed was somehow reopened with the full $2600 balance!! After reading off receipts AND informing them that I had the bill that SHOWED a zero balance on that account, all of a sudden, they didn't scroll down far enough...it is a zero.
All this started when Citibank bought the sears credit cards. I tell EVERYONE do NOT do buisiness with sears or citibank! They have ruined my excellant credit rating and refuse to fix it, they have harrassed me at my WORK place over this fiasco causing me to loose my job for "too many personal phone calls". And I have decided, IF it doesn't clear up, I WILL seek a lawyer! Their phone reps are rude; phrases like "deadbeat" is common in their vocab! If I was a "deadbeat" then why has my credit rating been fantastic till lately????
Oh, and speaking of credit. I got both accouts when I was 17 yrs old, in highschool, and working at Mcdonald's making min. wage and only 10 hrs a week....they gave me a limit of $4000 on the sears card and $7000 on a plus card!!! I wasn't even making $2000 a year!!!!!!! They purposely suck in people who shouldn't/can't get credit. If you want a card...go to your bank first. Don't mess with Sears.
BTW: don't mess with Discover...they are owned by Sears.
Mich
Boise, Idaho