Sears tried to trick us into providing a social security number.
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On August 5th, 2003 my mother recieved the following from Sears via postal mail.
Dear applicant,
Thank you for your recent request for credit. We are currently processing your application. However, in order to continue we requre the following information:
MISSING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Please call 1-800-340-0525 between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, CST, with theis information in order that we may continue the processing of your application. If we do not hear from you within 10-14 business days, your application will be declined for the above reason(s). We value you as a customer and would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
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Facts:
My mother has had a Sears card for years.
She did not request any changes.
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My mother was very upset about this. She thought someone was trying to steal her identity!
I called the 800 number. About an hour later and after speaking with several very rude employees, we determined that this was Sears way of trying to issue her a new Master Card or Sears is working with another company (sears national bank), giving them her personal information without her consent.
She never requested a Master Card, she already has one.
If she had fallen for this she would have recieved a Master Card she never requested, or perhaps someone else would have her 'new' card, who knows. We do not know if this will appear on her credit report as being declined.
I would never have expected this type of behavior from Sears.
My mother is elderly and recently had surgery for clogged arteries. She is under doctors orders to keep her stress level down. Then Sears tries to pull this scam on her. Shamefull!
L
riverside, California