Sears Possible Internet Scam Internet

Below, starting from the bottom you will find three e-mails I sent to the DOJ the problems I've encountered through trying to purchase Christmas gifts from www.sears.com.


This is the second update. Notice below the two transactions copied from my online banking. The two previous emails I sent are found at the bottom of this email.

11/29/07 CKCD DEBIT 11/26 SEARS.COM 9300 800-676-5543 IL 46470 68.47
11/29/07 CKCD DEBIT 11/26 SEARS.COM 9300 800-676-5543 IL 46526 152.43

So, I log-on to my internet banking site expecting to see a credit according to what Bryan from Cadence customer service said yesterday. Hmmm...yeah, your seeing it right...DEBIT!!! Also, I find it interesting how Sears broke out the sale into two different transactions. The $68.47 was the garbage disposal and the $152.43 was the toys. They were all on one order with one confirmation number. In the cancellation email remember I said that it only showed the garbage disposal being canceled. I called Cadence customer service again and spoke with Katie. She said that Sears did not cancel the transaction and that I could go to one of my bank branches and fill out some error report and they would take care of it. Uggg. She said that what Bryan had told me yesterday, sounds like what many of the hotels do. They get an authorization when you check-in and don't process until you check-out. So, I asked Katie again to make sure I was understanding correctly that Sears did not have any pending credit transactions or do anything to stop the transaction from processing and she said, "No." Also, while I get the joy of making a trip to the bank, it could take up to 72 hours to show on my account.




----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Little Girl
To: askdoj@usdoj.gov
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:30:45 AM
Subject: Possible Sears Internet Scam - Continuation


This is an update to the email I sent yesterday seen below. I checked my online banking and the $220.90 is still in "check card authorizations" and my available balance still reduced by the $220.90. I called the bank to find out why it was still in authorizations. Bryan at the 1-800 Cadence Bank customer service number said that the transaction will "expire" tonight. I guess when Sears canceled the order, in a way, they canceled my banking transaction by not processing it all the way. So, as far as me thinking they were getting an "interest free loan" was incorrect, but I still think it's unethical that my money can be tied up for an entire week because Sears let the transaction go as far as it did only to cancel. The order was for 4 toys for my son and a garbage disposal...on the cancellation email it only said that the garbage disposal was canceled, but said my account will be credited the full amount. When I called customer service at Sears, they told me the entire order was canceled. I will NEVER shop with Sears again unless I'm taking it home with me.


Sincerely,

Laura Marble







----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Little Girl
To: AskDoj@usdoj.gov
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:56:46 AM
Subject: Possible Sears Internet Scam


I wanted to know how many other people out there are being used as a financing company by Sears? I ordered $220.90 worth of Christmas gifts from www.sears.com on Thanksgiving night. On my banking website, I can see where the $220.90 is in the "Check Card Authorization" for 11/27/2007 and my available balance is reduced by this amount. Normally, this would be fine. However, I received an e-mail on Monday, November 26, 2007 saying that the order could not be completed and my account will be credited. When I called customer service yesterday at 1-800-349-4358, customer service said the order had been canceled and it takes 3-4 days for the credit to appear. My concern is they had no right to process my account without making sure they had the products for sell. The items are NOT on backorder, the order was canceled by Sears. To me, that is the same as charging you in the store, and then coming out onto the parking lot to take items back and say you will receive a credit next week. Another thing, today is Wednesday and the order was placed Thursday night...today would make day 6! I am not a bank, nor do I extend loans...not even to Sears. When I told customer service I wanted my account credited today (yesterday's conversation) or I was going to the news, she hung-up on me. I know $220.90 does not sound like alot, but how many other people out there are Sears getting INTEREST FREE LOANS from? Also, when I originally tried to order, there were two items that came up not available for delivery to my address. I called Sears, and customer service explained the warehouse near where I lived was out-of-stock. I understood and appreciated that. Why weren't my other items flagged? Lastly, in the e-mail notifying me that my order had been canceled, it listed only one of the five items I ordered as a canceled item. If only one item was canceled, then why was the entire order canceled?


Sincerely,

Laura Marble



Bluesaturday
Caledonia, Mississippi
U.S.A.

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