Sears Roebuck & Co Crooked credit reporting practices Hoffman Estates Atlanta1 Hoffman Estates Atlanta, Ga1- Hoffman Estates Illinois

My husband and I are seperated. We both had seperate Sears accounts that were opened in 2000. My account is closed and his is still open. Recently I attempted to get a good mortgage rate and found that I have an open Sears account with a balance, but as he was late paying he has no credit limit.

So, needless to say this looks bad for me and is costing me 9 points on my FICO score. I have disputed this with all 3 agencies and may have to wait up to 30 days. So, I called Sears and explained the issue they advised me that I am not on the account and that they did not report it this way. When I called Equifax on my dispute they advised me that Sears reported that I was removed from the account.

As I was never on it there should be no reason to remove me. Equifax advised me that they will contact Sears and see if Sears wants to remove it from my credit report. I called back Sears and was advised to send a fax to NACC who handles there credit issues. But, again I will have to wait but while waiting I may lose my dream home as I do not want to pay a higher interest rate.

My suggestion to anyone dealing with Sears Credit who is married and has seperate accounts is to check your credit report to ensure that your spouses account is not being reported against you. Sears is not helping me and my FICO score rest in there hands at this point. If Sears does not want to remove it then I will have to keep trying and while I'm trying I cannot get the house I never got in 22 years of marriage.

I used to work for Sears Regional Credit Card Operations Center. You state that the account was opened in your name, and your husband was listed as an authorized user. Later you seem to state that Sears listed your husband as the account holder, and you as an authorized user.

First, if your husband was the accountholder then the account never would have been discharged because of your bankruptcy. Secondly, any statements from Sears clearly indicate who the accountholder is, if it had your name on the bill it was your account, if it was your husbands name it was his account. Most likely, the account shows up on your husbands credit report because he was an authorized user - not the accountholder. It should not affect his credit much - but it should - what kind of a husband can maintain great credit while his wife goes bankrupt.

Although Joe's listed for the account, the credit bureau report should indicate him as an "authorized user". This means he's not responsible for payment of the account, and it shouldn't hurt his credit when reviewed by loan officers.

If the "authorized user" status is not there, dispute the item with the credit bureau. Since Joe says it wasn't his account and Sears has no application, the item will have to be changed to "authorized user".

I'm on Experian as an "authorized user" for a family account discharged in Chapter 7. It didn't prevent me from getting new car loans at tier 1 (excellent) rates, since I'm not responsible for the account.

Hope everything works out for you and Joe.

Although Joe's listed for the account, the credit bureau report should indicate him as an "authorized user". This means he's not responsible for payment of the account, and it shouldn't hurt his credit when reviewed by loan officers.

If the "authorized user" status is not there, dispute the item with the credit bureau. Since Joe says it wasn't his account and Sears has no application, the item will have to be changed to "authorized user".

I'm on Experian as an "authorized user" for a family account discharged in Chapter 7. It didn't prevent me from getting new car loans at tier 1 (excellent) rates, since I'm not responsible for the account.

Hope everything works out for you and Joe.

Although Joe's listed for the account, the credit bureau report should indicate him as an "authorized user". This means he's not responsible for payment of the account, and it shouldn't hurt his credit when reviewed by loan officers.

If the "authorized user" status is not there, dispute the item with the credit bureau. Since Joe says it wasn't his account and Sears has no application, the item will have to be changed to "authorized user".

I'm on Experian as an "authorized user" for a family account discharged in Chapter 7. It didn't prevent me from getting new car loans at tier 1 (excellent) rates, since I'm not responsible for the account.

Hope everything works out for you and Joe.

Although Joe's listed for the account, the credit bureau report should indicate him as an "authorized user". This means he's not responsible for payment of the account, and it shouldn't hurt his credit when reviewed by loan officers.

If the "authorized user" status is not there, dispute the item with the credit bureau. Since Joe says it wasn't his account and Sears has no application, the item will have to be changed to "authorized user".

I'm on Experian as an "authorized user" for a family account discharged in Chapter 7. It didn't prevent me from getting new car loans at tier 1 (excellent) rates, since I'm not responsible for the account.

Hope everything works out for you and Joe.