- Report: #33517
Complaint Review: Sears Roebuck Co - 1- Hoffman Estates Illinois
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Author Not Confirmed
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Sears Roebuck Co
1-3333 Beverly Rd85-204B 1- Hoffman Estates, 1)60179 Illinois, U.S.A.
Phone:
847-286-4491
Web:
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Sears Roebuck & Co Crooked credit reporting practices Hoffman Estates Atlanta1 Hoffman Estates Atlanta, Ga1- Hoffman Estates Illinois
In 1989 I opened a sears credit account for my personal use. On the advice of Sears' sales clerk I added my husband's name as an authorized user, without his signature or authorization.
This account was used and paid solely by me. My husband had no knowledge of it until I had to file bankruptcy due to health problems in 1997. I claimed this account in my bankruptcy. Sears did not notify me, my husband or the courts that they took exception to this account being mine.
When my husband bought a car in 1999, he discovered that this account had been put on his credit in 1997 as a charged off account. This would have been about the time that Sears had received notification of my bankruptcy claim. We immediately contacted Sears and tried to resolve the problem and have this removed from Joe's credit. They refused our offer to pay it off and all other avenues of settlement.
We have been calling all depts. of Sears credit for the past 3 years. We are always treated rudely and jerked around from one person to another. Each person tells us something different and we never hear the same thing twice. We requested a copy of the original contract via registered mail.
We received a signed receipt for the letter, but no contract. After sending all this information to the NC attorney general, we received a copy af the reply that Sears sent them stating:This account was opened Nov.1989 in the name of John doe as the primary accountholder and Jane doe as an authorized buyer. Due to the age of this account, an application is no longer available. This account was not in dispute until Mrs Doe filed bankruptcy. ----
Sears also claims this account was listed on mr Doe's credit from 1989. If this is true, why was it not reported to us when we apllied for credit in 1998???-----
How can Sears continue to report this on Joe's credit if they can not furnish proof( original application or contract) showing that he signed the application??? Are we as consumers not believed against big business? By the way, this is the only negative thing that has ever been on his credit. Please help if you can.
Thanks,
Andrea
Ocean Isle, North Carolina
This account was used and paid solely by me. My husband had no knowledge of it until I had to file bankruptcy due to health problems in 1997. I claimed this account in my bankruptcy. Sears did not notify me, my husband or the courts that they took exception to this account being mine.
When my husband bought a car in 1999, he discovered that this account had been put on his credit in 1997 as a charged off account. This would have been about the time that Sears had received notification of my bankruptcy claim. We immediately contacted Sears and tried to resolve the problem and have this removed from Joe's credit. They refused our offer to pay it off and all other avenues of settlement.
We have been calling all depts. of Sears credit for the past 3 years. We are always treated rudely and jerked around from one person to another. Each person tells us something different and we never hear the same thing twice. We requested a copy of the original contract via registered mail.
We received a signed receipt for the letter, but no contract. After sending all this information to the NC attorney general, we received a copy af the reply that Sears sent them stating:This account was opened Nov.1989 in the name of John doe as the primary accountholder and Jane doe as an authorized buyer. Due to the age of this account, an application is no longer available. This account was not in dispute until Mrs Doe filed bankruptcy. ----
Sears also claims this account was listed on mr Doe's credit from 1989. If this is true, why was it not reported to us when we apllied for credit in 1998???-----
How can Sears continue to report this on Joe's credit if they can not furnish proof( original application or contract) showing that he signed the application??? Are we as consumers not believed against big business? By the way, this is the only negative thing that has ever been on his credit. Please help if you can.
Thanks,
Andrea
Ocean Isle, North Carolina
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Christine
Bedford,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Well I have almost the same issue
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, July 23, 2004
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.
Jeff
Boise,Idaho,
Crooked Credit Reporting Practices
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, November 12, 2002
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.
Bob
Raleigh,North Carolina,
Don't Worry About This
#4Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 27, 2002
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.
Bob
Raleigh,North Carolina,
Don't Worry About This
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 27, 2002
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.
Bob
Raleigh,North Carolina,
Don't Worry About This
#6Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 27, 2002
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.
Bob
Raleigh,North Carolina,
Don't Worry About This
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 27, 2002
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.
