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posted on May 14, 2009 at 12:11PM Inappropriate?

Has anyone else had a problem with the customer service from Citi - the company that runs the Sears Credit Card.  Everytime I've had to call - even for a simple question, they are so nasty.  The last time I called to complain that I had been charged finance charges on a lawnmower we purchased that had deferred interest/finance charges for 12 months.  I paid off my prior balance on 3/8.  On 3/15 we purchased a new lawnmower.  Before I bought it I asked the cashier to check my balance on my card.  She told me it was 0.  When I got my statement in May, they had charged me finance charges.  When I called, the girl told me that because the charges "were in the same billing cycle", they decided to put my payment against the new deffered charge and charge me on the old charges.  She basically told me I was stupid when I said I didn't understand.  I asked to talk to a manager, and she finally let me (after arguing about it for almost 5 minutes).  The manager did remove the finance charges.  Another think that bothers me is that they change their due date all the time - like the want you to pay late so they can get late fees from you also!  Very annoying.

Displaying posts 1 - 20 of 65 in total
posted on May 14, 2009 at 12:44PM
 

Hi baron-

Thanks for the constructive feedback regarding your experience with the Sears Card.  Sears wants to hear what is working and what isn't within the company, so they have the opportunity to make a change, if necessary.

I do know with credit cards we have, the due date does change often-even the cards issued through our bank.  Not sure why this is, but I think it is not unusual.

posted on May 14, 2009 at 12:51PM
 

Thanks for the comment.  I've never had a credit card change due dates on me.  None of my other dept store cards, or my Visa cards.  I should say they don't change the due date every month.  They may make a chance, which they let you know of, but then that date remains until they happen to change it again.  I looked back at all my old Sears statements for about the last year and the due dates were always around the 19th or 20th.  When I got my statement this month it was the 12th.  I just figured it was a way for them to get a late payment charge from me since I asked them to remove my finance charges!

posted on May 14, 2009 at 01:59PM
 

just one quick question .. how does an cashier check the credit card  balance on the costumers account ? i was told that we can not do that .. i get alot of nasty remarks when the costumer asked for his balance and i can't look it up ..

posted on May 14, 2009 at 03:16PM
 

Recently I had a $39.00 late charge on my Sears card. I got it beacuse I was used to a later due date. The due date suddenly changed to about 8 days earlier. I called the number on the card, and they reversed the charge for me.

posted on May 14, 2009 at 04:34PM
 
In response to spoildbrat's post from May 14 2009 01:59PM

You cannot check a credit card balance.

You can check a gif card balance, and look up a Sears Card but you cannot know the person information of their card, tell them they can gladly use the phone to call the number on the back and receive their balance and credit line.

posted on May 14, 2009 at 05:38PM
 

I've only ever had pleasant experiences with Citi on the phone, whether it was at the store helping a customer or with my own Sears card.

posted on May 14, 2009 at 08:17PM
 
In response to spoildbrat's post from May 14 2009 01:59PM

Cashiers are not allowed to check you account balance. That is your private info. and that is done to protect your account. If you want account info you can call 1-800-917-7700, listen to the prompts and input your info. Maybe they can let you use a courtesy phone at the store.

posted on May 15, 2009 at 08:57AM
 
In response to GenJones32's post from May 14 2009 04:34PM
oh believe me i say that every day .. they just don't understand it .. but thanks for your post , i was just a little confused because the gentleman stated that he went to the cashier and she said his balance was 0 on his account .. well .. enjoy your day ...
posted on May 15, 2009 at 09:02AM
 
In response to spoildbrat's post from May 14 2009 01:59PM

the customer can dial 1-800/917-7700 answer the questions and get their balance

posted on May 15, 2009 at 11:12AM
 
No one within the Sears FLS, Essentials, Grands, Dealers, or any store format can check Sears Card Balance. The only associates that may do this are those that work at Sears Credit Central. Also, from what I was always told, payments always go towards the oldest item on the balance statement.
posted on August 12, 2009 at 10:13PM
 

We have a dedicated telephone for Customers to use AT the store, in our department, out of the hustle and bustle of the Cash Rep area.

posted on August 12, 2009 at 10:20PM
 

Thats for all the great info

posted on September 17, 2009 at 07:10PM
 
In response to moonbeamrider's post from May 15 2009 09:02AM

I purchased a washer and dryer in may on the 12 months no interest no payments plan, Citi told us that night $45 would pay our card off.  We paid that amount. We didn't receive any statements or calls from Citi. We figured we wouldn't untill the amount came due on our washer and dryer.

We went to borrow money the other day and find out my credit is wrecked. I had a 750 plus score before. Seems I liked $1.14 paying the card off that night. We now have late charges,they have revoked my 12 months deal and charged $170 interest. After numerious calls Citi says tough. Just be careful when you use that card.

 

posted on September 20, 2009 at 12:05PM
 

The cards a tool, just like a chain saw.

You want to always watch what's going on with your tools.

Otherwise, the "kick-back" can really get you.

But, boy what great tools to have, when you need them!

posted on September 21, 2009 at 07:46PM
 

I will not say much about the Credit Department other then avoid using your credit card.  I had a run in with the Credit Department two years ago and after several letters finally got everything resolved.

I sent my cut up cards back to Hoffman Estates and have not purchased from Sears since then.  However, every month I get an email from Sears telling me my balance is 0. Hell I know what my balance is, why the email, I assume they do not have  any thing better to do.

posted on September 22, 2009 at 12:12AM
 
In response to baron's post from May 14 2009 12:11PM

How many of you loyal Sears customers received the toilet paper mailing from Citibank this week? Rather than do the honest and honorable action of announcing seperation with Sears, they insult all of us by warning us that all interest and account fees would triple, while converting a No-Annual-Fee to a new $45 "Membership" rate.
When I phoned Citi to "Opt out", the bank operator was actually quite pleasant and seemed very embarrassed to even be working there. As much as I wanted to vent my anger and frustration, she immediately defused that by explaining that all of their operators were working overtime cancelling thousands of card accounts like mine after these loyal Sears customers were ******* upon by this greedy and dishonest bank. Shame on the US Government for giving them 1% loans and bailout money so they can sock unsuspecting Sears customers into new 30% interest rates. Not everyone opened and read this piece of trash for what it is. A vast majority of Sears customers tossed this letter as junk mail, and will find out the hard way in just 3 months from now. Does Sears corporate have any idea who these Citi criminals are?

posted on September 22, 2009 at 05:50AM
 

Does anybody know of a retail credit card that does not have high interest rates, and does anybody know of a credit card that, in the last 6 months, has not raised interest rates, raised/introduced fees, and/or decreased credit limits? CitiBank is no better or worse than any other credit card issuing bank.

posted on September 24, 2009 at 09:42AM
 
In response to I-Hate-Citibank's post from September 22 2009 12:12AM

Haven't heard about the fee yet, but I agree good bye Citi. 

posted on September 30, 2009 at 10:25AM
 

Dear Blue Crew Guy

"Does anybody know of a retail credit card that does not have high interest rates, and does anybody know of a credit card that, in the last 6 months, has not raised interest rates, raised/introduced fees, and/or decreased credit limits? CitiBank is no better or worse than any other credit card issuing bank."

While my Chase cards have increased their intrest rates, they have not charged me any annual fees.  Neither have my Penneys, Kohl's, Meijer, Home Depot, Wal-mart, Target, several from local appliance and furniture stores added annual fees.  HMMMMMM...all the places that sell products similar to Sears. I have 1 credit card that has had an annual fee for years.  However, it is automatically waved if you use the card twice during the previous year.

Also JulieK " do know with credit cards we have, the due date does change often-even the cards issued through our bank.  Not sure why this is, but I think it is not unusual."

I use an automated online bill payment system through my bank and pay every thing on it.  Sears is the only credit card where I am constantly having to change the due-dates.  In fact, after getting socked with an outrageous fee once, when they moved the due date, I signed up to automatically pay them $50 early every month, so that I am sure to beat the deadline and have enough time to change the due date for the next month. 

posted on October 01, 2009 at 06:56AM
 

After writing a letter to Sears corporate headquarters about my situation, someone from Citi called me and fixed everything. I had paid the balance off in full to stop accruing interest, so I lost my 12 month deal, but at least Sears made everything else right. Perseverance paid off and I finally got someone to understand my situation. I only wish the first Citi manager had been this understanding.

Like every company, you have people that don't care and those that do, luckily I found that Sears has more of the care ones. 

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