Insight about Sears, if you have a Sears account

[hiblues]

I had some old slow pays show up on all 3 CRAs regarding my Sears account.

(3 plus years old) anyway,

so I called Sears

and asked them if they could send me proof of those slow pays,

they said yes,

So I waited and waited

and nothing ever came, I gave them over a month.

So I surmised that maybe they didn't have it on record and that's why they didn't send me anything...

So I decided to dispute it with all 3 CRAs and low and behold,

my record has been wiped clean.

So I am conjecturing that they don't hold info that is over 3 years old.

Just a little FYI... I hope others can benefit from that.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with another company?

[Recovering Attorney]

Citibank took over their credit card business.

Of course, the problem is they take the whole line off, so if you are disputing things like balance on an otherwise clean line, I wouldn't bother.

[hiblues]

I should have

been more clear...

When I said wiped clean..

I meant, the item still appears on my CR except

now it it clean of all baddies.

Sorry for the confusion, my Sears account is still open and active, maybe if

it's a closed account then they erase it from your CR, don't know.

[CantCU]

I've had a Sears card since 1998...no bad marks on the CR, but I did have a problem with them reporting the balance timely. Since they've been taken over by Citi, the reporting is better...and they do report to all 3 credit bureaus. I just have to keep checking my reports so I can force them to report. At one point, they hadn't reported any payments (on time or otherwise) in over a year. It's finally current...and I think that helped with the latest jump in my scores because my balance went from over $1500 to below $500.

[hiblues]

I had the same thing happen to me,

they didn't report for like

8 months,

but I hadn't been using the account at all,

so I figured that was the reason...

I now have those memberships that report any changes

so I'll be able to make sure they post every month.

[winter97]

At one point, they hadn't reported any payments (on time or otherwise) in over a year. It's finally current...and I think that helped with the latest jump in my scores because my balance went from over $1500 to below $500.

How did you make them report the update? Did you just call the OC and ask? Or did you dispute the accuracy with the CRA? I am having the same problem with an car loan. I need it updated its almost paid off and they still show a large balance!

[CantCU]

How did you make them report the update? Did you just call the OC and ask? Or did you dispute the accuracy with the CRA? I am having the same problem with an car loan. I need it updated its almost paid off and they still show a large balance!

All the above!

I first emailed using Sears website. Got a response but never got the update. I then called, and it came off TU but not off the other 2 CRA's. I normally don't do online disputes as I prefer CMRRR, but on these, I did. By providing the CRA's with what I said I owed, Sears confirmed it, and voila, it was changed.

At one point, I think Sears accounts were managed by GE but now are Citi. I believe some of the records were never updated during the transition, but don't quote me on that.

I do know the lady I spoke with when I called was extremely nice...her comment to me was "I wish all of our customers were as timely with their payments as you are". So I responded, "Well, I pay timely, and would appreciate the same courtesy from you in reporting it". She agreed.

[ZORG]

Citibank took over their credit card business.

Of course, the problem is they take the whole line off, so if you are disputing things like balance on an otherwise clean line, I wouldn't bother.

I had a Sears card before my first wife got hold of it. Needless to say, it's one of the accounts she run up to the limit BEFORE she divorced me

Even though it was 17 years ago I still remember it to be a card I valued because having it got me out of more then a couple of otherwise hard times.

I have found that I dont like Citibank all that much these days so I dont know if I will try to get another one.

[CantCU]

I have found that I dont like Citibank all that much these days so I dont know if I will try to get another one.

I am not a big fan of Citi either...but I have had my Sears card for years upon years. It was one of my first credit cards...then I got stupid and they cancelled me. Got them paid, and got me a new card, and have had it ever since. Citi has taken over the majority of the store credit cards now so I have to deal with them.

Sears has always been there for emergencies...and yes, impulse purchases, too. They carry major household appliances and also do appliance & auto repair, so if you have a fridge go out, or perhaps a blown out tire and no cash, Sears has rescued me more than once. But it is also a very easy card to abuse, especially since they have partnered with Land's End and K-Mart. Their interest rate also stinks.

But they are quite good in increasing your credit limits over time, and if you need the extra limit, they'll give it to you if you have been a timely payment customer. Not sure whether that will change with Citi or not.

Joan