why is sears card so hard to get?

Discussion in 'Credit Talk' started by brucet60, Sep 12, 2003.

  1. brucet60

    brucet60 New Member

    I've been trying to get a sears card for years, buy my score is 590 exp/exp...jc penney no sweat, but...any thoughts? is it just my terrible score?
     
  2. faztcobra

    faztcobra Well-Known Member

    I've had a Sears card since '96, but I'll agree about it being hard to get. I was in a Sears store in '95 and there was some banner on the wall that said "Guaranteed Approval w/ proof of a major credit card." Well, I had 2 or 3 of those at the time, so I was like "why not?". Did it and still got denied. My scores were in the 750+ category back then. Guess I hadn't had a long enough history yet. About 6 months later, they sent me a pre-approved offer and I sent it in and got it.
     
  3. lestx

    lestx Well-Known Member

    Originally posted by faztcobra:
    "I've had a Sears card since '96, but I'll agree about it being hard to get."

    I had always heard that they were hard to get, but I got approved in '95 with an '86 BK still showing on my report and less than 2 years history. I had very good income at the time, could be a factor. Often
    when I fill out an app. in person the Csr will see Sears account and comment it is a good card to have because they are hard to get. I am curious as well. Wonder if it will lose its mystique when Citi takes over.

    Originally posted by faztcobra:
    "My scores were in the 750+ category back then."

    Just curious, how were you able to see your score back then or are you guesstimating?
     
  4. tobasco

    tobasco Well-Known Member

    Just to let you know, Sears is very aggressive with reporting late payments to the CRAs, and they are very very tough when it comes to goodwill deletions. So if/when you do get a Sears card, make sure you manage it very well. Just a tip.
     
  5. faztcobra

    faztcobra Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: why is sears card so hard to get?

    They are truly more guesstimates than anything, but I was in the military at the time and I knew a couple of the loan officers at the on base credit union. One of them told me that I had probably the best credit they had ever seen. There was another instance where I went to a local dealership and they pulled my credit and their response was (HONESTLY!) "you've got better credit than the president...you can pick out any car you want!" I only wish I would have kept my credit sparkling!
     
  6. BrettS

    BrettS Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: why is sears card so hard to get?

    I've had a Sears card since 98 and I applied in the store. When I applied the clerk told me that they had declined me and gave me a little slip from the cash register saying I was declined. I didn't think much about it until a couple of weeks later when a brand new Sears card arrived in the mail with a $1200 limit.

    Brett
     
  7. faztcobra

    faztcobra Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: why is sears card so hard to get?

    $1200 seems to be the norm. Myself and someone else I know got $1200 limits...$1260 to be exact. Never once got a CL increase. Denied CL increase both time I asked over the years. Guess I won't ask ever again and if I need something over $1200, I'll just put it on another card.
     
  8. GEORGE

    GEORGE Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: why is sears card so hard to get?

    SEARS SINCE 1979
     
  9. crowmom

    crowmom Well-Known Member

    Why on earth do you want a stinking sears card? Be glad you didnt get one. I wish I had never gotten one. It is not worth it. The interest rates are too high first of all. If you fall on hard times, they have NO compassion. You could have one lousy accidental late pay after years of perfect payment, and then (even if you pay perfectly again for years after the late payment) they will NOT delete the derog. If you ever have any problems, and cant pay your bills, Sears will be the absolute hardest TL to repair later. They are heartless and vindictive against those who 'sin' against them. They think they're God or something.

    just MHO.
     
  10. faztcobra

    faztcobra Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: why is sears card so hard to get?

    As far as that goes, I only buy appliances or tools from them. If they're not offering 0% on what I'm buying, then I just stick it on another card. And that's never happened. They always offer 0% on stuff $299 or more or various other specials. I've bought stuff under $100 that wasn't 0%, but I just pay it off at the end of the month. I'd never buy a $1200 refrigerator and pay 21.99%. That's just crazy! As far as your other claims, fortunately, I've not had to deal with that.
     
  11. GEORGE

    GEORGE Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: why is sears card so hard to get?

    0.00% FOR 6 MONTHS...
    0.00% FOR ONE YEAR...
    10% OFF ALL PURCHASES...

    NEVER PAY EVEN $0.01 INTEREST!!!
     

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