Sears claims they received my payment 1 day past the due date in March. The reason I say "claims" is that my payment was in the form of a money order, purchased and mailed 10 days before the due date.
Sears claims they received my payment 1 day late and credited my payment 2 days after the due date.
Sears called my home the day after my payment was due asking me to make a payment by phone. 1 day after the due date. I explained to them that I had mailed the payment in a timely fashion and that no I didn't care to make a payment at this time.
I called Sears customer service the next day and was told that they still hadn't received my payment, but was subsequently informed that they had received payment the previous day and that my payment had been credited to my account.
When my April bill arived, I was shocked to see that there was a $35.00 Late Payment Fee and that my interest had gone from 2.99% on a balance transfer balance of aprox $4700.00 and a second balance transfer balance of $800.00 @ 3.99% to 31.99% interest. This had the effect of raising my interest accrued per/mo. From aprox. $14.50 to $142.75. This is equal to a penalty of $128.00 per/mo.
I again contacted customer service and was told my account would return to my previously fixed rates after 1 month and that I would be credited with the late pmt. Fee.
They did indeed refund the late pmt. Charge, but I am now informed that I was given false information and that there is nothing customer service can do.
Sears clearly states that payments should be made 5 to 7 days before the due date. I have the stub from the money order, with the date clearly printed on it, that I mailed the same day it was purchased.
How can Sears expect me to pay a penalty of $768.00 for the failure of the US Post Office or of Sears own collection staff.
I have no way to know when my payment was actually received.
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