800-733-1116

They ask for your number because a computer is dialing it they want to make sure the correct number is being dialed.

The number is not a scam. It is Citi fwho bought out sears credit they handle all sears home depot and lots of other credit cards. If you look on the back of you credit cards and/or the statement it will show you the financial institution that handles the financing.

Also I know things happen that cause you not to be able to pay bills. Most people don't know if you let the caller know what's going on they all have programs that lower payments and stop fees. There is also credit counseling (not to be confused with settlement company's cause they take your money and make your credit worse and may cause litigation) that is non profit and they negotitiate for lower payments and interest to help you afford the payments.

Apparently from Sears, they want you to call back or go to Sears.com. I don't shop at Sears, don't have a Sears credit card, so it must be some phishing scam looking for information about people

Received 6 calls from this number 5/12/2012

Receiving numerous calls from this number asking to speak to my husband who is ill. They won't speak to me. They won't tell me what or who they are without his permission. He is too ill to mess with this. We just want to be left alone. Our sleep is precious because of his illness and it never fails they call when we've finally fallen asleep. We' be beem married for fifty years but they can't talk to me? Really. Leave us alone, they call at hours and even when I was at work.

Calling me because I forgot to pay an $11. bill?  Calling me 4 days after the due date?  Yeah, I forgot but really...be freakin serious.  I get a call from some lil girly dude telling me I'm "still late".  No kidding.  Just blocked the number and next will be canceling the Sears card.  They are probably doing this because the chain is antiquated and going bankrupt.  Bye-Bye Sears!!

They are calling for my ex sister in law whom is not and has never been associated with my number or address. When I ask them to stop calling, they hang up on me.

BE PATIENT!  THE EXPLANATION IS A LOT LONGER THAT WHAT IT TOOK ME TO PERFORM THE VARIOUS OPERATIONS.  (I am a retired telecommunications specialist.)

I have had my phone number on the Federal Do Not Call list for almost three years.

I believe that Equifax Credit Reporting Company is selling telephone numbers.

#1.  May 7:  I requested my free credit report - part of the sign-on process is providing your telephone number.
#2.  I have had my Vonage telephone service  for THREE YEARS THIS AUGUST WITH NO SOLICITATION CALLS!
#3.  Then I received a call for this Political Opinion Scam.
#4.  Next, I received a call from Sears/Citibank. The recorded message gave a bunch of menu picks NONE OF WHICH WORKED!  It gave a web URL which I looked up.  The number that was calling was for SearsCard.com and was for Citibank's COLLECTION DEPARTMENT !
#5.  I called them back - talked to three different people over a 33 minute period of time.  The account was closed (at my request) in 2006 shortly after my husband's death - as it was his account - and was in good standing.  (I was an authorized user).  NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHY I RECEIVED A CALL!!!  I have RECEIVED A CALL EVERY DAY SINCE!!!
#6.  In desperation I recorded the telephone company "interrupt" that gives the three tone signal and an announcement that the number is no longer in service...
#7.  I played it back as a "Greeting" (no message is taken and the call is terminated) on my telephone answering machine.
#8.  If the robo call system that is being used is a modern version, then the robo call system will automatically delete my number from their system and thus end the calls.
#9.  I just started this plan today so it will take a day to see about Sears, and about a week to see about the Political Opinion Scam.

The URL for the various telephone company "interrupts" can be found at http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html

Well, I'd be happy to discuss whatever they want to discuss if they would just BE THERE when I answer the phone!

See:  800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-816-420-1818

This number calls 8 - 10 times a day.  

It is completely automated and no "agent" or operator will ever help you because there is none. There is an eventual prompt to speak with an agent, and you go on hold for roughly two minutes during which time, there is an announcement indicating that if you get disconnected, please call 800-733-1116.  You do, get disconnected (I did the three times I tried) so this is clearly a dead-end.

By listening to the prompts and pressing to hear some of the other options on the menu, I was finally asked if I wanted to research further possibilities of payment other than pay by phone (this is the option they are really pressing you to do and they make it very difficult to find alternative options).

The other "possibility" offered to me, was to go to www.searscard.com and login to my account and settle things that way, which is basically the same as the pay by phone option except it is via the internet.

www.searscard.com routed me to:
https://www.citibank.com/us/cards/srs/index.jsp   notice it is citibank   (valid at the time of this posting)

From there, I clicked on Contact Us/Faq and found this page:  (valid at the time of this posting)
http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/srs/contact_us.jsp

From the link above, you are presented with a table listing the phone numbers and addresses which correspond to the sears card you are having trouble with.  Each card type has a general 800 number and each one has a collections number:  800-733-1116 (is the one that is referenced when you ask to speak with an agent and is a collections number).

I called 800-733-1116 and after the usual blather about the call being solely for debt collection purposes and may be monitored blah blah blah, I was able to speak with a rather patronizing woman who tried to get other information from me; cell phone numbers, work numbers and an alternative address other than the one they had listed.  I asked what address they had on file but she told me she wasn't authorized to discuss that since I wasn't the primary card holder!  When I asked for the first letters of the street address, she wouldn't provide that either.

I told her that it was no matter whether I was the card holder or not, but that the calls must stop since there was no negligent failure to pay and only a single late payment recorded.  She told me they would not stop and I indicated that they would indeed stop and the harassment will cease.  She "invited" me provide my complaint in writing (which has been done).  

Here is the address which she provided, and is also listed on the contact link of the website mentioned above:

Sears MasterCard Billing Disputes
PO Box 6276
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
(General number on the site was:  1-800-669-8488)

Sears and Citibank are going way over the top by harassing people who have made late payments. This is excessive and unnecessary.  As for my own personal observation, what happened to Sears?  A once trustworthy, reliable, store that provided good quality, long-lasting items many of which had lifetime warranties.  I'm sorry to see you go, but if this is part of your latest customer retention policy, good riddance and there will be no tears shed once you are gone!

_________________________________________

How to fight back:

Fair Debt Collections Practices Act
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

Telephone Consumer Protection Act
http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/TCPA-Rules.pdf
Read the rules, see what applies, and hold these organizations to the letter of the law

FCC complaint site:
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

Do not call complaint site:  Do not call list is absolutely worthless, but you can still file a complaint.
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2

_________________________________________

Below is a template of the Cease and Desist letter I used to get rid of these fools.  I sent it CERTIFIED and REGISTERED and the calls stopped roughly 4-days after it was sent.  I received the return receipt (as my proof they received it) in the mail about 6-days later.



Your Name
Your Address
Your City & State
Your Zip

Date

Bill Collection Company Name
Their Address (see address for sears/citibank above)
Their City & State & Zip

Re: Telephone Number or Account Number or Reference Number...

To Whom It May Concern:

This will serve as your legal notice under provisions of federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), to cease all communication with me in regard to the phone number referenced above. If you fail to heed this notice, I will file a formal complaint against you with the Federal Trade Commission who is responsible for enforcement, the States Attorney General office and/or the American Collectors Association.

We have decided that we do not desire to work with a collection agency under any circumstances. We will contact the original creditor to resolve this matter directly, as circumstances warrant.

You are also notified that should any adverse information be placed against my credit reports as a result of this notice that appropriate actions will be taken. Give this very important matter the attention it deserves.


Sincerely

They have called 4 times today.  We do not owe Sears a dime.  Card is always payed off in full.  Have caller ID so just do not answer.

Company calls every morning at 8am asking for a Maureen, who doesn't live here.  I have asked them to stop calling and they refuse. This morning I threatened to report them and hung up on them.  They have called 5 days in a row to date.

If this is Sears card, collections department, they are more screwed up than we ever realized. My husband stopped using the Sears card about four years ago, after they messed up the online site so badly, he spent hours on the phone, they never did manage to fix it. Bunch of boobs!  I have a credit report here from last year with this account showing zero balance, last transaction in 2008. So if they want money from us they can go pound sand. These [***] called four times yesterday and four times today. I think that's harassment. I think I shall raise the issue with the state Attorney General's office. There has been nothing by mail from this sorry outfit in years. Go away, you losers.

You must not deal with lawyers often.  It's quite common for them to lack grammar and spelling skills. ;)

I got 4 calls from this number today, and a message. I called back, they were looking for someone who does not live here or had the number previously. Would not take the number out unless I gave them my name. So, I made one up...

Just called back 800-733-1116. They asked me for an account number, I dont have one. I told him about the calls to my cell, never leaving messages. He asked my name, then apoligized for the calls and said the calls will stop. If they begin again to call back and let them know. Not sure where they got my cell number from.

Jeez.... "Sears" calls every single day of my life from this number.  I answer the phone and it is that automated man saying to call about my account... which is current so I know it is bs.  It is driving me stark raving mad!!!

I have asked this number not to call me because the person they are trying to reach is not associated with this number. They have supposedly made a note on the acct of the person they are trying to reach but I still get at least 4 phone calls a day from them. I have told them if they call again, I will report them to the BBB.

Harrassing phone calls day and night