Sears Check-Cashing Policies

My fiance Manuel and I were fully prepared to purchase a big screen tv and home theater system. We were about to write a check for $2,000.00 but were first told that they had some of the merchandise in stock and they would have to order the rest. They wanted us to pay separately for what was in stock and what had to be ordered. The total for merchandise in stock was $619.97 which we promptly wrote a check for.

That's when the problem started. Because our checking account was fairly new (9 months old) we had a low check number. The sales person had to call for verification.It was then that he told us that they would not accept our check because of the low check number. Now we had plenty of money in our account to cover the charge. Manuel is an underground miner and Montana is well known for this rich industry. We have also made major purchases other places with even lower check numbers, never had problems with sales or payment on the checks. Sears lost out on a $2,000.00 sale that day along with valued customers. After this incident,I will never set foot inside a Sears or give them my business.

This was not a credit issue and should not have felt like one. We were NOT financing the system,we were paying for it with a check. Seaqrs could have easily called our financial instituton to check our funds but did not. We feel discriminated against and highly insulted that they would insinuate that we didn't have the money to cover the purchase. They made us feel like nothing more than homeless people who walked in off the street.

I went into Wards and Sears on the same day to purchase some items. At the time I was on active duty in the military. I was going to write a check for the items and as proof of my identity I gave the clerk my Armed Forces Identification Card along with the check.

In both instances I was told that my military ID card was not a valid form of ID, that they had to have a driver's license. I asked the cashiers what if I did not have a driver's license and I was told I could use a credit card for identification purposes.

I asked to speak to a manager and was told that that was Wards and Sears policy. My military ID has my photo, my SSN, features, etc. -- much more than what is contained on a driver's license. And it was an in-state check.

If I did not have my driver's license, I would not have been able to purchase the items. I can just imagine the embarrasment. Its almost as bad as being told you don't have enough credit available, or your check can't be accepted.