Bogus business practices?Follow

Just curious what you all think about this. It's something that happened to me yesterday that's got me a bit peeved.

So I'm in the local Sears looking to buy a TV for my bedroom (cause the really old one that I bought out of the back of some guys car 15 years ago with the wood paneling on the sides stopped working). I settle on a 26" HDTV LCD screen that looks really nice (and wont take up a ton of space, which was the point). It's got a price tag of just a bit over $2k, and is actually a pretty good deal IMO. Surprisingly, I'd usually buy electronics at other locations, but I checked the Frys and Best Buy (and a couple other local places), and Sears actually did have the best deal in this range.

So I start the process of buying the thing, pull out my checkbook as I always do for larger purchases, and write a check. The guy takes my license and check and does his usual fiddling with the POS machine. I'm not concerned because I know that my checking account has plenty of money in it (heck. this purchase wouldn't make a dent in the bonus I got this 6 month review, let alone my normal account balance). I am utterly surprised when the machine tells the guy he can't take the check.


Hmm... This is curious. We decide to investigate. We call up the number for the service (that's printed with a ton of other garbage on the back of the check now). The upshot is that the check was not refused because of a lack of funds, or any odd history of check writing, or any history of bounced/bad checks. Some other part of their approval process rejected it, but the woman on the other end of the phone wont tell me what it is.

As a historical note, I have never once in my entire life bounced a check. I've been trying to rack my brain as to why this happened. The stupid service wont tell me, alledgedly for security purposes (which is annoying all by itself). After much thought on this though, I think I've come up with why.

About a year ago, I made a decision not to maintain a mailing address at my home address. Basically, I realized that out of the 10 pounds or so of junk that appeared each month, it was only the same 5 or 6 bills from businesses that I had business with that I cared about. With virtually all business available online, I decided that I'd cut out an extremely annoying part of my daily routine by simply cancelling my postal service (which is harder to do then you might think honestly).


About 3 months ago, with my washer and dryer on the fritz (they came with the place and really sucked), I bought a really nice set. From Sears. For about 1400 bucks. That's the key bit I think, and I believe that's where the problem lies.

My suspicion is that the check approval company uses the information to do direct marketing (or sell to other companies that do). Certainly, I have no knowledge of any contract with Sears much less myself where they promise not to do this (which in todays world means that they do). The fact that they got mail returned as undeliverable would be a "bad thing" to them. I suspect that flags something in their system that they use to refuse check approval.


Sears had the same approval process 3 months ago. My check cleared with no problem. Yesterday it didn't. What could possibly have changed? The only thing I can think of is that they tried to send me stuff in the mail, got a return and then flagged my account.

So here's the issue. Assuming this is true, on a scale of 1 to 10, how bogus is this as a business practice? After all, isn't the purpose of a check approval company to simply verify that the check being presented at the POS is a valid check, is owned by the person pictured in the ID, and likely has sufficient funds for the purchase? All of those conditions were confirmed, but they refused the check anyway (the woman told me that the check was not refused due to any history with the account, or any bad checks, or any suspicion that the account did not hold sufficient funds). Why exactly am I required to allow them to send me mail before they'll approve a check? Doesn't that amount to arm twisting to ensure they can mass market? Should a check approval company be able to do this? If it's ok to do this, then how exactly can one avoid dealing with piles of junk mail?



Yes. I know I'm a rebel. Most people will say: "Dude. Deal with the mail". Call it an experiment if you want. Honestly, it's worked out pretty well so far. The only issues I've had are government agencies like the DMV (have to schedule appointments to pick stuff up), and the state property tax people. But that's like 3 things I have to make special arrangements for a year. That's a hell of a lot less trouble then dealing sorting through a pile of junk mail every day. The last thing I actually expected to happen was to find that I couldn't write checks due to not having a mailing address.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I'm working up to getting them on the phone again and putting them through the wringer on this one (and to see if my suspicions is correct, although I can't think of anything else it could be). What do you think I should do?

Debit Card

Well it seems to me that in the day and age we live in with terrorism the way it is (phony id's,bogus citizenship,etc) I suggest you just stop being petty and live with minimal inconveniences, like junk mail, telemarketing, etc. and pursue different avenues of anonnymity. There are legal ways to be removed from mailer lists and phone lists, it just takes a little investigation depending on where you live.

What's a fu[u][/u]cking check?

On the bleeding edge of the Technological Divide, eh Gbaji?

I guess I'll have to borrow a time machine some time and travel down to "Sears" in "San Diego" and ask them what a check is myself.

It wouldn't suprise me if what you describe as the possibility is exactly what happened. As someone else said, a check card would probably resolve any future problems in this area. In the meantime, Take some cash out in the bank and pay for your TV in cash.

BTW, pretty sure Best Buy will beat any price if they have the same model in stock. You may save a few bucks on it.

While I have long since stopped using paper for paying for anything other than a hot dog, I have been victim of Identity Theft and has someone use my DL # to write forged checks. Not my name, not my SS, just the Drivers Licence #.

It took me 4 weeks of calls to the store that accepted the checks(Sam's Club) and 2 police reports(that the fu[b][/b]ckers wanted me to drive 500 miles to fill out, no thanks) to get it off my record.

Now use the damn check card.

I think you should call up the powers that be and ask them for a reason before decrying the good people at Sears Roebuck & Co.

Credit Cards. They arn't real money.


mmmm pretend money.

Of course he will have to give out the mailing address inorder to get the sears card and those damn sears magazines.

Edited, Mon Nov 8 16:32:36 2004 by bhodisattva

I agree. And normally I wouldn't espouse their use, but since Gbaji has the cash to pay it off immediately, why not score an extra $200 off the purchase price and stick it to Sears on the way out the door?

Totem

Why?

And if your bank keeps your withdrawal limit that low, find a decent bank FFS.

Yay capitalism!

I'd actually agree with trying to get a credit card for the discount they offer.

On an unrelated note, has anyone else seen the new... er, Visa? promotion? If you spend money on your credit card you're entered into a contest. If you win, you're credited for whatever you bought in November and December (free, essentially).

Now that's a good way to totally ***** gullible people out the ***. "Look! It's like them lottery, but on the Home Shopping Channel! Lit's order up us'n some gifts, paw!"