Last edit by: yugi
What counted as online purchase with Sears card (alphabetical order)
Credit Line Increases
This is very odd, but according to the Chatbot on the website:
Q. When requesting a credit limit increase, is the credit inquiry a hard or soft credit inquiry?
A. Unfortunately, until we process the request, there isn't a way for us to know if a credit line increase request will be a soft or hard hit on your credit report. For this reason, we have to receive your permission to pull a copy of your credit report before we process the increase request. If you process the request online, you will see a message stating "By submitting this form, you authorize Citibank, N.A. to obtain your credit report."
To request an increase online:
In order to request an increase, you will need to go to your Credit Home page, and find Available Credit at the top of the page. Then, click on the link that says Request Increase to begin the process.
- Amazon purchase or re-load
- Carters.com (Merchandise-CHILDRENS / INFANTS WEAR STORE)
- Costco.com
- Ebay seller fees (direct entry) (MCC: N/A)
- Fluz (MCC varies, YMMV)
- Gift Card Mall
- Homedepot.com (Merchandise-HOME SUPPLY WAREHOUSE STORES)
- Iherb.com (Merchandise-MISC FOOD STORE,SPECIALTY,CONVENIENCE)
- Kygunco.com (Merchandise-DURABLE GOODS, NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED)
- Lockedloaded.com (Merchandise-SPORTING GOODS STORES)
- MileagePlusX (MCC varies)
- Pirateship.com (Services-COURIER SERVICE, FREIGHT FORWARDERS)
- Plastiq (Restaurants-UTILITIES-ELECTRIC,GAS,SANITARY,WATER)
- Scholastic.com (Organizations-MISC SCHOOLS / EDUCATIONAL SERVICES)
- Usmint.gov (Services-MISC GOVERNMENT SERVICES)
- united.com (Air Travel-UNITED AIRLINES)
- Fluz (MCC varies, YMMV)
- Geico.com (Services-INSURANCE-SALES / UNDERWRITING)
- Paypal (MCC varies)
- Cable, Satellite, TV (Restaurants-CABLE,SATELLITE,PAY TV/RADIO SERVICES)
- Telecom (Restaurants-TELEPHONE SERVICE)
- Telecom (Services-TELEPHONE SERVICE/EQUIPMENT)
- Utilities (Restaurants-UTILITIES-ELECTRIC,GAS,SANITARY,WATER)
- VRBO
Credit Line Increases
This is very odd, but according to the Chatbot on the website:
Q. When requesting a credit limit increase, is the credit inquiry a hard or soft credit inquiry?
A. Unfortunately, until we process the request, there isn't a way for us to know if a credit line increase request will be a soft or hard hit on your credit report. For this reason, we have to receive your permission to pull a copy of your credit report before we process the increase request. If you process the request online, you will see a message stating "By submitting this form, you authorize Citibank, N.A. to obtain your credit report."
To request an increase online:
In order to request an increase, you will need to go to your Credit Home page, and find Available Credit at the top of the page. Then, click on the link that says Request Increase to begin the process.
Citi Sears Card
#46

Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 982
Most of the Alberstons Family Chains sell Visa GC and you can purchase with CC.
https://www1.albertsons.com/ShopStor...e-locator.page
https://www1.albertsons.com/ShopStor...e-locator.page
#48
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA plt 2 mm, Marriott LTT, HH dia
Posts: 1,215
I just closed my Sears Card. I decided to close it so it wouldn't get converted to another card. I think Sears is gone.
edited to add: I was never targeted for the promos that are talked about above. It did earn TYP. I applied for the card over a decade ago when buying appliances. Without the promos, it wasn't a very good card anyway. I just kept it because it had no annual fee.
edited to add: I was never targeted for the promos that are talked about above. It did earn TYP. I applied for the card over a decade ago when buying appliances. Without the promos, it wasn't a very good card anyway. I just kept it because it had no annual fee.
Last edited by jeanie; Oct 19, 18 at 10:48 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO/LAX/SAN/LAS/DFW/JFK/LGA/EWR/MIA
Posts: 1,073
I just closed my Sears Card. I decided to close it so it wouldn't get converted to another card. I think Sears is gone.
edited to add: I was never targeted for the promos that are talked about above. It did earn TYP. I applied for the card over a decade ago when buying appliances. Without the promos, it wasn't a very good card anyway. I just kept it because it had no annual fee.
edited to add: I was never targeted for the promos that are talked about above. It did earn TYP. I applied for the card over a decade ago when buying appliances. Without the promos, it wasn't a very good card anyway. I just kept it because it had no annual fee.
#50
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
For someone who is not totally on top of their cards situation, that's not an awful choice to close.
These store card vendors are pretty sloppy, and if they screw something up it can cause other mischief and be had to fix.
We suffered when there was a handoff issue between Macys / Amex / Citi when those firms changed their back end relationship.
So I wouldn't be so sanguine about 'just wait for a product change opportunity as a free option' kind of thing.
These store card vendors are pretty sloppy, and if they screw something up it can cause other mischief and be had to fix.
We suffered when there was a handoff issue between Macys / Amex / Citi when those firms changed their back end relationship.
So I wouldn't be so sanguine about 'just wait for a product change opportunity as a free option' kind of thing.
#52
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
sure, if you were getting all the juicy TYP offers, and using them definitely keep it open.
Citi paid 400mm+ for access to those borrowers, so presumably they want them, and seem to be acting like they do (in terms of incentives)
I'm just pointing out that for those not getting them, or otherwise not using the card, that closing it can eliminate a potential problem.
DSNB, Citi Retail Card Services and other back end white label servicers (FIA etc.) have more low level constant glitches in my experience, and wouldn't be my first choice unless there was something juicy enough going on merit it.
Citi paid 400mm+ for access to those borrowers, so presumably they want them, and seem to be acting like they do (in terms of incentives)
I'm just pointing out that for those not getting them, or otherwise not using the card, that closing it can eliminate a potential problem.
DSNB, Citi Retail Card Services and other back end white label servicers (FIA etc.) have more low level constant glitches in my experience, and wouldn't be my first choice unless there was something juicy enough going on merit it.
#53
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA plt 2 mm, Marriott LTT, HH dia
Posts: 1,215
no idea what ur ultimate goal was. u closed a very old card with over a decade of history because u didnt want the auto PC? why is that a problem even if sears is gone? the sears card may become something more useful at citi or another bank may purchase the portfolio like discover. most people dont know sears founded Discover Card.
For someone who is not totally on top of their cards situation, that's not an awful choice to close.
These store card vendors are pretty sloppy, and if they screw something up it can cause other mischief and be had to fix.
We suffered when there was a handoff issue between Macys / Amex / Citi when those firms changed their back end relationship.
So I wouldn't be so sanguine about 'just wait for a product change opportunity as a free option' kind of thing.
These store card vendors are pretty sloppy, and if they screw something up it can cause other mischief and be had to fix.
We suffered when there was a handoff issue between Macys / Amex / Citi when those firms changed their back end relationship.
So I wouldn't be so sanguine about 'just wait for a product change opportunity as a free option' kind of thing.
Just because someone makes a different decision than you would doesn't mean it was the wrong decision.
#54
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 142
So Sears MC offers are still rolling in. Last month I received an offer of $50 credit after $500 spending. Better yet, yesterday I received a new offer for 10% cash back on groceries, gas, and restaurants with a minimum spending of $2000 and maximum spending of $2500, per month. So that's $200 to $250 cash back per month, from 1/1/19 to 3/31/19. My card is NOT TYP. I had the card for 15 years and the offers started about 3 years ago or a little longer. Credits are applied as a statement credit to my account.
I love the offers and I don't want to change the card to TYP as the offers may stop!! I expected that offers would end after Sears bankruptcy but hasn't happened yet.
I love the offers and I don't want to change the card to TYP as the offers may stop!! I expected that offers would end after Sears bankruptcy but hasn't happened yet.
#55
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
Programs: DL DM, AA ExPlt, Diamond HH, HY, BW, & Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 4,797
So Sears MC offers are still rolling in. Last month I received an offer of $50 credit after $500 spending. Better yet, yesterday I received a new offer for 10% cash back on groceries, gas, and restaurants with a minimum spending of $2000 and maximum spending of $2500, per month. So that's $200 to $250 cash back per month, from 1/1/19 to 3/31/19. My card is NOT TYP. I had the card for 15 years and the offers started about 3 years ago or a little longer. Credits are applied as a statement credit to my account.
I love the offers and I don't want to change the card to TYP as the offers may stop!! I expected that offers would end after Sears bankruptcy but hasn't happened yet.
I love the offers and I don't want to change the card to TYP as the offers may stop!! I expected that offers would end after Sears bankruptcy but hasn't happened yet.
#56
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,918
Received Saturday, New offer for 10X TYPs on groceries, gas, and restaurants with a minimum spending of $2000 and maximum spending of $2500, per month. So that's 20,000 to 25,000 TYPs per month, from 1/1/19 to 3/31/19.
#57
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 12
For those of you that ms with this card do you get fraud alerts often? Ive been ramping up on 500 vgc purchases but citi sometimes declines for fraudulent activity smh. Any way to prevent this? I suspect 1 vgc a week instead of 1500 in one shot.
#58
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, AA, WN, BA, AS, TK, Radisson, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham
Posts: 1,910
I received my first offer today. It's 5x additional points on purchases totaling $500 or more up to 5000 points. I applied for this card last April and converted it to TYP.
#59
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
Programs: DL DM, AA ExPlt, Diamond HH, HY, BW, & Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 4,797
Let us know how this goes.
#60
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,918
That's how it starts, make the spend on this one and you should start getting the bigger ones along with the rest of us!