Sears Home Improvement Family Jennifer Pittman I was lured into purchasing a roof under false advertising for a $1500.00 Federal tax credit Charlotte, North Carolina
In early December, 2009, I was approached by a marketing person at Sears store in Raleigh, NC, who asked me if I wanted to qualify for a $1500 Federal tax credit from the stimulus package.
I was told that all I had todo after installing a roof from Sears was to take my bill and some paperwork that Sears would complete to my accountant. After making several calls to verify the info, the roof was installed. When I asked about the necessary pp work, I was told that several other people were calling in about the tax credit .
I was asked, "where did you get that information from about the T.C?" I was told by Jennifer Pittman that she would investigate the problem. I was later informed by Ms. Pittman in writing that this was just an iunfortunate event that happened beyond the control from Sears and that no roofs qualify for the tax credit, although the internet has the tax credit info on Sears advertising!!
I was also informed in the email that the marketing people are not connected to the corporate office and they are not aware of the nuances of using incorrect verbiage with customers in the store, thereby absolving Sears home improvement of any liability and leaving individuals like myself, scammed and cheated!!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Cheated
Creedmoor,North Carolina,
United States of America
An expensive nightmare!!
#3Author of original report
Wed, June 23, 2010
I wrote to Sears' Corporate office after realizing that "No Roofs" qualify for the tax credit, except for white roofs in the State of California, which means that I was misled into believing that the $9275.00 that I would be financed is just for a regular roof with no energy saving capacity, whatsoever!! The house is only 1565 square feet. I was told that the roof would save me at least 40% of my monthly bill. It was even explained to me how the Owens Corning shingles would be layered in such a way as to keep the house cool until about 5-6 PM in the summer and secure the heat in the winter and I would harddly have to use the AC or the heat. I tried to get help from consumer protection agencies, with no avail. I even sent them the proof that Sears advertised that their energy saving roofs also qualified for the T.C . That advertisement has since changed since this struggle!! Even more interesting is that Sears installed the roof without a permit and they were fined by the City of Creedmoor. On June 21, 2010, the TV station WRAL in Raleigh NC reported my story on Five on Your Side. It is still there today, but I do not know how long it would remain on their viewing site. It was advertised form Friday June 18 until the broadcast on June 21, so a lot of people had an opportunity to view the report, in order to protect themselves from being ripped off by Sears. The only thing that I did not like too much is that they were not able to share that I told Sears to come and get their no tax credit, no energy saving roof off my house, or replace it with the roof that qualifies for energy saving and a tax credit.!
Inspector
Tobyhanna,Pennsylvania,
USA
Cheated...How?
#3General Comment
Wed, March 31, 2010
You got a new roof right? Does it leak? You apparently needed one right?