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CB Investment, Insurance and Financial Review of GEMB Store Credit Cards
GEMB Store Credit Cards

GEMB Store Credit Cards review: Identity theft! 33

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12:00 am EST
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Beware of store credit cards issued through GEMB. I had my identity stolen after I got a GEMB card through Lowes. I've also seen similar horror stories posted on other websites. The thieves have already tried to buy 2 cars in my name in addition to $8000 in charges so far. I believe that an insider at GEMB is selling info to an identity theft ring and they're using Equifax credit reports to hit existing accounts and using the valuable on these reports to open new accounts. If this happens to you, the first thing you need to do is call one of the 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion or Experian) and have a fraud alert placed on your credit. If you call one of the three, the other two credit agencies will be alerted automatically. A fraud alert should stop the crooks from opening new accounts in your name. But what about existing accounts? You need to call each one individually and tell them what's going on - otherwise, the crooks will call them, claim that the card was lost or stolen and request a new card to be sent.

33 comments
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Gail Marcantonio
Apr 06, 2007 6:07 pm EDT

I have GEMB JC Penney Credit Card. They allowed a transfer of $9600 from a Sears card we DO NOT HAVE to my MasterCard at JC Penney. No one called me to verify the transfer, I called Sears and there is no card with the ending 6 digits in our name. So the brilliants minds at JCPenney transferred $9600 from a card with another name to my card. I lodged a dispute 3/16/07 and haven't heard word one from JCPenney or GEMB. Am told "we're working on it", which I find interesting since no one has asked for my side of the story. So far, totally unimpressed with their Fraud Division.

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Mary DiVergilio
Jun 22, 2007 4:57 am EDT

GEMB is a NIGHTMARE! DO NOT GET A ZERO BALANCE LOWE'S DEAL! They use GEMB and you WILL see charges you didn't make - even after you close your account and they ACKNOWLEDGE that you are paid in full and have closed the account. They do NOT fix accounts that they have messed up. It just continues on and on. They are awful. I will be contacting my Attorney General and hope you all will too. They need to be STOPPED!

I have refused to even shop at Lowe's anymore because of this fiasco. If this is the company they chose to use - and don't care about fixing these issues, then my business goes elsewhere.

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John Scott
Aug 12, 2007 10:34 am EDT

GEMB/Lowes seems to have issued a card to someone who stole my identity years ago, and I am still fighting to get it off my credit report. I did not find out about it until my credit report began to show the debt several years later. Lowes had apparently sold it to Arrow Financial Services, who have been as unhelpful as possible. As they are required to put on all communication, "any information you give them is used to recover a debt". They do not care the I am the victim here. I thought I was done when two of the three bureaus deleted this account based on my documentation, but one of them keeps it on based on AFS's say so.

I cannot understand why the burden of proof is on the victim in ID theft. How can the bureaus continue to report a debt as mine when I have denied it and provided evidence? Shouldn't the collection agency have to provide evidence to them? And shouldn't that be shared with the victim?

Such laws would make credit cards harder to get, which would make life better for the upstanding citizen, but I guess would "slow the economy". It's obvious who makes the rules in this country.

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Mary G.
Oct 21, 2007 10:15 pm EDT

I am a victim of that GEMB den of cheaters who fraudulently ruined my credit files with all 3 major bureaus. Yet today that cheaters keep ignoring and neglecting my disputes. Please tell me what are the best remedies to stop this cheat and fraud. Please e-mail me @ grigorianmary7@yahoo.com

In my opinion these cheaters should hold corporate liability for all damages they've caused to all of us as their victims. We should maybe file a class action law suit and expose them thru nationwide mass media/press.

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erin
Nov 21, 2007 9:55 am EST

GEMB refuses to fix my credit. I had a Banana Republic card through them and i can't get ti off my credit report! Advise smb what can be done in this situation...

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Diane J. Smith
Nov 24, 2007 12:06 pm EST

How do I cancel my GEMB credit card? The card has not been used since 1998 . I cannot find an address or a telephone number.

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Butch Baxter
Jan 16, 2008 5:28 pm EST

I just pulled my credit report today and found a debt that is on there from this GEMB/Sams club for 22$. Now i am going to have to go through this fiasco of try to get a 22$ charge off my credit report? I never even had a card from Sams Club... please advise...

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Kenneth Tennant
Jan 17, 2008 3:13 pm EST

GEMB SAM'S DISCOVER Card Services and Fraud Dept. are a FRAUD. Shanna DeJanette has been notified that we dispute a charge of $577.75 made to Piercing Pagoda at the Davenport, Iowa Northpark mall kiosk (Parent Co. is Zales jewlers), Sept. 26, 2007. P.P. emplyee "LaShonda" made the transaction 30 minutes before closing and subsequently quit. The manager would not show us the receipt or anything else. We reported this and were told a "Shanna DeJanette" in the Fraud Dept. would take care of it, but, has not done anything but harrass us by sending the same AFFIDAVIT OF FRAUD for us to fill out, which we have several times now. Even before this we had suspected fraud as our monthly bill was in excess of $2,000! We asked for an investigation and was told some guy named "Dan" had called in to report finding a wallet with our card in it. Strange because we both had our cards AND still do tho we changed numbers, but, to no avail as we believe GEMB has produced more than one card. How else could this go on ? There seems to be no one in charge of oversight ! We closed the account and are still being harrassed by GEMB. Cruz@mchsi.com

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Kenneth Tennant
Jan 17, 2008 3:37 pm EST

I seen an investigative report nationally televised showing one man got a box full of duplicate credit cards in his name. NO ONE took responsibility!

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TT
Feb 11, 2008 7:31 pm EST

PLEASE JUST LET ME KNOW HOW TO CLOSE MY GEMB/L&t card and GEMB/OLD NAVY CARD.

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DJDave04
DeForest, US
Feb 29, 2008 9:44 pm EST

I subscribed to truecredit.com two months ago. The only business I've done online for six months. Today I received an email of changes to my credit report. Guess what I found?
A new GEMB card issued to me with a $7500 credit limit!
I don't have any business with GEMB or any type of store cards.
I certainly didn't receive a new card, but GEMB has report this new card to all three credit bureaus.
The phone numbers I've found for GEMB hang up on me.
I've disputed the card to Experian and Equifax.
State's Attorney General has to be the next stop since nothing seems to be working to stop this.

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Audrey
Mar 14, 2008 5:34 pm EDT

I was notified last Friday 3/7 that Home Depot wanted to confirm that I opened a credit card. I called to dispute that I had opened the card and learned that it was openend in TN. I live elsewhere. I have since learned that there are 8 other credit cards opened in my name with a DE State Drivers License (again, not my state of residence) and an address in TN 1883 Underwood Rd, Mt. Juliet. So far, the ### has charged over $4,000 to my credit. Thank goodness for Home Depot's policy to confirm instant credit applications otherwise I would have not been able to place the fraud alert on my credit report and I would have even more cards opened with my identity. I read Greg Richardson's story online today and it clicked...5 of the 8 cards start with the suffix GEMB (JCPenny, Sears, Radio Shack, Best Buy and Lowe's). My Lowe's charge was closed in 2005, however, my credit report shows that it has a $10K limit. When I called Lowe's today they said that there has been in inquiry or acitivity on my card with with my account and that they show my credit line to be $1,300 (the original amount I was approved for in 2005). They said that my card is still showing closed, although Transunion and Equifax show it as OPEN 3/1/08 and 3/4/08.

I have a cell phone number for the woman posing as me and Staples, Home Depot and Lowe's have all offered to provide video survaillance to the police. They said that the woman is while, short brown hair and really skinny. On her cell phone message, it says that "I" am not available.

I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BAN TOGETHER AND GET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TOGETHER.

Please email me to let me know your thoughts and let me know what states you are located in so we can find an attorney that can practice in the majority of them.

Thank you and good luck to everyone. My nightmare is just beginning and from the sounds of your emails it will continue for years to come.

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Liz
Apr 10, 2008 1:17 pm EDT

While I haven't had it as bad as you all seem to have, I just opened my first credit report today and found that I was being negatively scored because of two (2!) 0-30-days late payments that were posted over 5 years ago! One (an undisclosed amount) was from...guess? GEMB/Old Navy. I had a card from them that I used once, paid the balance on (a little late I guess) and never used again. Silly me, I just went back to Old Navy this February and opened another account because of the great promos that they had, again it was GEMB account! I wish that I had heard about all of these problems ahead of time! My husband and I have been building our dream home and he has just opened store accounts with Best Buy, Sears, Sam's Club and Home Depot. It sounds like we need to get online and check HIS credit, and soon, too!

Thanks for all the words of caution and wisdom!

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coleman
Apr 10, 2008 4:39 pm EDT

I too have just became a victim of gemb fraud. I was at a funeral burying my Mother when the fraud occurred. When I returned home and checked my email, I had an alert from credit keeper of changes to my credit. I looked and it said it a new account had been opened. I found out it was gemb/care credit. I have never heard of this before. I am now in the process of disputing the charge. There is a 4, 000 dollar credit limit with 252 dollar balance or charge on the account. What is the best way to handle the situation. I have place a fradulent alert on my account. Please help in Georgia.

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Jmad...
US
Apr 11, 2008 6:05 pm EDT

We are having the same problem, Our credit report is showing GEMB/Therm what is the Therm? I would love to file a lawsuit against them they have cost us.

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Tisha
Apr 30, 2008 12:59 pm EDT

Can anyone tell me how to get in contact with GEMB/Walmart? I would like a telephone number or email address. My account was charged off and I would like to pay it, but I can't find who has the account.

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ngozika l adindu
May 05, 2008 4:33 am EDT

An account from GEMB, has been opened in my name, and other accounts.This i have reported to the 3 major credit bureaus. pls can someone tell me a number that gets to GEMB. This is a disaster ! how can the public not be able to reach the fraud dept of this company. Pls if anyone knows this, kindly send this to me .

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May 15, 2008 12:59 pm EDT

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seraiah
Reston, US
May 23, 2008 9:05 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I never talk to the customer service people anymore...I always ask for a supervisor from day one.

I never punch in automatic numbers, but wait for a person to actually answer...

I never ever evr give my phone number to any credit card company anymore.

I refuse to give it when they ask for it for ID...and instead have them ask some other means of proof of who I am.

I write down everyone';s name, date I spoke with them, and what they agreed to do...and then I call back after the etime has elapsed...that is THE ONLY WAY I GOT THIS INCREDIBLE SAM'S CLUB CARD CLOSED AND VIDEO PRPOFESSOR OFF MY CARD...LET US SEE IF THEY RE-OPEN IT TO START THE WHOLE THING ALL OVER AGAIN...

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Shawna
Jul 14, 2008 12:26 pm EDT

Who is GEMB? apparently i have a GEMB/Chevron card in my name and i'm $758 in debt! i'm' only 20 and i've never had a credit card! and on top of that my credit report says that i opened a mortgage loan in feb of 2000 and an auto loan in may of 2002 and another type of loan in april of 1999! i was only 12 then! how can this possibly be MY debt when this is the first i've ever heard of it!?! i have no idea what to do.. someone.. please point me in the right direction.

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Rex Range
Aug 19, 2008 7:45 pm EDT

GE Money Bank (GEMB) are dishonest ###s. We have perfect credit, 800+, for life. Then GEMB failed to mail us a bill for JC Penney, months later finally sent one, marked it "past due, " and stuck it on our credit record. We disputed it and entered a comment telling creditors the truth...and now next thing you know, as retaliation for trying to right that wrong, GEMB stuck another "negative" in our credit record, this time for a Macy's card we haven't used since 2005. We are going to take action against them, regulatory or legal or both, and I urge all of you to do the same. These sleazy ###s like to hide behind a PO Box in Mason, Ohio, but here are two complete street addresses we found for them:

GE Money Bank: 5300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, OH 45040
GE Money Bank: 4246 South Riverboat Road, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT [protected]

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Laura
Sep 04, 2008 4:32 pm EDT

I have the same problem. My husband opened a PC Richard credit card last October. We never received a bill and when we called about it they said they were sending one. Two months went by and nothing. We have been calling nonstop since July because we are trying to buy a house and since no bill was received by us it went into collections and ruined his perfect credit score. When we finally spoke to"customer service" they told us to send money..to where? They don't even have an account number for him. To top it off asking for a supervisor is great, but they make you wait on the phone for an hour without exaggeration. When tole they were "working on it" they gave us a number and an extension to call back in 2 days and guess what..the extension is wrong. So here I am frustrated as hell because they won't even speak to me because I am not the account holder, and my husband is still on the phone waiting for a damn supervisor. Tomorrow i will be on the phone with an attorney and I'm going to sue these ### for pain and discomfort, not to mention the ### they out on our credit report.
Please let me know if you guys plan on doing anything as well..this is such a scam and I said it from the beginning..now you guys have just confirmed my theory

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Jeff
Sep 17, 2008 1:36 pm EDT

I had a heck of a time trying to get in touch with GEMB to cancel my account with them. I had a store credit card with them I got at Stein Mart and I kept searching for a phone number to call them I kept getting dead ends. I finally called the Stein Mart store I got the credit card from and they give me a phone number and I finally got in touch with someone and got rid of this cursed thing. The phone number is [protected] for anybody that needs that number. Good luck.

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JoDee
Sep 21, 2008 12:24 am EDT

I just got my credit reports and I have a $1500 credit line of some sort from GEMB/SHDS...what in the world is SHDS? I just filed my dispute with Equifax, here's to hoping they just take it off my credit report. Now if I could just find this company and lodge my complaint...

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Laurie
Haslet, US
Sep 26, 2008 1:22 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

they messed with my JC Penney account too.

Posted approx $100 in fraudulent charges to account in January 08 and made changes to my mailing address without my consent at the same time. So I never received any statements

I only receive statements when I use the card and I had not authorized the charges so was not looking for a statement and have not used it since Nov 07 and paid it off in Dec 07. That was the last statement ever received.

They never attempted to collect the debt themselves and charged it off and sent it to a collection agency.

File complaints with the Federal Trade Commission,
they violated the fair credit billing act
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

They also committed mail fraud when they changed my address without my knowledge or consent.

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JUDITH DENNIS
Nov 21, 2008 7:02 pm EST

I TOO AM A VICTOIM OF GEMB. I RECEIVED A CARD FROM THEM THROUGH HOME SHOPPING NETWORK LAST OCTOBER. I DID NOT RECEIVE A STATEMENT FROM THEM UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER, THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY ACCOUNT WAS ALREADY IN AREARS. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS SO FOR I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY STATEMENTS. WHEN I DID I IMMEDIATELY STARTED PAYING THE BILL. I DIDN''T RECEIVE ANOTHER STATEMENT UNTIL MARCH, BUT WAS TOLD BY HSN CUSTOMER SERVICES THAT I COULD PAY AND SENT THE MONEY TO THEM WHICH IS WHAT I DID. I AM NOW BEING HARASSED FOR THE PAYMENTS THAT I ALREADY MADE TO HSN, BUT TOLD THAT THE BANK DOESN'T HAVE RECORD OF THE PAYMENTS ON THEIR BOOKS AND I WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT WHERE MY PAYMENTS WAS POSTED. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO HARASS ME FOR PAYMENT. HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS MATTER STRAIGHTEN OUT TO NO AVAIL. I EVEN WROTE THE ATTORNY GENERALS OFF AND THAT DID NOT STOP THEM.
IF ANYONE FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AS IT MIGHT AFFECT MY CREDIT SCORE WHICH WAS "A-ONE" AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. I HAVE BEEN A CREDITOR FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOINTED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED I WOULD LIKE TO BE ENCLUDED IN IT. THANK YOU

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julia jackson
Dec 01, 2008 8:36 am EST

I recieved a card through the, home shopping network two weeks ago and already have recieved two letters for activity in my name.What do I do now?

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bewitch
Dayton, US
May 28, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

k that doesnt even make sense none of these complaints first ge loses money when there is fraud just like any company so why would they sale info and loose money makes no sense... and as stating that a bal was transfer from a sears to jc penny well u can never transfer a bal from one card to another if they are owned by the same bank... so these are stupid please try to think befor u accuse a bank of something when it doesnt even make any comon sense... a bank does something to loose money come on people dont be stupid

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Nancy
Cleveland, US
May 29, 2009 11:51 pm EDT

This comment is for bewitch. Your response doesn't make sense, in any way, shape or form. What you don't seem to be understanding is that GEMB takes your money for prior purchases and claims it was a fee and that you still owe the original amount of money - plus interest. GEMB doesn't 'lose' a dime, they just collect, and collect, and collect and the balance goes UP instead of DOWN.

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Joan McDonald
Warren, US
Sep 04, 2009 9:03 am EDT

Is GEMB the same as GE money tel is [protected]

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Teachersoldier
Sparrow Bush, US
Nov 22, 2009 11:46 am EST

It is true JC Penny's credits system s corrupt and dishonest, I mail in my check long before bill arrives, they delay arrive to give you penalty and collect extra monies, this is common knowledge.

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KATIE M. BOND
JACKSON TN., US
May 30, 2010 11:24 am EDT

PLEASE TAKE OFF A CHARGE YOU HAVE ON MY CREDIT REPORT FROM A SERVICE MERCHADISE CREDIT CARD, THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF OVER 15 YEARS AGO.

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Manojkumar1
US
Nov 15, 2010 12:05 am EST

I am also having the same problem with GEMB. I did not received any credit card from GEMB but my credit report is showing at charge of $18. now this amount is reached to $200 which I never spent or used.
When I disputed it they are saying they have closed it and sent it to collection agency. I am in very bad shape now. Where to go and where to dispute.
Please help me if you can.

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