9723187 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA In the Matter of SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO., a corporation. DOCKET NO.C-3786 COMPLAINT The Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Sears, Roebuck and Co., a corporation ("respondent"), has violated the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and it appearing to the Commission that this proceeding is in the public interest, alleges: 1. Respondent Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a New York corporation with its principal office or place of business at 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179. Respondent is engaged in, among other things, the consumer retail business. In the course and conduct of its business, respondent has regularly extended credit for the purpose of facilitating consumers’ purchase of respondent’s products and services (hereinafter referred to as "consumer credit accounts"). 2. The acts and practices of respondent alleged in this complaint have been in or affecting commerce, as "commerce" is defined in Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY CODE 3. Under the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 1- 1330), a debtor may be granted a discharge in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding from debts that have arisen prior to the filing of the bankruptcy petition (hereinafter referred to as "pre-petition debts"), meaning that the debtor is no longer individually liable for these debts. The granting of a discharge "operates as an injunction against the commencement or continuation of an action, the employment of process, or an act, to collect, recover or offset any such debt as a personal liability of the debtor, whether or not discharge of such debt is waived. . . ." 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2). The purpose of the injunction is to protect the debtor’s "fresh start" by ensuring that no debt collection efforts are taken against the debtor personally for pre-petition debts. 4. The United States Bankruptcy Code provides, however, that a debtor may agree with a creditor that the creditor can enforce what would otherwise be a discharged debt. In other words, a debtor may reaffirm his or her pre-petition debts, as long as certain requirements are met. These so-called "reaffirmation agreements" are enforceable only if, among other things, the agreement is filed with the bankruptcy court. If the debtor is not represented by an attorney, the bankruptcy court must hold a hearing to determine that the reaffirmation agreement would not impose an undue hardship on the debtor and is in the best interest of the debtor, and must approve the reaffirmation agreement before it becomes enforceable. 11 U.S.C. § 524(c) and (d). 5. If the requirements of 11 U.S.C. § 524(c) and (d) are not met, an agreement to reaffirm a debt is not binding and a creditor violates the bankruptcy code if it attempts to collect that debt. 11 U.S.C. § 524(a). VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 5(a) OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT 6. From at least 1985 to 1997, respondent regularly induced consumers who had filed for protection under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code to enter into agreements reaffirming some or all of their pre-petition consumer credit account debts that would otherwise be discharged through bankruptcy proceedings. 7. In numerous instances, respondent represented, expressly or by implication, to consumers that their reaffirmation agreements would be filed with the bankruptcy courts, as required by the United States Bankruptcy Code. 8. In truth and in fact, in many cases respondent did not intend to file, and in fact did not file, the reaffirmation agreements with the bankruptcy courts. Therefore, the representation made in Paragraph 7 was, and is, false or misleading. 9. In numerous instances, respondent represented, expressly or by implication, to consumers that their reaffirmation agreements were legally binding on the consumers and that the consumers were legally required to pay their pre-petition debts. 10. In truth and in fact, in many cases, the reaffirmation agreements were not legally binding on the consumers and the consumers were not legally required to pay their pre-petition debts for reasons including, but not necessarily limited to, the following: (a) respondent did not file the reaffirmation agreements with the bankruptcy courts; or (b) respondent filed the reaffirmation agreements, but the agreements were then not approved by the bankruptcy courts. Therefore, the representation made in Paragraph 9 was, and is, false or misleading. 11. In the course and conduct of its business, respondent regularly collected from consumers debts that had been legally discharged in bankruptcy proceedings and that respondent was not permitted by law to collect. Respondent’s actions have caused or were likely to cause substantial injury to consumers that is not offset by any countervailing benefits and is not reasonably avoidable by these consumers. 15 U.S.C. § 5(n). Therefore, respondent’s collection of debts that it was not permitted by law to collect was, and is, unfair. 12. The acts and practices of respondent as alleged in this complaint constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. THEREFORE, the Federal Trade Commission this twentieth day of February, 1998, has issued this complaint against respondent. By the Commission, Commissioner Azcuenaga not participating. Donald S. Clark SEAL: |