Sears Make a Payment: What Most People Get Wrong

Sears Make a Payment: What Most People Get Wrong

You're standing there with a bill in your hand, or maybe just a nagging feeling that you forgot something, and you realize the Sears logo on your card feels like a relic from a different era. Honestly, trying to figure out how to handle a sears make a payment request in 2026 can feel like navigating a maze. The company has changed. The cards have rebranded. Even the website links you used three years ago might just dead-end into a generic Citibank portal now.

It's frustrating. You just want to pay the bill and move on with your Saturday.

Most people assume that because Sears stores are mostly gone, the credit cards just vanished too. They didn't. Citibank still runs the show for the older accounts, though they've been busy rebranding things like the "Shop Your Way Mastercard" into the "Citi ThankYou Mastercard" over the last few months. If you’re looking for a simple way to clear your balance, you’ve got options, but they aren’t all created equal.

The Fastest Way to Pay (Without a Login)

If you're in a rush and don't want to dig up your password—or if you never bothered to make an online account in the first place—you can actually use a "Guest Pay" feature. This is probably the best-kept secret for these cards. You go to the Citi retail services site, specifically the one dedicated to Sears, and look for the "Pay as Guest" option.

You'll need:

  • Your full card number.
  • The last four digits of your SSN.
  • Your zip code.

It takes about two minutes. You aren't signing your life away or setting up a profile; you're just sending the money. This is a lifesaver if you're literally on the due date and the "forgot password" email isn't showing up in your inbox.

Sears Make a Payment: The Phone Number List

Sometimes you just want to talk to a human. Or at least a robot that can take your routing number. Depending on which specific "Sears" card you have in your wallet, the number changes. It's kinda annoying, but calling the wrong one just results in a transfer that takes ten minutes.

  • Sears Card (Store Only): 1-800-917-7700. This is for the basic card that only worked at Sears or Kmart back in the day.
  • Sears Mastercard / Citi ThankYou Mastercard: 1-800-669-8488. This is the one you can use anywhere.
  • Shop Your Way Mastercard (Legacy): 1-877-816-9063.

Most of these lines are automated 24/7. If you want a person, you usually have to mash "0" or keep saying "representative" until the computer gives up. If you're calling from outside the U.S., use 1-208-822-0001.

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Can You Still Pay in a Store?

This is where it gets tricky. Yes, technically, you can still walk into a Sears store and pay at the customer service desk. The problem? Finding a Sears store is like hunting for a rare Pokémon. As of early 2026, there are only a handful of full-line Sears locations left in the entire country.

If you happen to live near one of the survivors—like the ones in Miami or Orlando—you can bring your statement and a check. But for 99% of people, this isn't a real option anymore. Don't drive forty miles hoping to find a register. It’s almost certainly better to just use the mail or the app.

Snail Mail and the "Louisville" Trap

If you're old school and prefer a paper check, you can still mail it. Just be careful. There are different addresses for standard mail and overnight delivery. If you send a regular check to the "Express" address, it might get delayed.

Standard Payments:
Sears Consumer Payments
P.O. Box 9001055
Louisville, KY 40290-1055

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Overnight/Express:
Sears Consumer Express Payments
Attn: Consumer Payment Dept.
6716 Grade Lane
Building 9, Suite 910
Louisville, KY 40213

Write your account number on the check. Seriously. If the payment coupon gets separated from your check in the sorting machine, that handwritten number is the only thing keeping your payment from floating in limbo for three weeks.

Why Your "Shop Your Way" Card Looks Different Now

You might have noticed a letter recently or a new card in the mail. As of late 2025, Citibank officially moved a huge chunk of Sears-branded Mastercards over to the Citi ThankYou program.

Basically, the points you earn now are Citi ThankYou points instead of Shop Your Way points. This is actually a good thing for most people because ThankYou points are way more flexible. You can use them for gift cards or travel instead of being forced to spend them at a store that barely exists. Your account number and your APR didn't change, but the "look" of your sears make a payment portal might have shifted to a more standard Citi interface.

Avoiding the Late Fee Headache

The late fees on these cards are brutal. We’re talking $29 to $40 depending on your history. If you miss the deadline by even an hour, the system triggers it automatically.

If you're late, call them.

Seriously, if you have a good track record, the reps at 1-800-917-7700 will often waive a first-time late fee if you ask nicely. Just tell them you got confused by the rebranding or the website login. They hear it all day.

Actionable Next Steps

To get this off your plate for good, do this right now:

  1. Check your card type. Look for a Mastercard logo. If it's there, use the 8488 number. If not, use the 7700 number.
  2. Use Guest Pay. If you don't have time to set up an account, go to the Citi/Sears portal and use the "Pay as Guest" option to avoid the login headache.
  3. Set up Autopay. Once you're logged in, set it to "Minimum Amount Due." Even if you prefer paying manually, this acts as a safety net so you never get hit with a $40 late fee because you forgot what day it was.
  4. Confirm the Rebrand. If you received a new Citi ThankYou card, activate it immediately and destroy the old Sears-branded one. The old one might still work for a grace period, but it's better to move to the new system now.