A charge labeled “SEARS HHO INC” on your credit card or bank statement is almost always a recurring monthly bill for a Sears home warranty or Sears protection agreement, sold through the Sears Home Services division now operated by Transformco. The “HHO” descriptor traces back to the Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores corporate lineage, which is why the line item on your statement doesn’t read “Sears Home Warranty.” If you don’t remember signing up recently, the likely explanation is auto-renewal on an older plan.
Why the Charge Keeps Appearing
Sears home warranty agreements renew automatically for successive one-year terms unless you cancel. The company is supposed to send notice of any rate or coverage changes at least 30 days before the current term ends.1Sears Home Services. Sears Home Warranty Agreement Because the plans bill monthly and renew on their own, charges can continue for years after a customer has forgotten enrolling or assumed the coverage lapsed.
The underlying product covers repair or replacement of major household systems and appliances. Whether you’re still using it is a separate question from whether you’re still paying for it.
How to Cancel a Sears Home Warranty
You can cancel at any time. What you get back depends on timing and claim history:
- Cancel within 30 days with no claims filed, and you’re entitled to a full refund of contract fees paid.
- Cancel after 30 days, or after filing a claim, and you may receive a pro-rated refund of unearned fees, minus a $25 processing fee and the cost of any services already performed.
- If you received promotional discounts or waived fees at enrollment, cancelling before the initial term ends can make those discounts “due and payable” back to Sears.
If the math leaves a balance owed to Sears rather than to you, the company will charge the same payment method used for your installments or bill you directly.1Sears Home Services. Sears Home Warranty Agreement
Numbers to Call
Sears Home Services lists 1-800-469-4663 for warranty and protection agreement customers, and 1-855-256-2467 for Sears Home Warranty specifically.2Sears Home Services. Contact Us A 24-hour general support line at 1-802-552-4364 is answered through an AI-powered call center.3Sears Home Services. Help Consumer reviews frequently mention difficulty getting a live representative, so plan on more than one attempt.
Disputing the Charge With Your Card Issuer
If you didn’t authorize the charge, or if Sears is unresponsive to your cancellation request, you can dispute it through your credit card company. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your liability for unauthorized charges is capped at $50, and the issuer must follow a defined dispute process once you raise the issue.4Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
To keep your full legal protections, send a written billing error notice to the address your card company designates for billing inquiries within 60 calendar days of the statement date on which the charge first appeared. Include your name, account number, and a description of the disputed charge, along with any supporting documents. The issuer must acknowledge your dispute within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill While the investigation is open, you can withhold payment on the disputed amount, and the issuer cannot pursue collection or report it as delinquent.4Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
If the issuer decides the charge was valid, it must explain why in writing and tell you when payment is due. You have 10 days to appeal that decision, and you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you believe the response was inadequate.
What Other Customers Report
Most complaints about Sears Home Services concern service delivery rather than outright fraudulent billing, but the two are related: customers paying a monthly fee, in some cases around $57, describe months-long waits for repairs, last-minute cancellations by third-party contractors, and trouble reaching a live person.6ABC 7 Chicago. Customers Say Home Warranty Company Sears Services Drags Repair Requests, Cancels Appointments Last Minute The Better Business Bureau has noted that scheduling problems often originate with the independent contractors Sears relies on, and Sears itself has cited parts availability as a main cause of delay.
A separate surprise for many customers is a diagnostic or service fee of roughly $100 to $140 per technician visit, charged regardless of whether the repair is completed that day.7ConsumerAffairs. Sears Home Services If you assumed your monthly payment covered everything, that per-visit charge may be part of why you’re taking a closer look at the line item on your statement now.
Sears Home Services continues to operate under Transformco, the private company that acquired most of the former Sears Holdings’ operating assets out of its 2018 bankruptcy.8Transformco. Transformco News The billing entity is active, and cancelling the plan is the only way to stop the monthly charge.