I've witnessed several "high-performing" employees pull fast ones to get credit, such as entering in expired drivers licenses, telling customers to make up a number for annual income, twisting the discussion by saying it's a discount, lying about the hard pull effect on a credit score when asked by a customer, entering in information into the PIN pad for the customer, etc.
I've told management only to be told that the associates I'm complaining about have more credit apps than you do. Well no s--t Sherlock. They are breaking the rules to get the credit, don't you see! (But, of course, they don't want to "see" the "how"). So, I've given up and reasoned that they will eventually fall in their own graves because it seems like Sears is following in Wells Fargo's footsteps. This is probably happening in every store.
I follow the policy. I ask every customer. If they don't want it or cannot furnish valid ID or a Social Security number, I don't continue. Life goes on and I serve them with a smile, the old fashioned way.
This credit thing has gotten so out of hand that I've seen a few employees get apprehensive if the customer refuses credit (or Shop Your Way phone numbers or the PA). They suddenly become terse and standoffish.
I'm only at 70% in credit, which is poor in Sears' eyes, but at least I'm following the law. The law matters a hell of a lot more than metrics. As an upside, I've received good member feedbacks. A few of them mentioned that I wasn't pushy compared to some other associates they've dealt with on previous visits to the store.
This is just one of the reasons we are losing customers. I have seen associates be so pushy that I was feeling uncomfortable, I can only imagine how the customer was feeling. For every signup from a person like that, we lose 2-3 customers, but management does not seem to care.