SUMMARY OF SHAW’S JEWELERS CHARGE ACCOUNT TERMS 

Interest Rates and Interest Charges 

Annual Percentage Rate 
(APR) for Purchases  

17% to 24.99%.  This APR varies by state.  See Paragraph 3 of the Retail 
Installment Credit Agreement for details.  

How to Avoid Paying 
Interest on Purchases  

Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle.  We will not 
charge you interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance by the due date 
each month. 

Minimum Interest Charge  

None to $1.00.  The minimum interest charge varies by state.  See Paragraph 5 of 
the Retail Installment Credit Agreement for details.   

For Credit Card Tips from 
the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau  

To learn more about factors to consider when applying for or using a credit card, visit 
the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at :  
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.  

Fees  

Annual Fee 

Penalty Fees  

 Late Payment  

None  

Up to $35.  This fee varies by state.  See Paragraph 11.B of the Retail Installment 
Credit Agreement for details. 

 Returned Payment   

Up to $30.  This fee varies by state.  See Paragraph 11.A of the Retail Installment 
Credit Agreement for details. 

How We Will Calculate Your Balance: We use a method called “average daily balance (including new 
purchases)” in all states except MN and NM; we use a method called “average daily balance (excluding 
new purchases)” in MN and NM. See the Retail Installment Credit Agreement for more details. 

Billing Rights: Information on your rights to dispute transactions and how to exercise those rights is 
provided in your Retail Installment Credit Agreement.  

SHAW’S JEWELERS 
RETAIL INSTALLMENT CREDIT AGREEMENT 

In this Shaw’s Jewelers Retail Installment Credit Agreement (“Agreement”), the words “you” and “your” refer to any person who 
signs the Application for this Account or this Agreement, or has requested and is issued a Shaw’s Jewelers credit card.  “We” “us” 
and “our” refer to Sterling Jewelers Inc., d/b/a Shaw’s Jewelers, P.O. Box 3680, Akron, OH 44309-3680, its subsidiaries and 
affiliates, and any person to whom this Agreement, your Account, and/or any amount due on your Account may be assigned.  
"Account" means your Shaw’s Jewelers Account, which will be governed by this Agreement.  "Authorized User" means any person 
you permit to use your Account or who has apparent authority to do so.  "Card" means any access device or method by which the 
Account may be accessed, including the Account number.  “APR” means Annual Percentage Rate.  “Interest” and “Interest 
Charges” mean the periodic finance charges that are calculated pursuant to Paragraph 5. 

1.  Promise to Pay: You promise to pay us for all credit extended on this Account and all other amounts owed to us under the terms 
of this Agreement. You are responsible for any transactions you make or otherwise incur and any transactions incurred by anyone 
else you have authorized to use this Account.  You are also responsible for the use of each Card issued on this Account.  You may 
request additional Cards on this Account for yourself or others, and you may permit an Authorized User to have access to the Card 
or Account number.  However, if you do so, you must pay us for all charges made by those persons.  See Paragraph 23 for details.  
When you sign the Application for this Account, you will be agreeing to everything written here.  Therefore, before you sign the 
Application, you should read this entire Agreement. The information you provide on the Application that identifies you is incorporated 
in this Agreement by reference.  This Agreement will not be effective unless and until we approve your Application.  

2.  Balances: Each transaction or group of transactions subject to the same terms (such as the applicable APR and duration) shall 
be considered part of the same balance.  The balance subject to the Regular APR and the other regular terms set forth in this 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Agreement is your Account’s regular balance. We calculate your total regular balance each billing cycle by taking the regular 
balance for the prior billing cycle, adding any regular purchases, fees, Interest Charges, other finance charges, and other debits, 
and subtracting any payments or other credits, as of the closing date for that billing cycle.  Balances subject to promotional terms 
are promotional balances.  We calculate the total of any promotional balance by adding the promotional purchase for that balance 
and subtracting any payments allocated to that promotional balance or other credits.  You authorize us to allocate any payment or 
credit among your regular, promotional, and other balances in any manner, including in a manner that may be beneficial to us, 
except where otherwise prohibited by applicable law.  The total of your regular balance and any promotional or other balances is the 
“New Balance” shown on your statement.   

3.  Your Regular Annual Percentage Rate: If Interest Charges (which are FINANCE CHARGES) are assessed during a billing 
cycle, we will use the following Annual Percentage Rate (the “Regular APR”) and corresponding monthly periodic rate, subject to 
any promotional terms: 

If you reside in  
the state of:  

AL 

AR 
CO, GA, IN, MS, 
OK, TN, TX, VT, WY 
DC, MD 
HI, MA, MN, NC 

NE 

All other states  

We apply the monthly 
periodic rate of:  
1.75% to $750.00  
1.5% over $750.00 
1,4167% 

1.75% 

2.0% 
1.5% 
1.75% to $499.99 
1.5% for $500.00 and more 
2.0825% 

ANNUAL PERCENTAGE 
RATE 
21% 
18% 
17% 

21% 

24% 
18% 
21% 
18% 
24.99% 

4.  How to Avoid Paying Interest on Purchases: Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle.  We will not 
charge you interest in any billing cycle in which payments received (and if required by law, credits issued) by the due date equal or 
exceed the “Balance Payable To Avoid Further Interest” shown on your billing statement.  The “Balance Payable To Avoid Further 
Interest Charges” shown on your billing statement is your New Balance less any portion of a promotional balance for which payment 
is not required to avoid the imposition of Interest in a billing cycle. 

5.  Calculation of Interest:  In all states except MN and NM, we calculate Interest Charges using the average daily balance method 
(including current transactions).  In MN and NM, we calculate Interest Charges using the average daily balance method (excluding 
current transactions).  We calculate interest separately for each balance on your Account subject to different terms (including APR 
and duration).  We figure the Interest Charges by applying the applicable monthly periodic rate to the “average daily balance” for 
that balance.  To get the average daily balance for a balance, we take the beginning balance each day, add any new transactions 
(except we do not add in any new transactions in MN and NM); subtract any payments or credits and any Late Payment Fees, any 
Returned Payment Fees, and/or unpaid Interest Charges; and make other adjustments.  This gives us the daily balance.  Then, we 
add up all the daily balances for the billing cycle and divide the total by the number of days in the billing cycle.  This gives us the 
average daily balance.  Any negative daily balance will be treated as zero.  If Interest Charges are imposed and the total Interest 
that results from application of the above calculation to each balance is less than $1.00, we will impose a minimum Interest Charge 
of $1.00 (which is a FINANCE CHARGE); except in MI, MO, NY, TN, and TX, where we will impose a minimum Interest Charge of 
$0.70 (which is a FINANCE CHARGE); and in AL, AZ, CO, IN, ME, MA, MN, MS, MT, NJ, OK, PA, SC, SD, VT, WV,  and WY, 
where we will impose a minimum Interest Charge of $0.50 (which is a FINANCE CHARGE).  Furthermore, there is no minimum 
Interest Charge in AR, DC, HI, IA, MD, NE, NM, NC, and RI.  You authorize us to round any calculation used to determine Interest 
Charges, including rounding that may cause minor variations in our favor.  The applicable monthly periodic rate for a balance is the 
applicable Annual Percentage Rate divided by twelve (12), and rounded to the fourth decimal place.   

6.  Minimum Payment: You agree to pay at least the “Minimum Payment” shown on your billing statement on or before its due 
date.  Your total Minimum Payment is the sum of any minimum payment for your regular balance, for any promotional balance, and 
for any other balance.  We base your minimum payment for your regular balance on the highest “Regular Balance” (the New 
Balance less any balance with a separate minimum payment) on your Account since the Regular Balance was last reduced to zero 
(the "Highest Regular Balance").  Your balance is considered to be zero when opened or when there is a credit balance.  We will 
recalculate the minimum payment if a subsequent return is made, and the Regular Balance is below the Highest Regular Balance.  
The minimum payment for your regular balance will be calculated as follows, except any minimum payment in excess of $25.00 will 
be rounded up to the nearest $5.00 increment, and the minimum payment for your regular balance will never exceed the Regular 
Balance: 

Highest Regular Balance 
Up to $265.00 
$265.01 to $500.00 
$500.01 to $750.00 
$750.01 to $1,500.00 
$1,500.01 to $2,500.00 
$2,500.01 & Up 

Minimum Payment  
$25.00 
10% of Highest Regular Balance  
9% of Highest Regular Balance 
7% of Highest Regular Balance 
6% of Highest Regular Balance 
5% of Highest Regular Balance 

If your billing statement shows a promotional balance (such as a “No Interest” balance, a “Reduced Interest Rate” balance, and/or 
an “Eighteen (18) Month” balance), the minimum payment for this balance shall be calculated as specified in Paragraph 7. There 

 
 
 
 
shall be no separate, additional minimum payment component for a non-regular, non-promotional balance unless we provide you 
notice of such a requirement. 

7.  Promotional Terms:  At our sole discretion, we may offer you promotional terms for a new purchase or for an existing balance.  
Any promotion will be subject to the terms of the promotional offer and this Agreement.  Below is a description of some of the 
promotional terms that we may offer in our sole discretion from time to time.    

No Interest Plans.  If any single purchase is designated as purchased under a no interest plan, you will pay no interest if the 
promotional purchase is paid in full in the designated promotional time period (which may be 6 months, 12 months, or another 
period specified in the promotion).  If the promotional purchase balance is not paid in full by the end of the designated promotional 
period, or if we do not receive a required minimum payment within 60 days of its due date, interest will be charged to your account 
at the Regular APR from the promotional purchase date.  Unless the promotion states that there is no separate promotional 
minimum payment, the required minimum payment for the promotional balance will be the amount of the promotional purchase 
divided by the promotional period, rounded up to the nearest $5.00 increment.  However, if the promotion specifies a minimum 
purchase amount, in no case will the minimum payment be less than the minimum purchase amount divided by the promotional 
period, which may shorten your repayment period in certain instances.  The minimum payment will never be more than the 
remaining promotional purchase balance.  If the promotion states that there is no separate promotional minimum payment, then the 
amount of the promotional balance will be included in your regular balance for the purpose of calculating your minimum payment. 

Reduced Rate Plans.  If any single purchase is designated as purchased under a reduced rate plan, we will calculate the Interest for 
the promotional balance by using an APR that is less than your Regular APR (the “Promotional APR”), in lieu of the Regular APR 
during the specified promotional period (which may be 6 months, 12 months, or some other period specified by us). The Promotional 
APR will return to your Regular APR at the expiration of the promotional period or if we do not receive a required minimum payment 
within 60 days of its due date.  See Paragraph 3 for details. Unless the promotion states that there is no separate promotional 
minimum payment, the required minimum payment for the promotional balance will be the amount of the promotional purchase 
divided by the promotional period, rounded up to the nearest $5.00 increment.  However, if the promotion specifies a minimum 
purchase amount, in no case will the minimum payment be less than the minimum purchase amount divided by the promotional 
period, which may shorten your repayment period in certain instances.  The minimum payment will never be more than the 
remaining promotional purchase balance.  If the promotion states that there is no separate promotional minimum payment, then the 
amount of the promotional balance will be included in your regular balance for the purpose of calculating your minimum payment. 

Eighteen (18) Month Plan.  If any single purchase is designated as purchased under the “Eighteen Month Plan”, no Interest will be 
imposed on the promotional purchase for the first twelve (12) months if you make all required minimum payments by the end of the 
12th month.  If we do not receive all required minimum payments by the end of the 12th month, or if we do not receive a required 
minimum payment within 60 days of its due date, Interest will be charged to your account at the Regular APR from the promotional 
purchase date.  After the first twelve (12) months, we will use the specified reduced APR (the “Promotional APR”), in lieu of the 
Regular APR, to calculate Interest for the next six (6) months.  The Promotional APR will return to your Regular APR at the 
expiration of the six month period or if we do not receive a required minimum payment within 60 days of its due date.  See 
Paragraph 3 for details.  The required minimum payment for the promotional balance will be 1/18th of the promotional purchase 
multiplied by 1.030 and rounded up to the nearest $5.00, but not less than $150.00 or not less than $250.00, based on the terms of 
the offer.  

8.  Payments:  All payments must be mailed or delivered to us at the address shown on the front of the billing statement and 
accompanied by the payment slip.  You must pay us in U.S. dollars drawn on funds on deposit in the United States using a check or 
similar instrument that will be processed and honored by your bank.  Do not send cash payments.  We can accept late or partial 
payments, as well as payments that reflect “paid in full” or other restrictive endorsements, without losing any of our rights under this 
Agreement.  We credit your payments in accordance with our payment instructions on the billing statement. 

9.  Disputed Amounts and Legal Notices:  All notices relating to legal actions, including bankruptcy notices, must be sent to us at 
P.O. Box 1799, Akron, OH 44309-1799.  Legal notices sent to any other addresses will not satisfy any legal requirement that you 
provide notice to us. 

10.  Arbitration for Disputes – No Jury Trials or Class Actions: This paragraph describes how all Claims (as defined in 
subparagraph A below) will be arbitrated, at the election of you or us, on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis instead 
of litigated in court.  

A.  The term “Claim” means any claim, dispute, or controversy between you and us arising from or relating to your Card, your 
Account, or this Agreement as well as any related or prior agreement that you may have had with us or the relationships resulting 
from this Agreement, including the validity, enforceability or scope of this arbitration provision or the Agreement.  Claims arising in 
the past, present, or future, including Claims arising before the opening of your Account, are subject to arbitration.  “Claim” includes, 
without limitation, claims that arise from or relate to any application for your Account or any advertisements, promotions, or 
statements related to your Account or goods or services that may be financed in connection with your Account.  For purposes of this 
arbitration provision, “you” and “us” also includes any corporate affiliates, any licensees, predecessors, successors, assigns, any 
purchaser of any accounts, all agents, employees, directors and representatives of any of the foregoing, and other persons referred 
to below in the definition of “Claims”.  “Claim” includes claims of every kind and nature, including but not limited to initial claims, 
counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party claims, and claims based upon contract, tort, fraud, and other intentional torts, statutes, 
regulations, common law, and equity.  Claims and remedies sought as part of a class action, private attorney general action, or 
other representative action are subject to arbitration on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis, and the arbitrator may 
award relief only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis.  “Claim” also includes claims by or against any third party 
relating to or arising from your Card, your Account, or this Agreement.  The term “Claim” is to be given the broadest possible 
meaning that will be enforced.  “Administrator” means the American Arbitration Association, 335 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 
10017, www.adr.org, (800) 778-7879; or JAMS, 1920 Main St., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92614, www.jamsadr.com, (949) 224-1810.  

 
 
 
B.  We OR you have the right to require that each Claim be resolved by arbitration on an individual (non-class, non-representative) 
basis.  A Claim will be arbitrated if (1) both we and you or (2) only one or the other of we or you, exercise the right to require that the 
Claim be arbitrated.  If, for example, we exercise our right to require that the Claim be resolved by arbitration but you do not also 
exercise your right to require that the Claim be arbitrated, the Claim will be resolved by arbitration.  If neither we nor you request 
arbitration, the Claim will not be resolved by arbitration and instead will be litigated in court.  We will not elect arbitration for any 
Claim you file in small claims court, so long as the Claim is individual and pending only in that court.  The arbitrator's authority to 
resolve Claims is limited to Claims between you and us alone, and the arbitrator's authority to make awards or decisions is limited to 
you and us alone.  Furthermore, Claims between you and us may not be joined or consolidated in arbitration with Claims brought by 
or against someone other than you, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by all parties.  However, applicants, co-applicants, 
authorized users on a single Account, or corporate affiliates are considered one person for the purposes of this paragraph.  No 
arbitration award will have any preclusive effect as to issues or claims in any dispute involving anyone who is not a party to the 
arbitration.  This arbitration provision is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce and will be governed by the 
Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) (9 U.S.C. §1, et seq.). 

C.   If we or you request arbitration of a Claim, we and you will not have the right to litigate the Claim in court. This means 
(1) there will be no jury trial on the Claim, (2) there will be no pre-arbitration discovery except as the Administrator’s rules 
permit, and (3) no Claim may be arbitrated on a class-action, private attorney general, or other representative basis, and 
neither we nor you will have the right to participate as a representative or member of any class or group of claimants 
pertaining to any Claim subject to arbitration.  We or you may elect to arbitrate any Claim at any time unless it has been 
filed in court and trial has begun or final judgment has been entered. 

D.  The party initiating an arbitration shall select an Administrator from the organizations listed above.  If none of the Administrators 
listed above will accept the arbitration, the arbitration will be administered by an administrator, or adjudicated by an arbitrator, upon 
which you and we agree in writing.  The arbitration shall be governed by the procedures and rules of the Administrator and this 
Agreement, which need not apply federal, state or local rules of procedure and evidence.  The Administrator’s procedures and rules 
may limit the discovery available to you or us.  You can obtain a copy of an Administrator’s procedures and rules by contacting the 
Administrator.  A single, neutral arbitrator will resolve Claims.  The arbitrator will be either a lawyer with at least ten years experience 
or a retired or former judge, selected in accordance with the rules of the Administrator.  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency 
between this arbitration provision and the Administrator's rules or other provisions of this Agreement, this arbitration provision will 
govern.  The arbitrator will take reasonable steps to protect customer account information and other confidential information if 
requested to do so by you or us.  Arbitration hearings for Claims by or against you will take place in the federal judicial district in 
which you reside.  If you make a request to us in writing, we will temporarily advance to you the filing, administrative, and hearing 
fees for the arbitration of your Claim against us (but not if the Claim is against you) in excess of any filing fee you would have been 
required to pay to file the Claim in a state or federal court (whichever is less) in the judicial district in which you reside.  At the end of 
the arbitration, the arbitrator will decide if you have to repay the advance (and if you do have to repay, you agree to do so).  Unless 
applicable law requires otherwise, we will pay our, and you will pay your, lawyers’, experts’, and witnesses’ fees.  The arbitrator will 
apply applicable substantive law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations, will honor claims of privilege 
recognized at law, and will have the power to award to a party any damages or other relief provided for under applicable law.  The 
arbitrator will make any award in writing and, if requested by you or us, will provide a brief statement of the reasons for the award. 

E.  Judgment upon the arbitrator’s award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction.  The arbitrator’s decision regarding any 
claims will be final and binding, except for any appeal right under FAA. The appealing party will pay the appeal costs.  This 
agreement to arbitrate shall survive any suspension, termination, revocation or closure of the Agreement or your Account, and any 
bankruptcy to the extent consistent with applicable bankruptcy law. 

F. If any part of this arbitration provision cannot be enforced, the rest of the arbitration provision will continue to apply.  However, an 
arbitrator cannot enlarge his or her authority over the adjudication of Claims beyond that provided by this arbitration provision by 
enforcing only part of this arbitration provision.  If an arbitrator determines that applicable law requires this arbitration provision to be 
enforced in a way that would result in greater authority over Claims than otherwise allowed, such as the adjudication of claims on a 
class or representative basis, then the arbitrator must decline to hear the dispute and shall refer the parties to a court or other body 
with sufficient authority.  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this arbitration provision and the Administrator's rules 
or other provisions of this Agreement, this arbitration provision will govern.  

11.  Fees: 

A.  Returned Payment Fee: If any check, instrument, or electronic authorization used to pay us is not honored upon first 
presentment, (for residents of MD, second presentment), even if the check, instrument or electronic authorization is later honored, 
we may charge you a Returned Payment Fee.  Except as set forth for specified states below, this fee is up to $30.00.  The fee 
charged generally will be the highest amount permitted by law, subject to the specified maximum.  This means that the fee generally 
will not exceed the amount of the required minimum payment due immediately prior to the date on which the payment is returned.  
In addition, the first time you make a payment that is returned, the fee will not exceed $25.00.  If you make another payment that is 
returned during the next six billing cycles, the fee will not exceed $30.00.   

State 
GA 
AZ, AR, CO, IL, IN, MI, NV, NC, 
OK, OR, RI, WV 
FL, LA 
CA, MD, MO, TX 
CT, HI, ID, IA, NJ, NY, UT 
DC, DE, MA, NE, NM, PA, VT, WY 

Maximum Returned Payment Fee 
Greater of 5% of amount of payment or $30.00 
$25.00 

Greater of 5% of amount of payment or $25.00 
$15.00 
$20.00 
None 

 
 
 
We will add any Returned Payment Fee to your Account’s regular balance.  

B.  Late Payment Fee: If we do not receive your minimum payment by its due date (or within seven (7) days in VA; within ten (10) 
days in AL, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OK, SC, WV, and WY; within fifteen (15) days in 
CA, ME, and MA; within twenty-one (21) days in TX; within thirty (30) days in NC; and within forty (40) days in RI), we will impose a 
Late Payment Fee.  The maximum fee is set forth below.  The fee charged generally will be the highest amount permitted by law.  
This means that the fee generally will not exceed the amount of the required minimum payment due immediately prior to the 
assessment of the fee.  In addition, the first time you pay late, the fee will not exceed $25.00.  If you pay late again during the next 
six billing cycles, the fee will not exceed $35.00.   

State 
AK, AR, CT, HI, LA, MD, MI, 
MN, MS, NV, NH, NY, ND, OH, 
OR, PA, SD, WI 

AL 

AZ, KS, MO 

CA, CO, DC, IA 
DE, MT, NM, TN, VT 
FL, NJ, TX 
GA 

ID 

IL, KY, WY 

IN 

ME 
MA 

NE 

NC 

OK 

RI 

SC 

UT 

VA 

WA 

WV 

Maximum Late Payment Fee  

$35.00 (except $29.00 if the outstanding balance is 
$249.99 or less) 

5% of amount past due but not more than $35.00 and 
not less than $18.00 
$10.00 (except $5.00 if the minimum payment is $5.00 
to $25.00) 
$15.00 
None 
$10.00 
$25.00 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $15.00 (but not to 
exceed $35.00) 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $10.00 (but not to 
exceed $35.00) 
$18.00 The amount of the late payment fee is subject 
to change as provided in IN Code § 24-4.5-1-106. 
Lesser of 5% of amount past due or $10.00 
Lesser of 10% of outstanding balance or $10.00 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $5.00 (but not to 
exceed $35.00) 
$10.00 (except $5.00 if the outstanding balance is 
under $100.00) 
5% of amount past due but not more than $23.50 and 
not less than $5.00 
$12.00 
5% of amount past due, but not more than $17.50 and 
not less than $7.00. The amount of the late fee is 
subject to change as provided in SC Code § 37-1-109. 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $30.00 (but not to 
exceed $35.00) 
5% of amount of installment (but not to exceed $35.00) 
$35.00 (except 10% of the average daily balance for 
prior 30-day period, but not less than $2.00, if the 
balance is less than $100.00) 
Lesser of 5% of amount past due or $15.00 

We will add any Late Payment Fee to your Account’s regular balance. 

12.  Security Interest: You grant us a purchase money security interest in each item of merchandise purchased on your Account to 
secure its unpaid purchase price (except in CT, MO (on any purchase under $150.00), and NY (on any purchase under $200.00)) 
until such item of merchandise is paid for in full (in NY, not to exceed five (5) years from date the purchase is posted to your 
Account).  Solely for the purpose of determining the extent of our purchase money security interest in each such item of 
merchandise, your payments will be allocated first to any unpaid insurance premium, next to any unpaid Late Payment Fees, any 
unpaid Returned Payment Fees, any unpaid Interest, and any other unpaid fees or charges, then to pay off each purchase in the 
order in which the purchase was made. 

13.  Default/Collection Costs: If you fail to pay any minimum payment when due, or if the prospect of payment, performance, or 
realization of collateral is significantly impaired, to the extent permitted by applicable law it will be a default, and, subject to any right 
you may have under state law to receive notice of and to cure such default, we may declare the entire unpaid balance on the 
Account due and payable (except in WI you will not be in default until you fail to make a minimum payment on two occasions within 
a twelve (12) month period).  We also may repossess any article of merchandise in which we still retain a security interest, but we 
will do so only in the manner and to the extent permitted by applicable law.  If the Account is referred to an attorney who is not our 
salaried employee and we bring a suit against you to collect the amount you owe, in addition to the full amount owed and any court 
costs, you agree to pay our reasonable attorney’s fees of 15% of the total amount due (10% of any amount due in AR, 10% of any 
amount due over $500.00 in NJ, and 10% of any amount due of $3,800.00 or less in OK), or such lesser amount as may be 
permitted by applicable law.  No attorney’s fees will be imposed in AL (when the unpaid balance is under $300.00), DC, IA, KS, ME, 
NE, OH, SD, WV, and WI, or in any state, or in any amount, where not permitted by law. In the states of CA, CT, DE, NH, and PA, 

 
 
 
 
we will pay your reasonable attorney’s fees if you prevail in a suit we bring against you or if you prevail in a suit you bring against us 
under this Agreement.  Notice to New Hampshire Residents: If you successfully assert a partial defense or counterclaim, the court 
may withhold part or all of any attorney’s fees to which we may be entitled. 

14.  Closing Your Account or Limiting Your Credit: You have the right to close your Account at any time, for any reason.  You 
will still be liable for any balances owed.   We may limit or terminate the use of your Account and/or raise or lower your credit limit at 
any time and for any reason without advance notice to you.  Some purchases will require our prior authorization, in which case you 
may be asked to provide identification.  If our authorization system is not working, we may not be able to authorize a transaction, 
even if you have sufficient available credit.  We will not be liable to you if this happens.  We are not responsible for the refusal of 
anyone to accept or honor a Card associated with this Account.  All Cards we issue remain our property and, if requested, you 
agree to return any Card issued to you.  Your credit limit with us may be reduced by the amount of credit purchases you make at 
other retail jewelers that are affiliated with us.   We may, at our discretion, permit you to make a purchase in excess of your stated 
credit limit.  If we do so, this will not permanently increase your credit limit.  To request the names of the other retail jewelers that are 
affiliated with us, please call our Credit Customer Service Department at 1-800-877-3616 or 1-330-668-5000, Ext. 6867.   

15.  Change in This Agreement:  To the extent permitted by law, we may change any term of this Agreement, including any 
Annual Percentage Rate or fee, as well as add and/or subtract terms.  We will furnish you notice of the change to the 
extent required by law.  If permitted by applicable law, any new terms may at our option be applied to any balance existing 
on the Account at the time of change, as well as to any subsequent transactions. 

16.  Credit Investigation: You authorize us to investigate your credit history by obtaining consumer reports and by making direct 
inquiries of businesses where you have accounts and where you work.  We may request a consumer report from consumer 
reporting agencies in considering your application for this Account or any other account you have with us and later in connection 
with an update, renewal, extension of credit or collection of the Account or any other account you have with us.  Upon your request 
we will disclose whether a consumer report was requested and the name and address of any consumer reporting agency that 
furnished the report.  We may report information about your Account to credit bureaus.  Late payments, missed payments, 
or other defaults on your Account may be reflected on your credit report.  If you believe that we have reported inaccurate 
information to a consumer reporting agency, write to us at the Customer Service address listed on your billing statement and we will 
investigate the matter. 

17.  No Waiver by Us: We may, without notice to you, delay or refrain from enforcing our rights under this Agreement without losing 
them (e.g., we may extend the time to make some payments without extending the time to make other payments, accept late or 
partial payments without waiving our right to have future payments made when they are due, and/or waive any charge or fee without 
losing our right to impose that charge or fee when it is due under this Agreement).  

18.  Telephone Contacts, Monitoring and Recording:  You agree that your calls with us may be monitored and/or recorded and 
that we (or anyone acting on our behalf) may contact you from time to time regarding your Account (including for collections 
purposes).  You further agree that all of our contacts with you may be made via text message or with an automated dialing and 
announcing or similar device and/or an artificial voice or prerecorded message.  You also agree that we may contact you at any 
telephone number you provide to us, whether a residential or business number, even if that number is a wireless, cellular or mobile 
number; is converted to a mobile/wireless number; or connects to any type of mobile/wireless device.  You agree that you have an 
established business relationship with us, that all of our contacts with you are not unsolicited, and that we may contact you at the 
telephone number you provide in this application, in any of the ways described above, with advertisements and telemarketing 
messages regarding products and services that we believe may be of interest to you.  You understand that your consent to 
telemarketing contacts is not a condition of purchasing any property, goods, or services.  To opt out of these contacts, please call 
Customer Service at 1-800-877-3616 or 1-330-668-5000, Ext. 6867. 

19.  Governing Law: This Agreement and your Account and any claim, dispute, or controversy arising from or relating to this 
Agreement or your Account are governed, to the extent applicable, by U.S. federal law and the law of the state of your billing 
address when this Account was opened or, for non-U.S. residents, the law of the state where the Account was opened  (without 
regard to conflicts of laws principles), unless we receive written notice that you have moved to another U.S. state pursuant to 
Paragraph 20.  If we receive notice of a change in your billing address, except for any Annual Percentage Rate (and corresponding 
monthly periodic rate) applicable to any outstanding balance, the terms applicable to the state of your new billing address will apply 
to all balances on your Account after we receive written notice of your new address.  Any Annual Percentage Rate (and 
corresponding monthly periodic rate) applicable to a balance outstanding prior to notification of a change in billing address will 
continue to apply to such balance until it is paid off. 

20.  Change of Address or Other Contact Information:  You agree to notify us promptly in writing of any changes to your billing 
address, phone number, email address, and other contact information.  Until we receive written notice of your new billing address or 
email address, if you have elected to receive notices electronically, we will continue to send billing statements and other notices to 
the address we have on file for your Account.  Subject to Paragraph 19, we deem you to reside at the billing address we have on file 
for the purpose of applying terms that vary with your state of residence.   

21.  Assignment: We may sell, transfer, or assign our rights or obligations under this Agreement without prior notice to you.  You 
may not sell, transfer, or assign your rights or obligations under this Agreement or your Account. 

22.  Liability for Unauthorized Use: You agree to notify us promptly if your Card is lost or stolen, or of the unauthorized use of your 
Card, by writing to us at Shaw’s Jewelers, P.O. Box 3680, Akron, OH 44309-3680 or by calling us at 1-800-877-3616.  If you orally 
give us notice, you agree to confirm in writing.  You may be liable for unauthorized use of your Card prior to your notification of us.  
You will not be liable for unauthorized use that occurs after you notify us of the loss, theft, or unauthorized use and, in any case, 
your liability will not exceed $50.00. 

 
 
23.  Authorized Users: You may request additional Cards on your Account, and you may permit an Authorized User to have 
access to a Card.  However, if you do, you are responsible for all charges made by the Authorized User, including charges for which 
you may not have intended to be responsible.  You must notify us to revoke an Authorized User’s permission to use your Account.  
If you do so, we may close the Account and issue a new Card or Cards with a different Account number. 

Notice to District of Columbia Residents: A financial benefit inures to the seller by way of commission or rebate resulting from 
your purchase of Credit Insurance coverage on this Account.  

Notice to Florida Residents: The Annual Percentage Rates shown above are authorized by Chapter 655 of the Florida Statutes. 

Notice to Maryland Residents: This Account is governed by Subtitle 9, Title 12 of the Maryland Commercial Law Article. 

Notice to Michigan Residents: The seller retains a security interest in the subject matter of this 

Agreement. 

Notice to Texas Residents: The Regular APR shown above is authorized by the Market Competitive Rate ceiling that is in effect 
under Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 303.009. To contact Shaw’s Jewelers about this Account, call 1-800-877-3616.  This contract is subject 
in whole or in part to Texas law which is enforced by the Consumer Credit Commissioner, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 
78705-4207, Phone 1-512-936-7600 or 1-800-538-1579.  Contact the Commissioner relative to any inquiries or complaints. 

NOTICE: ANY HOLDER OF THIS CONSUMER CREDIT CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO ALL CLAIMS 
AND DEFENSES WHICH THE DEBTOR COULD ASSERT AGAINST THE SELLER OF GOODS OR 
SERVICES OBTAINED PURSUANT HERETO OR WITH THE PROCEEDS HEREOF.  RECOVERY 
HEREUNDER BY THE DEBTOR SHALL NOT EXCEED AMOUNTS PAID BY THE DEBTOR 
HEREUNDER.  

NOTICE TO THE BUYER: 1. DO NOT SIGN THE APPLICATION AND/OR THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT 
BEFORE YOU READ IT OR IF IT CONTAINS ANY BLANK SPACES.  2. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A 
COMPLETELY FILLED IN COPY OF THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT.  3. YOU MAY AT ANY TIME PAY 
THE TOTAL BALANCE OUTSTANDING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT INCURRING ANY 
ADDITIONAL CHARGE.  4. KEEP THIS AGREEMENT TO PROTECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.  5. YOU 
MAY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES REDEEM THE PROPERTY, IF REPOSSESSED 
BECAUSE OF YOUR DEFAULT, AND YOU MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, REQUIRE A 
RESALE OF THE PROPERTY REPOSSESSED.  6. THE SELLER HAS NO RIGHT TO UNLAWFULLY 
ENTER YOUR PREMISES OR COMMIT ANY BREACH OF THE PEACE TO REPOSSESS GOODS 
PURCHASED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. ADDITIONAL NOTICE FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND 
WASHINGTON RESIDENTS:  7. YOU MAY CANCEL A PURCHASE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IF IT 
HAS BEEN SIGNED BY A PARTY THERETO AT A PLACE OTHER THAN THE ADDRESS OF THE 
SELLER, WHICH MAY BE HIS MAIN OFFICE OR BRANCH THEREOF; PROVIDED, YOU NOTIFY 
THE SELLER IN WRITING AT HIS MAIN OFFICE OR BRANCH, BY ORDINARY MAIL POSTED, BY 
TELEGRAM SENT OR BY DELIVERY, NOT LATER THAN MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS 
DAY FOLLOWING A PURCHASE UNDER THIS RETAIL INSTALLMENT CREDIT AGREEMENT. 

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS RETAIL INSTALLMENT CREDIT 
AGREEMENT. 

Buyer 

Co-Buyer 

Seller-Creditor 

Signature 

Signature 
Mario Weiss 
signature 

Mario P. Weiss, Senior Vice President Credit Operations, 
Sterling Jewelers Inc., d/b/a Shaw’s Jewelers, 
P.O. Box 3680, Akron, OH 44309-3680 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Your Billing Rights: Keep this Document for Future Use  

This notice tells you about your rights and our responsibilities under the Fair Credit Billing Act. 

What To Do If You Find A Mistake On Your Statement  

If you think there is an error on your statement, write to us at:  

Sterling Jewelers Inc. 
P.O. Box 3680 
Akron, OH 44309-3680 

In your letter, give us the following information:  

  Account information: Your name and account number.  
  Dollar amount: The dollar amount of the suspected error.  
  Description of problem: If you think there is an error on your bill, describe what you believe is wrong and why you 

believe it is a mistake.  

You must contact us:  

  Within 60 days after the error appeared on your statement.  
  At least 3 business days before an automated payment is scheduled, if you want to stop payment on the amount you 

think is wrong.  

You must notify us of any potential errors in writing. You may call us, but if you do we are not required to investigate any potential 
errors and you may have to pay the amount in question.  

What Will Happen After We Receive Your Letter  

When we receive your letter, we must do two things:  

1.  Within 30 days of receiving your letter, we must tell you that we received your letter. We will also tell you if we have 

already corrected the error.  

2.  Within 90 days of receiving your letter, we must either correct the error or explain to you why we believe the bill is correct.  

While we investigate whether or not there has been an error: 

  We cannot try to collect the amount in question, or report you as delinquent on that amount.  
  The charge in question may remain on your statement, and we may continue to charge you interest on that amount.  
  While you do not have to pay the amount in question, you are responsible for the remainder of your balance.  
  We can apply any unpaid amount against your credit limit.  

After we finish our investigation, one of two things will happen: 

 

 

If we made a mistake:  You will not have to pay the amount in question or any interest or other fees related to that 
amount.  

If we do not believe there was a mistake:  You will have to pay the amount in question, along with applicable interest 
and fees. We will send you a statement of the amount you owe and the date payment is due. We may then report 
you as delinquent if you do not pay the amount we think you owe.  

If you receive our explanation but still believe your bill is wrong, you must write to us within 10 days telling us that you still refuse to 
pay.  If you do so, we cannot report you as delinquent without also reporting that you are questioning your bill.  We must tell you the 
name of anyone to whom we reported you as delinquent, and we must let those organizations know when the matter has been 
settled between us. 

If we do not follow all of the rules above, you do not have to pay the first $50.00 of the amount you question even if your bill is 
correct.  

Your Rights If You Are Dissatisfied With Your Credit Card Purchases 

If you are dissatisfied with the goods or services that you have purchased with your credit card, and you have tried in good faith to 
correct the problem with the merchant, you may have the right not to pay the remaining amount due on the purchase.  

To use this right, all of the following must be true: 

1.  The purchase must have been made in your home state or within 100 miles of your current mailing address, and the 

purchase price must have been more than $50.00.   (Note: Neither of these are necessary if your purchase was based on 
an advertisement we mailed to you, or if we own or operate the company that sold you the goods or services.)  
2.  You must have used your credit card for the purchase.   Purchases made with cash advances from an ATM or with a 

check that accesses your credit card account do not qualify.  

3.  You must not yet have fully paid for the purchase.  

If all of the criteria above are met and you are still dissatisfied with the purchase, contact us in writing at the address listed above. 

While we investigate, the same rules apply to the disputed amount as discussed above.  After we finish our investigation, we will tell 
you of our decision.  At that point, if we think you owe an amount and you do not pay, we may report you as delinquent.  

 
 
FACTS  WHAT DOES SHAW’S JEWELERS  

DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION? 

Rev. 10/13 

Why? 

What? 

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.  Federal law 
gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.  Federal law also requires 
us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please 
read this notice carefully to understand what we do. 

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or 
service you have with us.  This information can include: 
  Social Security number and account balances 
  Payment history and transaction history 
  Credit history and credit scores 
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as 
described in this notice. 

How? 

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their 
everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can 
share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Shaw’s Jewelers chooses to 
share; and whether you can limit this sharing. 

Reasons we can share your personal information 

Does Shaw’s Jewelers 
share? 

Can you limit 
this sharing? 

For our everyday business purposes – 
such as to process your transactions, maintain your 
account(s), respond to court orders and legal 
investigations, or report to credit bureaus  

For our marketing purposes – 
to offer our products and services to you 

For joint marketing with other financial 
companies 

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – 
information about your transactions and experiences  

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – 
information about your creditworthiness 

For our nonaffiliates to market to you 

Questions?  Visit www.shawsjewelers.com 

YES 

YES 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

We don’t share. 

We don’t share. 

We don’t share. 

We don’t share. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 2 

What we do 
How does Shaw’s Jewelers protect my 
personal information? 

To protect your personal information from 
unauthorized access and use, we use security 
measures that comply with federal law.  These 
measures include computer safeguards and secured 
files and buildings. 

How does Shaw’s Jewelers collect my 
personal information? 

We collect your personal information, for example, 
when you 

  open an account or give us your contact 

information 

  pay your bills or apply for a loan 
  use your credit or debit card 

We also collect your personal information from 
others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other 
companies. 

Why can’t I limit all sharing? 

Federal law gives you the right to limit only 

Definitions 

Affiliates 

Nonaffiliates 

Joint marketing 

  sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes 

– information about your creditworthiness 

  affiliates from using your information to market to 

you 

  sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you 

State laws and individual companies may give you 
additional rights to limit sharing. 

Companies related by common ownership or control.  
They can be financial and nonfinancial companies. 

  Shaw’s Jewelers does not share with affiliates. 

Companies not related by common ownership or 
control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial 
companies. 

  Shaw’s Jewelers does not share with 

nonaffiliates so they can market to you. 

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial 
companies that together market financial products or 
services to you. 

  Shaw’s Jewelers does not joint market. 

Other important information 
If you reside in CA or VT, we do not share information to market to you pursuant to joint marketing agreements. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRICING SCHEDULE FOR  SHAW’S JEWELERS  

The following pricing terms were available as of 10/09/2013.  These pricing terms may not be 
available now.  If you apply, your terms will be based on the terms of the offer at the time of 
application.   

I nterest Rates and Charges 

Annual Percentage 
Rate (APR) for 
Purchases  

If you reside in  
the state of:  

We apply the monthly 
periodic rate of:  

AL 

AR 
CO, GA, IN, MS, OK, 
TN, TX, VT, WY 
DC, MD 
HI, MA, MN, NC 

NE 

All other states  

1.75% to $750.00  
1.5% over $750.00 
1.4167% 

1.75% 

2.0% 
1.5% 
1.75% to $499.99 
1.5% for $500.00 & 
more 
2.0825% 

ANNUAL 
PERCENTAGE 
RATE 
21% 
18% 
17% 

21% 

24% 
18% 
21% 
18% 

24.99% 

How to Avoid 
Paying I nterest on 
Purchases  

M inimum I nterest 
Charge  

Balance 
Computation 
M ethod 

Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle.  We will not charge 
you interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance by the due date each month. 

If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $1.00; except in MI, MO, NY, TN, 
and TX, where the charge will be no less than $0.70; except in AL, AZ, CO, IN, LA, ME, MA, 
MN, MS, MT, NJ, OK, PA, SC, SD, VT, WV and WY, where the charge will be no less than 
$0.50; and except in AR, DC, HI, IA, MD, NE, NM, NC and RI, where there is no such 
minimum.  

In all states except MN and NM, we calculate Interest Charges using the average daily 
balance method (including current transactions).  In MN and NM, we calculate Interest 
Charges using the average daily balance method (excluding current transactions).  We 
calculate interest separately for each balance on your Account subject to different terms 
(including APR and duration).  We figure the Interest Charges by applying the applicable 
monthly periodic rate to the “average daily balance” for that balance.  To get the average 
daily balance for a balance, we take the beginning balance each day, add any new 
transactions (except we do not add in any new transactions in MN and NM); subtract any 
payments or credits and any Late Payment Fees, any Returned Payment Fees, and/or 
unpaid Interest Charges; and make other adjustments.  This gives us the daily balance.  
Then, we add up all the daily balances for the billing cycle and divide the total by the 
number of days in the billing cycle.  This gives us the average daily balance.  Any negative 
daily balance will be treated as zero.  The applicable monthly periodic rate for a balance is 
the applicable Annual Percentage Rate divided by twelve (12), and rounded to the fourth 
decimal place. 

 1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fees  

Annual 
Fee 

Returned 
Payment 
Fee 

None  

If any check, instrument, or electronic authorization used to pay us is not honored upon first 
presentment, (for residents of MD, second presentment), even if the check, instrument or electronic 
authorization is later honored, we may charge you a Returned Payment Fee.  Except as set forth for 
specified states below, this fee is up to $30.00.  The fee charged generally will be the highest amount 
permitted by law, subject to the specified maximum.  This means that the fee generally will not exceed 
the amount of the required minimum payment due immediately prior to the date on which the payment 
is returned.  In addition, the first time you make a payment that is returned, the fee will not exceed 
$25.00.  If you make another payment that is returned during the next six billing cycles, the fee will not 
exceed $30.00. 

State 
GA 
AZ, AR, CO, IL, IN, MI, NV, 
NC, OK, OR, RI, WV 
FL, LA 
CA, MD, MO, TX 
CT, HI, ID, IA, NJ, NY, UT 
DC, DE, MA, NE, NM, PA, VT, 
WY 

Fee 
Greater of 5% of amount of payment or $30.00 
$25.00 

Greater of 5% of amount of payment or $25.00 
$15.00 
$20.00 
None 

 2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Fees 
Cont. 

Late 
Payment
Fee 

If we do not receive your minimum payment by its due date (or within seven (7) days in VA; within ten 
(10) days in AL, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OK, SC, WV, 
and WY; within fifteen (15) days in CA, ME, and MA; within twenty-one (21) days in TX; within thirty 
(30) days in NC; and within forty (40) days in RI), we will impose a Late Payment Fee.  The maximum 
fee is set forth below.  The fee charged generally will be the highest amount permitted by law.  This 
means that the fee generally will not exceed the amount of the required minimum payment due 
immediately prior to the assessment of the fee.  In addition, the first time you pay late, the fee will not 
exceed $25.00.  If you pay late again during the next six billing cycles, the fee will not exceed $35.00.   

State 
AK, AR, CT, HI, LA, MD, MI, MN, 
MS, NV, NH, NY, ND, OH, OR, 
PA, SD, WI 

AL 

AZ, KS, MO 

CA, CO, DC, IA 
DE, MT, NM, TN, VT 
FL, NJ, TX 
GA 

ID 

IL, KY, WY 

IN 

ME 
MA 
NE 
NC 

OK 

RI 

SC 

UT 

VA 

WA 

WV 

Fee  

$35.00 (except $29.00 if the outstanding balance is $249.99 or less) 

5% of amount past due but not more than $35.00 and not less than 
$18.00 

$10.00 (except $5.00 if the minimum payment is $5.00 to $25.00) 

$15.00 
None 
$10.00 
$25.00 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $15.00 (but not to exceed 
$35.00) 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $10.00 (but not to exceed 
$35.00) 
$18.00 The amount of the late payment fee is subject to change as 
provided in IN Code § 24-4.5-1-106. 
Lesser of 5% of amount past due or $10.00 
Lesser of 10% of outstanding balance or $10.00 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $5.00 (but not to exceed $35.00) 
$10.00 (except $5.00 if the outstanding balance is under $100.00) 
5% of amount past due but not more than $23.50 and not less than 
$5.00 
$12.00 
5% of amount past due, but not more than $17.50 and not less 
than $7.00. The amount of the late fee is subject to change as 
provided in SC Code § 37-1-109. 
Greater of 5% of amount past due or $30.00 (but not to exceed 
$35.00) 
5% of amount of installment (but not to exceed $35.00) 
$35.00 (except 10% of the average daily balance for prior 30-day 
period, but not less than $2.00, if the balance is less than 
$100.00) 
Lesser of 5% of amount past due or $15.00 

 3