Kmart apologizes for canceling online layaways

A week before Christmas and Kmart is apologizing for accidentally canceling customers’ online layaways.

The Hoffman Estates-based retailer is working to contact customers who received the cancellation notices and issue refunds, according to a blog post.

“We are working to find the items that were identified as out of stock. And if we can find them, we will provide those items for free and ship at no cost,” the company said.

“We are very sorry that this has happened – and we know this is a special time of year for families. We are working hard to make things right.”

Kmart says the problem affected only online layaway contracts.