Freecreditreport.com is not so free

[zabbkoff]

Hey everyone!

Well, I was duped! And I assume that a lot of others are too! I was looking at our credit card bill a little more closely, and saw two charges for "CIC Triple Advantage" at $12.95. Google'd the term, saw it was essentially a scam, called the credit card company and cancelled the "service." Apparently, when you go to freecreditreport.com and get a credit report, you are unknowingly put on a 30 day free trial for the "CIC Triple Advantage" service, and if you don't cancel within the 30 days, you'll start seeing this charge each month, for each person that you order the credit report for!

If this is common knowledge, then I must've been hiding under the credit reporting rock!

Anyone else fall victim?

Ben

[baking23]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

Hey everyone!

If this is common knowledge, then I must've been hiding under the credit reporting rock!

Anyone else fall victim?

Ben

Someone online mentioned that it was, and I know there is a Federal law that you can get your credit report for free, but only once a year. I've used them once a year for a few years and never had unwanted charges show up on my bill. You can pay to get more indepth reports though.

Here is the website:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

I hope you have better luck with this one.

[poundwise]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free


The annual credit report site in the previous post is the ONLY legitimate web site for getting your free annual credit report. All of the other advertising of free credit reports or free credit scores are corporate scams that backhandedly sign you up for credit monitoring or other services.

[Mr. Furley]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

Hey everyone!

Well, I was duped! And I assume that a lot of others are too! I was looking at our credit card bill a little more closely, and saw two charges for "CIC Triple Advantage" at $12.95. Google'd the term, saw it was essentially a scam, called the credit card company and cancelled the "service." Apparently, when you go to freecreditreport.com and get a credit report, you are unknowingly put on a 30 day free trial for the "CIC Triple Advantage" service, and if you don't cancel within the 30 days, you'll start seeing this charge each month, for each person that you order the credit report for!

If this is common knowledge, then I must've been hiding under the credit reporting rock!

Anyone else fall victim?

Ben

The official site for the free report is:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

[poundwise]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

The official site for the free report is:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Um. Yes. As in the post above.

[neatdesign]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

Apparently, when you go to freecreditreport.com and get a credit report, you are unknowingly put on a 30 day free trial for the "CIC Triple Advantage" service, and if you don't cancel within the 30 days, you'll start seeing this charge each month, for each person that you order the credit report for!

The others are right -- there is only one website that legitimately offers free credit reports, and that's https://www.annualcreditreport.com.

I'm not trying to rub salt in the wound, but I'm not sure how you can say someone is "unknowingly" signed up for a 30-day free trial and must cancel to avoid future monthly charges. This is disclosed right on the home page of the freecreditreports.com website. The full text of the disclosure is posted right there on the home page, under the section entitled "Important Information" which says in part:

"When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 30-day trial period, you will be billed $12.95 for each month that you continue your membership.

ConsumerInfo.com and Freecreditreport.com are not affiliated with the annual free credit report program. Under a new Federal law, you have the right to receive a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. To request your free annual report under that law, you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com."

So, it isn't a scam if they put that full disclosure right on their home page, especially if they clearly mention that you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com if you want a free (as in, always free) credit report. People who go to that website need to read and agree with the disclosure before deciding to sign up for that company's service.

~ Jenney

[zabbkoff]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

Jenney,

You're totally right. It's not an outright scam. I suppose I'm just mad that I didn't read the fine print, which sadly, I tend to either just glance over, or ignore all together. I just assume it's all legal jargon that I won't be able to follow anyway. That's my own fault.

Regardless, I do think it's a little backhanded. It'd be like netflix advertising all over TV saying that you can rent movies for free all you want, and then putting in the fine print that it's a 2 week free trial, then you're billed thereafter. It's not a scam, but a lot of people will feel betrayed. In my experience, almost all "consumer friendly" organizations will let you know exactly what you're doing before you sign up. For instance, netflix!

Again, assuming the fine print is only legal jargon is not the way to go. I suppose the purpose of my post is to let others know. I'm not disputing the charges for the very reason that you mention.

Ben

[poundwise]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free


Well, maybe the use of the word scam, etc isn't exactly right wording but that light blue text on the dark blue background over to the left of all the larger print, colorful, big button, arrow-pointing, rest of the page isn't exactly a strong effort to disclose terms.

Besides that, the TV advertising and the web site both did not have this information initially. After they were charged by the FTC, due to their deceptive practices, they added the one line statement, "Free credit report with enrollment in triple-advantage" to the TV ads and, no doubt, the text on the home page.

While it is better than it once was, this is still a deceptive practice that does 'dupe' many.

[asmom]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

After they were charged by the FTC, due to their deceptive practices, they added the one line statement, "Free credit report with enrollment in triple-advantage" to the TV ads and, no doubt, the text on the home page.

While it is better than it once was, this is still a deceptive practice that does 'dupe' many.

I was wondering what became of the FTC's investigation. As far as I can tell, the advertising is still just as deceptive. So much for consumer protection.

[neatdesign]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

You're totally right. It's not an outright scam. I suppose I'm just mad that I didn't read the fine print, which sadly, I tend to either just glance over, or ignore all together. I just assume it's all legal jargon that I won't be able to follow anyway.

Well, just think of it this way: All the people who have read and will read this thread will learn from your experience! That's got to count for something!

While it is better than it once was, this is still a deceptive practice that does 'dupe' many.

It's better than having a teeny, tiny "Important Information" link at the bottom of the home page. At least this disclosure is posted right up front and in plain English. It's unfortunate that it took an FTC mandate to get them to post it, but at least it's there and easy to find. That's more than the credit card companies can say about the fine print on their offers, and I would guess that more people sign up for credit cards than sign up for free credit reports.

~ Jenney

[vsjhoc]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

If you give someone your credit card number, expect that you are not getting something "free"!

[abowers]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

I've used Free Credit Report.com before, but I cancelled before the 30 day period was up, so it was free for me.

That was just once, since then I've used the annual credit report website.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

I used them two and a half years ago and did not feel deceived at all. It was clear they are a business and they told me _more than once_ in the process that I was enrolling in this free for thirty days, billable thereafter program that I could cancel at any time. They also gave me options to purchase further services in the process. I downloaded the report and then got on the phone that same hour to cancel the service. The phone number to do this was clearly provided; I did not have to go hunting for it. Lickety-split, nice and tidy. I don't specifically remember, but I think I could have cancelled via internet as well.

Of course, now I know how to get reports from each of the 3 big credit report agencies from annualcreditreport.com. I just used that service 34 days ago.

[kv968]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

Although annualcreditreport.com is the legit site and is free, it'll cost you to get your FICO score. It's only a few dollars and not needed if you don't want it, but I just wanted to make you aware of that.

[poundwise]

Re: Freecreditreport.com is not so free

It's better than having a teeny, tiny "Important Information" link at the bottom of the home page. At least this disclosure is posted right up front and in plain English. It's unfortunate that it took an FTC mandate to get them to post it, but at least it's there and easy to find. That's more than the credit card companies can say about the fine print on their offers, and I would guess that more people sign up for credit cards than sign up for free credit reports.

Too true!