Yes, yes, we've all seen the commercials. The lovely jingle.. free credit report dot com!
Well the site is not lovely. I signed up for that one day. I thought I was signing up for the once-a-year free credit report that all people are legally granted. I figured this because the same credit agencies who keep track of scores and reports are the same people who get paid when you sign up to FreeCreditReport.com
Sure, when you sign up they do ask for your credit card information; but I assumed this was just one of the steps that they used to check identities. I was wrong. What they don't tell you is that after a brief trial period with the program they call "Triple Advantage" they then charge around $30.00 a month.
Sure, I called. I told them how it's bull, that they fool people by saying "free" credit report. Even more; they don't let you quit until after your trial is over - it dosen't make any sense. Whatever, I got screwed by these guys. Don't let it happen to you.
If you ARE looking for your annual free credit report that is required by law (because of how often credit report mistakes happen) then the website you want to go to, and oddly enough is run by the same credit agencies, is AnnualCreditReport.com
Good luck; happy credit reporting.
DO NOT GO TO FreeCreditReport.Com
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73 comments:
Call up equifax, transunion, or Experian. using toll free number from their web sites. They give you the url on their web site for 'free' credit reports.
Wow. It says that you have to enroll in TripleAdvantage on the website, on their radio ads, and on television. Awesome.
if you thought you were getting anything for free you are an idiot... plain and simple. you deserved to have been charged even more for your stupidity. LAME
you're an idiot.
They tell you to unsubscribe if you don't want their monthly service...did you not read that?
I recently used the service...worked fine and I was able to call and opt out before my trial period was up...the service was great.
FreeCreditReport.com has in the past changed their website in response to consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau, then claimed that the website was always providing warnings and terms of cancellation. They've got a pretty hefty file at the BBB for complaints exactly like this one, and typically if you file a formal complaint they'll refund your money.
Nah I've used freecreditreport.com and didn't get screwed. Just called and told them to cancel my account immediately, then they sent me an email with a URL I clicked to cancel.
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/
this is where you go to get your report each year. You enter the site, and it takes you to the URL for your yearly report. You repeat for each bureau. It works very well and is completely free.
this is the site that gives you free credit report, https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
not the one you went to and oh by the way, freecreditreport advertisement clearly states that you need to enroll in triple advantage to get that offer, and if you don't pay attention to that then it's your fault...
had the same problem (before they had crap loads of adverts with the small print) and the site failed to warn before(tho maybe burried in a TOS or somthing). All i did was call up the credit card company and do a charge back.
Problem solved
do you not watch the commercials? It says it right there on the screen: (*with free trial of whatever), and those free trials always make it impossible to cancel, so you have to pay at least one or two months.
The sickest part is that FreeCreditReport.com is owned by Experian, one of the big 3.
I would bet my last dollar that the decision to use the "free" url for the paid site was quite deliberate.
Best not to go throwing around your credit card details on the internet if you aren't planning on spending.
Don't have a lot of time to elaborate, so I'll just say dumbass. Okay, off to dinner.
The commercial that you refer to in your opening statement says in block letters that you'll receive a free credit report with the "triple advantage program". I've seen it every time I watch that vile ad. Don't blame them for your oversight.
you're a freaking idiot!
the ad even says you have to enroll in triple advantage! what's wrong w/ Americans - get w/ the fucking program - whenever someone says something is free or similar - read the fucking fine print!!!
Anyone knows that annualcreditreport.com is the governments website for free credit checking... IDIOT
The website you want for a free credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com. I've used it for the past 2 years. The only thing it doesn't give you is your beacon score, but that would cost you at most $7-15.
Moron. Nothing is free. This proves that even people who can't read can have a blog and get dugg.
You guys crack me up.
You are a complete and utter idiot. It clearly gives you the option to NOT sign up for their monthly service and just get the free credit report.
You are one of the biggest idiots I have seen trying to get this story attention.
I bet you believe that french fries came from France too right?
Hey, look up, its a FreeCreditReport.com ad right above your post where you're complaining about "allegedly" being screwed by them.
How's that for irony?
Yeh I noticed that too. Hilarious
Wow, you're not very bright.. The TV commercials also say you have to enroll. I bet you believe in the tooth fairy too, huh?
a fool and his money...
I knew about this awhile ago because they have a class action suit pending against them. in fact, i had my purse stolen a few years ago and got a credit report through them because of the threat of a stolen identity. i'd been charged at least 2 months for it without noticing and without a refund when i canceled. i obviously did not see the fine print - and unless you were looking for it, could be easily missed (something also cited in the lawsuit). i have also noticed that they have begun saying the triple advantage thing in the commercials, which is something they had not done previously. maybe now the website states it more clearly than when i used it...
anyway, i have been contacted by this website for a settlement. i must still be in their records. check it:
http://www.browningsettlement.com/
Interesting comment. I appreciate it. I agree; the "triple advantage" was kept relatively secret in the way they use to advertise. The class action lawsuit is interesting and does apply to me - but it sounds like the settlement is credit monitoring which I don't need at the moment.
You can get your raw credit history (not credit score) for free. If you want your credit score or other stuff they make you pay for that.
what my dad did was call them and yell at them a bit and they will give u ur money back.
I had no problem at all - joined, got my report, cancelled my membership.
This was back in mid-2004; these days I would just go directly to the agencies.
Meep meep! The short bus is here to pick you up, idiot. Nothing's free. READ THE FUCKING FINE PRINT, IDIOT.
Man, I love how ballsy everyone gets when I let people post anonymously. This is hilarious.
actually, free credit report does give you just that. they DO tell you that after 30 days, they're going to charge you. And yet again, they DO allow you to cancel your membership anytime. I've used their service about 3 times now, canceling the service a few days after I got my report. I never had a problem.And no, I don't work for them.
I was able to cancel the very same day that I got my free credit report from them. They advised that the trial period was still in effect and I even received an email from them when it was over telling me that it had been canceled and my credit card was never charged. Not sure why you had difficulties unless....cough cough...you didn't notify them in time.
Go look at the Digg story you posted retard. Just about all the comments are about how completely brain dead you are, and they aren't exactly anonymous. By the way, I've got this awesome bridge that I'm getting ready to sell. It goes right over the East River. Interested?
i never give anyone my credit card info unless it is a store i trust ~
why would anyone need it if they were not going to charge you ~
and i avoid free trials it is too much trouble to keep track and a nightmare to 'fix' anything ~
I actually did this too. However all I had to do was go to my ever helpful Wells Fargo bank and tell them I did not authorize that transaction. I was refunded and Triple Advantage is no longer allowed to take anything from my bank account.
I was surprised at how lucky I got with that.
By the way, I hope they stop more irritant tv commercials like this one: http://zonow.com/54
There is a disclaimer on the ad that states it is not the free one granted by law. Read what you sign up for. Your fault.
You are stupid. Read the fine print before you sign up for crap.
BTW, I'll give you a new car for free, you just need to give men all your personal information and sign some forms....
Are you an idiot? This has been a KNOWN fraud for years.
Get with the Program.
I waiting until about 3 days before my 30 day trial expired, called them up and asked they cancel it. This was about 4 months ago, I was not charged anything. I dont like the way they have you go through 50 different pages to get where you need to go, but you can get a free credit report (ONE report only, everything else is extra). Just follow the fine print and youll be ok.
I have been enrolled in triple advantage for about a year now. It is only like $12 a month, not $30. I think it is really cool because they send me an email every time anything changes on any of my 3 bureau reports. I found a ton of piddly little stuff on there that I didn't recognize, I disputed the charges, and the companies removed most of them which raised my score by 100 points. It sucks that you had a bad experience.
Funny, i've used that site several times with much success in obtaining my credit reports. If you pay attention to what the hell you are doing, you could likely avoid these kind of errors. Also- that site is dependent on what state you are in to qualify for the 'free' report (sans score number). You are the one that gave out your credit card information. I've never paid them a dime, never will since I personally believe nobody should have to pay for their own information.
At the bottom of the tv screen during their commercials, they even say "for a free credit report, visit annualcreditreport.com" which I thought was really weird...
i got suckered into the monthly fee thing as well, this was about a year ago, and the statements that you would be charged were a little more sparse. ok, so my fault for not reading everything. when i did call to cancel they said ok well take you right off. a few months later i notice im still being charged. ok, wtf. i call again and try to get my refund, they admit rather quickly that this was their error, but they can only give me back part of my refund over the phone. the rest i have to write a letter to receive. ok, wtf again. these guys are hoping to use your complacency to get as much money out of you as possible. very dishonest practices.
cheers to the author for pointing this out to readers who may not have been expecting it.
at the end of the little jingle the guy sais "requires enrollment in "Triple Advantage" and they tell u that "Triple Advantage" cost money so if u think u got got suckered in u should read the fine print and pay attention.
Come on dude you can't be that simple.
The last time I checked anything that said free on the intert00bz meant you needed to look at the fine print closely.
Do you also go to free internet porn sites and expect to get all the porn you ever wanted for free as long as you use your credit card and 1.99 for verification?
You're the same guy who's surprised you can't get a free Ipod or ring tones by clicking a link. Idiot
You are fucking stupid. I deal with people like you all day who don't read SHIT so they ASSUME things. Then when shit doesn't happen as they ASSUME it should they get pissy. I hope you die in a fire.
WARNING TO ANYONE USING CREDIT CHECKS OR SIGNING UP FOR SPECIALTY CREDIT CARDS:
Every credit check you do hurts your credit rating, so when you use one of these services - regardless of whether you pay some fee or not, you're credit rating takes a hit each time ANY company looks up your credit - they don't tell you this but it's in the fine print and rules.
Many stores have their own credit cards that let you get special savings, but what they don't tell you is that whenever you get one of these cards - they do a credit rating check on you, and this takes a few points off your credit rating. If you sign up for many credit cards - you will SERIOUSLY hurt your credit rating, regardless of the fact that you pay off bills ahead of time. Ask your bank about this, they will be able to clarify and tell you even more about this. I speak as someone who has had both experience and knowledge in this field.
You are an Idiot.
I joined them a couple of months ago and left them before my trial... it was a cake walk.
I call you an idiot because you don't read the terms and conditions before shopping on internet (you basically don't know how to make purchase on internet)
blah blah blah something about you being an idiot blah blah blah.
witty ending remark to reinforce my own ego.
If you go to your states taxation department website, it should give you the website to use for your free yearly credit report. The thing with the site with the fancy jingle, is that you have to CANCEL their service before it is billed to your credit cards.
What a horrible company. How dare they do something it says will happen several times during the registration process.
In the interest of full disclosure I did forget to cancel it before the trial expired once and had to pay for a month...oops.
Next time read everything before you sign up for things.
you should use "http://www.annualcreditreport.com". Anyway, ...just watch you are reading because it's normal for them to try to suck in dumbasses to get extra stuff and have them pay for it.
i used it worked for what i wanted..and called up canceled no problem
you obviously did not read terms & condition before signing up. it's all in there.
freecreditreport.com sucks ass. but you get what you deserve. read the fine print.
I have used the service a few weeks ago and I thought the website made a pretty good job of explaining to you that if you did not unenroll you would be charged for the Triple Advantage. I was also able to call the very next day and cancle my free trial without a problem. If you don't read the information they provide you can only blame yourself. O and if you didn't know that you had to call to cancel in order to not be charged how are you making claims that they wouldnt let you cancel until the free trial is up.
Let's hope all you posters, who are throwing around the word 'idiot' never ever make a mistake, because karma's a bitch. Try posting a USEFUL reply, like the REAL free websites to go to. Yeah, I know, I didn't have anything useful to say either.
I didn't think it was possible to not know that signing up for the credit report automatically enrolled you in a monthly membership if you didn't opt out. Sure it's bullsh*t, but still, what an ignorant author.
File your complaint with the FTC. They are violating a consent order.
See
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ftc_consumerinfo.html
Experian by the way is the worlds biggest email spammer too.
I see so many comments deriding the author for getting ripped off by a fortune 500 with a billion dollar advertising budget. Where did they derive their lofty wisdom? Cerainly not from IQ. They figured it out after getting ripped off time and again. Now they like to laugh at those who make the same mistakes they did.
You didn't bother to read? Oh okay.
Maybe I'm retarded...but I got my credit report from them about 2 months ago. It was accurate and free. ...
(1) Go to freecreditreport.com
(2) Sign up but don't read the TOS
(3) ???
(4) PROFIT!
Did you miss the disclaimer spoken at the end? "Offer good with enrollment in triple advantage." Or something to that effect. I am sure there was a warning somewhere on the site you would be enrolling in it. If you didn't know, that is your fault. They didn't rip you off, or scam you, it is a legitimate charge you agreed to. Pay more attention next time.
You need to go here to get your real free credit report, that is required to be given to you once per year by the government.
lol... sucker. Seriously. I've used them 3 years with no incident. You fell prey to one of their up sell opportunity's. They push a ton of them, so one must be careful.
They get you to pay these fees to get you hooked on their sites. The more they can ruin your credit, the more convinced you become that you need their services. It's crazy!
--One Man
http://www.oneyeargoal.com
One Man, One Year, $100,000. Watch him do it.
I closely read the fine print, and never authorized the use of my credit card. I did not sign up for the monthly program, and declined all offers during the sign up process. It sounds like FCR.com changes the signup procedure on a regular basis. After 30 days I logged onto the site & could not get any info without 'ordering' something. So I was convinced they were not charging me a monthly fee, because the website did not provide me with any services! I hope to get a refund soon.
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