The original jingles for FreeCreditReport.com couldn't save the website from getting scrutinized by the law. The credit card reform bill signals a score of changes for the credit card industry and more, as demonstrated by the action taken against the scammy credit report site.
Notoriously, FreeCreditReport.com advertised its ironically named service through commercials that led consumers to believe credit reports ordered on the site were actually free. Too many trusting customers used the site expecting to receive their free report, when in fact they had to sign up for a $15 per month credit monitoring service before accessing a "free" report.
Under the new law, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will issue revised rules that mandate advertisers to acknowledge AnnualCreditReport.com as the only place for a free credit report. Expect the new FreeCreditReport.com radio and TV commercials to include this statement: "This is not the free credit report provided for by Federal law."
Were you ever a victim of the misleading advertisements?
3.1 Phillip Lim
Matthew Williamson
Vivance
I was!
1Don't people wonder about this when they have to give credit card information? I mean, to me, that's usually a signal that it's not actually free.
2so true lilk. That would be an obvious to me.
3Ha ha! I'm happy about this. My husband signed up for this and asked for it to be taken off a month later, it was taken off for a month then mysteriously reappeared, we didn't catch it for 2 months. He called again and asked it to be taken off and got plenty of info and names so he can file a suit if it keeps coming up again. We'll see this month.
4This website is such a scam. I wish more people knew about the free reports that the government provides.
5I thought I was being smart. I used this website to get the free report, and then I put it on my calendar to call and cancel it but I forgot and got charged.
Don't the real free ones not include your credit score?
6Yeah, Modus, the real ones are just reports, no score.
I can see how someone could make the mistake you made of forgetting to cancel the service. I just don't get how someone could not realize that, if you don't cancel the service, you will be charged!
7But the real score only costs, what $8? I mean, it seems a lot more legit to do it that way than have to worry about your card being charged and remembering to cancel and fight and all.
8I was!! It sucked horribly. I used Experian too...which is supposed to be free and you can check it once a year. Somehow it was then connected back to the freecreditreport and I got screwed.
9Oh, then I don't feel so bad. I was only charged $12, and once I saw the charge on my credit card I remembered to cancel it.
10I felt the ads were very offensive poking fun at credit problems claiming a bad credit report will land a person a low-paying job. In these hard times for many people it is not a good idea to poke fun at misfortune
11Not to many people realize that they can get a free credit report from all three reporting agencies. I almost paid, but this site helped with instructions on how to get a free credit report. Never paid for a report and always pull a copy yearly.
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