Comments on: Credit Repair: Avoid "free"creditreport.com! http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/ The Wesabe blog Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:37:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Matthew http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4190 Matthew Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:58:50 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4190 On May 17, 2008 I signed up for a credit report. What CreditReport.com does NOT make clear is that there is a mandatory sign-up for an $11.95 monthly credit monitoring "service". You then have to opt out of this before the 30-day free trial period ends. It really says something that you have to opt out of a service rather than opt in, no? Talk about a scam. At any rate, I only realized this once they had charged me for the second month (the first apparently was free). The day I received the charge, June 17, I called them up expecting that they would simply refund me the money for the service that I was unaware of and had not used. On the first try they refused and were only willing to cancel the service. Since the first month was free, I should not have been charged for that month, and should have retained service until July 17 (the month they forced me to pay for). However, they canceled the service and ended it immediately (June 17), thereby effectively charging me the $11.95 for nothing. When I called back to complain they gave me the run around for a while. When I mentioned that they must get a lot of complaints like this since as there were so many on the internet, the guy spoke over me repeatedly and rudely told me that other credit report agencies got more. After a long, drawn out argument "Fernando" told me that he was going to refund me the money. I've got the cancellation report and have contacted my bank to notify them that any further charges would be fraudulent. If you have problems, call their toll free number and ask to speak to "FERNANDO 612" or "FERNANDO 6127" (he changed the number by the end of the phone call). If they tell you it is not possible to refund your money point out that you read online that they did. This is a horrible, horrible service. PLEASE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T USE IT!!! They are betting on people not noticing, paying the first month for a service they were unaware of, and not having the fortitude to complain enough or take legal action against them to get their money back. I looked for class action suits against them, but as of this point there don't appear to be any. According to both customer service people that I spoke to the agreement was plainly stated when you sign up, but it wasn't so plain as to catch my eye. They are, at the very least, being astonishingly sleazy. On May 17, 2008 I signed up for a credit report. What CreditReport.com does NOT make clear is that there is a mandatory sign-up for an $11.95 monthly credit monitoring “service”. You then have to opt out of this before the 30-day free trial period ends.

It really says something that you have to opt out of a service rather than opt in, no? Talk about a scam.

At any rate, I only realized this once they had charged me for the second month (the first apparently was free).

The day I received the charge, June 17, I called them up expecting that they would simply refund me the money for the service that I was unaware of and had not used.

On the first try they refused and were only willing to cancel the service.

Since the first month was free, I should not have been charged for that month, and should have retained service until July 17 (the month they forced me to pay for). However, they canceled the service and ended it immediately (June 17), thereby effectively charging me the $11.95 for nothing.

When I called back to complain they gave me the run around for a while. When I mentioned that they must get a lot of complaints like this since as there were so many on the internet, the guy spoke over me repeatedly and rudely told me that other credit report agencies got more.

After a long, drawn out argument “Fernando” told me that he was going to refund me the money. I’ve got the cancellation report and have contacted my bank to notify them that any further charges would be fraudulent.

If you have problems, call their toll free number and ask to speak to “FERNANDO 612″ or “FERNANDO 6127″ (he changed the number by the end of the phone call). If they tell you it is not possible to refund your money point out that you read online that they did.

This is a horrible, horrible service. PLEASE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON’T USE IT!!! They are betting on people not noticing, paying the first month for a service they were unaware of, and not having the fortitude to complain enough or take legal action against them to get their money back.

I looked for class action suits against them, but as of this point there don’t appear to be any.

According to both customer service people that I spoke to the agreement was plainly stated when you sign up, but it wasn’t so plain as to catch my eye. They are, at the very least, being astonishingly sleazy.

]]> By: Money Blog http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4189 Money Blog Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:29:19 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4189 Very informative. With all the threat of ID Theft someone could easily set up a free credit report site only to mine your data. Very informative. With all the threat of ID Theft someone could easily set up a free credit report site only to mine your data.

]]> By: Matt http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4188 Matt Sat, 03 May 2008 01:56:44 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4188 Very useful posts here. This site looks legitimate though from other sites I have reviewed. As always, it is always good to search somewhere else or other forums and reviews sites, before trying the service out. Very useful posts here. This site looks legitimate though from other sites I have reviewed. As always, it is always good to search somewhere else or other forums and reviews sites, before trying the service out.

]]> By: Chas http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4187 Chas Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:11:36 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4187 Thank you for alerting others of the fraud that company's like creditreport.com are imposing on unsuspecting consumers such as myself. I posted a blog about this very thing, (https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3694441246918994564&postID=8315914035520373291&page=1) I had no idea that creditreport.com would steal my money from my account and say that they informed me on their site. I am sure that this "information" was in fine print somewhere in the agreement that I submitted to, but come on! Don't most people accept the terms of a service without reading all of the fine print? I guess I just expected that this company would not rip me off or practice unethical behavior. Apparently $23.90 (the amount they stole from me) is more important to creditreport.com than their good name. I called this company and asked for my money back and they told me they would not refund it. Period. How is $23.90 more important than a life-long happy consumer? How is $23.90 important enough to risk people such as myself going out and warning others of creditreport.com's shady business practices. Shame on creditreport.com! Don't use creditreport.com. They are a scam! Thank you for alerting others of the fraud that company’s like creditreport.com are imposing on unsuspecting consumers such as myself. I posted a blog about this very thing, (https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3694441246918994564&postID=8315914035520373291&page=1)

I had no idea that creditreport.com would steal my money from my account and say that they informed me on their site. I am sure that this “information” was in fine print somewhere in the agreement that I submitted to, but come on! Don’t most people accept the terms of a service without reading all of the fine print? I guess I just expected that this company would not rip me off or practice unethical behavior. Apparently $23.90 (the amount they stole from me) is more important to creditreport.com than their good name. I called this company and asked for my money back and they told me they would not refund it. Period. How is $23.90 more important than a life-long happy consumer? How is $23.90 important enough to risk people such as myself going out and warning others of creditreport.com’s shady business practices. Shame on creditreport.com! Don’t use creditreport.com. They are a scam!

]]> By: Rob http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4186 Rob Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:18:54 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4186 Sorry, one more... @Debbie. Yes they design things like that for idiots that think "Big button look pretty, me click big button!" I think any person with at least an eighth of a functioning brain, would notice that there are many OTHER words also on that same page, and that it may be a good iea to READ those other words, no matter what color they are. If you were at a car dealer looking at a contract that said "ITS YOURS FOR FREE" in large print, and then ten peragraphs stating "we lied, you actually have to pay double the sticker price or we own your soul." would you sign it? I agree with James on this one, people need to pay attention to whats clearlys tated, and not gravitate toward the large shiny candy-like buttons, then complain about their stupidity later. Sorry, one more… @Debbie. Yes they design things like that for idiots that think “Big button look pretty, me click big button!” I think any person with at least an eighth of a functioning brain, would notice that there are many OTHER words also on that same page, and that it may be a good iea to READ those other words, no matter what color they are. If you were at a car dealer looking at a contract that said “ITS YOURS FOR FREE” in large print, and then ten peragraphs stating “we lied, you actually have to pay double the sticker price or we own your soul.” would you sign it? I agree with James on this one, people need to pay attention to whats clearlys tated, and not gravitate toward the large shiny candy-like buttons, then complain about their stupidity later.

]]> By: Rob http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4185 Rob Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:02:00 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4185 Sorry, one more thing I need to add. The site actually does give you, a free credit report, so, it's not dishonest lol. Sorry, one more thing I need to add. The site actually does give you, a free credit report, so, it’s not dishonest lol.

]]> By: Rob http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4184 Rob Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:00:24 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4184 Sorry, but its not Experians fault you didnt read and pay attention to what is clearly posted on the freecreditreport.com website, which you posted that nice PNG of. This is not a freecreditreport.com vs annualcreditreport.com thing, they are two seperate things totally, its like walking into a store and looking at something that has its price clearly marked, bringing it to the register, and ranting nonsense about false advertisement after the casheir tells you the price, then walks you over to the item, and shows you, the huge bold red lettered price directly in front of it. "Maybe you were looking at the item above it?" the casheir asks. "No of course not!" you reply. This is just how every idiot acts when they dont pay attention and find out they are wrong. Sorry, no hard feelings but, your little experience with finding out something isnt what you thought it was, when there was no reason think it was anything other than what was clearly stated, is not some huge consumer alert. Sorry, but its not Experians fault you didnt read and pay attention to what is clearly posted on the freecreditreport.com website, which you posted that nice PNG of. This is not a freecreditreport.com vs annualcreditreport.com thing, they are two seperate things totally, its like walking into a store and looking at something that has its price clearly marked, bringing it to the register, and ranting nonsense about false advertisement after the casheir tells you the price, then walks you over to the item, and shows you, the huge bold red lettered price directly in front of it. “Maybe you were looking at the item above it?” the casheir asks. “No of course not!” you reply. This is just how every idiot acts when they dont pay attention and find out they are wrong. Sorry, no hard feelings but, your little experience with finding out something isnt what you thought it was, when there was no reason think it was anything other than what was clearly stated, is not some huge consumer alert.

]]> By: Debbie http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4183 Debbie Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:23:21 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4183 @James, What I would want would be a name that more accurately reflects the service they provide - freefor30daysandthen$14.95amonthcreditreport.com Not very catchy, but a whole lot more honest. I checked out their Web page - what my eye goes to is the orange FREE sign being held up by the smiling model, the pop-out right-hand text box that says FREE four times with white font on colorful backgrounds. The text that actually explains that the service will cost money is blue text on a blue background. Clearly, the flow of this site was designed to get you to read the colorful "free" box first, and then to click on the big "get yours now" arrow. @James,

What I would want would be a name that more accurately reflects the service they provide -

freefor30daysandthen$14.95amonthcreditreport.com

Not very catchy, but a whole lot more honest.

I checked out their Web page – what my eye goes to is the orange FREE sign being held up by the smiling model, the pop-out right-hand text box that says FREE four times with white font on colorful backgrounds. The text that actually explains that the service will cost money is blue text on a blue background. Clearly, the flow of this site was designed to get you to read the colorful “free” box first, and then to click on the big “get yours now” arrow.

]]> By: James http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4182 James Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:18:26 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4182 Playing devil's advocate here. On the very front page of the website "By ordering a free credit report, you will automatically be enrolled in a 30 day free trial of credit monitoring. You will receive automatic notifications of changes to your credit report. For each month that you continue your membership your credit card will be billed $11.95 if you do not cancel your membership within the trial period. You may cancel anytime - there is no obligation." I am a long time customer of creditreport.com and it is an honest and good service. The problem is there are many folk who just do not read what is right under their noses. The text on the home page continues : "CreditReport.com is 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, go to www.annualcreditreport.com." WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?? Playing devil’s advocate here. On the very front page of the website “By ordering a free credit report, you will automatically be enrolled in a 30 day free trial of credit monitoring. You will receive automatic notifications of changes to your credit report. For each month that you continue your membership your credit card will be billed $11.95 if you do not cancel your membership within the trial period. You may cancel anytime – there is no obligation.”

I am a long time customer of creditreport.com and it is an honest and good service. The problem is there are many folk who just do not read what is right under their noses.

The text on the home page continues :

“CreditReport.com is 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, go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com.”

WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT??

]]> By: Ian http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4181 Ian Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:56:14 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/10/04/credit-repair-avoid-freecreditreportcom/#comment-4181 The agency in charge of managing the free annual credit report business should really have made sure the official company had a .gov website. If not that, at least they could have chosen a name that didn't lend itself to so much confusion. I doubt freeannualcreditreportscourtesyoftheusgovernment.com is taken. The agency in charge of managing the free annual credit report business should really have made sure the official company had a .gov website. If not that, at least they could have chosen a name that didn’t lend itself to so much confusion.

I doubt freeannualcreditreportscourtesyoftheusgovernment.com is taken.

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