Free credit reports: not so free

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I think: "With Enrollment in Triple Advantage" is pretty clear.

There's no mention of what Triple Advantage is and that there's a monthly charge for it, much less what the charge is.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

And another egregious offense: The ad where he declares he's married his dream girl but ended up living in her parents' basement because of her undisclosed bad credit? All I can say is, he's a dumbass. The dream girl seems like a real b!tch. She spends the entire ad looking pissed off while doing laundry. Who cares about her bad credit? I'd file for divorce based on laundry bitchiness alone.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

There's no mention of what Triple Advantage is and that there's a monthly charge for it, much less what the charge is.

Well as I said, those who haven't been around the block a few times aren't all that smart when it comes to these things.

I see "Free: with enrollment in" as it being pretty obvious that the "free" part is a perk to something else.

Of course I understand how businesses and the market works, so I suppose I would get it. It's the same as the Best Buy deal with MSN a few years ago. Save $300 today when you sign up for MSN for 3 years... Of course no one told you that you'd have to pay $40 month there after until you got to the nitty gritty. Every business uses something as a lure, but there's always a price to pay for "free."

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think most reasonable people would agree that it's at the very least sneaky. My impression of the freecreditreport.com ads was that they were hoping people would mistake it for AnnualCreditReport.com and think that the credit card number was required for some kind of identity verification. To the more savvy, this may sound stupid ("What sort of idiot would fall for that?"), but this sort of thing can be very confusing to someone who's not up on credit practices and how they work. Not to mention people who are new to the U.S. and the credit minefield. These "services" and how you sign up for them are deliberately confusing and misleading and often have the important information--that you have to sign up for monthly "credit monitoring"--buried in a block of text. Because of all the complaints, the sites are a bit clearer now, but a few years ago, I couldn't believe what they were getting away with--free! free! free! all over the place, and then at the very end, in tiny letters, "by the way, your credit card will be charged $14.95 a month unless you cancel."

In any case, there's little argument that these ads for a free credit report weren't advertising a free credit report; they were selling credit monitoring, which was never mentioned in the ad.

[alienlovechild 75]

Experian has twice settled with the Federal Trade Commission over deceptive-advertising charges related to another of its credit-monitoring sites, Consumerinfo.com. The company paid the FTC more than $1 million in fines.

I got screwed twice by looking up my credit report and my Dad's in 2002 or 2003. Before the lawsuits, the word "free" was plastered all over the website and the disclaimer about cancelling the service was in small font at the bottom.

I never paid because I was unemployed at the time and my Dad was over 65 so we were exempted. Sometime later we but got checks in the mail for around $75 each for being part of the class action lawsuit solely because they had our names on their records. Take that you pirate hat wearing jerkoffs!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I got screwed twice by looking up my credit report and my Dad's in 2002 or 2003. Before the lawsuits, the word "free" was plastered all over the website and the disclaimer about cancelling the service was in small font at the bottom.

I never paid because I was unemployed at the time and my Dad was over 65 so we were exempted. Sometime later we but got checks in the mail for around $75 each for being part of the class action lawsuit solely because they had our names on their records. Take that you pirate hat wearing jerkoffs!

Oh man. All I did was book a hotel a couple of years ago and then about a month later, I started seeing this charge of $24.99 on my credit card! I just filled out the dispute form and was credited the amount. They are deceptive bastads and should have their license as a credit reporting agency revoked.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ah, another article for the stupid. More mandates for the idiots out there.

If people would READ what the hell they are signing up for, instead of just ASSUMING, they'd be in much better shape.

There's no 'trickery' involved here and anyone who is complaining was an idiot in the first place.

You do get your report for free, but you need to cancel within 30 days usually not to be charged for the monitoring service. They tell you this when you sign up! It's not really that difficult to understand.

www.freecreditreport.com gives you TEN (10) days. THat's all. You have to call them to cancel. I knew about it when I did it, but didn't realise it would be SO HARD to unsubscribe. Not only was i put through to an Indian call centre, he said "you still have 9 days left. i'll leave it so you can take full advantage of it". It took a bit to explain that I did NOT want to sign up, I wanted the subscription thingy "cancelled" or denied or whatever. 10 minutes I was on the phone with the guy making SURE of it. Wouldn't do it again.

It's one of those times when I miss Australia. if you call to cancel that's the end of discussion. Usually there's a cancellation on the page you signed up to. I have never had my info "sold" in Australia but I've already had it done here. Bastards.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

www.freecreditreport.com gives you TEN (10) days. THat's all. You have to call them to cancel. I knew about it when I did it, but didn't realise it would be SO HARD to unsubscribe. Not only was i put through to an Indian call centre, he said "you still have 9 days left. i'll leave it so you can take full advantage of it". It took a bit to explain that I did NOT want to sign up, I wanted the subscription thingy "cancelled" or denied or whatever. 10 minutes I was on the phone with the guy making SURE of it. Wouldn't do it again.

It's one of those times when I miss Australia. if you call to cancel that's the end of discussion. Usually there's a cancellation on the page you signed up to. I have never had my info "sold" in Australia but I've already had it done here. Bastards.

All made possible by having effective regulations that protect consumers.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

All made possible by having effective regulations that protect consumers.

Our regulations are fine....

Stupidity amongst people is the problem.

READ what you're getting into. It's truly that simple.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Our regulations are fine....

Stupidity amongst people is the problem.

READ what you're getting into. It's truly that simple.

I understand what you're trying to say but the point is the people are NOT being protected.

You're obviously used to living this way but I am not. I am not used to people selling my info to the highest bidder. I'm not used to having my card "skimmed", or my identity stolen. I'm used to signing up for a membership with say "Godiva" and knowing that ONLY Godiva has my info. I'm used to handing out my email addy for promotions etc and not having to worry about being contacted by people/companies I've never heard of. I'm not used to constantly stopping to "check" the rules because it really IS that black and white in most situations. It seems every corner you turn here SOMEONE is trying to rip you off.

It's sad that I have to constantly check every single line of a document/letter/email/poster because somewhere there might be a little "small print" that'll screw me over. It's pretty damn ridiculous.

In Australia the ads would be pulled if they were considered misleading.. though honestly when it says "enrollment" that typically means a fee will be incurred. And then on their site it's mentioned. It doesn't mean that people are STUPID if they get caught up, they're NAIVE and not used to living in fear of having their info sold like you seem to be.

I think the US lends to a more hostile existence... not trusting anyone or anything. I'm happy to live in my small country town bubble where the most I need to worry about is "small town" gossip because at least here in my small town I know people watch out for each other and aren't running scams 24/7.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I understand what you're trying to say but the point is the people are NOT being protected.

You're obviously used to living this way but I am not. I am not used to people selling my info to the highest bidder. I'm not used to having my card "skimmed", or my identity stolen. I'm used to signing up for a membership with say "Godiva" and knowing that ONLY Godiva has my info. I'm used to handing out my email addy for promotions etc and not having to worry about being contacted by people/companies I've never heard of. I'm not used to constantly stopping to "check" the rules because it really IS that black and white in most situations. It seems every corner you turn here SOMEONE is trying to rip you off.

It's sad that I have to constantly check every single line of a document/letter/email/poster because somewhere there might be a little "small print" that'll screw me over. It's pretty damn ridiculous.

In Australia the ads would be pulled if they were considered misleading.. though honestly when it says "enrollment" that typically means a fee will be incurred. And then on their site it's mentioned. It doesn't mean that people are STUPID if they get caught up, they're NAIVE and not used to living in fear of having their info sold like you seem to be.

I think the US lends to a more hostile existence... not trusting anyone or anything. I'm happy to live in my small country town bubble where the most I need to worry about is "small town" gossip because at least here in my small town I know people watch out for each other and aren't running scams 24/7.

This series of ads is among the worst offenders--even by the rather flexible U.S. advertising standards--which is why there have been so many complaints about it, and now this new regulation that they have to actually disclose what they're advertising.

I'd say this is in contrast to, say, the ads for promotional rates for DSL or satellite service. At least these ads clearly state that the advertised rate is promotional and good for a certain period, like a year. This information appears in both the print and the TV ads--in smaller font than the other info, but at least out there and legible to someone with average eyesight.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I got screwed twice by looking up my credit report and my Dad's in 2002 or 2003. Before the lawsuits, the word "free" was plastered all over the website and the disclaimer about cancelling the service was in small font at the bottom.

I never paid because I was unemployed at the time and my Dad was over 65 so we were exempted. Sometime later we but got checks in the mail for around $75 each for being part of the class action lawsuit solely because they had our names on their records. Take that you pirate hat wearing jerkoffs!

Wow, Dave. I wouldn't have taken you for one of those "stupid" people who fall for such schemes.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Our regulations are fine....

Stupidity amongst people is the problem.

READ what you're getting into. It's truly that simple.

Oh, so you're now supporting our current regulations on deceptive advertising? Good for you. I knew you couldn't be that much of a one-eyed hack.

........

The Federal Trade Commission regulates all forms of advertising in the United States. They publish rules on mail order, the Internet, telephone sales, 900 numbers, gaming, deception in advertising, product labeling, consumer credit, and much more.

Truth in Advertising

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), "advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive… advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims… and advertisements cannot be unfair."

Deceptive Advertising

According to advertising law, an advertisement is considered deceptive if it contains a statement or omits information that "is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances; and is, 'material' - that is, important to a consumer's decision to buy or use the product."

Essentially, the law states that your advertising cannot be misleading. You have to tell the truth, or clearly label your ads so that no reasonable person could mistake your intent. Advertisers [and their advertising agencies] need to have a reasonable basis for advertising claims before they are published.

Unfair Advertising and Business Practices

According to the FTC, an advertisement is unfair if "it causes or is likely to cause substantial consumer injury which a consumer could not reasonably avoid; and it is not outweighed by the benefit to consumers."

In advertising law, "substantial consumer injury" and "material" are related things. In part, advertising law protects consumers from financial loss due to deceptive practices.

The law does make an exception when consumer benefits outweigh consumer injury, but you probably don't want to pay the expenses of explaining that in court.

Bait and Switch Tactics

It's illegal to advertise a product when you have no intention of selling that product at the advertised price. Bait and switch tactics are illegal, period. If you advertise a product, the law says that you have to intend to sell it as advertised.

link

[Florianns Man 7]

Annualcreditreport is the correct location...

I am very proud of myself forovercoming a disasterious marriage the resulted in a sub 600 score and I am now well above 700. I walking into a car dealership and walked out with 0% financing, I have to admit it felt great.

on a side note it is pretty mean to call people stupid especially considering this is a site with a lot of people for whom English is a second language. But trust me in real life I deal with many many people who are born and raised here who can't think their way out of a paper bag and it is pretty frustrating.

[sandinista! 1,816]

And another egregious offense: The ad where he declares he's married his dream girl but ended up living in her parents' basement because of her undisclosed bad credit? All I can say is, he's a dumbass. The dream girl seems like a real b!tch. She spends the entire ad looking pissed off while doing laundry. Who cares about her bad credit? I'd file for divorce based on laundry bitchiness alone.

anyone who doesn't do the laundry with a smile plastered on their face deserves the boot. if a man can't get his fluffy folded towels and ironed underwear delivered with enthusiasm then what's next? his dinner served with indifference and a surly expression? no self-respecting man should ever have to put up with that.