| The bold print giveth and the small print taketh away - | | | | giving you something for free, it is imperative that you |
| the complaints against the free credit report websites | | | | cancel any recurring billing immediately. It is practically |
| have been steadily increasing. The issue at hand is the | | | | impossible to get a refund on any past billings. |
| fact that although they advertise free credit reports, | | | | There's Only One Way To Get Your Credit Reports |
| they are actually selling one or more services. Once a | | | | For Free |
| person signs up, they will be billed anywhere from | | | | Per the (FTC) Federal Trade Commission, there is only |
| $12.95 to 19.95 per month until they follow the | | | | one website is authorized to provide you out credit |
| cancellation procedures of each individual company. | | | | reports at no charge. This next statement comes |
| One such company that advertises free credit report | | | | directly from the FTC website: |
| just recently put this disclaimer on their popular | | | | "Important information from the Federal Trade |
| television advertisements, "offer applies to enrollment in | | | | Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency: |
| triple advantage plan." What they're saying is, if you | | | | is the ONLY authorized online source for you to get a |
| want a credit report for free through us, you must sign | | | | free credit report under federal law. You can get a |
| up for our credit monitoring plan. They placed that | | | | free report from each of the three national credit |
| disclaimer on their ads after pressure from consumer | | | | reporting companies every 12 months. Some other |
| advocates and various citizen groups. | | | | sites claim to offer 'free' credit reports, but may |
| Surfing the web for free credit reports can be a | | | | charge you for another product if you accept a 'free' |
| hassle - the average consumer goes to their search | | | | report." |
| engine of choice and types is, "free credit report" | | | | CONSUMER ALERT: If you didn't go through the |
| hoping to quickly find the website, order their credit | | | | website mentioned by the FTC, you signed for some |
| reports and be done with it. However, the majority of | | | | time of recurring billing; meaning that they will charge |
| websites that are at the top of the listings don't offer | | | | your credit card every month until you follow their |
| anything for free. Almost all of them are either selling | | | | instructions and cancel their service |
| credit monitoring services, identity theft services, or | | | | CONSUMER ALERT: The website is easy to use and |
| they are phishing hoaxes designed to grab your credit | | | | you can access all three credit reports without paying |
| card information and social security number. These | | | | a cent. If you are not Internet savvy, you can order |
| sites are using the classic bait and switch trick to gain | | | | your credit reports by phone by calling: 877-322-8228. |
| unsuspecting customers and victims. | | | | CONSUMER NOTE: you can only request one credit |
| CONSUMER ALERT: Many of these websites look | | | | report at no charge from each of the three credit |
| legitimate, but remember; looks can be deceiving! | | | | reporting bureaus each year. Anything more, and you |
| If you've recently surfed one of these websites and | | | | will have to pay. |
| provided your personal information thinking they were | | | | |