| There are plenty of adverts out there promising us | | | | more competition out there, and tighter legislation was |
| FREE CREDIT REPORTS. It bugs me - because the | | | | introduced, we may all benefit from a fairer deal. |
| way I see it, Free Credit Reports don't seem to exist. If | | | | Now that I have got this off my chest, I would caution |
| anything, I believe it could be viewed as a make | | | | that if companies are stating that their service is FREE, |
| money scam employed by hardnosed Credit Report | | | | then, unfortunately, it probably is not, as there will be a |
| companies. | | | | catch involved. These companies are here to protect |
| Firstly, we fall for their seductive but despised pop ups, | | | | us and our finances, and are there to ensure we are |
| which obviously must cost them a fortune as they | | | | not caught out by Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft, |
| appear everywhere. Following that, when we have | | | | Cheque Fraud, or any other type of Internet Fraud. |
| completed our personal details, we then have to | | | | However, these sort of services can be seen by |
| provide them with our banking information before they | | | | some as a SCAM in itself! |
| part with any information in return. | | | | So not only are we potentially paying for this Free |
| These companies claim that the information is to verify | | | | Service, but we have to offer them our credit card |
| our identity, but I am questioning whether it is just a | | | | details as well! I say we should not have to part with |
| means of introducing recurring billing? If You Google | | | | our credit card details, immediately as this service is |
| the definition of Recurring Billing it says ...Transactions | | | | supposed to be FREE. Examples of their typical |
| for which a cardholder grants permission to the | | | | Terms and Conditions can read...after your 10-day |
| merchant to periodically charge his account number for | | | | FREE trial period it's just £24.95 per month. |
| recurring goods or services... | | | | Remember, you can call us within the first 10 days to |
| As so many individuals forget to cancel their | | | | cancel, and you will not be charged the £24.95. |
| subscription, we might not realise that our credit cards | | | | To ensure continuous service, at the end of your trial |
| will start to have been charged, normally on a monthly | | | | period your membership will be automatically charged |
| basis, but in some cases twice per month. I will expand | | | | each month at the then-current membership fee... |
| on this in my next contribution. Therefore, it can take | | | | As well as the potential of recurring billing, we also |
| quite a while before we realise we have been | | | | have to experience their poor levels of service and |
| charged for this service, and by then, it is too late. | | | | occasional monumental mistakes. These mistakes can |
| What a great way for these Free Credit Report | | | | have a massive impact on our future financial ratings. I |
| companies to generate income out of our | | | | will expand on this in my next publication, but until then, |
| forgetfulness. Absolutely dreadful! | | | | and above all, please remember to cancel your |
| In these troubled times of financial insecurity, we are | | | | subscription, or YOU WILL BE CHARGED! |
| more open to so called free offers, but if there was | | | | |