There’s No Such Thing As A Free Credit Report
September 14, 2008 · Print This Article
It is a basic law of economics: there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Turns out, the same is true for most websites that promise trusting and unsuspecting users a “free” credit report. Too often, those sites are merely a lure, intended to get people to paying money out of their credit card account on a monthly basis. Once again, before you sign up for any “free” offer, make sure to read the fine print.
In 2003, US Congress enacted legislation that allows every American to examine his or her FICO credit score for free once–and no more than once–every year. It is possible to do this on the Internet, via a specially authorized website called AnnualCreditReport.com. The site contacts the three foremost credit bureaus in the US: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. It collates data from these agencies and delivers a free report to the user.
However, many websites have sprung up of late, which take advantage of the recent government legislation, and of consumers gullibility.
One particularly nasty offender is a site called FreeCreditReport.com, operated by the Experian credit bureau–which, one mustn’t forget, is a for-profit company. The site advertises itself with catchy and attention-grabbing television commercials, which feature typical down-on-their-luck young people singing about their financial woes. If only these likeable 20-somethings, now forced to live in their parents’ basement, had check their credit scores for free via FreeCreditReport.com!
Unfortunately, real life does not offer such easy solutions: you should distrust all those who claim to be able to do so. Visitors to the site fill out personal information, including their credit card numbers, to receive their “free” reports. In due time, the visitors do receive their credit reports from Experian. However, by entering their credit card numbers, they also automatically become enrolled in one of Experian’s credit-monitoring services. This service charges users $14.95 a month–and most of these users have no that they have signed up for a paid service until they see their credit card statements.
Although Experian marketing officer Mike Dean justifies his company’s conduct by claiming that Experian has “always been a very aggressive marketer,” consumer interest groups are angry and concerned. Edmund Mierzwinski, of the United States Public Interest Research Group, calls FreeCreditReport.com “a protection racket.” Experian is “charging you a fee and.. making a promise that it’s going to improve your credit… but in fact it does neither,” claimed Mierzwinski.
Even the US government has criticized Experian’s misleading website and advertising campaign. The Federal Trade Commission has fought with Experian over the site back in 2005. As a result, Experian has had to pay almost $1 million to the FTC because of the misleading nature of its site and advertisements. The government agency went on to caution consumers, on its own site, about using sites other than AnnualCreditReport.com to check their credit ratings.
However, don’t wait for the government to warn you about what not to do. Don’t wait for the consumer advocacy groups. Make use of your own critical faculty in all areas of your life–but do so especially where your finances are concerned.
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See all three of your credit reports and credit scores with your 7-day FREE Privacy Matters 1-2-3 trial membership.
Again, there is no such thing as a “FREE” credit report not even on the government site. They ask for a credit card and I don’t have it so I will never get my credit report for free. When asked for the credit card and you back out of the site it inidcates that you “saw” your credit report.
AnnualCreditReport.com. is as well not free. In fact the three big credit bureau’s will not let you see a “free” report. You fill out the form and then they say that you are already signed up and that just add your SSN again. When you do they say you must pay to see your information. All of these sites are criminal. Someday they will all be indicted as the fraudsters they are.
I have tried for a week to get at a free credit report. It is impossible. I am informed that they cannot allow me to see my report in one site. On another, since I was an old client (TrueCredit) I was told to contact them by phone to receive my password. I called and was told now I could go and see my “free report”. Once in the site I had nothing but a runaround in the end that said if I pay $14.95 I will see my “free” report. Nothing in this world is free not even your bad credit.
Is this what the United States has come too? Or was it this way all along? it seems to me that these compnies have been given a license to steal.
What is the answer? How do we get out of this mess.
RT Free Equifax 3-in-1 Credit Report + Score! Limited time offer…
The only truly free one is .
The one with "free" in its name requires you to buy a $15/month plan. You can even go to and it will point you to annualcreditreport.com.
https://www.annualcreditreport.com
this video is awsome! me and friends sing it all the time why are they replacing them yea like two of the finalists are good but these are amazing i’m going to miss them
if you are looking for the free credit report usa national site, check out this site
Here you can check your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score rating.
New blog post: Free 3-in-1 Credit Report: Offers a Good Opinion on Your Finances:
Free Credit Report
http://www.annualcreditreport.com
Seen on "Good morning america"!
Free and it's wise to check on your credit each year-Good luck
hi,
if you are looking for the best credit report site, check out this site
Here you can get your Free Credit Score and Report
hope this help,
i know all the words!
Free credit report.Triple bureau monitoring included.www.hunt4.fastdeals.us/credit-report
you dumb foo. watch it on tv
The time is right to check up on your credit score. Get your free report today at CreditReport.com!
The Importance of a Free Credit Report
Are you willing to put all that private, SS#, salary, income, dob, etc., etc., on line?
Nuts to do so.
Ask your bank to do it for you.
if you are looking for the free credit report usa national site, check out this site
Here you can check your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score rating.
Free myFico Transunion Credit Score and Credit Report – Slickdeals.net: Er. That site doesn't give FICO score. It …
wow… lol they would
FreeCreditReport.com
F-R-E-E That Spells Free, Credit Report Dot Com Baby