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Free Credit Report review: Unauthorized billing! 60

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12:00 am EDT
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This isn't a complaint against the company, I'm just giving out information to everyone that's going to complain on the company. I've dealt with FreeCreditReport.com before and have NEVER had any trouble with the website, nor have I been billed. All I had to do was READ THE WEBSITE. If you go onto FreeCreditReport.com before you even put your name in to get the report it says the following:

"IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 30-day trial period, you will be billed $12.95 for each month that you continue your membership.

ConsumerInfo.com and Freecreditreport.com are 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, you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com."

So... they're already letting you know you have 30 days to cancel the membership you're joining. Just in case you don't catch that one, right after you put in your credit card number it also says this:

"Payment Information:

When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 30-day trial period, you will be billed $12.95 for each month that you continue your membership. If you are not satisfied, you can cancel at any time to discontinue the membership and stop the monthly billing; however, you will not be eligible for a pro-rated refund of your current month's paid membership fee. "

So... it LITERALLY tells you "Hey, if you don't cancel, you'll be billed for our monitoring service, but if you cancel you won't be billed." Now if you want to cancel... it's quite a simple process. You go to FreeCreditReport.com and click on the button that says "CONTACT US." And when you click there, lo and behold it says : "CANCEL MEMBERSHIP. If you would like to cancel your membership, for your security, please call our toll-free number at [protected]."

So, if you people who are complaining about the site would actually take a second to read the words on there other than "FREE" you'd know why you're being billed. Also, I don't know if it's just my personal common sense, but any time a company says something is "FREE" and they ask for any type of PAYMENT INFORMATION I backtrack and re-read the website. Just a tip for all of you who plan to launch a complaint on CIC/Triple Advantage.

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60 comments
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Brandy L. Balwinski
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Jan 13, 2008 8:49 am EST

On the tv commercials,it states that you must join Triple Advantage for a monthly fee.

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dingus magillicutty
Beverly Hills, US
Dec 19, 2007 6:16 am EST

Frankly, I did read everything and then canceled my membership well within the 30 days and yet STILL got charged - so that is what upset me and becomes a scam. Don't assume people haven't followed the rules and yet still are being falsely charged.

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lynneseitz
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Dec 14, 2007 11:14 am EST

Please cancel my membership. I feel that I do not need this service. Thank you anyway.

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Keith Anderson
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Dec 04, 2007 9:39 pm EST

I want this account closed, but cannot find a way to do it.

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Amie St.Germain
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Nov 28, 2007 10:42 am EST

I am a fine print reader, and I think I know where the problem arises, because I had the same one as everyone who has complained about the procedure. I didn't go to "freecreditreport.com" by typing it into my browser--I clicked on a link from a real estate agency while shopping for a home. The link didn't bring me to the home page, where the information is displayed rather blatantly. Through the site I was directed to, after reading all fine print, the company actually said I would not be charged a thing, but my credit card was required to get my report. Which isn't unheard of, as any time you apply for a store card, as in a Best Buy account, they have to swipe your card to make sure your information is correct. It was only after getting my report that I received the email with my "terms of service." As I had already used freecreditreport.com several years ago and had NO problem being signed up for something not advertised on the site that signed me up for the credit report.

If you use the web site directly, you know they're enrolling you in something. If you're directed from any outward site, though, you go straight into the sign up, and NONE of the fine print says anything about your automatic enrollment in Triple Advantage.

I'm canceling my membership as we speak. Let's hope that goes well.

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Adam
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Nov 06, 2007 4:03 pm EST

To J0hn Westerdale --
It's not deception. All of the information is on the website, it's plain to see.

CIC*Triple Advantage is FreeCreditReport.com, Triple Advantage is the membership you're enrolling in, and CIC stands for ConsumerInfo.com, the company that provides the monitoring

To Laura:
MiniCreditReport isn't from the same company as Triple Advantage. I believe from what I've read that's through Equifax. If you call the number on the "CANCEL MEMBERSHIP" line they may give you a refund, though in the terms and conditions on the website it says the monthly membership fees aren't refundable, but i'm sure there are exceptions.

To Meli-
Obviously this is your problem: You didn't read what I said. This is probably the same reason you had the charge on your card, because you didn't read the part that says "IMPORTANT INFORMATION" in all caps on the website. You click on the button that says "How Do I Cancel My Membership?" and lo and behold there lists the number to call!

So basically everyone who is complaining about how they "didn't authorize the charges" you're just playing the victim card when in fact, you just didn't pay attention. And considering you'll put your credit card number into anywhere it asks you to, you might want to sign up for credit monitoring. I'm sure sometime in the near future Amazon.com is going to be taking unauthorized funds out of your account too, right after you click on "Submit Order"

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DM
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Oct 13, 2007 8:37 am EDT

I was able to get out using the number someone else gave in a previous comment... [protected]. Turns out I agreed to this when I requested a free credit report through Experian's website - freecreditreport.com.

I cannot stand this type of aggressive marketing and it borderlines unethical. Experian now has, what I believe to be a purposely difficult website to maneuver with freecreditreprot.com. Each page takes me to another link or website with marketing scams trying to sell me more services.

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feige
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Sep 28, 2007 3:12 pm EDT

I was charged for 4 month's membership fee and didn't find out until today! I called CIC customer to cancel my account, they did but refused to refund the money to me. I then called my credit card company to dispute the charges, but the credit card rep put me on the phone with another rep from the CIC and let me deal with them directly. Again, CIC refused to refund the money, and asked me to send a letter to one of their departments to request a refund. I faxed my letter to them but God knows what's gonna happen next. I am sure they'll try everything to keep my money. This is such a fraud! I hate their way of stealing consumer's money. I can't imagine how many victims are out there. Luckily I checked my credit card statement today, otherwise I would lose more money.

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emily davis
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Sep 27, 2007 7:01 am EDT

I agree wholeheartedly Adam. I'm sorry, but if you had to give your cc info did you really think it would be free? I signed up to get the report, saw the "fine print" which is the same size font as the other print on the page, got my free report, called the number provided when I clicked on "contact us" to cancel the membership two days later. The person I spoke with tried to talk me into keeping it, which was expected, but I got it cancelled and was never billed a dime. So I guess Adam and I are supergenuises for being able to figure this out.

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Chad Jones
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Aug 29, 2007 6:30 am EDT

I went over to Google and typed in "Triple Advantage", and it took me to Experian. I sent them an email about it, and I saw the money deposited back into my account within 3-4 days.

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Traenkner
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Aug 28, 2007 5:24 pm EDT

I received the same deception. I used the service through a banking service, which is an assumption. I believe there is some type of "misconduct" here. The reason I say is because I would have never used my checking account for a rolling payment, so I am not sure what to say, but I will say this. I called the number mentioned by the individual above and they easy and quick canceled my account and credited me partially back what they charge. I was charged three time and got back two, wo I am happy. I can't honestly remember doing such a thing, but hey my bad and their bad.

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Meli
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Aug 22, 2007 9:25 pm EDT

One question for Adam: You said, "Now if you want to cancel... it's quite a simple process. You go to FreeCreditReport.com and click on the button that says "CONTACT US." And when you click there, lo and behold it says : "CANCEL MEMBERSHIP." However, there is no such button under "Contact us." Nor is there anything under "FAQ" or "About us." In fact, they include lots of information about how to dispute bills, but nothing on how to cancel membership online.

For everyone who missed the really find print, I now have an address and will use that to cancel my membership in writing. That address is: ConsumerInfo.com
Attn: Customer Care
P.O Box 19729
Irvine, CA [protected]

The telephone number listed on the site gives: [protected] which I intend to call tomorrow morning. Good luck all!

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Meli
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Aug 22, 2007 9:12 pm EDT

I don't know how you got an agent to credit your account at the [protected] number. The person who answered said it was a private line (and answered the phone that way). It's too late in the evening now to try the other number, but I will try both online and the [protected] number. I usually read all the fine print, but don't recall the statements Adam mentions as being that easy to find and read. Hmmm...

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Laura
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Aug 02, 2007 1:44 am EDT

So am when I call and cancel, will both the charges come off? I am being billed for CIC and a minicredit report that I have no idea what it is.

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Marie
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Jul 25, 2007 7:06 pm EDT

You might try calling them. If you did not sign up then someone using your card.

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Laura Cannon
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Jul 25, 2007 8:58 am EDT

Just for further information - I called the number that is listed on the website and the one you listed in your comment [protected] and it rang and rang w/ no answer. Then a voice came on and said "system on" - over and over again. So this is a bogus number. I finally reached the company at [protected] - the number that appeared on my credit card bill. The agent said he would credit my account and I would receive a confirmation cancellation email w/in 2 hours.

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Alfred Paraiso
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Jul 24, 2007 11:38 pm EDT

CIC is billing me monthly for a service I do not use, do not need and I never wanted. I have called them, now I am writing to them to tell them this is identity theft, because; I never approved CIC Triple Advantage to use my credit card, CIC never made it clear to me their intention to withdrawal money from my personal debit money account without my permission. I want to report CIC to the attorney general and any other government agency that is applicable, including the BBB. CIC has obviously defrauded me out of twelve dollars each month starting April 16, 2007 until July 16th; that is four months of theft of money from my debit /checking account!

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NCF
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Jul 10, 2007 3:00 pm EDT

Thanks for the info, it took me 30 min just figure out who CIC triple advantage was. Freecreditreport.com makes it seem like you are entering your card info for the purpose of checking your credit and that their service is free.

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Danell Catron
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Jun 18, 2007 9:10 am EDT

What happens when someone orders a free credit report for themselves using you debit card without your knowledge?

I called CIC and they said that they could not cancel the service unless the person that ordered the report called and canceled the membership. I calmly explained that whomever had ordered the report (they would not give me a name) did not have permission to use my card. They simply directed me to my bank to have the bank put a stop payment on the account.

After I explained that I worked for a major law firm and would not hesitate to file suit against them if they did not cancel the service, they agreed.

Low and behold, the next month on my bank statement, there it appeared, a charge for $12.95 deducted by CIC CE Credit Report. The charge the month before was listed as CIC Triple Adv.

Adam, do you still think that are on the up and up?

If you want a free credit report, the best thing to do is write the credit reporting agency (Experian Transunion or whomever) and request one by mail. It takes a little longer, but the hassle of not having to deal with these people is worth the wait.

By the way, when I called CIC back, they had no record of my call the previous month. Luckily, I had also send a letter certified mail and had the receipt for it.

THIS IS A SCAM!

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JOhn Westerdale
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Jun 11, 2007 10:32 pm EDT

Adam,
Why do you defend this deception?

I signed up (oops) and got my "Free Report"... Yah... free as in lunch. Then, after a while, the Billing for $12.95 shows up on my CC, small enough to be off the radar... and it says CIC Triple Advantage... How does this lead back to Freecreditreport.com? Is this anything but deceptive?

Its not like FCR or Experian are giving me any service... even when I just tried to access something, I have to pay again?

Adam, I cant see anyone defending these slippery tactics, unless you are getting your wheel greased, or you work for FreeCreditreport.com.

This is a subversive and disappointing service. I feel duped.

BTW - you can't cancel on line. You have to call during Their Office Hours. Am sure they put their speediest typists on that line too!

There ought to be a law against this.

I hate rewarding assh*les, like ones that siphon my bank account, and jerks that merge onto exit ramps at the last second.

John Westerdale

## Highly irritated ##

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