Everyone is interested in their credit report at one time or another. I had heard about FreeCreditReport.com and decided to give them a try (on October 18th). The process was rather painless and the results were accessible fairly quickly online. The process allowed me to clear up a few discrepancies (mainly incorrect addresses, and a derogatory item that should not have been there).
Not even one month later (on November 16th), I received a charge on my card for $12.95 from "Cic*triple Advantage 877-4816825 Ca". I had no idea what this was about. After all, they're advertising "free" credit reports, right? Well, I should have grown suspicious when they requested credit card info as part of getting this supposed free report.
Anyway, I started checking the website and learned that you are apparently enrolled in this Credit Monitoring program (which is NEVER articulated throughout the entire process). This was not clear whatsoever.
So on November 21st, I called and spoke with one of their representatives. I explained that I hadn't signed up for any Credit Monitoring. The woman spent the better part of 10 minutes trying to convince me why I should have this service (which I never even requested in the first place). I had to get quite firm before she agreed to "cancel" the membership (again, one I didn't request).
This didn't solve the $12.95 charge that remained on my credit card. So on November 28th, I e-mailed the Support people directly from their website. They were prompt, sending out a "your e-mail has been received" message first and then the following day (11/29), I received a followup e-mail from two different representatives offering their apologies for the inconvenience and promising to refund the $12.95 by the next billing cycle. If that occurs (and out of fairness), I'll certainly send an update.
I have to say that other than this "credit monitoring" debacle, I was otherwise pleased with the results of the credit report I received. However, it was a hassle to go through mitigating this particular charge on my card, calling the phone number, and the subsequent e-mail traffic that followed. The method in which this Company goes about arbitrarily signing people up for this monitoring service is "deceptive" at best and I did let them know that.
I also took issue with the fact that they billed me prior to the end of the "30-day trial period" and there were no reminders or indications whatsoever of when this trial period would end (or that there even was one to begin with). That's essentially billing a month in advance. Not good. BTW, your report can only be accessed online for a period of 30 days, so print all the reports you need in that timeframe. Unfortunately, this only gives you a "snapshot" as everyone's report tends to change from time to time. Again, it served me in that I was able to clear up a few discrepancies in that time period.
Under the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) you may (or may not) be aware that every consumer is entitled to a free credit report annually (or in instances where you have been denied credit for any reason), but this is not the Company (or agency) that does this - that's why it technically isn't free. That site is: www.annualcreditreport.com.
Hopefully this information is helpful to someone out there.
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