In my future endeavor to purchase a house, I thought it would be a good idea to get a credit report to see if what it showed, even though I have an excellent credit rating and have never had any credit problems. Somehow I found an advertisement for a "FREE CREDIT REPORT" online, no charge whatsoever.
I entered the sight and of course got a free report. That was that, or so I thought. I presumed I was giving my credit card information in case I wanted to purchase a more detailed credit report etc. Which I did not need and knew I would not purchase anyway. However, in checking my monthly credit card statement online, I came across a charge for $79.95 for Credit Monitor Services.
I never heard of the company and certainly never remembered what the website name was or related it to the charge. I immediately called my credit card company who informed me it was too early to dispute because the charge was not "old" enough. I was to call back in another week. I then did a search on the web under "Credit Monitor Service" only to find several other reports about the same incident and company.
Thankfully, one of the reports also gave a telephone number and who to contact at this company for this problem. I immediately did so and when I told the person on the phone that I did not know this company etc., he asked me if I remembered a free credit report and consumerinfo.com website. I said come to think of it, I do, but I did NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT $79.95 AND WAS NOT AWARE that I was signing up for anything BUT a free report.
I also advised that the charge needed to be reversed immediately or they would hear from my attorney. He advised he needed my credit card number to look up the account. I asked why he couldn't find it by my name, he had the credit card number when he charged $79.95! I gave the info and he assured me the charge would be reversed on my credit card statement and that he also cancelled my membership.
I stated that I never know I signed up for ANY membership to which he replied, the small print states that after a free trial or 30 days, you become a member. I stated that was crap and a ripoff and fraud and I intend to report it. The guy was so calm, cool, and collected (and collecting all the time as well), you certainly could tell he had already heard this scenario before. I went to the IFCC website (Internet Fraud Complaint Center) and filed a report with them regarding this incident.
If anyone out there has come encountered the same incident, please file a complaint with the IFCC as well. This company may be on the up and up, but they are not up and up in their online selling offer. The customers need to know what they are getting "in for" when they accept the free report offer. Their selling tactic is very deceptive and about as close to fraud as you can get.
You can bet, I will think twice and twice again before I accept any FREE offers, especially if they need credit card information to get something that is suppose to be FREE! Just BEWARE!
Carol
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.
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