Well, this is a full story, beginning to end.
Like 599 people on this site before me, and certainly many, many others... I made the mistake of applying for a 'free' credit report.
I got signed up for their bogus credit protection scheme, and 20 days later... There's the $79.95 charge on my account.
All I can say is thank the gods for Google. I copied and pasted the exact "CIC*CREDIT MONITOR SVC 877-513-4175 CA" into the search engine and this site came right up.
Admittedly, there's a lot of good advice here as to how to combat these people, however, I simply went with the straight approach and it worked for me.
I simply called the number provided with the charge and the following conversation (or some approximation thereof) ensued:
(Side note: I found it rather ironic that there was an ad for their service to protect against unwanted or illegal charges against your credit card whilst I was on hold.)
Agent: Thank you for calling Consumer Info, how may I assist you?
Me: I am obligated by law to inform you that this call is being recorded for the purpose of possible forthcoming legal action. Like many other people, I got hit with your dishonest scam and got hit with the charge for $79.95 and I want it removed from my account now. Not in 10 weeks, not in 7-10 days. I want it done in 1-3.
Agent: Alright sir, now you must know that our service is far from dishonest and that the membership information was clearly-
Me: Mate, I've been in usacomplaints.com and have read a good majority of the 600 other people you've bilked into this, save your scripts and your spiels, I know them all, I just want my money back, and you're going to take care of that for me.
Agent: Then I take it that you would like your account with us cancelled?
Me: *laughs* Yeah, the account I never had any intention of signing up for. If it's still active, I want it cancelled, destroyed, annihilated.
Agent: I will need your Social Security-
Me: You will not, you can look up my account without it.
Agent: No sir, if I pull up your account by your name it will come up with dozens of entries.
Me: Then we'll work through it; you are not getting my Social Security Number again. (Ed note: They already have it, it wouldn't have mattered if I gave it to him again or not, but it kept him on the defensive and kept the control in my hands.)
(Ed note: At this point he did ask for verification that it was me by asking for my mother's maiden name and various other info that I had filled out when I requested the report.)
Agent: As this account has been activated within the past 3 days, I can issue you a full refund. Is there anything else I can do for you today?
Me: Can you confirm, without any hesitation that my account with you has been cancelled and that the charges will be fully removed from my credit account?
Agent: Yes sir.
Me: Then we have no further business. However, I would suggest finding another job if I were you. Personally, I wouldn't care to deal with people like me day after day, and that's all you can expect when working for a disreputable company such as this. I want you to understand that I have no qualms with you personally, I'm sure you're a fine gentleman, you simply happen to be my contact point with a company that has wronged me.
Agent: Yes, sir. If there will be nothing else.
(Ed note:... And this is where the conversation ended.)
I called them on Thursday, Sept. 4th. It is now Monday Sept 8th and low and behold, the money arrived back in my account this morning.
You can try everything that has been suggested within these forums, or you can simply call the company, do not allow them to steamroll you, and it will work.
Do keep in mind, however... The person on the other end of the phone is just doing their job and is not your enemy. It's the company with their questionable and dishonest practices that's your enemy. Not the poor agent who's making $7.50 an hour to be screamed at.
They're just doing their job and it would behoove you to remember that when dealing with these folks.
I was firm but polite and I received a very quick resolution to my issue.
Now, on the other hand... For those brainwashed jackwit employees of CreditInfo who are posting here and stating that they are in the right and that all of this is posted openly on the site when you first sign up...
I have one question for you...
Do you see any other reputable company on this site having 600 complaints about their business practices in regards to one, single transaction?
If it were obvious, if it were not deceitful and misleading, there would not be this many angry people here.
X.
Madison, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
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