On 8/22/03, I ordered a credit report on the internet (www.consumerinfo.com). It was advertised as free, but when I tried to sign up for the report, they said I had to sign up for a trial membership. Alternatively, I could pay $5.00 for the report and be done. I had seen these ads for days before that and it looked like a legitimate business. Reluctantly, I gave my credit card number and opted for no trial membership. I received a credit report as promised. Then, a $79.95 charge showed up on my credit card from CIC CREDIT MONITOR SVC!!!
I called "ConsumerInfo" to ask what this was, and they said I had ordered their service!!! (Their number, 877-513-4175, appeared on my credit card statement.) I asked to cancel whatever service this was supposed to be. They then said, OK, we need some information from you to locate the transaction. So, they asked for my social security number, address, and birthday. This sounded strange, but I figured they had issued my credit report so they had this information already. Then, they asked for my mother's maiden name!!! I refused to give that information. They said they could not cancel the transaction without my mother's maiden name. I am now worried about possible identity theft in addition to the $79.95 fraudulent charge.
Lydia
Cupertino, California
U.S.A.
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