Feedback and Discussion about Credit Monitoring Services

Business Credit Monitoring is Not a Rip Off!

Craig, November 20, 2006

Your article is right on target except for one point. FTC mandates that consumers may get a free credit report once per year per bureau, and under certain other circumstances. But, there is no law that requires credit bureaus to provide a similar report to businesses.

So, if you want to find out what the big three (D&B, Experian, and Equifax) know about your business, you have to pay for it. I believe all will provide a copy free if you have been denied credit on the basis of the credit report they supplied, but not if you've been denied credit based upon what another has provided. And, in some cases, these reports are difficult to obtain for free. All require you to submit a request on your company letterhead and wait for it to come back in the mail. If you want it online, you have to pay for it.

I should probably also mention that, as a business user of credit reports, it's NOT a bad idea to monitor the business credit reports of my key customers and suppliers. I had a watch on a company called Kara Homes, who were building my parent's new house. I put it on because, when I was using smartbusinessreports.com (Experian), it was about the same price for a year of monitoring (which you can set to not auto-renew) and unlimited report access as it was to buy the report twice. Their report, when I first looked at it, was ok. They paid their bills on time and didn't have a lot of UCC filings or any tax liens. Unfortunately, about 3 months after my parents plunked down a $39K deposit, Kara ran into financial difficulty and began to slow-pay (consistently paying more than 30 days late). I got an alert and looked at the report, which was disturbing. I told my parents to see what they could do to cancel and get a refund, since their house hadn't been started yet. They didn't. Two months later, I got another alert with a note that they were "seriously delinquent" and there was a tax lien. The report looked bad. If I was asked to extend Kara credit, I wouldn't even do COD based upon that report! My parents didn't cancel, still. A month later, Kara declared bankruptcy. It looks like my parents are going to lose that entire deposit, and the house never completed.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Personal credit monitoring is definitely always a rip-off. Business monitoring, used intelligently, is not.

Craig

Re: Business Credit Monitoring is Not a Rip Off!

Jeff (Editor), November 21, 2006

Hi Craig,

Thanks for writing and sharing your story. It is a good example of the valuable service credit bureaus provide: An independent third party that can vouch for a person’s or business’s credit worthiness. Indeed, if such a service didn't exist, the American economy couldn't expand at the pace that it has historically.

There is a big distinction in how you are using the business credit monitoring: You are monitoring the credit of a business partner, not your own. Essentially, you are regularly pulling a credit report on someone to whom you have extended credit.

The philosophical problem consumer and privacy advocates have with (consumer) credit monitoring is the credit bureaus charging you for access to your own credit report. They are essentially demanding a ransom to ensure that the information they are collecting on you is accurate. Failure to pay that ransom can have a devastating impact on your financial life.

I agree with you that monitoring the credit worthiness of someone who owes you money (or a house in your case) can be valuable. It is the legitimate side of the credit agencies' business. It is certainly worth pointing out the distinction in this Knowzy topic.

Jeff

Re: Business Credit Monitoring is Not a Rip Off!

Craig, November 21, 2006

Both business and personal credit reporting rely upon telling others what kind of risk you are. In that way, they're identical. But, there's a huge difference in how they're used.

Businesses typically don't buy their own report unless they're about to ask for a credit line. Once a business has an established credit line, the terms don't change (unlike credit card offers to consumers which can change the percentage rate if the consumer's score goes bad). But smart businessmen will always keep track of their biggest accounts, both on the buy and sell side, just to make sure their own business isn't injured through the fault of a supplier or major customer.

Case in point: Delphi hurt GM badly by declaring bankruptcy and disrupting the "supply chain". Kmart's bankruptcy put Fleming Foods, it's supermarket food supplier, out of business. So, in some circumstances and many industries, monitoring your own business credit is actually advisable, since it could cost you a contract.

My wife works for a contracting company. She says most of the government contracts have an out clause that says, basically, if your credit report shows a significant decline in your ability to pay your suppliers on time, you lose the contract.

Craig

CIC Triple Advantage: Persistence Pays Off

Lisa, December 20, 2006

I made it very clear that I knew I was cheated. I made it very clear that all other agencies had been contacted as well as my VISA company.

I told them I was unhappy and wanted a full refund.

If I do not get results as promised I will continue to pursue it until I do.

Also, I recognize my part in all of this.

I will NEVER fall for another one of those FREE offer websites again. I will never give visa, soc. security or mother's maiden name again on a website. I made a mistake in doing this and paid the price in time, energy, money and the valuable time of others who now must deal with these complaints.

Once...shame on them.

Twice...shame on me.

I have hopefully learned my lesson and was not stung too badly.

Embarrassed, yes.

Out a lot of money.

Not this time.

I am grateful for that.

CIC Triple Advantage is a fraudulent web site that preys on unsuspecting internet browsers.

Re: CIC Triple Advantage: Persistence Pays Off

Jeff (Editor) , December 20, 2006

Lisa was promised a full refund by CIC Triple Advantage (the business name used by Experian's freecreditreport.com).

We encourage anyone who is surprised by a mysterious charge on their credit card a month after obtaining their "free" credit report from freecreditreport.com to file a complaint with the FTC.

If CIC TripleAdvantage refuses to refund your money, call your credit card company. They will reverse the charge as long as you make the request within 60 days of the unauthorized charge.

Sue 'Em! Join a Class Action Lawsuit Against CIC TripleAdvantage

John W. Davis, Esq., March 16, 2007

For those of you who do not already know, Consumerinfo.com has cut a sweetheart deal with some lawyers from Alabama. They are seeking approval of the deal in a San Jose court in July. If you want to participate, you must indicate your intent before May 15, 2007.

If you would like someone to represent you at the hearing (at no cost to you), please contact me at john@johnwdavis.com. By participating with your own counsel, you have the opportunity to improve the settlement and get a substantially better result than the bogus "relief" currently offered by Consumerinfo.com.

Please contact me if you purchased and paid for a credit score or credit monitoring from Consumerinfo.com or an Experian Entity between June 17, 1998, and December 27, 2006.

Re: Sue 'Em! Join a Class Action Lawsuit Against CIC TripleAdvantage

Jeff (Editor) , March 17, 2007

Hi John,

Thanks for writing and offering to help consumers who have been defrauded by Experian.

In the "Deceptive Practices" article of this topic, we discuss this lawsuit and insulting relief being offered to consumers. With the attorneys walking away with $2.5 million dollars in fees, it seems they putting their own interests ahead of the consumers they claim to be representing.

If you believe you can do better, I would certainly like to extend the offer to readers of Knowzy.

For the record, will you answer some questions that I'm sure our readers would like to know?

• How did you come to be involved in negotiating a better deal for litigants of this class action lawsuit against CIC?
• What type of deal will you be fighting for on behalf of consumers who you represent?
• What kind of time or financial obligations, if any, are required should you represent them?
• By objecting to the settlement reached between Experian and the Alabama lawyers, is there a risk of losing the free credit score or two months or credit monitoring? (Certainly not much of a loss!)
• When our readers choose to have you represent them, what is the process?
• May we publish the name of your law practice and contact information?

Thank you for helping victims of Experian's deception get the fair deal they deserve.

Re: Sue 'Em! Join a Class Action Lawsuit Against CIC TripleAdvantage

John W. Davis, Esq., March 18, 2007

Jeff,

Thank you for your inquiry. The responses to your questions follow:

1. How did you come to be involved in negotiating a better deal for litigants of this class action lawsuit against CIC?

I am presently litigating a class action lawsuit against consumerinfo.com concerning the same unfair business practices addressed in the San Jose case. I have been in litigation, along with my co-counsel firm in San Francisco, with CIC for approximately 5 years.

One reason our case is still pending is that, unlike the plaintiffs represented by the Alabama lawyers, our clients refuse to accept de minimis relief for the class. As you noted, in the San Jose case, class members stand to receive a free credit score or two months of credit monitoring while the attorneys walk away with 2.5 million. This type of settlement if objectionable on many levels.

The real value is virtually zero. It costs Experian nothing to provide this "relief." Moreover, as many of your readers may know, consumers are now entitled, under federal law, to a free credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus.

Additionally, many class members have suffered actual damages such as a deceptive charge of 79.95 for a product which was marketed as "free." The FTC has already fined CIC for this. Liability is relatively clear.

What we have with the settlement proposed by the Alabama lawyers is essentially a payoff by CIC to these attorneys to help extinguish all liability associated with CIC's bad acts.

2. What type of deal will you be fighting for on behalf of consumers who you represent?

We seek to recover restitution of actual damages for the class. In other words, CIC must give back the profits of its unlawful enterprise.

Obviously, you rarely obtain 100% relief in any litigation. However, CIC must be held accountable and compelled to provide some real relief to the class beyond a "free" credit report (already available through annualcreditreport.com as mandated by the federal government) or its worthless two free months of credit monitoring.

The settlement proposed by the Alabama lawyers is essentially a "coupon" settlement of the type that has been widely derided by courts, legal experts, and commentators in recent years.

3. What kind of time or financial obligations, if any, are required should you represent them?

There is no financial obligation. If we are able to negotiate an enhanced settlement for the class, we will petition the court for an award of fees based on the time we spend on the case. Any fee award will be entirely separate from any fund created for the benefit of the class. In other words, the class recovery will not be diminished by the payment of any fee to us.

As for a time commitment, I will only need a brief statement from each class member outlining the circumstances surrounding his or her loss (e.g. when did they order the "free" credit report, how many times were they charged, how much were they charged, ...). This information may be provided to me by email. Based on that information, I will prepare a declaration for the class member's signature.

The commitment of time would be minimal. Of course, each class member may participate as much or as little as they like.

Additionally, we are always available to answer questions about the case, or consumers' rights pursuant to the settlement.

4. By objecting to the settlement reached between Experian and the Alabama lawyers, is there a risk of losing the free credit score or two months or credit monitoring? (Which is certainly not much of a loss!)

The "relief" currently offered under the settlement could come off the table if the court refuses to approve the settlement as structured. However, at that point, the parties merely go back to the drawing board and attempt to craft a new settlement which will meet with the court's approval. Meanwhile, we will continue to pursue our separate class action in Orange County.

In any event, while there may be some delay, consumers will ultimately find themselves in a better position if the court disapproves this horrendous settlement. Alternatively, if enough class members object to the proposed settlement, the parties may be willing to offer additional relief prior to seeking court approval in order to ensure that the deal goes through and avoid additional litigation.

5. When our readers choose to have you represent them, what is the process?

Class members need only to send an email expressing their desire for my firm to represent them along with a brief statement detailing their experience with CIC. I will then prepare a declaration and either mail it or fax it to them for their review and signature. I will file all declarations along with a comprehensive objection with the court.

The papers are due on or before May 15 so time is of the essence here.

According to the class notice, objections should contain a class member's name, address, phone number, and last four digits of social security number. If class members are uncomfortable providing any of this information, we can object to that portion of the notice.

6. May we publish the name of your law practice and contact info?

Yes. Any class member who has questions about the settlement may contact me fee free.

Law Office of John W. Davis
4445 Eastgate Mall, Second Floor
San Diego, CA 92121
Telephone: 858-812-2976
Facsimile: 858-658-0072
email: john@johnwdavis.com

Complain to the Attorney General about CIC TripleAdvantage

Gary, May 5, 2007

I'm going to write a letter to the CA State Attorney General about this company. I suggest that everyone with this problem should do this also. If they get enough letters they may help us all.

Re: Complain to the Attorney General about CIC TripleAdvantage

Jeff (Editor) , May 7, 2007

Hi Gary,

I think this is an excellent idea. ConsumerInfo.com (CIC) is a California company and the AG should have some sway. I would be happy to publish your letter here to help inspire other readers to write letters.

The California Attorney General's web site has an online form that makes filing a complaint easy.

Also consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They have jurisdiction over the credit agencies (CIC TripleAdvantage is owned by Experian, one of the three credit agencies).

Thanks for being a vigilant consumer.

Jeff

Send CIC TripleAdvantage Execs to Jail!

Jake, May 11, 2007

I signed up for the TripleAdvatage credit report through FreeCreditReport.com after watching several commercials on TV. I signed up for the free trial and forgot about the trial. Well it recurred 1 month and I got charged for 1 month of, $12.95. No biggie.

I tried to cancel the account by calling 877-481-6825, and according to the rep, the account was canceled. Well after couple months later, I realized it never got cancelled! I call the same number 877-481-6825 but it was always busy or gave me message saying there was no one there.

I managed to get the number of the parent company, ConsumerInfo.com (1-888-888-8553). According to the rep at this number, I did call the previous rep before, but I never cancelled the account. She said according to the record, I wanted to continue the service.

What the hell!? Why would i call the rep just to say I want to continue the service??? Well this time she assured the account is canceled and she even gave me a reference number, and said I will get a confirmation email.

Overall I got charged 12.95 five times for getting to view my "free credit report" once.

Re: Send CIC TripleAdvantage Execs to Jail!

Jeff (Editor) , May 11, 2007

Hi Jake,

I'm surprised they actually made a record of your call. Usually white-collar criminals try not to leave a paper trail!

If you want to help put the people behind CIC TripleAdvantage in jail, you should file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

It just amazes me that the FTC allows this pattern of brazen fraud to continue. Your story is all too typical. It has happened to me personally. It would take very little effort to set up a sting operation to catch CIC "forgetting" to cancel these free trials.

The more complaints the FTC receives, the more they will be forced into action.

Jeff

Why is the FTC Asking for My Social Security Number?

Frederick, June 7, 2007

I had this problem with this God forsaken company. I called them countless times, cancelled half a dozen times only to be continually billed each month.

The only way I was able to stop them from billing me was fill out a fraud report with my bank and close the account. As you can imagine there were some repercussions that came from that but I was sick and tired of paying them money for absolutely nothing.

Do yourself a favor and cancel your account now...

BTW, I was going to fill out the form from the FTC but it wants my social security number...Why do they need my SSN to fill out a complaint?

Re: Why is the FTC Asking for My Social Security Number?

Jeff (Editor) , June 7, 2007

Hi Fredrick,

That's an extraordinary story and you certainly should go on record with the FTC. I don't think you are required to provide your Social Security number to file a complaint (just leave the space blank).

Here is the FTC's explanation on cases where you need to supply your SSN when filing a complaint:

If your complaint is about the accuracy of your credit file at Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union, the FTC may send it to the credit bureau, consistent with a new federal law. For such a complaint, please provide the following:

1. Your Social Security number
2. "Yes" or "No" answer to the question "Have you already disputed with the credit bureau(s)?" and
3. a "Yes," "No" or "Don't Know" to the question "Did you dispute more than 45 days ago?"

The FTC does not normally ask for Social Security numbers, and we advise you to be careful with all your personal information - especially your Social Security number. We are asking for a Social Security number here, however, because this information will assist the credit bureau(s) in resolving your complaint.

Notice the phrase, "If the complaint is about the accuracy of your credit file..." There is nothing in your credit report that you are disputing. You are complaining that TripleAdvantage would not release you from the credit monitoring service.

If you are concerned about providing the government with your SSN, just leave that field blank. But please, please report this! They need to hear that Triple Advantage ignored multiple calls to cancel the service.

Good luck!

When is the Next Class Action Lawsuit Against CIC Triple Advantage?

Winona, June 17, 2007

I too have been scammed by these folks. I finally got thru on their number and canceled this AGAIN. I have been charged 3 times now since March and she said she could refund me one month of service but no more. THIS IS A TOTAL RIPOFF!!!

If there is a class action suit, I'm in. I can't believe what these people get away with and just to check your credit report. Shame on them...but someone has got to stop them.

My email does not depict how I feel right now! [Winona's e-mail address indicates that she is a happy person.]

Re: When is the Next Class Action Lawsuit Against CIC Triple Advantage?

Jeff (Editor) , June 18, 2007

Hi Winona

You just missed the most recent class action lawsuit against CIC Triple Advantage. But I'm sure it won't be long before another one forms!

You can probably get the rest of you money back by calling your credit card company. Be sure to file a complaint with the FTC to make sure this fraud doesn't go unreported.

Learn more about each of these steps in our new article: Canceling CIC Triple Advantage: Stop the Charges, Get Your Money Back and Get Justice!

Don't worry. Soon you will put this whole episode behind you and your mood will once again match your e-mail address!

I Don't Remember Giving Them My Credit Card Number!

Dave, July 5, 2007

I noticed $12.95 charged to my Visa Card. I had no idea what it was for. If it was this "free credit report" I don't even recall giving out my credit card number. That is not like me. I don't know how they got the number at all. I do remember viewing my credit report.

Re: I Don't Remember Giving Them My Credit Card Number!

Jeff (Editor) , July 6, 2007

Hi Dave,

Don't feel bad. FreeCreditReport.com is designed to trick you into thinking you are simply getting a free credit report and score. Unless you really dig into the fine print, you don't even realize you are signing up for a credit monitoring service.

Indeed, most people who visit the site don't even know what a credit monitoring service is.

This is what it says above the "Credit Card Information" section of the form when you sign up:

Your credit card will not be charged during the free trial period. However, valid credit card information is required to establish your account.

My guess is that you thought the "free trial" was the credit report. Since you only wanted one credit report, this didn't raise any red flags.

Hopefully you got a refund and alerted the FTC as described in our Step-By-Step guide: Canceling CIC Triple Advantage: Stop the Charges, Get Your Money Back and Get Justice.

And, of course, you know where to go the next time you want to look at your credit report for free: http://www.annualcreditreport.com

Thanks for writing.

Thanks for Canceling TripleAdvantage Tutorial

S H, July 11, 2007

Holy moley!

I figured they would just give me a free credit report, but they took my personal info and charged me for it!

So, I get through sign up and THEN they tell me they are going to snail mail me my login information within ten days. Well, it took several days for the charges to appear, but well over ten days and still no login information!

Thank GOD(s) knowzy.com had a tutorial on how to cancel - it helped a lot! Surprisingly only five minutes (4:45) on the phone and the CSR is canceling the service.

Thank you!

Re: Thanks for Canceling TripleAdvantage Tutorial

Jeff (Editor) , July 12, 2007

I'm very happy to hear you found our tutorial useful.

I used to provide this information personally to each person who wrote in. After a while, it became quite repetitive. That's when I decided to write the definitive "How to Cancel TripleAdvantage" article.

I'm glad you got your money back without too much hassle. However, your experience with this company is quite different than most people's (including my own).

Typically, the scam works like this: You provide your personal information plus your credit card number and you get your free credit report and score instantly online. Then, 30 days later, after your visit to FreeCreditReport.com is a distant memory, they charge your card using the company name CIC TripleAdvantage.

I'm curious as to why your experience was so different.

Re: Thanks for Canceling TripleAdvantage Tutorial

S H, July 13, 2007

The CSR I spoke with DID try to steer me towards retaining the service, but English was not his primary language and I interrupted him at key times using the language in your tutorial. I've been a CSR myself so I was ready for his hyjinx.

It's still to early to tell if they'll unsubscribe me, they probably will keep my first $12.99, but I'm sure that there being many complaints against them helped changed their internal policies - thanks to people like you!

Thanks very much - I hate thief companies.

CIC Stands for Cashing In on Consumers!

Beth S., July 16, 2007

I received my credit card statement today and listed was a $12.00 charge for CIC Triple Advantage. Curious I called my credit card company who gave me their number, 877-481-6825. I was on hold the first time for 24 minutes and then disconnected, the second time for 18 minutes before someone picked up. I was on the line for nearly 30 minutes with a representative that told me all of the wonderful features that www.freecreditreport.com had to offer with this Triple Advantage service. None of the reps reasons were informative nor useful. After a long battle of discussing why my card was charged for a supposed free service, the rep finally cancelled my supposed membership.

The government offers you one copy per year of your credit report via the web at www.annualcreditreport.com, there is no charge or fee involved. No potential charges for credit monitoring.

Also, according to the rep, they can only charge your card, they cannot refund your money.

When you put all of this together, it makes one wonder, they call it, FREE, but trick you into being charged, then they can only take money from you, they cannot give a refund, makes one suspicious.

Consumers beware of CIC, they're only looking to cash in on people.

Re: CIC Stands for Cashing In on Consumers!

Jeff (Editor) , July 17, 2007

Hi Beth,

What a poignant cautionary tale and I love the new nickname!

I only hope you will follow it up with an equally compelling complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. You would be doing the public a great service by adding your voice to chorus of citizens complaining about this company.

The FTC has fined Experian twice for a total of $2.5 million over the deceptive advertising tactics used at FreeCreditReport.com. However, I see that squeaky-clean spokeskid on TV every day bragging that over 20 million people have "checked" their credit report at FreeCreditReport.com.

The numbers speak for themselves: They haven't been fined enough!

Call TripleAdvantage Early in the Morning!

April, July 27, 2007

I've been trying to contact CIC Triple Advantage for several weeks, but I never had the patience to stay on the phone much past 10 minutes, especially on my shared work phone. I spoke to my bank (although they were sympathetic about the shady practices, they refused to cancel the charges since I technically did "authorize" them), and they informed me that they've had numerous complaints and suggested that I call CIC in the morning to cancel. I called today at 8:30 PDT, and was put through to a representative immediately! YAY! One for the good guys!

But... as others have mentioned, the CIC rep went on about the benefits of their service, and knowing that this argument was coming, I prepared a curt interruption that got my subscription canceled and one month refund on the spot. "I don't appreciate you trying to strong-arm me into keeping this misleading, unwanted service. Please cancel my membership and refund my money. Now."

The rep said that she was only authorized to refund one month's fees, and I asked to be transferred to her supervisor or someone who had more authority for refunds. No such person exists, but she gave me their address and a reference number, but no assurance of a refund.

The address is:

ConsumerInfo/CRG
PO Box 19729
Irvine, CA 92623-9727

I've attempted to contact the FTC about this matter when I read a post on this site, but the FTC's complaint submission site is currently down. Rest assured, I'll keep trying!

Thanks for putting the word out to the rest of the good guys!

Re: Call TripleAdvantage Early in the Morning!

Jeff (Editor) , July 30, 2007

Hi April,

Thanks for sharing your story and the tip about the best time to call CIC Triple Advantage.

The question of whether you authorized the charges can be subjective and some banks are better than others at taking your side.

You came to the site for a free credit report. If you thought you were going to be charged for it, you wouldn't have taken the "free" credit report.

So did you authorize the charges? I would argue that you did not. When it happened to me, CapitalOne took my side and refunded the money. It's unfortunate that your bank didn't.

By the way, I just checked and the FTC complaint form is back up.

Canceled and got Refund in 5 Minutes. What's the Problem?

Chris, August 5, 2007

I had a charge on my statement for $12.95. I called to verify cancellation and seek refund. I got both. In less than 5-minutes on the phone. No problems for me.

Re: Canceled and got Refund in 5 Minutes. What's the Problem?

Jeff (Editor) , August 5, 2007

It refreshing to hear from someone who received an efficient refund. It sounds like you cut their sales pitch very short!

A few questions about your experience with FreeCreditReport.com, if you don't mind:

• How soon did you cancel after noticing the charge?
• What time of day did you call TripleAdvantage?
• Did the charge on your credit card surprise you or did you know about the 30 day trial period when you signed up?

It sounds like you canceled immediately after you discovered the charge. If so, good for you! This is, by far, the best and easiest way to rid yourself of the TripleAdvangate service.

7 Months of Charges. Is There Hope for a Refund?

Rita, August 6, 2007

For the past seven months I've seen a charge of $12.95 with *CIC Tripleadvantage next to it.

At first I thought they were some kind of charge by the credit card and I called the credit card company. They said it was not their billing. Then I looked up the CIC Triple****whatever online and just found out that it is a terrible company.

I called the number provided and they hung up on me. That made me furious! I called my credit card company and decided to block them. Now they are considered an unauthorized users.

I'm going to file a complaint with the FTC and BBB. I know they are not going to give me my money back because they have made a lot of money from me in the last few months.

I want to know how to get my money back for charges for the last 7 months.

Re: 7 Months of Charges. Is There Hope for a Refund?

Jeff (Editor) , August 6, 2007

That's one expensive free credit report! The good news is, now that you have alerted your bank, TripleAdvantage cannot continue to charge you. The bad news is TripleAdvantage is probably going to end up keeping most of your money.

Your bank is required by law to refund any unauthorized charges to your credit card in the last 60 days. If you can convince your bank that you did not authorize these charges, you can a refund of the last two months charges.

Since the bank didn't offer to refund your money when you called, this may be a losing battle. But it's still worth a try.

It's good to hear that you plan on filing a complaint the with FTC and Better Business Bureau. You are rightfully furious and getting on record with the FTC will help ensure CIC Triple Advantage doesn't get away with it.

There are two lessons here that you have no doubt learned: The first, contact your bank immediately when you notice a suspicious charge on your credit card statement. The second, when you want to look at your credit report for free, pay a visit to the government-mandated http://www.annualcreditreport.com.

Honesty (About TransUnion Commissions)

David Luff, August 11, 2007

The information on this site seems very straightforward and appears to be accurate. At the same time, even as you recommend against for-profit credit monitoring services for most consumers, you fail to disclose that you are an affiliate of at least one (TransUnion) and possibly of more.

Wouldn't such disclosure be the honest thing to do?

Re: Honesty (About TransUnion Commissions)

Jeff (Editor) , August 12, 2007

You are absolutely correct, this relationship should be disclosed. What's worse, it is a violation of Knowzy's advertising policy to clearly mark all advertisements!

I made the correction to the chart. For the record, Knowzy receives a commission from the two TransUnion links in our credit monitoring comparison.

My background is in software development and I'm still an amateur journalist. Indeed, Knowzy will not be whole until I can lure a journalistic heavyweight to embrace the role of Executive Editor.

In the meantime, thanks for keeping me honest.

Canceling and Refund Easy for Me Too

Kevin, August 13, 2007

They charged me one time for 12.95. I just called them this morning and got canceled and a refund in 5 minutes, without hard selling. For those who call, do not forget to ask for a reference code for the refund.

Re: Canceling and Refund Easy for Me Too

Jeff (Editor), August 13, 2007

You're the second person in a week to report that canceling was easy and took only five minutes. Your letter seems to confirm two things:

1. Call CIC TripleAdvantage early in the morning
2. Call as soon as you see the charge on your credit card. Do not wait for another month to pass

One question for you, Kevin: Did you know you were going to be charged or was the charge on your credit card a surprise to you?

5 Months of Refunds in 5 Minutes!

Doug Moushey, August 14, 2007

I had no trouble. This stupid thing had sat on my account for 5 months without me noticing.

I called and sat on hold for maybe 5 minutes, and then asked for a refund and cancellation. I was told that the person could only refund 2 months worth of fees, and that for further refunds I'd have to be put on hold again. I was mad, so I said put me on hold. Surprisingly, all of 15 seconds later the manager confirmed a total refund and cancellation, so no worries.

Frankly, I thought that their customer service was pretty good. I called at 9:00 eastern time, so apparently calling early isn't absolutely necessary.

Since Jeff asked it, I didn't realize that I was going to be charged, and if I had I would have been a lot better about stopping it sooner. My stupid fault.

Re: 5 Months of Refunds in 5 Minutes!

Jeff (Editor), August 14, 2007

That's amazing! I have never heard a tale of TripleAdvantage being so generous (relatively speaking). You must be one smooth talker!

The reason I consistently ask if people who write in if were surprised by these charges is to determine if they have been defrauded by TripleAdvantage.

The ad you clicked on or saw on TV mentions nothing about a credit monitoring service. FreeCreditReport.com doesn't extol the virtues of its service upfront. On the contrary, FreeCreditReport.com goes to great lengths to conceal any mention of the service.

If their entire business is based on the CIC TripleAdvantage credit monitoring service, why are they so reluctant to tell you what you're getting into?

Maybe you could have seen through the scam if you had looked more carefully or done some research beforehand. However, you have the right live your life without being suspicious and distrustful of every offer made in an advertisement.

Obviously the real world is not without such deceptive advertising. When those companies rip off the American consumer, the Federal Trade Commission steps in. But they do so only after they have been alerted.

Even Company Name on Credit Card Statement is Misleading

Doug Moushey, August 20, 2007

I noticed on my credit card statement a charge of $12.95 a month was being taken out of my account. I had always assumed that it was my finance charges through my credit card.

I talked with my bank about it and they said that the charges weren't from them. I looked into it more and found out that it had been taken out of my account since 5/24/2005, 2 years and 3 months ago.

So I called the number I found on this web site, and the rude representative told me the most they could do is refund 2 months, and canceled it. She went on and on about how I was protected from this and that, and that I must of went to freecreditreport.com and signed up for it. I wouldn't of agreed to all of that!

I don't remember going on that site, but it is a possibility that I did.

Over the twenty seven months they charged $349.65 on my credit card. I want my money back and all of it!

I called my bank and they told me that they could get up to four months of it back, but no more.

What do I have to do to get my money back? I feel like a victim of fraud. If you have any ideas of what to do next please tell me! Thanks for your time!

Re: Even Company Name on Credit Card Statement is Misleading

Jeff (Editor), August 20, 2007

Make no mistake about it: You have been a victim of fraud. What's worse is you will likely never recover the rest of that $350. But you can do your part to make sure TripleAdvantage is brought to justice.

Experian (parent company of FreeCreditReport.com and CIC TripleAdvantage) has already been fined a total of $1.25 million. They have settled class-action lawsuit after class-action lawsuit.

You are a party to the most recent class action lawsuit. However, the settlement is likely to infuriate you further.

When this lawsuit settles, you will be entitled to two free months of credit monitoring. Fail to cancel it after two months and the $12.95 charges start again!

By the way, the attorneys who negotiated this settlement (supposedly on your behalf) are walking away with $2.5 million in attorney's fees.

The time has passed to object to this settlement. It is my understanding that by not objecting, you have given up all right to sue them, even in small claims court.

This is a terrible company running misleading advertising and is apparently still quite profitable despite the lawsuits and fines. Don't let them get away with it. Make sure the government knows you have been defrauded: File a complaint with the FTC.

Rep. Claimed I Called to Continue Service!

Dave, August 22, 2007

I first signed up to receive the credit report and service in June and then promptly canceled my membership the very same day I enrolled. Surprisingly, I noticed a $12.95 charge on my credit card this month. I called again and told them I had canceled long ago and should not be charged for a service that I explicitly canceled.

At first, the service rep made the outrageous claim that I had somehow agreed to continue my membership at the end of my cancellation call. After I shot that down she agreed to cancel the membership (and sent a confirmation email) but refused to drop the $12.95 charge, saying that I had "used" the service recently (I did log in to see if I could get confirmation of my cancellation 2 months ago, but after seeing that I couldn't, I stopped trying and certainly did not view a credit report of any kind or "use" their services).

I have no idea that they would simply refuse to honor my first cancellation request.

Anyway, I filed a complaint with the FTC, and am currently sending letters to the AG of California and Wisconsin (my home state), as well as disputing the charges with my credit card bank (I have obtained the phone records to prove I called 2 months ago, but was not sent a cancellation letter so this is really all I have to go on).

This company should be punished as severely as possible for the fraud it commits on a daily basis. Anyone know of new class action lawsuits against them? Or the status on the most recent one?

Re: Rep. Claimed I Called to Continue Service!

Jeff (Editor), August 22, 2007

You are the second person to report the exact same thing: You call to cancel. The TripleAdvantage representative tells you it's cancelled. Behind-the-scenes, the rep. doesn't cancel and instead notes in your account that you just called to tell them what a wonderful service they have.

It's absolutely contemptible.

The fact that they wouldn't refund your money is further proof of contempt for their fellow man. I hope your bank pulls through with the refund.

You're too late for the most recent class action lawsuit, which is actually a good thing. The settlement itself is a scam!

Fret not, though. I know lawyers frequently read this page. In fact, the third letter I received was from a lawyer.

You have done your part by reporting this fraud to the FTC and two Attorneys General. I applaud you for the effort and so do the people who were ripped off by TripleAdvantage but never spoke up.

Good luck!

FreeCreditReport.com Designed to Steal Your Money

Leif W., August 28, 2007

FreeCreditReport.com advertises a free credit report. A month later, I see a charge on my credit card for $12.95 for CIC*Triple Advantage. What is it for?

I call the toll free number, and they refuse to give me a refund. I called my Discover credit card and filed an unauthorized charge complaint. They said it's a 50% chance to get my money back, as it is "clearly stated on the website" that I'll be enrolled.

Well, look at the FreeCreditReport website. It's stated in pale blue text on a dark blue background, while the links to lure you into the site are bright, high contrast colored Flash animations. I look over the web site more, and at the bottom of the page beyond the visible edge of the window, there's poorly formatted text that might mention something "Important."

Ask any graphic designer if they had important information to tell the end user, if they would design a web site like this! They would tell you the same thing, don't be surprised if 99% of people never even notice the so-called important information.

Again, due to the poor formatting, a graphic designer will tell you the same thing, the page is "too busy", meaning too cluttered for the brain to make sense of or to convey information to people because the brain throws out cluttered information.

They already falsely advertised a free credit report, because a real credit report has all three bureaus and all three FICO scores. They already charged for a "free" thing. And then they have the nerve to steal more money for a useless "credit monitoring" service.

In all my life I've never had any fraud on my credit card except for companies like this with their hidden charges, and every other company has given me a full refund when I tell them I was unaware of any charges.

This is fraud, robbery and should be illegal. I am not a happy consumer. Experian and the other credit reporting agencies should be investigated for fraud. This is a crime. Multiply by the tens of thousands being duped every month.

Re: FreeCreditReport.com Designed to Steal Your Money

Jeff (Editor), August 28, 2007

I agree with you: From the commercials that draw you to their site to FreeCreditReport.com itself, they go out of their way to avoid any mention of their supposedly wonderful credit monitoring service.

If they truly believed in their product, their advertising would be something like "Get unlimited credit reports during your free 30 day trial of TripleAdvantage. Here are the benefits of our service..."

The problem is, the number of people willing to pay for credit monitoring is very small. That is why they feel the need to trick people into subscribing.

I offer them this free advice: Stop trying to sell what is an otherwise unprofitable product. Find something else to sell, like security freezes.

As you point out, the web site itself is truly work of deceptive advertising:

• Their disclosures, which were only added after settling false advertising charges with the FTC, have little contrast between the background and the text.
• Substantive discussion of the credit monitoring service takes place below the page footer.
• When requesting your credit card number, they say it's only to "establish your account."

I hope you will find a good outlet for your anger: File a complaint with the FTC. It may not get your money back, but it will ensure their crimes don't go unnoticed.

A Prayer for TripleAdvantage Staff

Krissy, September 11, 2007

God help these individuals. I pray that their business doesn't last much longer.

Amen.

Re: A Prayer for TripleAdvantage Staff

Jeff (Editor), September 11, 2007

Amen.

It Takes Two Calls to Cancel

Buddy Davis, September 21, 2007

I called this dubious company one month after I cancelled and received another charge. I was told by "Michael" (would not release his last name) that he could not refund the most current charge and no one with his company could do that.

I asked for his supervisor (not there-of course) and asked for CEO, president of the company, (somebody) and he did not know the names of any of the company officers. He continued to reiterate he "could not" refund the most recent charge and no one with his company could do that!!!

Unbelievable!