Complaint Review: ConsumerInfo.com Aka FreeCreditReport.com

I had signed up for a FREE 30-day trial with FreeCreditReport.com but called to cancel the service within the stated 30 day period. Upon canceling, I received both written email confirmation from the company as well as a verbal confirmation via telephone that the service has indeed been discontinued. I was also informed the deactivation was made effective as of 10/28/2007.

However, on 11/4/07 while paying my bills, I noted a $12.00 charge from CIC TripleAdvantage billed to my credit card on 10/28/07 that looked unfamiliar. Not only was the amount odd, I did not recall interacting with anyone from CIC TripleAdvantage or any businesses in Irvine in the recent month.

After researching the charge, I recognized the 877.481.6825 number listed on my credit card bill (with one digit off. in their email correspondence and website, they listed the number as 877.481.6826) as belonging to FreeCreditReport.com.

Thinking that it was honest oversight, I called to resolve the issue with the company. I was told, after the CSR pulled up my account on the system and being put on hold for several times (I assume to confer with others in her area) that it was "against their policy" to do a "refund." I explained that I did not buy the product and had only signed up for a free trial offer which I had canceled the same day the charge appeared on my credit card. I did not authorize the charge and therefore, was not seeking a "refund." She then asked me to call back in an hour because the computer system had just "crashed."

I wanted to resolve the matter and asked to speak with a manager. Even after giving the manager the facts, she held her stance and would not provide a "refund" because she stated I authorized the charge by providing the company with my credit card information. She stated I should have read the "Term & Conditions" before I signed up. Please note, in order to activate the free 30-day trial offer, the customer had to provide a valid credit card number as well as a host of other personal information, including a social number.

The "Term & Conditions" does not contain language that allows the company to charge the customer if cancellation was made within the trial-offer period. It was evident logic was not holding up, so I terminated the call and informed her I will be reporting this matter first to my credit card company and then to other consumer protection agencies.

I find it disturbing that a company that collects personal information from clients who sign up to use the free credit report monitoring service operates its business in this manner. This is EXTREMELY unethical behavior. I do not feel safe knowing that a company with such business practices has access to vital information such as my social security number. I feel it is putting me and a great number of people at risk for credit fraudulent activities and/or identity theft.

Luckily I review my credit card statements several times a month, but I can imagine the potential financial risks posed for those who don't review as often.

I assume because I caught the transaction's posting early enough, my credit card company was more than helpful in reversing the charge and I had no problems in my dispute over the unauthorized charge. The credit card company also offered to place a restriction on this vendor so that future charges made by this vendor are blocked unless I call to remove it.

Even so, I feel sick to my stomach when I think of the many people ConsumerInfo.com has taken/is taking advantage of, particularly students, young people who are starting off and are who working to build their credit history, or those with limited access to information so that they cannot appropriately assert their rights in situations such as these.

I said it before and I will say it again, this is not only highly UNETHICAL practices, but also poses as a great credit risk to a large population of consumers!

Do yourselves a favor and don't put your credit at risk. Stay away from any offers generated by ConsumerInfo.com ("CIC") and all products offered as: TripleAdvantageSM, TripleAlertSM, CreditCheck, Credit ManagerSM, CreditCheck Basic, CreditCheck Deluxe, or CreditCheck Premium, and non-membership based Products such as the 3 Bureau Credit Report, Instant Single Credit Report, PLUS Score, Statutory PLUS Score and Free Experian Credit Report. They also make signup offers on FreeCreditReport.com.

You'll save yourselves a lot of headache and the potential of being a victim of fraud.

FYI
Torrance, California

Update to this report: Even though I spoke with two people at FreeCreditReport.com regarding this matter, I also put the company on notice in writing about this unauthorized charge via email as I wanted to document this situation. Recently I received an email back stating I needed to send written request along with a copy of my credit card statement to:

ATTN: Consumer Relations Group (CRG)
CreditExpert.com
PO Box 19729
Irvine CA 92623-9729

At this time, I feel I am definitely getting the run around and correct me if I'm wrong, but with other companies, billing issues are not normally handled by the consumer relations area. Additionally, I signed up with FreeCreditReport.com. Who is CreditExpert.com? Furthermore, if I do send the stated documents to CreditExpert.com, will I then be told I did not read the "Terms and Conditions" because I really needed to place a call to FreeCreditReport.com in order to cancel the free trial??