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I'm tired of that "F-R- Double E Spells FREE" credit report commercial!    Because what they are "hawkin' is NOT free!
Free Credit Reports Are Not FreeThankfully, on March 3, 2010 the Federal Trade Commission file a revision to the Free Annual File Disclosure Rule to address the abuses and deceptive advertising for Free Credit Reports.  This was part of the new Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility Act 2009.

The new disclosure is available now, but must be used after April 2, 2010, per the FTC ruling... however the Radio and Television Ads don't have to go off air until September 1, 2010 (although the advertisements must adhere to the interim disclosure in the Credit Card Accountability Act until then.)

"The pre-existing requirement to make a free annual credit report available to consumers applies to consumer reporting agencies that operate on a nationwide basis.  The new marketing requirements apply to parties that offer free credit reports. For purposes of the requirement, a "Free Credit Report" is a file disclosure prepared by or obtained from, directly or indirectly, from a nationwide consumer reporting agency that is represented, either expressly or impliedly, to be available to the consumer at no cost if the consumer purchases a product or service, or agrees to purchase a product or service subject to cancellation."

I think this is GREAT news for consumers who have been PAYING for what services they don't need!

If you are looking for credit repair from someone who cares about your situation, and will show you how to immediately, and over time imporve your score - please call Steve Thorne, Credit repair specialist 919-649-5058  also check out this site ... it's all about credit repair and dispute information!

 
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62 Comments on FTC Cracks Down on "Free Credit Reports" That Just Aren't

MAR
10
2010
105,591 Points Outside Blog Hit Router

Good news, I too am sick of that commercial.  Thanks for the post.

11:50am • #1
548,980 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Eleanor...

It's about frickin' time! I tell people over and over and over and over, nothing is FR double EE Free. Do they listen to me? Pah Leeze. Sometimes I just want to drop a brick on their head. LOL. Yah. I'm unusally violent today :)

TLW...ROAR!

12:01pm • #2
716,181 Points 69 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

We will not make any progress in this country until we make everyone accountable for being transparent.

Hidden agendas are the root of every problem (aka "liars")

12:12pm • #3

So true, nothing is free just like there is no sale on (mortgage) money....read the fine print as they say

12:20pm • #4
421,394 Points 76 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Eleanor - It's obvious that the so-called free credit report ads worked; they kept paying big bucks to run them every night.  Consumers who take time to do their homework will discover annualcreditreport.com, the government mandated, and truly "free" source for credit reports.

12:37pm • #5

You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus each year. You will not  get your FICO score, but this allows you to monitor your own file, and submit corrections so it is more accurate when you actually need to have it pulled for a loan. All you have to do is go to annualcreditreport.com .   Never mind. You guys are correct. We are paying for this with our taxes because the government helped set this up. We are still paying for it, but at least we don't have to pay for it again.

12:44pm • #6
115,222 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

That is good news. I hate to see companies hawk their wares and then do a bait and switch.

12:47pm • #7
200,155 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

John - you are absolutely right - the annualcreditreport.com is the only truly "Free" source for credit reports - those other sites are selling an "insurance" policy IMHO!  I hope they come up with a better Jingle!

12:51pm • #8
1,113,990 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

But I love those commercials. I think the songs are original and catchy. Probably one of the only commercials I can tolerate without fast forwarding through them on the DVR/TIVO.

1:00pm • #9
171,441 Points 36 Featured Posts

That's good news.  Because the ads are misleading.  Not that I like to disagree with my friend Aaron, but you can use copyrighted images and trademarks when you are posting news, postique a critique or review, or making parody.

I've replied this way to several cease and desist letters and I never hear from them again.

1:39pm • #11
Outside Blog

Seems most profitable companies are making huge sums of money on hidden cost. The telephone and satellite companies get me everytime. Everybody and their brother get a tax of some sort on those bills.

2:21pm • #12
277,620 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wouldn't it be nice if people had to give you what they advertised? 

3:37pm • #14
278,556 Points 15 Featured Posts

The word free is rapidly losing its cache. Today we had a "free" seminar by realtor.com in social networking in Oklahoma City. Nothing free about that or the credit reports. 

3:55pm • #15
Outside Blog

I thought the commercial had a nice ring to it ,,, although I did wonder about the free thing

4:20pm • #16
159,084 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router

I always enjoy watching the commercials, but yes, very deceiving unfortunately. 

4:47pm • #18
677,225 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That's ggod to know. Thank you for the update on credit reports.

4:58pm • #19

Oh, thank you!  That green wool tights dork drives me up wall! 

5:19pm • #20
273,339 Points 2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Most consumers don't even realize that the scores they are paying for aren't even based on the models used by the mortgage industry.

5:50pm • #21
291,096 Points 5 Featured Posts

Eleanor: Thanks for the update. The old adage "if it sounds too good to be true" definitely applies here. Take care.

5:51pm • #22
730,477 Points 143 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I HATE, HATE, HATE that dork, that commercial and that BAIT & SWITCH COMPANY!!!

6:32pm • #23
685,841 Points 83 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I'm missing out on that commerical.  We don't have the guy here . . . but #3's comment is absolutely correct. 

6:55pm • #24
288,572 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I can't tell you how many times I talk to people that send me what they think is a credit report from one of these looney places, that is nothing but 50 pages of confusing garbage. It should NOT be so hard to get your free annual report, and consumers are tricked all the time, including having recurring monthly charges.

7:18pm • #25

The world is a better place without those commercials.

7:29pm • #26
482,170 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Eleanore,  Hopefully this will bring a little much needed transparency to that market.  Besides, I'm sick of the cheesy commercials - my apologies to the cheese !

7:43pm • #27
390,549 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Finally! Whilst I did not hate nor love the ads, they do not tell the truth. Seems 2010 is a year of change for the better.

7:46pm • #28
Attended Rain Camp

It's about time someone makes something transparent. By the time we all get done with fees, fees and more fee there isn't anything left to pay the fees.

8:11pm • #30
212,048 Points 5 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I don't like the commercial OR the little dork singin that stupid little song.  Whew!  Got THAT off my chest.  As TLW says, NOTHING is FR EE in the world.  People, wake up!  It's all a big scam to extract $$$ from your wallet.  There!  I feel much better...lol

9:19pm • #32
419,179 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Eleanor - A 'F-U and a CK' THAT spells my retort to all that.  While I love concentrating on credit, as it is so importante to the Real World we live in ... I am amazed by the fact that predators keep on preying.  It's been the soup du jour. 

I've come of the opinion that the better the marketing, the worse the product.  If that is indeed remotely true, I think it is a damn shame that creativity and competence can't share the same field. 

9:34pm • #33
547,922 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Free is just that or get off the air. Seems simple but must be a different kind of free.

10:29pm • #34
126,222 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Free credit reports; free telephone numbers, free ringtones, free addresses...of course, after you click, you need a credit card to pay 19.95.

10:51pm • #35
530,827 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

It's good to hear that these will be more regulated. I think the only thing free about it is the call.. oh I forgot.. it cost time to call them to find out that it's not free at all.

11:43pm • #36
MAR
11
2010
1,004,393 Points 36 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

The free credit report jingle is annoying and catchy.  But, people sometimes forget that there is no such thing as free lunch.

12:37am • #37
247,768 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Could there be a better "bait and switch" out there where millions get duped and nobody goes to jail.

It's about time, I imagine some politician is getting a wad of cash from this company and they will resurface with some new angle.

Maybe "we'll eliminate your debt for freeeeeeee"

5:34am • #38
577,130 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Eleanor,

So glad that you posted this. I have too many clients tell me that they see sites offering free credit reports, then they get to a screen that tells them to submit credit card information. As you said in your comment, the only truly free one is annualcreditreport.com, and I've been touting them for years.

7:50am • #39

Now... if they'd just do something about those gold buyers and structured settlement buyers that are continually advertising on TV.

8:58am • #40
225,623 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Eleanor:

I got hooked into that "free credit report" bait too. All I had to do was call the 800 # and get my "order" cancelled. The problem is that I was billed for 3 months at $14.95 per month!

I knew something was fishy... I was asked to select a "free" gift for requesting a "free credit report"... The gift was not free either...

9:10am • #41

FREE, FREE, FREE Genuine US Dollar, free to the first 20 people who respond...just send $10.00 (USD ) for shipping and handling  for each genuine US Dollar requested ;>)

9:30am • #42
391,376 Points 4 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I didn't know the reports were not really free.  Dang! I used to think the commercials were cute, now they'll just irritate me. But only until September!

10:12am • #43

I am sooo sick of the commercial! Glad to hear there is some positive change coming to this part of the market. nothing is "Free".......

10:12am • #44

Wait, regulating private business? Shouldn't that Pirate cook guy be allowed to commit fraud with a catchy jingle?

10:24am • #45
810,523 Points 7 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The last time I tried to get a "Free Credit Report" they put me through way too many hoops.  They were asking me to verify who I was by giving them the account number on some very old accounts that I had closed and long forgotten. 

11:17am • #46
859,394 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That song is so annoying, but it does stick in your head. Good marketing.

Bad job at explaining it is NOT FREE. It is so misleading.

11:36am • #47
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

It's about time! You're right Erica, annoying but catchy tune that sticks to your brain. Remember the "Winston tastes good, like a .................."? And how many years has it been since that commercial ran? Great marketing!

12:12pm • #48
582,968 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

This is awesome news!  I hate to think about all of the folks that have gone to their site after seeing or hearing thier misleading commercial and getting ripped off.  It will be really nice to not hear this junk any longer.

12:19pm • #49

Thans for the post. I was not aware of the annualcreditreport.com web site. I do get some great replies when I ask why I need acredit card number for something that is free. Take Care

3:52pm • #50

If you have a credit score below 600 then you might as well kill yourself.  That seems to be the message that the credit bureaus advertise.  I think it's funny that the people responsible for putting inaccurate data into your report to lower your score are also the same ones profiting from selling you the report that shows how wrong they got it.

Next thing you know, Microsoft will be manufacturing anti-virus software to plug the holes in their Windows application.

With the credit bureaus, why fix the problem of inaccuracy if you can profit from it?

There has to be a law somewhere.

5:38pm • #51
549,605 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I'm glad for the poor consumer. It's a scam that too many people fall for.

5:39pm • #52

I'm sure my previous comment lowered my FICO score by 50 points.

5:40pm • #53

Thanks for the heads up, I am so tired of Scams & I am glad they are being regulated!  Thanks for truly trying to help people improve their scores! Congrats on the feature post!

7:46pm • #54
332,829 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Eleanor,

Thanks for the information. I hate it when it just aint what is advertised.

Cal

8:03pm • #55
338,720 Points 9 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

This is great!  I will, however, miss the catchy jingles in the commercials...some of the more creative ones for sure!

9:53pm • #56
MAR
12
2010

They aren't the only ones. An Ad from a national car insurance company says in their commercials they can lower your insurance if you qualify (ie. home insurance; no accident in past ## days/months; accident forgiveness program; cash reward for being safe driver; etc) however, some of their programs are not available in NC because of state insurance law. Bottom line is the consumer must read the fine print/FAQ's/terms & conditions before clicking that accept button. Also have you noticed lately that after the variouscompanies (financial/insurance/et al) change the terms after they get you "locked" into a contract or long term program citing changes to either state or federal laws/rules.

Hey! just a thought I wonder if can change the "rules" on the spur of the moment, too (like our commission rate). LOL

12:28am • #57

HA - love your image! I'm so sick of those commercials I could die!

6:33am • #58
1 Featured Post

That is good news, and a welcome change. 

6:41am • #59
MAR
13
2010
153,861 Points 25 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I was very, very happy to read your post.  Thanks for letting us know!

9:20am • #60
109,714 Points 8 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I agree, GOOD RIDDANCE!  Also, I hate when people tell me their credit score based on one of those reports...TOTALLY IRRELEVANT!

 

6:59pm • #61
MAR
18
2010
554,841 Points 31 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Eleanor, am just getting back in the rain after a week long sabbatical...  great post.  AND congrats on the feature too my friend!!

12:06pm • #62
JUL
25
2010
3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

It's amazing how they can pay for all of that advertising on national radio and TV when their product is free....Hmmmm.  Good job by the government (wow, I think that's the 1st time I've ever uttered those words).

12:08pm • #63

What does the graphic say?

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