Bankruptcy

Free Credit Report.Com Not So Free

By Wayne Novick Ohio Bankruptcy Lawyer

It is very important for an individual to see their own credit report as they make financial decisions.  Bankruptcy lawyers look over their clients credit report for information as to who is owed, type of debt, responsible party, payment history, etc.  Television, radio and the Internet are constantly sending people to Freecreditreport.com and this appears to be a free website.  Most people who go there soon learn that  the only way to get a free credit report there  is to purchase and or subscribe to many of the  pay services being offered.  

Experian was sued recently for misleading people into going to freecreditreport.com to obtain a free credit report.  The suit alleges that to get the free credit report the user had to sign up for other services.  In the instant case the individual did not even realize they had signed up for these services until charges started appearing.

The Federal Trade Commission has cited freecreditreport.com several times for this misleading advertising and has even started its own videos to make fun of  freecreditreport.com.  The FTC directs you to use annualcreditreport.com

AnnualCreditReport.Com actual lets you receive one free credit report each year from each of the three credit reporting agencies.  You can obtain this report by going on line or by calling (1-877-322-8228) or by mail.  The reports are free.  They are also very easy to read.  I direct my clients to obtain their reports from annualcreditreport.com in preparation for their bankruptcy. As is often the case you have to read closely to make sure what is free is really free

Full post as published by Bankruptcy Law Network on February 04, 2010 (boomark / email).