Complain about a product or service

ConsumerInfo.com

One City Blvd West Suite 401
Orange CA 92868
Phone: (888) 888-8553, Fax: (714) 978-0059

Also known as:
CIC Credit Monitor SVC; Consumer Info; Consumer Information;
creditmatters.com; freecreditreport.com; homeradar.com;
I Place; I Play Innings; QSpace.com

Your Credit • CreditReport.com • Free Credit Reports • Equifax • Experian • Trans Union • Consumerinfo • Freecreditreports.com • Certegy • Chexsystems --- News • Feds Spoof Bogus Credit Report Offers • FreeCreditReport.Com Is Far From "Free" • Equifax Settles Consumer Protection Charges in Indiana • Washington Improves Credit Freeze Law • Should You Place A Freeze On Your Credit Report? • How Are You at Managing Your Credit Score? • Consumer Understanding of Credit Scores Remains Poor • TransUnion to Provide Credit Scores to Millions • Class Actions Challenge LifeLock • FreeCreditReport.com Can Get Expensive • Children Becoming Prime Identity Theft Targets • Study: Seniors Not Familiar With Credit Freezes • Feds Propose New Rules for Credit Bureaus • Experian To Offer Credit Freezes To Consumers • Two Credit Bureaus Offer Consumers Credit Freeze in 50 States • No 'Free' Lunch on Credit Report Sites • Insurer Unlawfully Poached Consumers' Credit Reports • ConsumerInfo.Com Settles FTC Charges • Rep. Frank Promises Hearings On Credit Bureaus • PayPal, Equifax Team Up To Offer "Free" Credit Monitoring • Free Credit Reports Available Nationwide Starting Sept. 1 • Marketer of "Free Credit Reports" Settles FTC Charges • Credit Bureaus: Biggest Threat to Your Identity • Escape From Plastic Prison • Experian, ConsumerInfo.Com Named in Class Action Suit • Free Annual Credit Reports Required by Next Year • Big 3 Charged • Trans Union Ordered to Stop Selling Consumer Data • Equifax in Trouble Again

Things haven't been going quite as well for Consumerinfo.com since the Federal Trade Commission caught up with them.

Many reports are similar to this one ...

April of Virginia Beach VA (4/19/03):
I was charged the $79.95 for the so called "free credit" report without warning or receiving an email about the upcoming charge. I realized the trial period was coming upon me, but I could not find the internet address for "CIC." I was charged the $79.95 without prior notification of the upcoming charge. It screwed up my bank account and would have made me bounce several checks if I had not caught the charge on my own.

Unfortunately, April's experience is a common one. ConsumerInfo.com is owned by Experian, one of the three major credit reporting agencies in the United States. It in turn is owned by GUS PLC, a giant British retailer who at last report was pleased as punch at Experian's 18 percent increase in North American sales during the first quarter of 2003. A large part of that increase came from ConsumerInfo.com, which GUS Finance Director David Tyler said was one of the company's "best ever acquisitions."

Experian and the other two major credit bureaus are, of course, required to provide a free credit report to anyone who asks for one after being turned down for a credit application based on information in the report. However, as the complaints below illustrate, Experian and its subsidiary are quite skilled at getting money out of consumers who in many cases have little to spare. (More about credit reports).

Donna of El Segundo, CA June 26, 2009

I had signed up for a free trial , months ago and when I tried to get some contact information to cancel it I couldn't find anything. There was no phone # or address anywhere that I could find to cancel this charge. I finally went to my credit card company, this month, to dispute the charges. This charge has been hitting my credit card for several months and 12.95 a month may not seem like a lot but do the math...12 months 155.40. That's a lot to me.

Jay of Cottage Grove, MN June 24, 2009

I noticed a 79.95 charge on my credit card from CIC Monitoring CA. I called to get them to cancel as I had cancelled the service last year. They told me they had no recotd and that, once billed, they could not take the charge off. I told them to cancel future billings and was told it was too soon. I would have to call back just before the next billin cycle, next year as they had no way to set up an automatic cancel.

Sylvia of locust grove, VA May 4, 2009

cant get my money back after i cancelled. i have notified my bank and i want cic to refund my 14.95

Joyce of Ottawa, IL April 14, 2009

In regard to my complaint against CIC Triple Advantage, I rec'd a credit of 149.99 on my charge card account but have many other charges not reimbursed for: 12/25/08 12.00, 9/26/08 12.00, 10/25/08 42.00,11/25/08 12.00. Calls were made to cancel on 1/29/09,12/26/0810/27/08. Finally on 03/04/09 I rec'd the credit for 149.99 and have not had charges since.

This fraud caused me anguish and many phone calls plus the time to finally get it stopped. I have rec'd info on a suit against the Sun-Times, Cptr 11, Case #09-11092-(CSS). Is there any connection between this suit and a suit against CIC Triple Advantage? I know nothing about the Sun-Times case.

Will of Graham, TX April 7, 2009

I started seeing the charges come up on my credit card. When I called the credit card company they told me to go to my local police station & report fraud. I have never signed up for a credit report in my life! I don't know how they even got my credit card number.

They charged 47.80 in one day! No telling how many other times they charged that I didn't know about. I can't get the money back.

Sara of Philadelphia, PA April 4, 2009

I made the same mistake everybody else did. When I cancelled the membership within the 7 day trial period, I was told that my credit card would not be charged. Of course, I was charged 24.95 and can't get it back. Seems I didn't understand some technical stuff. I'm wondering where the free part comes in.

They sent an answer to my email saying: According to our records, you recently ordered a 3-Bureau report upgrade for 24.95 from our website. [No I didn't. I was offered a free credit report and that's what I thought I was getting.) These reports are a one-time only purchase and are not part of the membership. (WHAT?! I totally missed that statement on the website.) When you order your credit report, you authorize us to obtain your credit file from the one or all of the three national credit bureaus. Upon doing this, the credit bureaus charge us for delivery of that report. (So the 24.95 is like a shipping/handling fee?)

Therefore, because the product was delivered successfully and is accessible for the specified 30 days, we are unable to grant your request for a refund. I'm just recovering from being homeless. I got the credit cards in an attempt to repair my bad credit. I still can't afford an apartment so I live in a rooming house for displaced women. It goes without saying that I can't afford to be tricked by slick technicalities. I guess I'm pretty much screwed, but I've learned my lesson. I won't be signing up for the free credit reports anymore. Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me.

Pamela of Windsor, CA March 11, 2009

I have highlighted the debit amounts of the monies deducted and the overdrafts that have resulted because of unauthorized access to my account. [They] cannot find anything that shows any debits in the amount of 9.95. The total of this debit of 9.95 for 12 months is 119.40 (I havent included a copy of the bank statement ending February 13th as I have not received the statement yet, but my bank states that the amount of 9.95 was extracted on 1/30/09). Also the overdrafts have a total of 78.00 plus a 10.00 cont. overdraft for a total of 88.00. This brings the total due me at 207.40.

I have sent a copy of this letter to the FTC, FCC, and Consumer Fraud. I expect a speedy refund and expect [them] to no longer access my account. financial loss 207.40. This organization was fined in 2005 but obviously has not changed it's tactics. There are over 7,000 complaints through BBB and the Attorney Generals Office. I'm disabled and have to utilize every penny I have. This organization needs to be responsible.

Samantha of Chattanooga, TN March 5, 2009

I got my freecredit report now still getting charged on card but I can't reach them. I have teied to stop but can't !!!!

James of Benbrook, TX March 3, 2009

I had cancelled my trial but got charged 16 something on my bank account.I had to call twice to get this taken care of.Just to be safe I closed on that card & got a new one.Stay away from this site!

Charged for unwanted cancelled service.

Diana of San Diego, CA January 5, 2009

I did not authorize a monthly credit monitoring, but requested one free credit report and just discovered that I was getting charged 9.95 per month for an unautorhized sesrvice.

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