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).

Amy of Greeley CO (02/20/08)
They won't cancel my account. I called asking for physical address so I could send a letter to show the bank that I had attempted to cancel. CIC told me they couldn't cancel my account due to an IT problem. Yet they continue to take the money.

I am going to have to cancel my bank account and open a new one. This is going to cause me a lot of problems due to automatic payments from legitimate companies.

Greg of Guntersville, AL February 15, 2008

Greg of Guntersville AL (02/15/08)
Like many others that I have read about, I went online to get my credit report, and I keep getting a monthly charge from these people for 9.95 a month. Seems to be no way to cancel.

Lauren of Michigan City, IN February 4, 2008

Lauren of Michigan City IN (02/04/08)
We applied for credit, and our bank ran a credit report on us. I received a letter from our bank stating that there were a couple discrepancies on our credit report. The letter also stated that I have a right to see my report. I then went online to freecreditreport.com to access my account and was told to give my information. I was never charged for this in the past and was never enrolled in a credit monitor service that charges a monthly fee. However, I am now. A monthly charge of 12.00 appeared on my credit card because they said that I agreed to it when I looked up my report recently. I never remember seeing this come up as I was accessing my report and certainly never agreed to it. I have recently canceled the membership as soon as I got my credit card statement showing the charge, but they still got 12.00 from me as they have from many other people. 

Apparently this begins with freecreditreport.com, and somehow CIC Triple Advantage gets a hold of you; and all of a sudden you somehow joined a monthly membership with them to monitor your credit for you at the cost of 12.00 per month. Think about how much money this is if this happens to at least 1,000 people, and they get 12.00 (if not more) out of them because of their dishonest business ethics.

David of Columbia, SC January 26, 2008

David of Columbia SC (01/26/08)
I was taken to the CIC website for a FREE credit report after filing my taxes online through Taxact.com. The site said this service is absolutely free, but they need my credit card information to verify my identity for the credit report. They then charged me 34.95.

Ian of Redding, CA January 5, 2008

Ian of Redding CA (01/05/08)
About 4 years ago I signed up for a service that was supposedly free and suppose to give me my credit report. I don't recall what I received or if I received something in the mail from CIC. I can't recall the name of the company or the website address. I just remember signing up for a free credit monitoring service and now getting charged ever since.

It has caused me to be charged overdraft fees several times and without warning. I have received charges and had to figure out a way to make up for the lost money whether by simply asking for help from family members, or when I was able to put my own money in the account to maintain a positive balance.

Robert of Maplewood, MO December 21, 2007

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Home | Rogues Gallery | Good Guys | Complaint Form | News | Recalls | Search
Consumer Resources | Find A Lawyer | Newsletters | Forums | Contact Us | Advertise

Consumer Affairs.Com is provided by ConsumerAffairs.com, Inc. in association with Joan E. Lisante LLC, licensed to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia and the Law Offices of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Ltd., licensed to practice in Illinois.  ConsumerAffairs.com is an independent service not affiliated with any government agency.  For more information see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright � 1999-2001 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.