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).

Edward of Rio Grande NJ (11/10/08)
I spoke to Chris on Oct. 15th to cancel the membership and refund. It was done. Today, I checked my credit card showing a charge from them again for 14.95. Chris told me that they would not be charging anymore. I told him that I will filed with Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureau, and the CEO of the company. I am also going dispute the transaction tomorrow with my credit card.

I do not the credit reports anymore or emails from them. I wanted them to stop harrassing me and charging for something I wanted to cancelled in the first place.

Dan of Shelby, MT November 4, 2008

Dan of Shelby MT (11/04/08)
Going through ID theft so we checked all of our credit bureau reports. Immediately after, dug into our checking account for 14.95 each or 29.90- refusing to pay monies back although we never ordered the service. Am filing a fraud complaint with FTC for the return of 450.00. I am disabled and didn't check my bank statements until recently after recovering from 2 surgeries.

Stole 450 unauthorized monies from our checking account. On fixed income. Caused overdrafts and they are refusing to answer our emails. Also, have gotten more junk emails since we put fraud & security alerts on our credit reports because of ID Theft. Also had to cancel credit card so they wouldn't charge anymore. Never repair false & disputed info on credit reports either.

Jeff of Meridian, ID November 2, 2008

Jeff of Meridian ID (11/02/08)
I never signed up for this service, never provieded a credit card number, and never authorized any charges. My wife and I didn't catch the charges earlier, because the charges were under Triple Advantage which we thought was our monthly roadside assistance charge (AAA) Today, the charge came across as CIC CE Credit Report - at which point I immediately recognized it as an unaouthorized charge.

I called the company to dispute the charges and cancel the service (despite the fact that I never signed up for it), and the representative indicated that becuase I had clicked on a link in an unsolicited e-mail which took me to my credit report, that I had used their service and, therefore, incurred the charge. I informed them that the link did not take me to a sign up page, a page with any disclaimers, etc. It simply took me to my credit report, and that I had never signed up for such a service, nor had I provided any personal information (especially not a credit card number) and that simply clicking on a link in an unsolicited e-mail that took me to my credit information did not constitute an agreement to any charges.

The original e-mail was under the guise of the free annual credit report guaranteed by law as of 2004 in western states. They offerred to refund one month of the charges, indicating to me acknowledgement of wrongdoing, but that is simply not sufficient.

Lastly, we were in France in January of 2008 when the unauthorized charges began. Cursory internet research indicates that this company has a long history of this type of fraudulent behavior as well as thousands of complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau and FTC.

Fraudulent charges of 149.50 to our credit card.

Christopher of Berkeley, MO October 25, 2008

Christopher of Berkeley MO (10/25/08)
cic*ce credit kept showing up on my bank statement for 14.95 i did not know what it was then i saw several other complaints about the same thing. this is a ripoff.

David of Gallup, NM October 18, 2008

David of Gallup NM (10/18/08)
Unauthorized charges to my credit card.

It is a deceptive and misleading site, offering free credit report. They advertise 'free' credit report, although they charge a fee to view it, and then charge my credit card 12.95 per month without my consent or knowledge. Also, they do not contact the consumer of the charges.

It was brought to my attention by my credit card company this company was charging my VISA credit card ENDING IN 2371 without my authorization or knowing it. I never received a statement or a bill or a receipt for the charges that were charged to my card from April 2008 to October 2008. Had my credit card company not brought it to my attention i would have been completely unaware of these charges.

This company is misleading, deceptive and uses deception to charge unaware customers for a service that the consumer does not request. I am one of thousands of consumers who have been ripped off by these scam artists. This company is running a scam and needs to be taken down. This company has a reputation of misleading many, many individuals. I demand an immediate refund of all charges to my credit card that were not authorized by me. I plan on contacting the Federal Trade Commission and BBB.

Mary of Las Vegas, NV October 11, 2008

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