Fear the Crab

As I understand it, a fair number of people in the US know that they are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from the “big three” credit bureaus. It seems, however, that one of the three bureau reports is not quite so free. A quick, rudimentary google check of “experian” and “ripoff” will net you a truckload of blog posts, articles, and general complaints about what I call dirty practices by Experian.

Here’s how it works: In order to get your annual credit report, you go to annualcreditreport.com, enter your information, and are given the chance to choose from the three credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian). You can select 1, 2, or all three bureaus and request a credit report from them.

When I got to the Experian website in early August, I entered the requested information and got my free credit score. What I failed to realize was that I had actually signed up for a “free 30-day trial membership” to Experian’s credit monitoring service. And wouldn’t you know it, early September I find a strange charge on my credit card. I didn’t cancel my 30-day free trial, so I now had to pay. Turns out that part of the information you are asked to provide is your credit card number. SO STUPID of me to provide it.

Basically, the charge is justified because I was a fucking idiot for not reading carefully. I was so caught up in getting my annual report that I failed to consider what was being asked of me. What I can do now is suck it up like a man, cancel my so-called membership, and closely monitor my statements to ensure that my membership is actually canceled.

TransUnion and Equifax don’t do this to you, nor do they ask you for a credit card number.

It seems like there are other things associated with Experian, such as that FreeCreditReport.com stuff we hear and see on media. If you go to freecreditreport.com (and not the other URL I provided above), you are actually signing up for “triple advantage” membership.

Basically, it boils down to this: If a company offers you a “free” service, but requests your credit card number, DON’T give it. Read carefully! Don’t be an idiot like me.