What Number Am I Thinking Of?

Number? What number? I’m thinking “Free credit report my arse.”

You may have seen the constant commercials for a free credit report from the Experian credit reporting agency. Just go to a couple of web sites, give them your personal information, and, like magic, you get a free credit report.

Your “free” report requires giving Triple Advantage^SM Credit Monitoring a ton of personal information. Social Security Number, credit card information, everything required for identity theft, information they should be paying you for.

After giving that information for free, you are automatically enrolled in their $12.95 a month program. I quote from their site:

Payment Information
When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple Advantage^SM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 30-day trial period, you will be billed $12.95 for each month that you continue your membership. If you are not satisfied, you can cancel at any time to discontinue the membership and stop the monthly billing; however, you will not be eligible for a pro-rated refund of your current month's paid membership fee.

Your “free” report comes from one of the three major credit reporting agencies. Reports from the other two, Equifax and TransUnion, may contain different information.

If you want real deal, free, credit reporting, get all three reports directly from the agencies by filling out one form.

You may say to yourself, “How do I order my free report?

Take advantage of the federal law requiring them to give you free reports. From the only website authorized to get that free information for you:

The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.
To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The form is on the back of this brochure; or you can print it from ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.shtm

Now I’m thinking of a number. 90. Ninety days for each member of management at Triple Advantage. Attempted consumer fraud.