If FreeCreditReport.com Doesn't Even Offer A Free Credit Report... Is That Truth In Advertising?
from the just-wondering dept
It's no secret that FreeCreditReport.com, a site owned by Experian, has always been somewhat misleading in its marketing (okay, very misleading), getting people to get a "free credit report" that is not the government mandated free credit report, and whose entire program was really about upselling people to expensive credit monitoring services. However, we noted back in March that the FTC was finally forcing the site to be more honest in its marketing -- including a clear and conspicuous link to the real free credit report offering. But now, reports are coming out that FreeCreditReport.com isn't offering anything for free any more. The report you used to get for free is now a dollar. And, even though they promise to donate that dollar to charity, it makes you wonder: could the domain name itself be considered false advertising?Of course, the reason why Experian is charging that dollar seems even more misleading than its old advertising program:
The new F.T.C. rules went into effect on April 2, and they required sites to include a prominent notice across the top of each Web page that mentioned free reports declaring that the only authorized source under federal law for such reports is annualcreditreport.com.Yes, you read that right. It's trying to make the FTC look bad for requiring the company to actually be honest... and, in doing so, is pretending that this means it no longer has to be honest. An Experian spokesperson explained it this way:
Rather than include such disclosures, Experian added the $1 charge, saying that "due to federally imposed restrictions, it is no longer feasible for us to provide you" with a free credit report. And now that the report costs $1, the new F.T.C. rule would presumably no longer apply.
The offer for the $1 report is very clear and in compliance with the F.T.C.'s rule," she said in an e-mail reply to questions. "There is no express or implied offer on our site for a free report."Other than the domain, you mean?
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: advertising, credit report, fraud, truth
Companies: experian, freecreditreport.com
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Uh oh...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Uh oh...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Uh oh...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Uh oh...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Uh oh...
"This page is parked free, courtesy of GoDaddy.com"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I mean really....
The reason this is working is because people are trying to figure out how to get a free lunch. Its wrong to deceive people but the once behind this site wouldn't have done it if there was no chance of getting people wrapped up in it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I mean really....
It's not people trying to figure out how to get a free lunch. It IS suppose to be free. What you are implying, if I understand you correctly, is when you have a product you used to sell but now giving out for free, at the cost of the seller, ie. free lunch from a bar. It is by law that they must provide one free report per year if requested.
You are in effect trying to make people look/feel bad because they ask what they are entitled to.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: I mean really....
Or, just go to a bank and get prequalified for a mortgage for free.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I mean really....
And if she hadn't been wearing slutty clothes...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I mean really....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: I mean really....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I mean really....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I am afraid that the day will come for them to hold my credit rating as hostage and charge me something.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Definition of "Free"
The definition of the word "Free" doesn't necessarily imply that something is without monetary cost. It just means that it is free from some sort of restriction.
That being said, "Free" is still often used in misleading ways because the broad definition of the word allows it to be.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I've seen this problem before.
The bar owners forced them to change name because customers were getting angry, as they were going to the bar becuase of "Free Beer."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I've seen this problem before.
You mean they don't still have this problem?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
$1 to charity = profit
Considering they donate the dollar to charity means they get the $1 discounted off their taxable income at no cost to them.
I'm sick of companies doing this all the time. It's totally disgusting, and lots do it.
Dollar's not really being donated to charity, it's being donated to tax dodging.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: $1 to charity = profit
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Don't know what you're talking about
So are you saying they no longer provide the score because people were actually finding it useful? That's messed up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Don't know what you're talking about
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If you just read this, you owe me a dollar. Send it to Mike.
In fact, if they really are giving the money to charity, it probably is different in a good way.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I didn't need my score so I didn't pay the £10. They even have a free phone number to call when you want to cancel the free 30 day trial.
In fact going one step further, in the UK there are a number of cash back sites which give you all of the referral fee they earn for you clicking through to a product and placing an order. If you use these sites you can actually make money, about £5, for using a free credit report!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Free credit score and free junk mail = fun for everyone.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
free gasoline
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]