Have a band that's as annoying as FreeCreditReport.com's singing pirate? You're in luck.The controversial credit service is on the hunt for a new crew of wannabe musicians to sing along to what has basically been a classic example of misleading advertising. As previously reported, owner Experian had to spill the beans that their side business is only free if consumers enroll in the then $14.95-a-month credit-monitoring service and then cancel it within a week.
In response to the new Federal Trade Commission rules, FreeCreditReport.com is now asking consumers to shell out $1 for credit reports.
Yep, the so-called "free" report now costs a buck. But, it's still not free. Oddly, the service claims that the $1-per-report charge will be donated to charity.
The site's ubiquitous TV ads, in case you haven't seen them, feature slackers singing in their shabby apartments or waiting tables in pirate costumes. If only they had used FreeCreditReport.com, they wouldn't be in such a financial mess.
The controversy is that FreeCreditReport.com diverts customers away from the free government mandated site located at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
Due to the legal issues, it now has a disclosure on its home page saying it's not affiliated with the annual free credit report program. This disclosure is in fine print on the side of the home page, on a subdued background.
Click here for details.
