New York, NY: A class action lawsuit against Experian, doing business as FreeCreditReport.com, has been filed alleging that FreeCreditReport.com fraudulently advertises that it offers "free" credit reports. In reality, it signs up all consumers for a credit-monitoring service called Triple Advantage that charges $14.95 per month, without any warning that the service it provides is anything other than free.
The class action, which is the result of an extensive investigation, was filed on behalf of a class of consumers who were induced into signing up for a free credit check and who were improperly and unknowingly charged $14.95 per month by FreeCreditReport.com under the guise of Triple Advantage.
In 2005, the Federal Trade Commission sued Experian for its fraudulent and misleading advertising through ConsumerInfo.com, a subsidiary of Experian similar to FreeCreditReport.com. Although Experian was forced to stop the deception, it found another outlet through which to induce consumers: FreeCreditReport.com.
The Complaint alleges that FreeCreditReport.com knowingly and deliberately advertises through television, radio, and Internet with the intent to mislead consumers into accessing a service which consumers believe to be free (based on these advertisements), when, in fact, consumers are charged $14.95 per month. Once a consumer finally realizes that she has been improperly charged by "CIC Triple Advantage," it is almost impossible to cancel the service. Experian makes millions of dollars every year at the expense of consumers across the country.
According to a report on CNN.com, the Better Business Bureau has received more than 11,000 complaints against FreeCreditReport.com.
