It's totally deceptive. Don't say "people should read the details" or "people should know it's not free, even if it says it is".

The real issue is it shouldn't be called a free credit report if it isn't actually free. It should be freecreditreportifyousignupfora15dollaramonthservice.com

Deceptive advertising is the problem. It's meant to deceive people intentionally. Equifax can kiss my bottom.

The domain name is purposely meant to trick people. FREE means something specific. If anybody wanted to sign up for the other services, they would do it on their own, not when trying to get their free credit report.

Yes, some people are stupid. But equifax is deceptive, fraudulent, and ripping people off.

So I work for FreeCreditReport.com. The funny thing is that we get calls all the time from people who come have memberships with us that originated at AnnualCreditReport.com, they actually promote our membership on their page. So yeah this probably by the FTC, they have more class than that. I hear people calling all day that this is a scam you pull us in and you don't tell us we are going to be charged. Even before the law concerning credit cards was signed in the Website stated in a LARGE box that it was a trial membership and gave a link to AnnualCreditReport.com it's not even hidden, you have to see it cause it's right under the guy in a green jacket. It even has Important Information in bold 14 point font that is meant to get your attention, It also states 3 times about how much it is and that you have to cancel the account in the free trial. It says that above the order button. People just don't care and don't read it. If you don't read it then it's your own fault that you are going to get charged for the membership and as far as fine print if you read it, it states you actually have two more days to cancel than you do in the LARGE 14 point font. lots of places promise miracle diets and people don't complain about that like they do over a credit membership that actually watches your Social Security Number for Identity theft and lets you know within minutes of any activity that can be Identity theft. For what this cost you, you can actually save in interest rates by actually repairing your credit and getting a better score. Also lenders don't use just the FICO score, they do use the Vantage score which all 3 bureaus use and sell now, the FICO is outdated

It is all so true. After last year I can tell you who is the biggest and the smallest of the three agencies, and whom does a better job. That is not saying a hell of a lot

From October of 2007 to this past September. I have come to one conclusion. Who ever gave the Consumer Reporting Companies the right to operates needs to be shot in the back. Then revived and hung and dragged through the streets wrapped in barb wire

I rarely checked my credit reports, and to be honest before the recent access to them and of course the Internet. Most people's only contact with their credit report was when they applied for a loan

Then if you got turned down or their were questions. All you got was a letter in the mail saying you had to the right to contact the company that supplied the information. Lucky if you got a response

Well in July of 2007. I applied with a line of credit with a division of Providian. Now I rarely use credit. Mainly when I was married my x wife used them to often, and I am oh so lucky I never got hit with her credit problems. She had horror stories over her past. Moving along. I had paid off home at the age of 40. I retired from large law enforcement agency. I did not have many expenses. I like to spend money. I lived alone in South Florida. What toys I had I paid for in cash. I just hate bills. I just got out of the habit of using credit all the time. I used them when I needed to. Rarely.

Back to my story. I got turned down. I was told I had an account with them already. I was like "I DO". Well I was shocked. I told them I did not. I had heard about the free credit report, and applied to on line. For some wild reason. I could not see it on line, since my information and test questions did not match.

I got my reports. My Equifax full detailed was forty pages. Yes, Equifax is the largest , and the second is Transunion. Experian, no matter what any ones says is third. Many companies use them to check your credit, only because the charge less. Majority of banks and credit lenders report to Equifax and Tranunion.

The fact was I was a victim of Identity theft. I had total of 12 credit cards, four medical collections, four department store credit cards, two gas cards, and of course slew of collection companies. One for a hard line phone. Real funny, when I called the company that had bought the write off. The phone was installed in 1998. Kind of odd that the address listed was for a home I bought in 2002, and the home was not built until 2000 My addresses were wrong. One was a post office box. If any one knows the law. The 2001 law prohibits and credit lender or bank to allow or issue credit or open an account to a PO BOX. Experian had my occupation Trans something financial. Oh, born in 1908. I even had a judgement on me. Oh, in a state I had not lived in 16 years.

I then acutally join all three. Yes get better service when your a member. Still not always works much better. If you try to get a live person that acutally deal with credit, it is on a day with a blue moon. Yes, you can get customer service, but not investigating your report. If you call them during the days EST, you will get INDIA. Nothing worse then talking with some one who's English is horrible, and you have to keep saying excuse me.

I have spent a total of 200 hours on the phone with all three companies. I kept a time record and always took names. One day lone I spent four hours on the phone with Equifax. Reason was that I went to check my credit report and my name was wrong. I was on a mission to clear up the mess. I got switched from one section to another.One could see one report and another could . The reason was my credit report was so big, they split me into three people with three different reports. It took 11 month to get it straight. At then end of each month. I was split again.

Some of the people at Equifax were nice,and I know I drove them up the wall at time. I am one of the only patient people I know, but on the other hand. They had a saying for me at the preceint I worked out of. In case of Riot Break Glass for me. Same with transunion, but some would just agree with you or tell you to contact the creditor. Experian. If you got some one in this country. One occasion you talked with some one that knew what they were doing.

I did learn one thing. I could now open my own honest credit repair companny. I know the FTC law in detail and use it like a sword. One thing I have learned is the government needs to revamp the whole system.

When you contest an inaccurate hit on your report. All three just send out a electronic request. All they have to do is report back with your information. Name, DOB and SSN. Then of course if they dont report back i thrity days it comes off. Guees what, they can then report it again

My protest to them all was if some one used your information, of course they have the main three. If you could show that you have lived at one place for long time, you sure woould not have accounts in another state. I always kept hard copy of removal. I when I called them I could state the report number and day of removal. After six months. I call and the junk came off the same day

Unless you check all the time. Once a year is BS, and it should be free. The whole system how the three got into business and make or break your life has gotten way out of control. With the internet you need to. Your tax records, deeds etc are availbe with your city or county. I can go on line to tax collector for the three counties in my area. Put in address, and I can find out the owner or visa versa. Think so what. I know a family that went on line to check thier deed for the heck of it. Now their home is paid off. Well guess what they found out. I showed they had quick claimed their home to some one for 100 dollars. If they did not catch on to this. They person could have contact civil court, got deputies to kick them out of their house. Lucky they caught this scam at the start. They contact the county sheriff's office, and found this was a gang of scam artist. What is worst. It looked legal and it fact it was.Except it was fraud of course. The scam artist use public information.

Here are little fact you all need to contact your congress person and senator. There are two small groups. One is owned by Equifax . They do credit checks and background checks for many companies. Their information and collection procedures are lousy. The information they collect on private citizens is KGB. They have cause many people to loose employment opportunities. Reason they confuse the names with other names. Even the FBI contacts them to find out who owns land, homes or buildings. All because of the privacy act ,they can not collect and hold information on you. Beleive that.

With the internet, nothing is safe. Not to sound like a socialist. The govenment need either to take control of it, establish some thing like the post office. They need a way to make money. Why not the Department of Credit. Sorry big three . I dont care if you all get laid off.

the original freecreditreport ad is funny and it's cute but I have no illusions that it is free. are people really that stupid as to believe it is? commercials are always for their entertainment value, you aren't supposed to believe that they are true! now I'm confused, is ford better than chevy, or is chevy better than ford. what do the ads say?

Please go after WLI Reservation Rewards/WLI Shopper discount next. 3 out of 4 people here in my office were duped to sign up with that company without their knowledge.

If people would learn that there is "NO" reason to give out a credit card number for a supposedly free product of any kind corporations would not steal from them so freely. There is no free lunch people everything has a price learn to read the small print hasn't the latest round of government stimulus packages taught you anything.

We are the Federal Government. And we are here to protect you from yourself. (evil smile)

Perhaps the 'axis of evil' (Experian, TransUnion & Equifax) could be prosecuted under the RICO Statute. They make The Sopranos look like angels. Maybe I need to call the new Attorney General of the US.

The three credit reporting agencies are an "axis of evil" accountable to no one serving the good of no one. In the past, they may have provided a useful service to the banking industry, but with the proliferation of identity theft, the information value of the data they hoard and provide is is next to useless.

I remember a story a few years ago about a guy who claimed to be selling "original Abraham Lincoln Portraits" for $5.00 each. Turns out it was pennies. He got prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and he only made a few hundred thousand before he was caught. How is this any different?

Hey, my understanding is that Experian is letting you know right up front that the ad is bogus...the content itself is misleading.

Apparently, the "lead" singer is actually French Canadian and is not in command of the English language - he is lip-synching to the songs. In other words, the whole thing is bogus. And, by the way, I agree with those that find the ads annoying...and is there a shortage of singers that could perform?

Rock on. Give'em hell. What else are going to do?

I wish that everone would stop complaining about their cards being charged. Do you people read the contraxts? Face it, clmost every company in this country has a carrot that they dangle to get you in the door. This is no different

No one seems to challenge the idea that the main character in these ads is "cute". I must be weird, because he strikes me as an obnoxious little brat.

I always found it interesting that we Americans are always getting HOODWINKED (to cause to believe what is untrue) because we are TOLD that something IS for OUR OWN GOOD and therefore we firmly believe it is for OUR OWN GOOD!!!

I can tell you right now that this CREDIT SCORE and CREDIT REPORTING is just a BIG BUNCH of BULL CRAP that has gotten so far out of hand that it is hurting nearly every person living in the US. It is used to raise prices on everything from interest rates to insurance!!!

I can also tell you that it could be OUTLAWED if YOU THE PEOPLE chose to do so!!!

I HAVE ABSOLUTE PROOF!!!! I moved from the USA to Sweden a number of years back and ever since I moved here, I HAVE LIVED WITHOUT A CREDIT SCORE!!!!

I have bought 2 houses here and the BANK NEVER -REPEAT- NEVER looked at my credit report!! There IS a Credit Reporting Agency here but the bank never used it!!!! The bank looked at our incomes and expenses and issued the loans based on our ability to pay!!!

Just like it was done in the old days in the USA!!!

I have also bought 3 cars and a boat here and again NEVER a credit check!!!!

(IF YOU PEOPLE ONLY KNEW HOW MUCH YOU ARE GETTING SCREWED!!!)

There is NO CREDIT SCORE here NONE!!! You either HAVE credit, or you do NOT!

I KNOW the bank never looked at my Credit Report because the Credit Reporting Agency is REQUIRED to send a letter to me EVERY TIME someone requests information about me. I have received 3 of these letters in the last 10 years!!! (1-Special credit card; 2-Association verifying us; 3-Another Association)

Just in case you are thinking it - NO Sweden is NOT a communist country and although the health and well being of the citizens here are based on Socialism, Sweden is FOREMOST a CAPITALIST country (Cooper Price Waterhouse rates Swedish Capitalism #3 in the world!)

What we have here in Sweden are PRIVACY LAWS!!!! No private company is allowed to OWN your PERSONAL INFORMATION!!!!

"BUT WE NEED CREDIT SCORES! - They protect the LENDERS and they protect the people from ..."

Yah! Right! Just look at how these Credit Scores have protected us from the GLOBAL FINANCIAL MESS we are in now!!

Isn't it time to start utilizing your Democracy? As Nancy Reagan said; "JUST SAY NO!!"

I have an account with them and the credit score they sell me is different than what they give the bank when I go for a loan! What gives? Are they committing fraud there too?

I don't see where all the anger comes from that is aimed at an agency that is trying to educate the public about a company that is blatantly lying to them.

People are so critical about the FTC's song and commercial yet totally miss the point. Free Credit Report.com's commercials may be funny and the singer may be cute but they are TRYING TO RIP YOU OFF!!!

No wonder we're in such financial hard times. Are Americans THAT stuipd to not understand that there are companies out there who's only aim is to part you from your money? Sheeeesh!!!

Envision your life without debt! Have you had enough of working hard to make money just to find that your paycheck comes in one day and goes out the next to pay your mortgage, your loans, and your credit card bills?

Experian is horrible at abusing thier position. They need to be shut down. Unlike the other two companies they claim to have computer problems or not be able to provide your free report online. Of course if you pay you get it instantly.

They do not "investigate" fraudulent entries like the other two agencies do, but rather if they don't have time they mark it frivolous and move on.

"FREE" should mean FREE end of story! Should be no need to cancel or opt out of something. If you use FREE in your promo or advertising or domain then it should be FREE, not free if you do this or that or buy such and such and then get this thing FREE.

What is truly is shameful is Experian's failure to make its FICO scores available to consumers. It took years for the FICO scores to be available to consumers at all, and now only two of the FICO scores (Equifax and TransUnion) are available.

Sure, Experian will sell you their own credit scores, two or three different versions of a credit score. But not the FICO score. Which means that you don't get to see the same score that lenders see.

Creditors do not use Experian's home grown score, but Experian is trying to break into that market--that's where the money is. Creditors only use the FICO scores.

It's a legal requirement for the Credit Bureaus to make your report available to you once a year. Of course, there's not money in that. So to balance it, "free" creditreport.com was born and is sold to the masses. Now, if it was legally required to make this fact known to the public ....

D.V. - You're the first person who seems to agree with me that these businesses will get their karmic reward - look at how the banks have screwed people and now they're falling apart. They're just getting what they put out.

HINT: If they ask for your credit card number its not free...

I amazed at the number of responses about this and those who claimed to be scammed.

THE ONLY SCAM ARE ALL THE UNWARRANTED COMPLAINTS!

I'll state it again - THEY DISCLOSE ON THE WEBSITE AND COMMERCIALS that you are signing up for credit monitoring service. I never went to that site because I knew from the commercials that it required signing up for credit monitoring service.

from the homepage of FREECREDITREPORT.COM
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 7-day trial period**, you will be billed $14.95 for each month that you continue your membership.

ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. and Freecreditreport.com are not affiliated with the annual free credit report program. Under a new Federal law, you have the right to receive a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. To request your free annual report under that law, you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

This can only end in tears.

I spread my free reports out across the year and usually just pay the $7.95 once a year to Equifax for my FICO score. Doesn't matter that "it changes daily." Any arbitrary day should give you a good idea of your score.

This year I decided to add the credit score to each report. TransUnion was the first. They gave my credit score as 918. I did a double take: FICO only goes to 850. Seems TransUnion, the smallest of the three credit reporting companies, uses its own method of determining credit scores. So if you want or need your FICO score, don't waste your money on TransUnion.

On the other hand, if you want to raise your credit score by a hundred points or so, use TransUnion's score. Otherwise, stick to the Big Two.

The first year that the reports were free, I found a few companies listed on one site that gave me great reports from years ago. I'd never heard of some of them, and had most certainly never used them. A phone call to the credit company erased them, and I've had no problem since then: I recognize all the reporting companies.

As for all that extra stuff at a price, to quote a former First Lady, "Just say no."

Why can't the big 3 credit companies just be shut down already? Their information is constantly wrong and not so easy to get removed (I have challenged this info repeatedly to no avail) and the information is quite different on each report. Why can an employer pull a credit report if you apply for a job? Can an applicant pull a credit report on the company's CEO or anyone else in the company? I think not. It is a complete violation of ones privacy but of course our wonderful government has no intention of doing anything about it

I think the issue could be solved by not having an economy based on credit rather on real money. Purchases would be made using cash up front. This would be a drastic change for the world since nothing could get done until bills could be paid in full before attempting to take on a project. This could solve credit report manipulators as well as the current economic crises.

Thats great!

The collapse of our Country, it is almost impossible to find a single honest corporation, there is nothing but greed. it is all about who can get/steal the most from the public, the sad thing is that none of this Corporate Moguls realize that we get physical/emotional pay back by giving their time will come KARMA does not discriminate.

Just another example of your tax dollars working for the corporation. It's near time to load up the ole carbine and head to Washington.

When I have utilized annualcreditreport.com, one thing I notice is that your credit score from the three reporting agencies isn't part of the report, just your credit history. I am assuming freecreditreport.com shows your credit score as well as your credit history as part of the 7-day trial. I wish the annual credit report available each year would come with the scores, or even an averaged score taking the three reporting agencies and averaging the scores to come up with one number. Just the credit history only gives you part of the big picture.

The FTC commercials are a blatant ripoff - and are really lousy as well. Your tax dollars at work.

These FTC commercials are lame; they'll never compete with the Freecreditreport.com commercials, and the lead singer is nowhere near as cute as the one on freecredit. I enjoy their commercials, but I have never gotten scammed. They tell you right up front that you need to subscribe to their monitoring service. If you don't want to do that, don't sign up. It's that simple. People need to take the time and READ. What I would like to find is a site that gives you your credit score not just the report for free. Even on annualcreditreport.com you have to pay if you want to know your score.

I signed up for Experian's freecreditreport.com, found some false, negative information on the report, used the "service" to dispute the misinformation, and, now, . . . nothing changed. The did not make any note that the information is in dispute and they are still reporting the incorrect information as if it has not been challenged, contrary to federal law. I am now on hold, trying to cancel the "service" before I get charged (for nothing of value).

The FreeCreditReport.com commercial is so annoying that I immediately turn off the volume the millisecond that it comes on. I have considered writing to Experian and telling them that they have the world's worst commercial.

This is silly. The FTC shouldn't be trading jokes, they should be prosecuting these thieves. Through this deceptive website Experian is profiting by misleading. If it isn't against the law it should be.

Their "legitimate" business is selling our personal financial information to 3rd parties. They allow us to view our own information once a year. Thanks a bunch.

Way to go FTC!!!! That's what I'm talking about!!

Bravo to the FTC. Embarass Experian. They are such a bunch of cheats.

This whole "free" gimmick needs to be outlawed. It is really not "free" if you have to sign up first and get charged, but the charge is reversed if you cancel within a short window. Often cancellation involves jumping through a bunch of hoops that are easy to mistep on. It also is not "free" if you then have to hassle with getting the automatic billing charges reversed.

I believe that we consumers being the creators of the data that the 3 credit reporting agencies compile and sell to other companies should have 24/7/365 access to that data (our data) along with each companys calculated FICO score and the additional ability to turn access off and on as needed/desired. Where is a citizens inititive when we really need one? Tim Eyman are you listening? (Tim Eyman master of Washington State inititives that either get voted down or thrown out by the courts)

"All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others. Firms mentioned in our comment area are welcome to add their own comments."

To not be able to point out the foolishness of other comments that have even been foolishly approved is a disservice to those reading. How lame.

You want to know what is wrong? Just look at the mulititude of moronic comments here. People are stupid. Every day I am astounded at the stupidity at other humans. Do people grow up thinking you can just sleep your way through life and get a fair shake? Apparently. You got idiots here that can't tell the difference between annualcreditreport.com and freecreditreport.com. I guess that indicates exactly how Experian gets them. PAY ATTENTION.

Actually, I think a cutesy ad is much too easy on this group. I'm thinking something more along the lines of "class-action lawsuit" would be appropriate. To me, it's not just about these misleading ads. As a whole, the fact that our financial health is completely dependent on some "score" with a privately owned, confidential formula is a very very big problem. Sure, you can get a free credit report, but you can't get your credit score for free. And why is that exactly? Because someone is making a HUGE amount of money by selling it to you and the lending institutions and insurance companies. Your score changes based on things you can't begin to understand, and have to guess what to do to make the score higher. It might be acceptable if the score was only used to determine qualification for credit. However,it's not that way anymore. That score is used for things like car insurance and whether or not you qualify for a job. We've got to stop allowing the financial institutions of this country to literally buy into this mumbo-jumbo. It's truly become discrimination at a profit.

Wow! Imagine a government agency trying to fight a problem via viral video. Probably the first time I've heard a gvt. agency try to use a solution from THIS century, not the last one. Well done. Not that I think Experian and others aren't open to legal action. Companies like this promise a service, then confuse folks with pages of complicated license agreements while trying to hoodwink you into paying for something else. Corporate Lawyering at its best. Keep fighting FTC. It's nice to see someone use tax dollars for something smart and innovative rather than same old.

I tried freecreditreport.com, received my credit score and canceled the service with in the given amount of days to do so. I agree that the name is misleading, but so are padded bras. If people are willing to give out their credit card number without reading the details then it is their own fault. I guess you can't teach common sense.

Yes, it should be stopped legally but Experian has deep pockets and can keep litigation going in the courts for years for less than they will ever be fined. Meanwhile they're making millions. I think it's a good idea to educate as many people as possible as cheaply as possible.

Follow the money.  Obviously Experian is making BIG BIG money and I would guess some of our senior adminstration leadership, current and previous, have a financial interest in Experian.  Thats why it is hands off and no legal action.  The ruling class ways (both Democrat and Republican) never "changes" despite campaign slogans to the contrary.  Our President and his senior leadership practice "Status Quo You Can Bank On".

The freecreditreport.com are the most annoying commercials ever.

I had to turn them in to PA State AG's office before I could get anything straightened out... glad to see that someone is actually trying to make a difference.. but then again, I've noticed that a lot of the phony business that's been going on for well at least 8 years now, seems to be getting exposure...

Just an observation

This is a stupid idea!!! I saw the apartment ad and didn't pay much attention so I thought it was just another freecreditreport.com ad.
Did the FTC hire former AIG people as consultants?

If 'Free Credit Report. Com' is not offering a free credit report, -that is false advertising!

If they refer you to a different (government) website to get the 'free' report; then, they are not giving you a free report and should not be able to feign that they are – it’s 'bait and switch', -just modified.

As for being placed prominently on the web-site and commercials - that still does not negate that they are using a service not provided by them to attract their customers. If only the 'not so smart people make the mistake of providing their information and being charged' -- does that make it okay? Only in world run by rich corporations whom apparently often get rich from ripping-off the easily duped -- what a great company!

I hope they choke on a chunk of gold -- advertise what you are really selling or sell something of value!

(By the way, I did always think there was something that sounded wrong about these offers - cynicism wins the day. Thanks for reinforcing my mistrust of services like yours, ‘freecreditreport.com . –Ssounds like you should change your name to ‘wejustwanttomisleadyouandripyouoff.com’.)

I tried to get the "free" credit report from Annual Credit report.com. After jumping through too many hoops and then they tell me I can't get it online. I now have to send in this paper with a copy of my drivers license and social security and stick it in the mail. I might as well put all the information on the internet for all the world to see.

it's not a scam, wake up, it says 7 days free then you have to cancel or pay.. what we need is not a bigger and better FTC, we need a public that is willing to take a little responsibility for it's actions, give me a break.. the ignorance is astounding..

When I got to Experian's link at annualcreditreport.com they promptly told me I had already requested my free report for this year (which I have not). I think it was just a way for them to deny the service.

I find it pretty funny that Experian says it gives valuable services in exchange for the fees it charges consumers to get what is otherwise free. Yet they are complaining about Lifelock doing something similar. (Lifelock is the company which charges a fee to keep fraud alerts continuously active on your credit reports so you don't have to put them on yourself every 90 days.)

fred hill, just go to annualcreditreport.com - it may not be easy, but they will give you a way to do it by snailmail. You won't, probably, believe how screwed up they are, but it IS free.

I just dealt with this issue. My son ordered a FREE Credit Report and all of a sudden his bank card was getting charged $14.95 a month. Unfortunately it isn't an isolated incident. Other companies are doing the same thing. They offer a FREE Trial for the cost of shipping and within 10 days are charging your credit card for $39.95 to $79.95. The FTC needs to find a way to put a stop to this kind of behavior. If companies were fined substantial penalties they might reconsider how they do business.

What's even scarier is that a company like Experian, ostensibly given the task of not just compiling, but protecting, consumer information is so clearly flaunting the law and misleading consumers.

Perhaps the government should shut down that agency as a criminal enterprise. I certainly don't like the idea that my credit information is in the hands of a company that has such little regard for not just the law but for consumers as well.

I think it's a great idea. Too many times, people will be fooled. It took me over 3 months last year to get my credit report from Experian, and it was riddled with errors.

It's a great idea, but as someone else pointed out, the FTC won't be able to match Experien's marketing budget so it doesn't matter how good these spoof ads are, they aren't being seen by enough people to be effective. I've never used FreeCreditReport.com, I didn't even know it was owned by Experien, but I do like their commercials.

These spoof ads are an excellent counter to the tunes from that catchy, yet quirky, band Experien has hired. It's cleaver and smart, not something I would expect to come from the FTC! I've neve

This is your Federal Government in action. Producing what they hope will become an internet viral video. Incredible.
The FTC used to do some good work protecting consumers. Now it doesn't even qualify as a "paper" tiger. Companies have about as much fear of the FTC as a crocodile would of a chipmunk! Don't forget the thousands of other scams that promise you can make a fortune in real estate; terading foreign currencies; selling junk figurines; settleing credit card debt for pennies on the dollar, or back taxes for pennies; etc., etc., etc. Taxpayers would be better off if the FTC went out of business. They don't protect anyone now and at least we would be able to spend their budget, tax money, in some better way. Like maybe researching the asexual aspects of the strawberry!

since we get FREE credit reports, why aren't we getting FREE credit scores? why should we have to pay for it? AND~ there should be an option to have both credit report AND FICO scores for FREE every 6 months.

There is no need for three seperate credit reporting companies. All they have done is wedge themselves into profit making companies by selling themselves on the fact they "protect" the financial industry. A lot of good that is doing these days! One reporting agency is sufficient. The other leaches need to be cut loose. And the Federal Government CAN tell them to stop using "Freecreditreport.com" and shut them down for continuing to use it, but that is too easy. Let's set back and let lawyers and legislators get rich on stupid things like this. Shut them down.....and stop wasting money on ridiculous internet only videos. Typical Federal agency....."we got the budget, let's spend it". Here's an idea....how about saving it, doing the job you should be doing by shutting the scam artists down and returning the budget so another agency that can use it wisely. What a bunch of crap......

Not bad, but the FTC version isn't as catchy over all. The only catchy part of the songs is the "annualcreditreport.com, the one you can depend upon" - and while that is the most important, the singers, and therefore the ads, aren't going to be as popular. It's really a shame they couldn't get someone talented to volunteer for the public service announcements.

I know what my credit report is pretty lousy, and I'm so tired of hearing that Bamks must start lending,to people to get this economy moving again, well the Banks are not foing to be able to lend cause due to this recession where in everybodies FICO and credit reports are showing your a lousy risk??? Well guess what these credit reporting companies are part of the reason where in this mess, and until somebody in DC firgures this out our country will continue be in a mess. The resession in the 50's, 60s, and 80's weren't that bad and we got over them, we didn't have someone prying into your ass, seeing if you where late on a payment, and saying you missed a payment so don't lend him a dime. Back then if you filed Bankrupcy you where a bad risk, no declaire it and you have banks willing to give you the shirt off the back of there CEO, it's time to rid ourselfs of these 3 companies, that are helping us stay in this mess.

Why Goverment JUST PUT WWW.FREECREDITREPORT.GOV and then redirect to AnnualCreditReport.com that will
teach some lessson to company and it will cost only
$30/year to register name with domain company

The government continues to needlessly spend money and give money away to people who make these videos. Who knows who?

Why not annualcreditreport.gov?

I cannot believe this scam. prosecute them and incarcerate them. Send experian to the inferno and no bailouts.

Its interesting the number of people who CLAIM to have been scammed by FreeCreditReport.com.

They all missed the IMPORTANT INFORMATION prominently displayed on the website homepage the very CLEARLY STATES that you are signing for credit monitoring service. They even refer you to the annualcredit.com website to get the REAL FREE ONE!
It is also stated clearly in the commercials, I have seen and heard it.

This is not a case of scamming people - its case of PEOPLE WHO MAKE A CHOICE NOT TO READ THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES! This is a huge problem!

No one reads the terms and conditions and check I agree to them - then claim FOUL when they are hit with charges THEY AGREED TO!

I like the ad, but agree this is not the approach to correct Experian's deceptive advertising. The FTC cannot afford to run their ad as many times as Experian.

annualcreditreport.com -- 'nuff said

It is interesting that Experian also makes it almost impossible to get your legitimate free credit report by requiring that you provide such things as the mortgage intermediaries account numbers --- numbers that you've never seen. Experian is, from top to bottom, a fraud and should have been shut down long ago. It's business is to provide false information to lenders so they can use the information to charge higher interest rates. The phony freecreditreport site is just another fraudulent sideline.

But we can thank Reagan for the "corporate free speech" concepts that his administration introduced.

Cute and smart, but when will we be seeing these on TV? It's important in these times to get the message out there, LOUD and STRONG.

Good job FTC!

A company using a clearly misleading domain name, and them charging people, should be facing criminal prosecution as well as a class action by everyone they charged. False, misleading, deceptive, bait & switch, and a pure garbage corporate business model. A good denial of service campaign against their website might help.

I think It's a good idea. I caught on to the FreeCreditReport.com scam years ago and use only AnnualCreditReport.com. Teach thru ads is a good idea.

Good for the FTC!! Also, with Jon Leibowitz at the helm I expect the FTC will be a far more robust agency than it's been in years. Jon is truly one of the good guys and it's great to see him at the top of the Commission.

so, how does one get a free annual credit report ?