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  • Report:  #41349

Complaint Review: Consumerinfo.com - CIC Credit Monitoring - Nationwide Internet

Reported By:
- Boca Raton, Florida,
Submitted:
Updated:

Consumerinfo.com - CIC Credit Monitoring
Www.consumerinfo.com Nationwide, Internet, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
A lawsuit has been filed against Consumerinfo.com

Attorney Joseph D. Hughes of the California Consumer Action Network (CCAN), has filed an action in on behalf of consumers. This California action is seeking refunds for all consumers who have failed to realize acceptance of the free credit report would result in automatic charges to their credit card. Additionally, refunds will be sought for those who called to cancel the charge but were STILL charged.

Consumerinfo.com's false advertising and purposeful failure to accept cancellations of service have burdened consumers nationwide with hundreds of thousands of dollars in unlawful credit card charges.

Consumer info CHALLENGING THE LAWSUIT

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET A REFUND TOO...

You are needed to help get the Court to order Consumerinfo.com to refund the unauthorized credit card charges. Consumerinfo is challenging the lawsuit by claiming that they have not charged consumer credit cards without consent. Likewise, they are arguing that consumers who cancelled their memberships, were not billed. After reading all of your e-mails and Rip-off Reports, Rip-off Report staff now knows that their claim isn't true. However, to prove this, evidence that shows consumers have IN FACT been charged after canceling, or were charged without even knowing they enrolled in an automatic membership program, must be presented to the Court.

Joseph D. Hughes, Esq, the attorney handling the case, needs written statements from consumers detailing their experience. Therefore, we are asking that consumers who have either been charged after canceling, or who did not realize charges would result from accepting the "FREE" credit report, submit statements to attorney Joseph D. Hughes. A few minutes of your time could help YOU and thousands of consumers across the nation get their money back!

Please help these lawyers to possibly help YOU and others to get refunds by providing the Court with a detailed written statement explaining your experiences with Consumerinfo.com

I would like to suggest that you e-mail the attorney who is handling the case with all your information and a link to your Rip-off Report you filed. His name and contact information is listed below. When contacting him though, be sure to include the web address of your specific Rip-off Report web address, along with any other pertinent information. Attorney Joseph D. Hughes would greatly help you possibly get justice/ your refund!

You should also include your city and state with your phone number and the best time to reach you.

Joseph D. Hughes

540 South Pacific Street

San Marcos, Ca. 92069

Tel: 760.744.2235 x15

Fax: 760.471.2890

Email: [email protected]

Without your help, consumerinfo.com may be allowed to keep hundreds of thousands of dollars in unlawful credit card charges!

Without your help, consumerinfo.com may be allowed to keep hundreds of

thousands of dollars in unlawful credit card charges!

IMPORTANT!

To help create a better working history on this company, it is very important for those of you who were victimized to file your own detailed Rip-off Report. This will let unsuspecting victims know along with authorities, how serious this Rip-off is, affecting many consumers across the country. If you are a victim, after contacting attorney Joseph D Hughes, file your own detailed Rip-off Report...

Good Luck!

ED Magedson

[email protected]

badbusinessbureau.com

www.ripoffreport.com

We are not lawyers.

We are not a collection agency.

We are Consumer Advocates.

...the victims' advocate

WE are Civil and Human Rights Activists

We are a Nationwide Consumer Reporting News Agency

...by consumers, for consumers..

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on consumerinfo.com

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on CIC Credit Monitoring

CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams and money deducted from your bank account without authorization ...find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.


21 Updates & Rebuttals

Been there

Greensboro,
North Carolina,
United States of America
Same here, Except...

#2Consumer Comment

Sat, November 07, 2009

Listen to this,

 

I canceled my account on 11/4/09 knowing full well about the trial period. I even got a email from them the next day.

Whats funny is, they charged my card the day after i canceled my account, Then sent me the email stating i had a full month of their non exsistant service..

Needless to say, I cant even take the sorry email from them to my bank to dispute the charge due to the fact it is dated 11-5. Of course I called Customer Service, Got the run around..

So I called again a hour later, Notified the person I was talking to that I too was recording my call. Now I get an even bigger run around. They state that i signed up on Oct 29, which is true. But they say i never called to cancel.. So i asked the retarded woman if she seen where i have canceled today? She Says their is no record.. SO I get her direct email, I send the email i got from them, and asked her to explain it to me.. She said it was not a real email, it is not in their system.. SO while recording the call, I explained to them that i was Canceling my account, which i did on the day before, And that if their is another charge 30 days from now, I will sue.. I have the full recording, and their aknowledgement of the recording..  So i sit and wait to see what happens now.

 Please watch out for these people, they are crooks


Dave

Oakbrook Terrace,
Illinois,
U.S.A.
us too

#3Consumer Comment

Wed, March 08, 2006

Today I was informed that they charged our company credit card twice this month unauthorized. We had signed up for free credit report couple years back, and cancelled during trial period. 03/06/2006 Card Authorization CIC*CREDIT REPORT 8002202626 CAUS $-24.95 03/06/2006 Card Authorization CIC*CREDIT REPORT 8002202626 CAUS $-1.00 When I called they first told me they had no record of the charge and that I cancelled couple years ago without being charged. I called back again to be told that I called wrong dept, which was same as first number I dialed. Was given a different number which I called I was then told that a David Bank had somehow got my card number and charged for this credit report. I was told I need to write a letter asking to get my money returned. After asking for and then not getting a supervisor on the phone, the lady told me that she would refund the charges. I was then told to call Experian to start fraud detection process the number they gave was unable to get thru to any live person and did not have any prompts for fraud inquiries. I am very skeptical of their story that someone stole my number to get a credit report, and we are seeing no other fraud on this bank account. I am confidant that they knowingly charged my card again years later, and were hoping I did not realize luckily I have a detailed accountant. I think it could be a huge media story and legal case here if this is their normal practice let me know if I can provide any additional information *EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back into your bank account! EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back! HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO: Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E. According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days. If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges. Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent! DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get. And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state. Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth. If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form. CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here. Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action. And good luck Let us know how you do! ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com [email protected] badbusinessbureau.com www.ripoffreport.com Don't let them get away with it. Make sure they make the Rip-off Report! We are not lawyers. We are not a collection agency. We are Consumer Advocates. ...the victims' advocate WE are Civil and Human Rights Activists We are a Worldwide Consumer Reporting News Agency ...by consumers, for consumers CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.


M

Belgium,
Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
freecreditreport.com did not mention this charge

#4Consumer Comment

Mon, February 20, 2006

I didn't have a problem with cancelling other than them trying to get me to NOT cancel. though the numbers that you give are vastly different (the one I used was 877-481-6826). We'll see what happens next month if I get charged or not. Not that I am defending them by any means. The original freecreditreport.com did not mention this charge. It seems that the site has changed to make it "legal". If you are charged after you cancel, you are entitled to a pro-rata refund of your total cost (if you had the $80), or charges should stop to your account (if you were being charged $9.95, $12, or whatever). Any other charges to your account after your cancelation constitutes fraud. So does charging you without sending a bill/reciept (ANYTHING that is purchased with a credit card must have a bill/reciept given, because they have no proof that we authorized the charges, which we didn't). If they are going to offer cancelations to the account, they MUST make them available. Not doing so is bad business practice, and questions the legitimacy of the company (which we all know now). Since it is a website, you should be able to simply log in and cancel your account. You shouldn't have to call them and deal with their "we want your money so we're going to try and sell you on this or something else" PS - Advertising something as free when there is a charge or other service hidden is illegal (false advertising) unless you SPECIFICALLY point to it being in your terms and conditions. This is the case now, but it wasn't when most people got their reports (ie me). Why do you think web-ads say "Free [insert product here]" and put a "*details apply" afterwards? Anyways, for this to go through, the original site may be needed.


Donna

Walker,
Louisiana,
U.S.A.
MARK - I emailed them well within the 30 days I had to cancel.........

#5Consumer Comment

Wed, April 27, 2005

and I have that email to prove it. Funny how others have the same story as me - They emailed AS DIRECTED and still got billed. My account has two overdrafts totaling $56 now! I was credited the two $9.95 charges by CIC but I want my $56 NSF charges back! It's a shame someone defends a company that is scamming people. I never would have taken the offer to begin with if I hadn't considered their affiliation with Experian to make them creditible. How wrong I was! I have filed a complaint with the FTC, the BBB and will be emailing the class action lawsuit attorney with all my information. All they had to do was give my NSF charges back because of their FRAUD but they didn't do it.


John

St. Louis,
Missouri,
U.S.A.
Something to think about

#6Consumer Comment

Tue, December 14, 2004

I just found a 9.95 charged to my debit card from a CIC Credit Check. I do remember going there and getting my free check. I forgot to call and cancel my monthly fee and membership and thats why i was billed... HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SEE IF YOU JOINED Go to consumerinfo.com login page click forgot my password put in info it asks for they will send you your username and password MY PASSWORD WAS ONE I ALWAYS USE so i know i was there before. I AM NOT SIDING WITH Consumerinfo.com Quite frankly I dont know why you all are being charged about 80.00 I dont see anything on there for that price the most i see on there for the credit check is 35-45 dollars. So they are rippin you there for sure.


Gary

Hayes,
Virginia,
U.S.A.
CIC Fraud

#7Consumer Suggestion

Sun, November 28, 2004

In my world there are five magic words, "What does the contract say"? For example here is what CIC's contract says "To continue your membership in the CreditCheck Monitoring Service after the 30-day trial, do nothing. Your membership will continue uninterrupted, and the low monthly fee of $9.95 will automatically be charged to your credit card after the trial period ends. What a small price indeed for financial peace of mind"! So how do they get $79.95? Who cares they have violated the contract that is what the States Attroney Generals, BBB should be going after and what I suggest you use in trying to get your refunds.


Richard

Dothan,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
I also was charged and I didn't even sign up

#8Consumer Comment

Fri, November 19, 2004

I was also checking my bank statement and was charged $19.95 for something I did not order at all. Please help us this is so criminal of people. It needs to be stopped!


Rob

Birmingham,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Withdrawing from an account without sending a bill is unethical

#9Consumer Suggestion

Tue, October 19, 2004

Try to call and cancel with cic at 1800-220-2626. I couldn't even see my credit report, called to cancel my service, and was still billed. Withdrawing from an account without sending a bill is unethical at the very best.


Jana

Golden Meadow,
Louisiana,
U.S.A.
Has anyone been able to contact CIC?

#10Consumer Comment

Mon, October 11, 2004

I recently recieved info about receiving a free credit report and followed the necessary steps to file for it. I was aware that in order to receive it I would have to try out a credit montitoring service for 30 days and I could cancel before the 30 day trial was up. I was told that I would receive further info on this company through mail or email. I viewed my credit report and awaited further contact from the monitoring service. I received NO correspondence from them only two charges to my account for 9.95 each. I have since been trying to research them and find a way to contact them and avoid further charges and have been unsuccessful. Can anyone help with finding a way to contact them?


John

Columbus,
Ohio,
U.S.A.
CIC hits my account AGAIN, 1 year later for $79.95 !!!

#11Consumer Comment

Thu, October 07, 2004

I had the same issue as most of you, about a year and a half ago. I called the 800# and eventually gave up trying to get a refund. The service was a monitoring service that would notify you (via email) if anything changed on your credit report(I did not sign up for this service intentionally, I never did figure out how I was duped into agreeing to pay $79.95 for anything). The service never worked, I was never notified of anything, even though items within the credit report had changed during this time period. I was charged again today, $79.95. Which of course was not expected, and it now shows as an overdraft item on my online bank statement. I am going to call the people at CIC and try to get my money returned. Regardless of the result, I am going to have to open a new checking account to keep them from hitting me again next year. In addition, I will be checking into this class action lawsuit...


Garth

Saint Paul,
Minnesota,
U.S.A.
CIC Still at it

#12Consumer Comment

Mon, August 02, 2004

Apparently nothing has changed for this company. I just received a charge against my account for $79.95 for a credit report. I have never heard of this company and I would not order a credit report when I can write the credit companies and request a free report. Thank you


Ryan

Swedesburg,
Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
I was Ripped too. Everyone should be payed back this is a miss use of our system

#13Consumer Comment

Thu, July 08, 2004

I too just found a charge for $79.95 on my credit card from CIC. I don't even recall going online to check my credit let alone signing up for some sort of membership. To make things worse when I called the 800 number the lady that answered called me stupid for signing the terms and conditions without knowing what I was getting into.


Josh

Huntsville,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
no instructions on how to turn off the service

#14Consumer Comment

Sat, June 12, 2004

I signed up for a "Free Credit Report", and have been charged 79.95. Now that Im trying to cancel the service I can't even find out how to! No contact information and no instructions on how to turn off the service. I had to change my credit card number, and they have opened an investigation of the company.


Jason

Titusville,
Florida,
U.S.A.
$79.95 for WHAT?

#15Consumer Comment

Thu, June 10, 2004

I saw the $79.95 charge on my online bank statement. I had never even heard of this "CIC Credit Monitoring" service or anything of the like. So, I looked them up online and found this website here, first of all at the top of the search list. I am in the process of disputing the charge with the people at CIC Credit Monitoring. Supposedly I will receive a refund in 7-10 business days. We'll see. When I spoke to the lady on the phone, she asked for my e-mail to send me an e-mailed confirmation of my cancelled membership (I never signed up for...) and the refunding of my $79.95. I gave her my e-mail address and she responded by saying "this is the e-mail we already have for you". I asked her how I could have possibly signed up with an e-mail for their "service" a year ago with an e-mail I had only been using for less than four months. She had no answer and wrapped up the phone call as quickly as possible. I'll be phoning them again in 7 days if I havn't received any sort of refund. Good luck to all of you out there trying to right the wrong they've created.


Sunny Jim

Las Vegas,
Nevada,
U.S.A.
No credit report, cancelled, charge 3 months later.

#16Consumer Comment

Thu, May 20, 2004

On March 16,2004 I went on line a asked for a "free" credit report and received an e-mail back from "Customer Care" stating how I could access their credit report. I COULD NEVER access any credit report. The next day I e-mailed them back saying I was unable to access any credit report and wanted my order cancelled immediately. I heard nothing from them until I received my May Credit Card bill with a charge of $79.95 on the bill. I called the 800 number on my bill and talked with a lady who told me there was a 6 month money back guarantee. I told her to again cancel what I did not order and did not receive. She said my credit card would be credited in 7 to 10 working days in the amount of $71.71. I asked why not the whole amount and she said it was prorated. I could fax or mail my complaints but could talk to no one about it.


Mary

Denver,
Colorado,
U.S.A.
disabled veteran and am on a fixed income

#17Consumer Comment

Tue, January 06, 2004

After checking my bank statement, I found that CIC Credit Monitor had taken $79.95 out of my account without authorization. I am a disabled veteran and am on a fixed income. Their taking oout this money, which I did not plan for, has made my account overdrawn, thus I have to pay fees to the bank which I don't have. These fees add up every day that I don't pay them, and I can't pay them until I get my check on the first of the month. Do they know how much trouble they are causing? I hope that they are delt with justly and that I can get back the money they stoled from me!


Tracy

Las Vegas,
Nevada,
U.S.A.
Mark's Response

#18Consumer Comment

Sun, October 26, 2003

Mark, I am sorry, but you are mistaken on quite a few counts. The Fair Credit Reporting Act ensures the rights of all consumers. The credit bureaus are not our Friends! They are paid by the suscribers, who are the creditors and collections agencies. They do not require creditors to provide proof of responsibilty of the debtor when they report an account entry. The date entry clerk from X Company could have mixed up John Does' account with John H. Does' account information, and the bureaus do not have to verify this info until the consumer disputes it. The Big Three have had lawsuits in the past, and have lost and been sited and fined, as well as some big name companies. Rightfully so, as in my journey as a loan officer for a Mortgage company, and doing credit disputing for my clients, I have seen some grave mistakes made by the creditor, the bureaus and even public records made available to the bureaus, causing many monetary damages to consumers for years. I am in the process of helping one of my clients, who were finally able to purchase a new home, even though Trans Union is reporting that they have an open forclosure reported. Even though we have letters from the mortgage companies, the original lender who sold it to a secondary lender, whom my clients paid off their mortgage, sold the home and moved to Vegas. In calling the courthouse, we were faxed paperwork from the courthouse stating said forclosure, filed 2/98 was dismissed and was to have been removed in 3/99!! Who is accountable here? I say the 1st Lender, the courthouse and Trans Union. Due to this specific entry my clients have suffered extreme monetary losses for 4 years until they were referred to me. We are in the process of filing claims against all said parties.


Mark

Huntington Beach,
California,
U.S.A.
Attacks to my responses

#19Consumer Suggestion

Thu, October 09, 2003

I first wish to say that I am not making generalized assumptions that everyone is at fault for not reading the fine print. Granted there are those who have never visited the site, heard of the offer, or signed up. There are indeed those whose credit cards have been used by someone else: however the unauthorized charges and fraud committed, is by the individual who used the credit card, not the company. The phrases I see in the complaints are "I don't recall", "I signed up for Free report", "The font describing the terms is smaller than FREE". My position is that the information is provided about the offer, similar to the disclaimers you see on ads for no interest for 6 months, subscribe to HBO and get Cinemax plus Starz free for three months. Each of these examples have disclaimers that require you the consumer to agree to. As for those of you who claim to have never gotten your report, why do you blame the company for not taking personal responsibility to follow up on your request? If you order something and you don't get it, doesn't it make sense to call the company and say "Hey, where is my product?" As to class action suits, many money hungry attorneys have tried unsuccessfully to sue CIC and "The big three", but each case is thrown out of court because the judges merely visit the site and see that it is legitimate marketing with all information provided to inform you the consumer. Get real, get in touch, get a clue!


Donald

House Springs,
Missouri,
U.S.A.
why would they allow CIC credit reporting to hide in the back ground of their website

#20REBUTTAL Individual responds

Wed, July 23, 2003

When Trans-Union offers a free copy of a credit report based on a recent loan denial, why would they allow CIC credit reporting to hide in the back ground of their website so they may intiate such fraud. A class action law suit against CIC, and all three credit reporting agencies should conclude with a very large monetary award going to all who have been greatly misstreated. A jury will be outraged and should put CIC and the "Big Three Agencies", in a finacial ruin, not to mention jail.


Henry

Hammond,
Indiana,
U.S.A.
Charged for services never rendered.

#21REBUTTAL Individual responds

Fri, May 30, 2003

Just signed up for a free credit report and scoring. I never recieved any such report or scoring. The only thing I recived is a bill on my credit card for 79.95 plus a overdaft fee of 25.00 from my bank do to not knowing this was going to be deducted from my account. This is Friday, May 30 2003. I'm going to call them today. To fight the Charges.


Kathleen

Columbus,
Ohio,
U.S.A.
I do not even recall signing up for a credit report.

#22Consumer Comment

Mon, March 31, 2003

I checked my credit card statement today and saw that there was a charge for 79.95 labeled as CIC Credit Monitoring SVC. Since I did not recognize this I looked it up on the internet. I found out that many people, like myself, had received charges for a FREE credit report. The charge was for 3/25/03. I was in the middle of a relaxing vacation on this day and had not logged onto my computer in over a week so it was not something I had "accidentally" signed up for in recent days. In addition, I rarely ever use the credit card to which it was charged. I have contacted my bank and they have erased the chargee. They indicated that they will contact CIC Credit Monitoring Services and request back-up documentation. If the charge is valid it will of course be charged back to my account. I doubt they will find validation of these charges. I hope others are able to find out what happened to their accounts. good luck.

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