Comments on: Fell for a “free” credit report? You may be part of a class action suit http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/ The blog of the free, simple personal finance solution. Track all your spending automatically, find the best deals, save more money. And save the world. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:28:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Nathan http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-113450 Nathan Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:32:00 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-113450 I'm disappointed to see that even though the mint.com blog has noted here that freecreditscore.com has had less than ethical track record and "Despite the use of the word “free” in the URL the services aren’t actually free." They continue to accept their money as an advertiser and even recommend them as a resource for updating your score. I will give kudos for at least reporting on this despite having them as an advertiser but would expect mint.com to go further than that. Essentially whats happening is here on the blog i'm warned about freecreditscore.com's deceptiveness and in email updates about my account status mint recommends i use their services without at least including a warning about them. I'm sure the majority of mint users who receive these emails don't even read the blog, so they aren't even aware of whats going on with this company. I’m disappointed to see that even though the mint.com blog has noted here that freecreditscore.com has had less than ethical track record and “Despite the use of the word “free” in the URL the services aren’t actually free.” They continue to accept their money as an advertiser and even recommend them as a resource for updating your score.
I will give kudos for at least reporting on this despite having them as an advertiser but would expect mint.com to go further than that. Essentially whats happening is here on the blog i’m warned about freecreditscore.com’s deceptiveness and in email updates about my account status mint recommends i use their services without at least including a warning about them. I’m sure the majority of mint users who receive these emails don’t even read the blog, so they aren’t even aware of whats going on with this company.

]]> By: John Ulzheimer http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112329 John Ulzheimer Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:23:36 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112329 It's too early for you to know for sure if you're a member of the class. As of now the class is anyone who purchased the service between March 2007 and now. That could change. If you end up being a member of the class you'll receive an email or a letter from the settlement administrator. That could be years from now though so don't hold your breath. It’s too early for you to know for sure if you’re a member of the class. As of now the class is anyone who purchased the service between March 2007 and now. That could change. If you end up being a member of the class you’ll receive an email or a letter from the settlement administrator. That could be years from now though so don’t hold your breath.

]]> By: Justine http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112285 Justine Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:00:21 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112285 Hello, I am a member of freecreditreport.com. I have been since February and have been monitoring my score ever since. My husband and I are attempting to purchase a home and have elected to use the site mentioned above as a resource tool. I am disappointed to hear of their unethical practices and wanted to know if I am included or excluded from the lawsuit. Hello,

I am a member of freecreditreport.com. I have been since February and have been monitoring my score ever since. My husband and I are attempting to purchase a home and have elected to use the site mentioned above as a resource tool. I am disappointed to hear of their unethical practices and wanted to know if I am included or excluded from the lawsuit.

]]> By: John Ulzheimer http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112268 John Ulzheimer Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:05:03 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112268 Correct Peter, the PLUS score is the main point of contention on the lawsuit. If you'd like to read the complaint the case style is 11CV0569 DMS BLM filed 3/22/11 in the US District Court Southern District of CA. Correct Peter, the PLUS score is the main point of contention on the lawsuit. If you’d like to read the complaint the case style is 11CV0569 DMS BLM filed 3/22/11 in the US District Court Southern District of CA.

]]> By: John Ulzheimer http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112259 John Ulzheimer Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:46:57 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112259 You might want to read the article again Mike. That's not what the lawsuit is about. It has nothing to do with whether or not the trial is free or if you're eventually charged. You might want to read the article again Mike. That’s not what the lawsuit is about. It has nothing to do with whether or not the trial is free or if you’re eventually charged.

]]> By: Peter http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112248 Peter Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:28:19 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112248 Mike should follow his own advice. It seems the "Plus Score" is the main point of contention as it's not the actual credit score I thought I was paying for, i.e the one lenders use. If that's the case then this company is guilty in my book and I plan to cancel my membership ASAP. Mike should follow his own advice. It seems the “Plus Score” is the main point of contention as it’s not the actual credit score I thought I was paying for, i.e the one lenders use. If that’s the case then this company is guilty in my book and I plan to cancel my membership ASAP.

]]> By: Mike http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112203 Mike Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:44:52 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112203 This is yet another example of a petty lawsuit from an idiot who didn't read the fine print. These credit bureaus state very clearly that the trial is free, and if you keep it, you get charged. Would you just hand your credit card to a street vendor without asking questions? Tsk Tsk. This is yet another example of a petty lawsuit from an idiot who didn’t read the fine print. These credit bureaus state very clearly that the trial is free, and if you keep it, you get charged. Would you just hand your credit card to a street vendor without asking questions? Tsk Tsk.

]]> By: John Ulzheimer http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112166 John Ulzheimer Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:38:35 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112166 I'm not sure I'd put TrueCredit in the same boat as the Experian sites. The issue in the class action is the fact that the score the Experian sites sell/give away isn't even commercially available to lenders. The scores sold or given away on the TransUnion sites are, in fact, commercially available to lenders (VantageScore or TransRisk). As such, the same argument can't be made. I’m not sure I’d put TrueCredit in the same boat as the Experian sites. The issue in the class action is the fact that the score the Experian sites sell/give away isn’t even commercially available to lenders. The scores sold or given away on the TransUnion sites are, in fact, commercially available to lenders (VantageScore or TransRisk). As such, the same argument can’t be made.

]]> By: John Ulzheimer http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112154 John Ulzheimer Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:32:48 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112154 Patrick, LOLd - The class group is only proposed at this point. The way it works in class actions is the actual final class is usually a sub-segment of the original proposed class. For example, the "March 07 to present" proposed class could get changed to "March 07 to present for consumers who live in California." We just don't know at this point because it's so early. If the case gets settled (they almost always get settled before trial) then the final class members will receive a notice in the mail or via email giving them details about how to claim their award, which might be money or something else. One of the credit bureaus recently settled a class action lawsuit and the members of the class got a 6 month subscription to their credit monitoring service. There are a lot of moving parts in these types of lawsuits. Stay tuned and as progress is made I'll keep you updated via Twitter. Patrick, LOLd – The class group is only proposed at this point. The way it works in class actions is the actual final class is usually a sub-segment of the original proposed class. For example, the “March 07 to present” proposed class could get changed to “March 07 to present for consumers who live in California.” We just don’t know at this point because it’s so early.

If the case gets settled (they almost always get settled before trial) then the final class members will receive a notice in the mail or via email giving them details about how to claim their award, which might be money or something else. One of the credit bureaus recently settled a class action lawsuit and the members of the class got a 6 month subscription to their credit monitoring service.

There are a lot of moving parts in these types of lawsuits. Stay tuned and as progress is made I’ll keep you updated via Twitter.

]]> By: Don Cullen http://www.mint.com/blog/credit/free-credit-report-class-action-suit-04182011/comment-page-1/#comment-112150 Don Cullen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:56:42 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=24425#comment-112150 I'm in the same boat as Patrick-- would like to know if potential members of the class action lawsuit will be notified by letter, or will they need to go to a certain site to sign up? I’m in the same boat as Patrick– would like to know if potential members of the class action lawsuit will be notified by letter, or will they need to go to a certain site to sign up?

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