FreeCreditReport.com is Shady

Like so many people nowadays, I know my credit is in the dirt.  I was curious, though, to see just how deep it might be... Are we talking troposphere-level credit? Or inner core (where some people believe hell exists)?  All this time, I just knew it was "not awesome," but how not awesome?  So I decided to check it out at FreeCreditReport.com.  With that catchy jingle, how could I go anywhere else?  And, for the record, I'm referring to the original jingle(s).  I want original guy back!  I don't like their commercials since they lost them... And don't give me that crap about them not even being a real band, or singers, etc... so what?  It was a massively successful marketing campaign, and every kid across the country knew every lyric to every commercial.  That is genius marketing.

Anyway, I'm rabbit trailing.  Back to the point.  So, when you're signing up for FreeCreditReport.com, they ask you if you'd like to become a member.  There's a free trial, but if you fail to cancel it, you'll be charged a whopping $17/month, probably for eternity, or until you cancel.  So, I passed, and opted for the temporary, "basic" credit report.

Semi-Shadiness #1
What makes it laughable is that if you sign up for the free trial membership, you can see your credit report right away, as opposed to having to wait three days if you don't.  This indicates to me that they have the ability to provide it to you right away, but choose not to if you don't sign up for their free trial.  Shady!  But only semi-shady, because I understand using this as a selling point.  People, especially Americans, are highly impulsive creatures.  I can't imagine how many people can't survive 3 whole days to see how bad their credit is, so whatev... I consider this bad form, but nothing too offensive.  More like intentionally inconveniencing customers when you don't have to.

FreeCreditReport.com's Notification Email

So, I wait a few days, and finally get an email from FreeCreditReport.com letting me know I can view my credit score now.  Woo!  I click the giant, unmissable blue button, and am taken to a login page.

Uhhh.... but I opted not to sign up.... ergo, I have no login.  So, now what?

I scour the page for a (likely) tiny, nearly unreadable link that indicates non-members can view the reports by clicking it.. which, by the way, I would also consider shady... IF they had even had one!  There was no such thing on this page.  Only a login, or an option to sign up as a member.

I thought about it for a while, and figured, "I guess I have to call customer service."  Their number is conveniently located on the upper right hand side of the page.

Extreme Shadiness #2
I get on the phone with a Free Credit Report agent, and explained my situation.  I had a feeling going into this that they receive this question more than any other.  Sure enough, she pulled up my account, and proceeded to advise me that they can provide me with a temporary login to view my credit report.

Nowhere, and I mean nowhere was there any indication or instruction that calling customer service for a temporary login was a necessary step in all this.  So, what they are hoping is that people who are utterly lost (which is going to be about 99% of their users) are tricked into signing up for membership, because they think that's the only way they can view their report.

On any other website, when you're presented with a login page, you know that you have to register if you haven't already.  This website capitalizes on that.... how incredibly shady!

Shame on you, FreeCreditReport.com.  I have zero respect for this type of practice.  How do you sleep at night?  Tricking poor, unsuspecting customers into getting a more detailed credit report.... hoping they'll forget to cancel their free trial so you can get at least one $17 charge in there... shady, shady, shady.

I'm glad I figured it out, and just as I suspected, although I have 100% credit and 0% debt, no credit cards, or loans in my name, and am considered extremely low risk in every other area, unfortunately, my credit score is still in the dirt (as it should be... I'm not saying I deserve a great score).  Luckily, it's about toposphere level, which I can recover from as soon as I get things straightened out, but I'd much rather have Ionosphere-level credit.  Soon enough.... Definitely soon enough :)