After trying the credit report that gives no scores, I’ve turned to the commercial world of credit report offerings. I’ve narrowed the myriad free credit score offerings to three. Each one offers a slightly different twist and they all have fine print you must read carefully, or you’ll be on the hook for ongoing payouts.
FreeCreditReport.com
This is probably the best known of all the credit reporting services. It’s got the commercial with the goofy guy lip-syncing silly lyrics. FreeCreditReport.com offers a pretty good deal for free.
- Offering:
You get a credit report from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Your Experian report includes your credit score. - Fine Print:
You are automatically signed up for a free trial membership in Triple Advantage. This is a service that monitors all three of your national credit reports every day. You get emails of major changes and signs of identity theft. If you don’t cancel your membership in seven days you will be billed $14.95 per month until you remember that you signed up and cancel.
Credit Check Total
You may not have heard of this company—I hadn’t until I began my research—but I’m impressed. This is the company I’m going to test first. Credit Check Total offers the best deal, although the “fine print” is the most expensive.
- Offering:
Credit reports from all three major credit reporting companies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Credit scores from all three credit reporting companies as well! - Fine Print:
When you request your reports, you will be enrolled in CreditCheck Total. This company is similar to Triple Advantage, but it costs $19.95 per month. Again, you have a seven-day trial period in which you can cancel or be charged month after month.
Triple Alert
Yea, I know it sounds a lot like the Triple Advantage/FreeCreditReport.com deal above. But it’s very different. Triple Alert is a paid service. You get just what you sign up for.
- Offering:
For a flat fee of $15.00, you can your Experian credit report and score. For a flat fee of $24.95, you can get a credit report from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, and one credit score. - Fine Print:
There is none. You aren’t enrolled in any credit monitoring program. Yes, it costs money, but it saves you a bunch of hours maneuvering through the “official site.” How much is your time worth?
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So, did you use one of these services? I’d like to hear what your experience was.
car & b, I haven’t done so yet. Very busy week. I plan to try out Credit Check Total early this week. I’ll report back afterward.
Although this is old post, i hope you won’t mind me commenting :p
FreeCreditReport.com is an only tool which reliable yet free. There are plenty of places which claim to offer free credit report and then end up repairing your credit score with damn few plans. I wouldn’t try them. Anyone tried fico score?
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