Story Published: Jul 30, 2007 at 5:08 PM MDT
Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM MDT
Calvin Winslow, paid for "free" credit check: "It's a little misleading."
Free...the way these companies use the word, you'd think it was going out of style. But as Calvin Winslow found out, there's a lot more to these reports than first meets the eye.
Winslow: "I got a credit report from all three agencies but I didn't know about the fine print."
And it's in that fine print where these companies try and hide their hidden charges. At first, all offer a free trial period, but then hit you with monthly fees. Like Winslow who was charged $30 before he found out.
Winslow: "I haven't used another credit report since."
And the feeling is spreading.
Donna Sisk, won't use online service: "They never tell you what the bottom is so I will never check it out."
Annualcreditreport.com was set up by the government four years ago and is the only true free site on the web. It allows you a copy of their credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and Transunion. And considering over 700 Idahoans were victims of identity theft last year, with 100 of those in Idaho Falls alone, it's a resource not worth passing up.
Al Shiffler, identity theft victim: "Found out that somebody had used our card in Spain and we started checking our credit after this."
But not everyone is sold and for good reason.
Laura Wells, won't use online services: "I don't know what type of information they're asking for, but they're not gonna get it from me."
By misspelling annual credit report by one letter, you're taken to imposter sites that mean nothing but bad news.
Luke Erickson, Univ. of Idaho teacher: "You fill it out and give your information, they give you something so they can use it to become you."
Credit experts advise using one of the checks from annual report dot com every four months to make sure you're in good standing.