Capital One Identity Alerts.

gomer

I wonder if anyone can explain to me how the Capital One Identity Alert system works please? I have a card & am very tempted to sign up but i keep reading about these 'Free' trial offers that companies like Experian offer, then people find they have been charged to continue recieving the service because they didn't cancel memberships etc.

I have noted in the small print of the Capital One offer that after 12 months they automatically renew your membership for a fee. I am interested in the free service but i don't want to be charged after the trial runs out, so how do i make sure that doesn't happen? When do i need to cancel in order not to have to pay for the free service?

Of course in the old days 'Free' meant exactly what it said. LOL :rotfl:

DestroyingAngel_2

Ever thought of making a note in your diary or calendar? Mark it for 1 month before your "free" service is about to expire; if you feel you don't need the service by that date, simply ring them and tell them you want to cancel; if they say it's got to be in writing, at least you've still got time to do that. Normally the time limit is 14 days before the expiry date, but if you contact the service earlier than that, at least you'd have room to manoeuvre.

skyrider007

DestroyingAngel wrote: »

Ever thought of making a note in your diary or calendar? Mark it for 1 month before your "free" service is about to expire; if you feel you don't need the service by that date, simply ring them and tell them you want to cancel; if they say it's got to be in writing, at least you've still got time to do that. Normally the time limit is 14 days before the expiry date, but if you contact the service earlier than that, at least you'd have room to manoeuvre.

I'm afraid the above post is irrelevant to Capital One Identity Alert Service (Equifax). The service is totally free as long as you are an active member of Capital One (all of their cards qualify).

You are entitled to two free credit reports per year. You will be charged if you exceed the limit.

Preventing security problems

We've teamed up with credit reference specialists Equifax to offer all our customers a FREE Identity Alert Service. Once you register for the service, key benefits include:

• Automatic email alerts if anyone applies for credit using your details
• Automatic email alerts if there are changes to your credit report
• Two FREE Credit Reports a year (and a discount should you require more)
• Customer service online or by phone

It's like an early warning system to keep your identity secure.

PLUS Capital One's Identity Theft team is on hand 24 hours a day should you require additional guidance on preventing identity theft.

Source: http://www.capitalone.co.uk/web/capital-one-identity-theft-protection.jsf

gomer

Thanks for replies. I think the only bit that confused me a bit was the T&C for Equifax highlighted below -

<H3>Capital One Identity Alert Customers

The Cap One Identity Alert Product will be renewed on an annual basis unless you cancel by notifying us. You may notify us by first logging in to the MyEquifax Member Centre. Once logged in, click on the "Contact Us" button and you can contact the Equifax Customer Care team at the telephone number or email address listed on that page. Any additional Products purchased by you will be charged to your credit card.

</H3>I thought this would mean there was an annual charge once you sign up.

lisyloo

Ever thought of making a note in your diary or calendar?

I suggest you get organised with a spreadsheet/diary/pda (tool of your choice) as auto-renewal is becoming more common.
It's very common with car and home insurance.
You need to think about it about 1 month prior to give you time to shop around and make a decision and give notice.

gomer

That's precisely what i am trying to establish with the Capital one alerts - do i have to pay an annual renewall or not?

The advert says no but the T&C seems to imply otherwise. I can quite easliy make up a diary but that doesn't really answer my question. Is it a free service or as the T&C seems to imply will there be a fee for automatic annual renewall unless i cancel my membership?

This isn't the only credit file service available & the others also masqurade as a free service, then you get charged if you don't cancell within a certain time limit - i just want to be sure that Capital one isn't going to be the same because it's run by equifax & they DO charge a renewall fee.

lisyloo

as the T&C seems to imply will there be a fee for automatic annual renewall unless i cancel my membership?

Where does it say (or imply) there will a fee for automatic renewal?
Sorry if I'm being thick but I can't see that.

This isn't the only credit file service available & the others also masqurade as a free service

Which ones are those?
I'm not aware of any that masquerade as a free service.
There are some that offer you a free TRIAL (and make it quite clear you need to cancel if you don't want to get charged). That isn't pretending to be a free service.

i just want to be sure that Capital one isn't going to be the same because it's run by exuifax & they DO charge a renewall fee.

Dunno.
Suggest you call capitalone and ask them.
I have left capital one, so thanks for the reminder as I've just added it to my "spreadsheet" for cancellation.
I wouldn't expect you have to pay if you stay with capital one.
Not so sure about what happens if you cancel you card.
I've cancelled my card but I've not been kicked off Equifax yet.

gomer

Can you not see the bit i highlighted in bright red that says -

"The Cap One Identity Alert Product will be renewed on an annual basis unless you cancel by notifying us"



I'd say that implies there's some sort of fee because automatic annual renewalls unless you cancell usually involve some kind of fee being charged to your card - why else would there be an automatic renewall on an annual basis unless you cancell? I feel like i'm bashing my head against a brick wall for some reason. lol

Paul_J

You have already been told that the service is free for as long as you remain a Capital One customer.
Membership is FREE.
If it is a part of their T&C's that membership must be renewed annually, that doesn't necessarily mean that a fee applies.
There are several reasons why they may insist that membership is renewable rather than continuous. One of which is the high turn over of credit card customers. When customers close their card accounts, Experian (being a completely separate company from Capital One) will, quite understandably, no longer want to service this perk for these individuals. Thus, a renewable membership arrangement ensures that they are still Capital One customers.

Instead of being obtuse with those here who have taken the time to try to help you, why don't you simply contact Capital One customer services directly for clarification?

gomer

Obtuse? A simple yes or no would have been enough. So far one person has given me completely the wrong information about the capital one free alerts & another person has just confused the hell out of me with loads of jargon about 'Spreadsheets' and everything BUT what i asked, but hey if you think the question has been answered adequately who am i to argue?

skyrider007

I can confirm that the service is totally free as long as you don't view more than two credit reports per year. Apart from maintaining a good relationship with Capital One (i.e. account actively running without any issues), then you can rest assured that there is nothing to worry as they promised the service is FREE.