Callcredit "Free" Offer - BEWARE!

darkblue_2

I recently attempted to check my credit file using one of the three credit reporting systems: Callcredit.

Callcredit's site says, and I quote:

"Your credit score FREE for the first 3 months"

When you click this - it automatically comes up with a detail input field, where you can input your details and apparently receive your credit report.

You input your card details - I assumed, like equifax, this is so that they can charge you after the three month free subscription, which you can cancel during, at any time.

However that was not the case - I was automatically charged £12.

I was furious and immediately demanded a refund. There are no customer service telephone numbers and I was forced to contact them by email.

They contacted me today - 5 days later, to tell me that it's £12 every month, which allows you to check your report any time during that three months.

They refunded me, only because my details had not been automatically detected and they had to send out a pin to my last known address for access to my account.

I'm absolutely appauled at this response, which suggests had they provided me the details immediately, I would have had no recourse.

You have been warned!

Stay clear of CallCredit - instead, Experian (the most widely used credit reference agency) offers a free trial in which you can cancel any time.

antispam246

I've been scouring through Martins Credit Report article to work on my own credit report. I'd already got my free Experian, got it, printed it, cancelled, no problems. I was unaware of the other 2 agencies until recently reading the article.

I've been preparing to get hold of both, until very recently and in accordance with Martin's article it seemed like only Experian and Equifax could be obtained "free" by going via the free trial online route rather than paying the £2 free and obtaining by post. However I did a bit of digging and it would seem it's not the case.

I'm posting this in reply here rather than a new thread because I initially went to the CallCredit site and immediately saw the "30 days free", very eye catching, however, as I have now become after being a member here for awhile, wary, it occurred to me that this was very vague, so I left CallCredit and did abit more researching and the first thing I dug up was this thread. What bothered me was that it said "30 days free credit score and not report. The score being an extra, implying you'd still be paying for the report.

Google lead me to an article explaining how to get CallCredit for free. You basically want the Ealert package. I looked over the CallCredit site and couldn't find it. After reading through another article I found a direct link

https://www.mycallcredit.com/products.asp?product=ALR&session=627206056

Yes, MyCallCredit is CallCredit, one in the same.

This specific package specifically states

Product Selected:
E-Alerts 30 day Trial
Product Price: £44.99
No Options Selected
Total amount to be charged now: £0.00
Amount to be charged after the free
trial: £44.99*
*unless offer code entered

In other words, it works like Experian and Equifax free trials. You can cancel by sending an e-mail to [EMAIL="care@mycallcredit.com"]care@mycallcredit.com[/EMAIL].

Hope this helps, if others can verify it, I'm sure it'd be handy addition to the "Your Credit Rating" article.

Edit: Just incase you want to double check yourselves, here's a link to their T&C's https://www.mycallcredit.com/popup.asp?page=terms which further verifies your right to cancel with no charge with this package.

Edit2: Oh damn, just a final note. As you have to enter your card details for age verification, as I've just tried, they do NOT except VISA Debit.
This service can only be purchased using a MasterCard or VISA Credit Card or a Switch/Maestro Card.

Edit3: I cancelled my callcredit trial after 18 days, it was completed the following day. This was nearly a month ago and it's all gone smoothly. Checked my statements to ensure.

snowmantle

Thanks for the informative post, I was just on the Call Credit website looking to get my report and had the same problem! Is it me or do they seem less professional than Equifax and Experian? Anyway... I've just finished signing up to MyCallCredit e-alert's service Hopefully I'll get my password soon

pamril1

Similar thing happened to me. I cancelled as soon as I realised I had been charged in full for the "free 3 months trial" and instead of allowing me to use the online facilities until my subscription was up, they stopped my access immediately (equifax and experian wait until your subscription date comes to an end) so I emailed them requesting a full refund as I couldn't access my file. They stated the £12 was for administration and was non refundable. :mad:

Flamin con artists!!!

pamril1

antispam246 wrote: »

.
Edit2: Oh damn, just a final note. As you have to enter your card details for age verification, as I've just tried, they do NOT except VISA Debit.
This service can only be purchased using a MasterCard or VISA Credit Card or a Switch/Maestro Card.



Strange..they must have changed things since I signed up to them in May.
I paid with my Visa Debit and everything went through . I wish they hadn't mind you as I wouldn't have been £12 down over it all.

psycrow57

Sadly this free trial no longer seems to exist

Caroline1

I signed up to the free 30 day trial on advice of Martin's website. I checked my credit report then cancelled it with 2 days so as not to be obligated to pay for a year. I was given a cancellation reference number (I dialled their 0800 number to cancel) but was told I would still be able to check my details until the end of the free trial.

I did exactly this, but the next time I logged on a message read "thank you for your order". I was charged circa £6.00 for a credit report I did not want or ask for, and now I have to go and aruge with my bank about the fact this money has been debited from my account without my permission. The fact Experian already had my debit card details is making it very difficult and they have yet to get back to me about it.

I would advise that people stay away.

Mr.Pure

I'm just wondering whether a DPA request would effectively get you a copy of your credit report ?!?
I might try it cos I'll be damned if I'm signing up for anything with Callcredit.

young_victor_meldrew

They did the same to me!

When I asked for a refund they came up with a lame excuse that I was on the electoral roll as (Surname) (Name) (Middle Name) and as I had registered as (Name) (Middle Name) (Surname) I wasnt entitled to a refund!

Of course this was total poppycock!

When I sent evidence that this was nonsense they sent a reply stating that the £12.00 fee collected was to cover the cost of opening the account! Online it states that the £12.00 is for unlimited access to your credit file for 3 months!

Bunch of cowboys!

joydevivre

I have an even worse experience of Mycallcredit. The first I heard of them was a letter asking for proof of my identity to finalise opening my account. This came as a real shock as I'd never contacted this company or requested an account. A few days later, I found that they had deducted two lots of £12 from my credit card. I had certainly NEVER given this company my credit card details. Where did they get them from?
No reply as yet to my e-mail and I am pursuing the debits through my credit card company. Let this be a warning! BEWARE OF THIS OUTFIT!!!!!

Joy

starburst09

Hi

I am new to this thread and I just want to point out the following with regards to Callcreditcheck.

It does clearly state that you get -
Unlimited access to your
credit report
today


and within this report you get to- see your credit score FREE for the first 3 months.
The credit report and score are 2 seperate things.