‘Free’ credit reports are not free
There’s only one government-authorized Web site where consumers can get their free annual credit report, and it’s not the one with the catchy jingles in television ads. Attorney General Rob McKenna said more needs to be done to protect consumers attempting to obtain the free credit report allowed by law.
“Credit reports are crucial in helping consumers detect whether they’ve become victims of identity theft or credit fraud,” McKenna said. “Credit reporting agencies are required to provide you with a free copy of your report, but some see this as an opportunity to sell additional products. Under the law, ‘free’ means ‘at no cost,’ not ‘free with a purchase.’”
McKenna, who lives in Bellevue, joined 42 other state attorneys general in sending a letter this week to the Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with the FTC’s proposal to help prevent deceptive marketing of “free” credit reports. The attorneys general said they support a number of the changes proposed by the FTC, but would like even clearer disclosures.
“We believe that advertising restrictions and mandatory disclosures are necessary to ensure that consumers are not misled or confused by advertisements and offers for ‘free’ credit reports, and are able to easily obtain their free annual credit reports,” the letter states.
By law, consumers are permitted one free credit report from each of the three major bureaus — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Consumers may request a report at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
The states’ letter identifies www.freecreditreport.com as an example of a Web site where consumers can be misled. Experian owns and heavily markets the site.
“Consumers file complaints stating they did not understand that by accessing their free credit report, they had signed up for a service that automatically charged a specific amount per month for credit monitoring,” the attorneys general wrote.
The FTC proposes that TV and radio commercials for “free” credit reports must disclose: “This is not the free credit report provided for by Federal law.” The states want advertisers to include the statement: “This report is only free if you make a purchase.”
Print and Internet ads would require similar disclosures and list the phone number and Web site for requesting the government-mandated free reports. Consumers who visited a Web site where “free” credit reports are sold would be automatically sent to a separate landing page where they could choose to continue to the commercial site or instead visit www.annualcreditreport.com.
The attorneys general and the FTC also want to ban hyperlinks to commercial Web sites from www.annualcreditreport.com and prohibit marketing for paid services or products until after a consumer has received the free credit report.
H1N1 vaccine available for all
Beginning on Saturday, Dec. 12, everybody six months of age and older in King County is eligible to receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine. Depending on early demand among this broader group, supplies may be limited for a time at some locations.
The Mercer Island North-end Rite Aid is already booked full of appointments through Jan. 19. Islanders can call the pharmacy and put their name on a waiting list. Rite Aid is administering the shot only on Saturdays, from 9 to 3 p.m.
Those who do not wish to wait are encouraged to visit the King County Public Health Web site — www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health — and find an alternate facility giving out the shot.
More H1N1 influenza vaccine continues to arrive every week, and most vaccine is still going to local health care providers. Local pharmacies are also receiving limited ongoing allocations.
Free H1N1 vaccinations are available for people who cannot afford to pay.
As of Dec. 4, 58,000 doses of vaccine are on the ground or in the process of being shipped to providers in the county.
Vaccination continues to be particularly important for people at the highest risk for H1N1, including pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, people between the ages of six months and 24 years old, people between 25 and 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems, and health care and emergency workers.
For information about how to get the vaccine and other general H1N1 questions, call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators to answer questions from King County residents about H1N1 influenza, and nurses to provide medical care advice for people with the flu. Hours of operation with operators are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend. Recorded information will be available 24 hours a day.
