I thought I would have a little bit of fun with the customer service people of freecreditreport.com. Yes, I got my free credit report from those people with the damn catchy songs, and yes, I fell victim to the “forgetting to turn it off after 2 months free”. Okay, so I’m out $14 or so. Here is what I experienced trying to get it cancelled.
From: Mer
Received: 11/1/2009 10:47:52 PM Central Standard Time (GMT – 6:00 )
To: [email protected]
Subject: Inquiry
I believe that Freecreditreport.com is charging me 14.95 a month for services I do not need. I recently visited the website and tried to log into my account, but it has returned that there is no account matching my identification, id, etc. Please advise as to how I can cancel this service. Thank you!
On Nov 1, 2009 11:10pm, “Cherry A.” wrote:
Dear Valued Customer:
Thank you for writing.
For your protection and as part of our comprehensive security policy we need to verify your identity before we can disclose account specific information.
To help us address your inquiry quickly and efficiently, please respond via email to this message with the following information:
· Your full name
· Your registered email address that we have on file
· The last four digits of your Social Security number
Thank you for using Triple Advantage.
Sincerely,
Cherry A.
Customer Care Team
[What the hell is Triple Advantage? Is that car insurance?]
[I then write back to verify said information.]
On Nov 1, 2009 11:18pm, “Lia K.” wrote:
Dear Mer:
Thank you for writing.
We are sorry, but due to the circumstances of your issue, we cannot resolve it via email. Please contact one of our Customer Care Representatives so they may assist you at: 1 (866) 369 – 0417
Monday through Friday 6:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m.
Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. Pacific Standard Time
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you for using Triple Alert.
Sincerely,
Lia K.
Customer Care Team
[Okay… That gets me nowhere…]
From: Mer
Received: 11/1/2009 11:34:50 PM Central Standard Time (GMT – 6:00 )
To: “Lia K.”
Subject: Re: Re: Inquiry
Can you at least verify, before I call, that I am being charged 14.95 per month by freecreditreport.com and that, by calling, I can cancel this service?
On Nov 1, 2009 11:38pm, “Lia K.” wrote:
Dear Mer:
Thank you for writing.
We are sorry, but due to the circumstances of your issue, we cannot resolve it via email. Please contact one of our Customer Care Representatives so they may assist you at: 1 (866) 369 – 0417
Monday through Friday 6:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m.
Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. Pacific Standard Time
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you for using Triple Alert.
Sincerely,
Lia K.
Customer Care Team
[Hmmm… Still nothing.]
From: Mer
Received: 11/2/2009 8:13:47 AM Central Standard Time (GMT – 6:00 )
To: “Lia K.”
Subject: Re: Re: Inquiry
I do not plan to resolve it via email. I just want to know if this is the source of a charge of 14.95 that I want to discontinue, before I spend half an hour on the phone with some kind of automated system that may or may not leave me on hold until someone can take my call. I believe you can relate to my wanting to know if this is something that can even be solved by a phone call. A simple, short, yes or no would suffice. Thank you.
[…Anything? Hello!! Can’t you see I read that email already?]
On Nov 2, 2009 8:42am, “Marnee A.” wrote:
Dear Mer:
Thank you for writing.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
We are sorry, but due to the circumstances of your issue, we cannot resolve it via email. Please contact one of our Customer Care Representatives so they may assist you at: 1-866-369-0417
Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Thank you for using TripleAlert.
Sincerely,
Marnee A.
Customer Care Team
[Thanks for the additional help, Marnee! If that is your real name!]
From: Mer
Received: 11/2/2009 8:51:38 AM Central Standard Time (GMT – 6:00 )
To: “Marnee A.”
Subject: Re: Re: Inquiry
You literally cannot tell me if I even have an account with freecreditreport.com and that it is charging me?
[I’m starting to find this entertaining]
On Nov 2, 2009 9:43am, “Kristine O.” wrote:
Dear Mer:
Thank you for writing.
We are sorry, but due to the circumstances of your issue, we cannot resolve it via email. Please contact one of our Customer Care Representatives so they may assist you at:
1 (866) 369 – 0417
Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you for using Triple Advantage.
Sincerely,
Kristine O.
Customer Care Team
[Okay, that’s it. I’m done with this email shit.]
[Now that I’ve gotten the same email a couple of times, obviously no one bothers to read them. Or so I think…]
From: Mer
Received: 11/2/2009 10:35:01 AM Central Standard Time (GMT – 6:00 )
To: “Kristine O.”
Subject: Re: Re: Inquiry
Well, Kristine, or should I say, automated email, thank you for your help. I will call sometime during my lunch break today and spend half an hour on hold. You’re the best!
[Oops, I forgot to call.]
Thank you for writing.
We appreciate your business and the opportunity to be of service. Please feel free to contact us should you have questions or require assistance with your credit monitoring needs.
Thank you for using Triple Alert.
Sincerely,
Maureen P.
Customer Care Team
[What? Is that a confession? Or are they blind to internet sarcasm?]
From: Mer
Received: 11/2/2009 1:31:24 PM Central Standard Time (GMT – 6:00 )
To: “Maureen P”
Subject: Re: Inquiry
So you ARE charging me for services and therefore do have the ability to cancel my services. Why didn’t you just say so? Currently I am not a very satisfied customer.
[Okay, that was a tad bitchy. I still never called them.]
On Nov 6, 2009 11:16pm, CustomerInfo3 wrote:
Dear Mer:
Thank you for writing.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Your account reference# 107547526 is not active, therefore you are not being billed on a monthy basis. You have been billed one time in the amount of $6.32 for a score on 8/12/2009. If you are the credit card holder you will need to call to verify any other accounts active using the same credit card number. Please call our Customer Care 1-877-481-6826 Monday thru Friday 6am to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 8am to 5pm
Pacific Standard Time
Deborah C.
Customer Care
[Okay, let’s see what lesson I have learned here. If I just bitch, bitch, bitch without any regard for who is on the other end, nothing happens unless I ignore them. I asked repeatedly for a yes or no answer, and was only told to call. Then I ignore them, and they give me all (and more) of the information I need. What kind of weird reinforcement is that? This is trickier than trying to deal with the opposite sex!]
Man mer, Jenn and I just laughed our asses off !