FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREECREDITREPORT.COM SUED FOR MISCONDUCT

“FREE” CREDIT REPORT RESULTS IN HIDDEN ENROLLMENT IN FOR-FEE “CREDIT MONITORING” SERVICE

NEW YORK, February 4, 2010

Balestriere Fariello has filed a class action lawsuit against Experian, doing business as FreeCreditReport.com, in the Central District of California alleging that FreeCreditReport.com fraudulently advertises that it offers “free” credit reports. In reality, it signs up all consumers for a credit-monitoring service called Triple Advantage that charges $14.95 per month, without any warning that the service it provides is anything other than free.

The class action, which is the result of an extensive investigation, was filed on behalf of a class of consumers who were induced into signing up for a free credit check and who were improperly and unknowingly charged $14.95 per month by FreeCreditReport.com under the guise of Triple Advantage. In 2005, the Federal Trade Commission sued Experian for its fraudulent and misleading advertising through ConsumerInfo.com, a subsidiary of Experian similar to FreeCreditReport.com. Although Experian was forced to stop the deception, it found another outlet through which to induce consumers: FreeCreditReport.com. The Complaint filed on February 1, 2010, by Balestriere Fariello alleges that FreeCreditReport.com knowingly and deliberately advertises through television, radio, and Internet with the intent to mislead consumers into accessing a service which consumers believe to be free (based on these advertisements), when, in fact, consumers are charged $14.95 per month. Once a consumer finally realizes that she has been improperly charged by “CIC Triple Advantage,” it is almost impossible to cancel the service. Experian makes millions of dollars every year at the expense of consumers across the country.

“Freecreditreport.com's television, radio, and Internet advertisements misrepresent the costs of the service it provides to consumers,” said John Balestriere of Balestriere Fariello, “The only price mentioned anywhere is free. This representation is not true. Experian automatically enrolls individuals seeking a free credit report in a for-fee credit monitoring service. Experian previously perpetrated this fraud the guise of ConsumerInfo.com and now continues to do it through another outlet: FreeCreditReport.com.”

Balestriere Fariello is a trials and investigations law firm that represents individuals, companies, and institutions in criminal and civil matters in trial and appellate courts, regulatory proceedings, negotiations, arbitrations, and grand jury matters.  The firm is unique: unlike most firms, it combines a complex and sophisticated litigation background and hard-nosed negotiation experience with the willingness and ability to push cases to trial and win.  Its offices are located at 225 Broadway, Suite 2900, New York, NY 10007.  Please visit the Balestriere Fariello website (www.balestriere.net) for additional information about the firm.

Contact:
Balestriere Fariello
freecreditreportcase@balestriere.net

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