The credit report you get from freecreditreport.com is no longer free, no matter what that Web address promises.
In the face of a legislative and regulatory crackdown, Experian, the credit data company that owns the site, has begun charging $1 for the report and then giving that money to charity.
Why would it bother with such a token transaction?
Anyone who wants the report must enroll in something called "Triple Advantage" -- a monthly credit monitoring service that is not free. That drew the attention of the Federal Trade Commission.
New FTC rules require a prominent notice across the top of each Web page that mentions free credit reports declaring that the only authorized source for such reports is annualcreditreport.com.
Rather than include such disclosures, Experian added the $1 charge, saying that "due to federally imposed restrictions, it is no longer feasible for us to provide you" with a free credit report.
An Experian spokeswoman, Susan Henson, defended the new fee. "The offer for the $1 report is very clear and in compliance with the FTC's rule," she said in an e-mail reply to questions. "There is no express or implied offer on our site for a free report."
NEW YORK TIMES
