I used to like Ben Stein. Sure, he was a patronizing Nixonite, but how can you hold that against Ferris Bueller’s stultefying, roll calling teacher?
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=57049394Unfortunately, Stein has a new starring role – ripping off consumers. Stein now can be found on TV’s across our area as a pitchman for FreeScore.com, a site that urges consumers to obtain a “free” credit score from their website. The problem is, it isn’t free. FreeScore requires consumers to sign up for a credit monitoring service, at the bargain price of $29.95 a month. Anyone that does not want to get this service – which, incidentally, no one needs – must take affirmative steps to cancel the agreement.
FreeScore, like FreeCreditReport.com, is an example of “negative option marketing.” These marketing schemes draw consumers in with “free” trials or products, but require consumers to enroll in paying subscriptions. For decades, consumers have understood that a “3 month trial” of Sports Illustrated or HBO comes with an opt-out subscription to those products. Today, sophisticated scam artists lure consumers in with “free” credit reports or “free” shipping, which actually require enrollment in unwanted and costly programs.
It’s a pernicious and growing practice, one that has hit my own family several times. Just google “MVQ Bizmax” or “MVQ Shopessplus” and you’ll see what we dealt with. The MVQ Bizmax search result begins with “Find out what MVQ*BIZMAX charge on your credit card means.” MVQ Shopessplus has as its first “Frequently Asked Question” the question “What is ‘MVQ*Shopessplus’ doing on my credit or debit card statement?”
Here’s a little hint: if you have to explain why you are on a consumer’s credit card statement, you’re probably a scammer.
Delegate Sheila Hixson and I are sponsoring legislation that would require any negative option contract to fully disclose all terms, and provide that consumers specifically agree to the negative option feature, as shown by their signature.
If the General Assembly sees fit to pass the bill, the only consumers caught by Ben Stein and his fellow ripoff artists will be those that are willing to hand money over to keep scam artists in business. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Filed in: Uncategorized.
New law makes it illegal unless fees are stated in the ad starting in September.
By the way use http://www.annualcreditreport.com and you can get the report for free. You will be asked if you want to buy your credit Score. You can decline it and still view your Report online
Also I am not sure of the name of the federal law that passed but it is probable the Fair consumer credit act or along those lines.
Excellent! This is exactly the role our delegates should be playing – the government is there for the protection of its constituents’ rights.
Best of luck in seeing this through to passage.
Ben Stein is a right-wing slug. Comcast should be ashamed to use him as a spokesperson.
Anyone…….anyone……?
I know there’s a new FTC rule out on credit monitoring, which is helpful. But that doesn’t cover the Bizmax scam or Ben Stein’s other philopsophical brethren.
Here is a bit more on it, but I guess it can still be in the fine print
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/free-credit-report-disclosure-ftc-rules-1282.php
I got caught in this. It wasn’t until I did my end of year tax stuff that I figured out I’d been paying 29.95 a month for some credit protection. When I called about it, they immediately took the last payment off and cancelled whatever it was. By then I’d handed them 240 dollars. It all started when I got a “free” credit report online and they wanted my credit card for “verification” so I thought. This is a scam.
Your blog is so informative … keep up the good work!!!!