But they said it was "free"

We have all seen them, the commercials with the singing pirates telling you to go and get your free credit report. The Federal Trade Commission wants you to know something about those "free" credit reports. When you go to sign up for your free credit report, it asks for your credit card number "to establish your account". While you might not see a charge that same day, you will eventually receive a charge for this service.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized source to get your free annual credit report under federal law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to a free credit report from each of the three nationwide reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every twelve months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, but instead paid hidden fees or agreed to unwanted services. Don’t be fooled by TV ads, email offers, or online search results. Go to the authorized source when you request your free report

Here are two great videos from the FTC about the Free Credit Report scam