Comments on: Making Sure Free is Really Free http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/ Live more. Spend less. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:04:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jake http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-7904 Jake Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:37:18 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-7904 The annual credit report site is great to get your credit report once per year. But as mentioned above, they don't give you your score and you can only get one free report per year from each agency. It's also good to keep track of your FICO score as well, and that is never free no matter where you go. MyFico.com has a service called Score Watch that is great for tracking your credit score. The annual credit report site is great to get your credit report once per year. But as mentioned above, they don’t give you your score and you can only get one free report per year from each agency. It’s also good to keep track of your FICO score as well, and that is never free no matter where you go. MyFico.com has a service called Score Watch that is great for tracking your credit score.

]]> By: How to Fix Your Credit Report (and Identity Theft) | Prime Time Money http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-4990 How to Fix Your Credit Report (and Identity Theft) | Prime Time Money Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:19:23 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-4990 [...] Making Sure Free is Really Free (a post about the web site freecreditreport.com) from Being Frugal [...] [...] Making Sure Free is Really Free (a post about the web site freecreditreport.com) from Being Frugal [...]

]]> By: Tina Benitez http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3590 Tina Benitez Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:43:40 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3590 Here is where having a credit card really came in handy. Anything that I think I might have problems cancelling (like AOL) put on a credit card. I accidentally signed up for a CD club when I only wanted to purchase one CD (on relaxation-ha,ha). The number you were supposed to call was always going to a full mailbox! I finally emailed them, then I called my credit card company and put a 4 month freeze on the card. I never recieved anymore unwanted CDs and I am not supposed to use the card anyway. Here is where having a credit card really came in handy. Anything that I think I might have problems cancelling (like AOL) put on a credit card. I accidentally signed up for a CD club when I only wanted to purchase one CD (on relaxation-ha,ha). The number you were supposed to call was always going to a full mailbox! I finally emailed them, then I called my credit card company and put a 4 month freeze on the card. I never recieved anymore unwanted CDs and I am not supposed to use the card anyway.

]]> By: Bruce Judson http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3536 Bruce Judson Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:38:53 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3536 Lynnae: Great post! One of the reasons we started Search Free Apps (www.SearchFreeApps.com), which you recommended right after our launch was to save people the time of figuring out whether free was really free. We assumed that people likes free trials, but are tired of forgetting to cancel. So, we only include free trials where no credit card is required. Of course, we also include services that are 100% free. I thought your readers might be interested to know that we now have over 970 distinct free services. Bruce Judson Founder, Search Free Apps http://www.SearchFreeApps.com Lynnae:

Great post!

One of the reasons we started Search Free Apps (www.SearchFreeApps.com), which you recommended right after our launch was to save people the time of figuring out whether free was really free.

We assumed that people likes free trials, but are tired of forgetting to cancel. So, we only include free trials where no credit card is required. Of course, we also include services that are 100% free.

I thought your readers might be interested to know that we now have over 970 distinct free services.

Bruce Judson
Founder, Search Free Apps
http://www.SearchFreeApps.com

]]> By: How to Monitor Your Credit Report | My Dollar Plan http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3492 How to Monitor Your Credit Report | My Dollar Plan Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:31:56 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3492 [...] per year I order our credit reports for free (not to be confused with other websites offering “free” [...] [...] per year I order our credit reports for free (not to be confused with other websites offering “free” [...]

]]> By: Skinny Guy http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3461 Skinny Guy Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:36:00 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3461 For a truly free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 agencies, go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com. You are allowed by law to request a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. This report will not give you your FICO score, just your credit report. For a truly free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 agencies, go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com. You are allowed by law to request a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. This report will not give you your FICO score, just your credit report.

]]> By: Frugal For Life » Blog Archive » Festival of Frugality Week 108: Quotable Edition http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3456 Frugal For Life » Blog Archive » Festival of Frugality Week 108: Quotable Edition Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:40:00 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3456 [...] “He’s singing about a free credit report that isn’t really free.” ~beingfrugal.net [...] [...] “He’s singing about a free credit report that isn’t really free.” ~beingfrugal.net [...]

]]> By: Shanti http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3407 Shanti Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:57:55 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3407 This is a great post. I am always angry when I see commercials and online offers for things that are free and actually cost money. I've been angry about that sort of stuff since I saw the first thing like this online when I was, like, 10. However, if you make the time for it, it can be a good way to get things you need for free. I went to freecreditreport.com for mine and I just KNEW before going there that it would just be a free trial sort of thing that I would have to sign up for with a credit card anyway. I did it nonetheless, and canceled after I had printed the report (SAME HOUR). The lady on the phone was baffled that I had signed up only about 15 minutes before and wanted to cancel ;), but I was insistent and she canceled it all the same and gave me my cancellation confirmation number, which I wrote on the bottom on my credit reports (printed) for my files :) (holy run-on sentence!) All in all, I think this sort of stuff is a horrible con to play on anyone's weakness to get things done in time and ultimately make money off of them. I wanted to use Dave Ramsey's TMMO online thing, but it has the same deal... if you don't cancel within the allotted 15 days (or whatever it is), they will automatically charge you $xx.xx monthly from there on in. I opted not to try the free demo in the first place. I am constantly irked by this and other offers that Dave endorses, but there's that and I can't do anything about it. I have decided, personally, not to bother with most of the "free" offers except those which I plan to cancel immediately (literally) after I have gotten what I wanted. This is a great post. I am always angry when I see commercials and online offers for things that are free and actually cost money. I’ve been angry about that sort of stuff since I saw the first thing like this online when I was, like, 10. However, if you make the time for it, it can be a good way to get things you need for free.

I went to freecreditreport.com for mine and I just KNEW before going there that it would just be a free trial sort of thing that I would have to sign up for with a credit card anyway. I did it nonetheless, and canceled after I had printed the report (SAME HOUR). The lady on the phone was baffled that I had signed up only about 15 minutes before and wanted to cancel ;), but I was insistent and she canceled it all the same and gave me my cancellation confirmation number, which I wrote on the bottom on my credit reports (printed) for my files :) (holy run-on sentence!)

All in all, I think this sort of stuff is a horrible con to play on anyone’s weakness to get things done in time and ultimately make money off of them. I wanted to use Dave Ramsey’s TMMO online thing, but it has the same deal… if you don’t cancel within the allotted 15 days (or whatever it is), they will automatically charge you $xx.xx monthly from there on in. I opted not to try the free demo in the first place. I am constantly irked by this and other offers that Dave endorses, but there’s that and I can’t do anything about it. I have decided, personally, not to bother with most of the “free” offers except those which I plan to cancel immediately (literally) after I have gotten what I wanted.

]]> By: Weekly Roundup - Book Winner Edition | Cash Money Life http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3388 Weekly Roundup - Book Winner Edition | Cash Money Life Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:34:20 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3388 [...] Frugal - Making Sure Free is Really Free. Be careful about those free teaser rates, or “free for 30 days” offers. They can come [...] [...] Frugal – Making Sure Free is Really Free. Be careful about those free teaser rates, or “free for 30 days” offers. They can come [...]

]]> By: Sarah (Real Life) http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-3386 Sarah (Real Life) Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:08:32 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/09/making-sure-free-is-really-free/#comment-3386 Thanks for the Google calendar tip. I never thought of using it this way, but it's a great idea! Thanks for the Google calendar tip. I never thought of using it this way, but it’s a great idea!

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