A couple years ago, ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc. sent me a letter indicating that it had lost a tape containing sensitive information about its customers. To make up for it, they gave me a free 90-day subscription to TrueCredit, a credit monitoring system that notifies you in the event that anything changes on your credit report. If someone tries to take out a loan or sign up for a credit card using your name, TrueCredit notifies you via email.
I used the service for 90 days. If I remember correctly, ABN AMRO extended the free subscription for an entire year. I loved the service. Eventually my free subscription expired, and I chose not to pay for it. I figured I’d just download a free credit report once a year.
TrueCredit kept emailing me with special offers, and one day I decided to sign up for a free 30-day trial. I never had any intention of continuing beyond the 30-days. I just wanted a free copy of my credit report.
Just before my 30 days were up, I logged in to TrueCredit and started looking for an option to cancel the account. There is no such option. You have to call. I called and told the person who answered that I wanted to cancel my account. He asked why, so I told him that I just wanted the free report. I said I thought the service was excellent and offered many benefits, but I was unwilling to pay for it at this time. He then launched into a long series of benefits and recommended that I continue the service. I said, “No. I understand the benefits, and I still want to cancel the service.”
He continued, this time with scare tactics. If I discontinue the service, I will no longer have identity theft insurance, and if someone steals my identity, it could really cost me some money… blah, blah, blah. I told him that I understood and I still wanted to cancel the service. I had to repeat my desire to cancel the service no fewer than five times.
This is one of my pet peeves. If I can sign up for a service online, I think I should be able to opt out online, too. And if I call to cancel, I shouldn’t have to tell the person five to ten times that I want to cancel. Once, maybe twice, should be enough.
The gentleman I talked with told me he would cancel my account. He gave me a confirmation number and sent me an email message confirming the cancellation. It ended well, but what a hassle. This will make me think twice about ever signing up for these free services, even with legitimate companies.
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Yep, went EXACTLY as Terry and others described. Just keep saying no, no, no! There was a twist, the customer rep mentioned a new “free service” at http://www.truecredit.com/messenger that updates you when there is a change in your credit report, which means you get know there is a change, however insignificant, and then sign up and pay again, no thanks.
Not having a method to cancel online is predatory in my opinion. Predatory of people that either aren’t comfortable with these kind of sales tactics, or predatory of people who don’t have the time to call and wait on hold.
Just called them to cancel my account (I did pay for few months after the 30 days trial). Took only about a minute since I was a little rude and stopped him every time he wanted to tell me about the “benefits”.
what is the number you can call to speak to one of the reps about canceling the account?
The phone number is: 1800-493-2392
Thanks to all of your posts, I was prepared when I called to cancel my service. Yes, the rep did try to tell me why I should keep the service, but your posts helped me stay firm, and in under 5 mins I was told I’d receive an email regarding cancellation….., with no more pressure. Thanks to you.
Thanks so much for this. I was trynna figure this out for a while and had I come across this blog 15 days back, I would have saved some bucks for this month’s subscription.
I am happy it ended with one.
Thanks ya all. Cheers..!!
Thanks so much for this. I was trynna figure this out for a while and had I come across this blog 15 days back, I would have saved some bucks from this month\’s subscription.
I am happy it ended with one.
Thanks ya all. Cheers..!!
I believe the trick is not to give them a reason for why you want to cancel. When they asked me I said “no i just want to cancel” and he didn’t ask me any more questions, or tell me about any benefits … time <1min, no need to interrupt!
I just called to cancel and had to wait on hold for 5 minutes before talking to someone. I told them I wanted to cancel and tried to be “rude” to get through it fast but it didn’t work, I was on the phone for another 5 minutes listening to her try to convince me, with scares and an offer for 7.95/month instead. Ugh
I tried calling the number. The phone number no longer works. I get some automated operator response about how the call cannot be connected. Frustrating
← Previous Comments