A CreditFactors member had trouble using ScoreWatch and I decided to sign up for the free trial so that I could help him along. As the end of the 10-day trial approached, I logged in to cancel. I searched the FAQ for “cancel” and found this page:
http://myfico.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/391/kw/cancel
To cancel your subscription:
Log in to the Member Center
Click on “My Subscriptions” on the right side under “Account Settings”
Find your Score Watch subscription on the My Subscriptions page
Click on the “Cancel my subscription” link under “What do you want to do”?
Follow the instructions to cancel
Sounds easy! Unfortunately, my “instructions” demanded that I call 1-800-319-4433.
I called and verified my name, address, SSN and birthdate. And that was NOT enough!
The first person demanded my previous address as shown on the credit report. I didn’t have the credit report in front of me and WHY on earth would they demand this info to CANCEL?
I could see them being extra cautious BEFORE releasing credit information, but clearly they were just trying to make it difficult or impossible to cancel. When I asked for a supervisor, they guy hung up on me.
I called back, again went through all the verifications, did not have my previous address and asked for a supervisor. After a long hold I was disconnected.
I called back again, this time did not even ask to cancel, but requested a supervisor. Again, I had to verify my name, address, SSN and DOB. After a long hold I finally got to a supervisor and I told him that I needed to confirm that you can not cancel ScoreWatch unless you have internet access and a phone.
He then explained to me that they were NOT looking for the previous address on the credit report, but for the current address on the myFICO account. Since I opened the account in 2003, I had NO idea which address used.
The supervisor CONFIRMED that myFICO expects you to have internet access when you call to cancel because you had internet access when you ordered the service.
Apparently myFICO does not realize that many people lose their internet access when they can’t pay the bill or they move and many people just don’t have a computer and use a friend’s or library computer to order.
Of course I would have canceled online if I hadn’t been required to call. So why do they make customers jump through hoops, first sending them online and then demanding a phone call WHILE being able to access the internet?
According to the supervisor, not EVERYBODY has to call. Their system RANDOMLY selects accounts for phone calls.
Why would they do that? I suppose they are analyzing how much they can increase profits by making it more difficult to cancel.
We REALLY need to have FICO scores prohibited for all credit, housing and employment decisions.
Not because of their refusal to cancel their overpriced subscriptions, but because they serve no purpose other than to make its shareholders and bankers wealthier.
MyFICO has been creating entirely fictitious late payments on Equifax reports since at least 2007 and it has continued to willfully destroy lives — KNOWING that millions should have 50 or 100 point higher FICO scores if they only fixed their software to eliminate the fictitious lates.
For the screenshots and explanations please visit Fair Isaac FICTITIOUS lates on Equifax reports
Darius: Love your blog! I’ve been reading it and svreeal others over the last few months as I’ve waited for a mortgage and a few other loans to get settled before I jump into CC app-oramas and churning. I’m gearing up for my first app-orama and was wondering if you could help clarify something for me (I apologize if its posted elsewhere, but with so much information it’s difficult to wade through it all): I’ve seen svreeal comments that imply that when you apply for credit cards, you should leave off your current loyalty account information, then call later and ask for the new account to be merged with your existing account. Is this the best way to do this? Does this only apply to cards you churn? Or should you do this on your first application for a particular card? And finally, I will be going for 2 personal Citi AA cards this first go round (trying to build up miles for a trip to Bora Bora). I have never had this card before. Should I omit my AA # on both? On only one? Or include it on both?Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Again, thanks for all your hard work!
First of all, who is Darius?
And second, why would you want to have numerous credit cards?