Advertising for “free credit reports” now requires new disclosures to help consumers avoid confusing “free” offers—which often require consumers to spend money on credit monitoring or other products or services—with the no-strings-attached credit reports available at AnnualCreditReport.com, or 877-322-8228. This rule went into effect April 1, 2010.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Free Credit Reports Rule will require new prominent disclosures in advertisements for “free credit reports.” For example, any website offering free credit reports must include a disclosure, across the top of each page that mentions free credit reports, which states:
THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Read more at FTC.GOV.
You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com
or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law.
The website disclosure must include a clickable button to “Take me to the authorized source” and clickable links to AnnualCreditReport.com and FTC.GOV.
The amended Rule is effective April 1, 2010, except for the wording of the disclosures for television and radio advertisements, which takes effect on September 1, 2010.
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