With any new business, consumers need to be wary of the business practices of the company and learn as much as they can about the company before doing business with them. Many companies have complaints leveled against them by disappointed customers and Mint.com is no exception. The most common Mint.com scam reported is not a problem with the company’s services; it is a problem with one of their affiliates.
The most commonly reported Mint.com scam is that the website directs consumers interested in obtaining their credit report to a for-profit company that uses dubious tactics to increase their profits instead of directing the individuals to the government sponsored website where the individual can get their credit report for free. Complainers argue that if the company were really interested in helping people with their financial situation, they would not be sending their customers to a disreputable credit agency that practices bait and switch tactics.
At the heart of this Mint.com scam is the fact that the for-profit company does not clearly disclose the fees charged for using the service. The company advertises a free credit report but neglects to mention in any meaningful way that the free credit report can only be obtained if the person agrees to enroll in a credit monitoring service for a monthly fee charged to their financial software. The financial software number is apparently also needed to confirm the person’s identity for their credit report so the person cannot obtain their credit report without entering their financial software information.
In response to complaints about this Mint.com scam, the company has issued a statement claiming that they link to the services provided by two of the largest credit monitoring bureaus because they provide the most value for Mint.com customers. The services that are linked to the website provide the person’s credit score in addition to their credit report and the services disclose their enrollment requirements in the terms and conditions of the service’s website.
