Bummer, bummer, bummer. I found out I've been scammed. A couple of years ago, I signed up for a free credit report service. Since you can get one free credit report per year from the three major credit bureaus, this seemed like an extension of that free service.
It's not.
Today, I was looking over our bank account. You know, when things are tight, you scrutinize every little expenditure, right? Well, this one particular charge caught my eye, and on a whim I Googled it.
It turns out, that *free* report that has shown up in my email every month is a subscription service. I've been paying for it, every month, for a long time. Although I had noticed the charges (sometimes), I had assumed my husband had made those purchases. There's a whole string of complaints about this company, and at least one website dedicated to telling you how to make an assertive appeal for a refund.
I wasn't able to go on the offensive right away, and maybe that was kind of a good thing. Instead of jumping in without looking, I'll get my ducks in a row, have the helpful website up and running, and make my phone calls with facts at the ready.
For today, my blood pressure can stay within reasonable limits. I'm thankful. Still very angry about those charges, but thankful that I can have some control over how I respond and what I do.
