Yay for FTC free reports. Only got the Experian one to work I couldn't recall my password on the first one and the third one kept asking me to sign up....no you knob, just show my report. Sheesh.

At this point I think most consumers would agree that where credit and credit scores are involved we don't need any more jingles. Perhaps a good dirge would be more appropriate.

Is it just me, or does he look stoned to the gills?

I am kind of curious though that they're wearing kilts... aren't those predominately a Scottish tradition, no?

I think the second one is the better of the two. It seems to have more information and takes more jabs at freecreditreport.

No, "Apartment" is the far better of the two because it has the word "free" mentioned in the jingle, "Restaurant" doesn't, a serious mistake!

Maybe they're trying for a certain poker-faced ironic squareness? I dunno.

I don't think the approach is likely to be helpful. A long song isn't great at conveying information (the freecredit folks use it to tell an actual story that carries the message, not just to convey a message), and it's similar enough that I think some people will think it's a competing service, not a warning from the feds about your rights.

I think they could have used the funny but essentially acted it out as a drama, with the fake credit report folks being chased off by the real, government approved one. Make the point visually, not just tucking it into a ballad.

Squaresville and PBS is right. If I didn't know the first thing about checking my credit report, I'd start to think maybe there's something that this website is trying to make up for.

It feels like those high fructose corn syrup commercials to me.

Yeesh! Those jingles are just awful. I don't think you will find any of your friends humming "annualcreditreport.com is the site you can depend on"

I do love the IKEA spokesperson, mostly because she doesn't judge

I don't like these for a number of reasons.

First of all, they bear too close a resemblence to FreeCreditRipoff.com commercials. I couldn't find the newest one which looks like the first(not the pirate one, but they reference it in the commercial)
The second looks like this one, down to the clothes:

Second, it's not catchy enough. I think most of us can do a freecreditripoff.com commercial off the top of our head, or can at least sing along when it comes on. This is just like singing War&Peace. Yeah, it's to a beat, but doesn't mean I will pay attention.

Or maybe it's just me.

@Oranges w/ Cheese: Yea, that had me confused.

I'm actually partial to this spoof:

@Oranges w/ Cheese: Predominantly, yes. They do get worn in some Irish regiments, and there are some traditional tartans for a ew Ulster (Scots origin) families, and some wearing by Irish pipers in ceremonial occasions. It's more common in Irish-American stuff, especially the girls doing Irish dance, as in this commercial.

So yeah, sometimes, but to me it falls under the heading of "costume" more than "custom."

Yes, let's confuse the public even more. This just screams bad idea to me.

I declare this commercial a win because a hour later my brain is still humming the tune and saying "annual credit report dot com ... hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm ... annual credit report dot com ... hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm ... "

Now it can stop!

What I've always wondered is why they didn't put it at a .gov address. Then I could just tell everyone that if the site isn't at .gov, it's not legit.

That way, the message would never have to change, and they can guarantee that no website will ever pick up a one-off address or things like that, as well.

Why not require the freecreditreport scum to say "PURCHASE" instead of enrollment in triple advantage (garbage).

Or why not declare eminent domain (indeed!) and take away freecreditreport.com from the idiots...

The whole credit score situation is maddening. I have good credit, but I'd like to be able to see my credit report/score whenever I want for free. I like the fact that the FTC forced the 3 major bureaus into publishing the reports once a year. But the FICO score should be included (I realize it's a different company).

Anyway, annualcreditreport.com is jointly operated by the 3 bureaus ([en.wikipedia.org]). And FreeCreditReport.com is actually run by Experian ([en.wikipedia.org]). So who paid for the ACR commercials? The FTC?

These commercials should have been clearer about what they are saying. Maybe do a 10-second parody, then have an announcer tell you that FCR.com is a scam and that ACR.com doesn't charge you anything..

@floraposte: Even with the over the shoulder sash? I was told that was the Scottish way to wear it. Oh well, no biggie.

The last Ikea commercial I saw was her in someone's bedroom, and it was creepy as hell. So yeah, I totally get the idea of putting her in a commercial. She'd make anyone do anything.

And of course I can't edit my last comment or reply directly to it... but by "her" I meant Venida Evans.

*facepalm*

@floraposte: Girls don't wear kilts... so those are just dresses - traditional or not that I can understand, I was more talking about the men.

Regarding the "over the shoulder" part of the kilt. That is a very traditional part. I personally have what is called a fly plaid, a separate piece of cloth that pins on the chest and falls over the shoulder and reaches to the bottom of the kilt. The tartan matches my kilt and I wear it only on special occasions (my wedding). The original kilts usually wrapped around the waist and went up over the shoulder and back down again (all one piece)

@NoO&A_GitEmSteveDave: Perhaps the FTC will air the commercials, and then "pressure" freecreditreport.com to stop running their advertisements because they are confusing to the consumer.

The videos and the FTC Press release [www.ftc.gov] also sends a VERY clear message to freecreditreports.com that they are in the FTC's sites and that they need to be very careful about what they do.

Just speculation on my part.

@Nathan Oliver: because people are stupid and they think that EVERY website ends in ".com". What is worse is when you go to a .GOV address and it re-directs to a.COM address (as is the case for several government websites intended for federal employees.

IKEA is a copy of the Matrix oracle. Not very original.

I was one of the people who used freecredit report, but I did the smart thing and cancelled before they could bill me. Haven't heard from them since, and I was able to spot an inaccuracy that dropped my score over 100 points.

Yeah those men's outfits certainly look scottish, even though the girls are definitely Irish dancing. The Irish wear kilts. The sash strikes me though.

They need to force those stupid agencies to give out a REAL CREDIT SCORE.

@skatanic: I agree. I think these commercials are nothing but good.

What's wrong, Eric Violette was busy?