A Scandal Involving The FreeCreditReport.com Guy & Those Jingles!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-28-2010, 05:17 PM

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/d...mm-freecredit/

In celebration of the upcoming FTC-mandated drastic changes to "free" credit report advertising and web sites, public radio program Marketplace located the actor and musician who serves as the public face of FreeCreditReport.com in its horrifically catchy ads. That's when they discovered something that, as they put it, means you will never look at the ads the same way again. The singing spokesdude, Eric Violette, is actually a pretty talented musician, but he isn't the man singing the jingle. See, the commercials were cast and filmed in Montreal, and Violette has a distinct French accent.

Yes. He's Canadian. Which is merciful in a way, because it means that when he walks down the street in Montreal, no one has any idea who he is....unless they're visiting from America.

“Imagine there's a line drawn in the dirt about two hours from your house. Cross it and everything goes haywire. People stop Eric on the street in America and ask for his autograph. They want pictures with him. At one point he made the mistake of going to Mardi Gras.

Violette: And when people recognize me they were obviously pretty drunk. So they were louder than, I don't know.... It was like, "Hey that's the FreeCreditReport.com guy!" So everybody like ... Foom! Turn their head."

As part of the CARD Act, the FTC requires that the ads and (crucially) Web sites for not-so-free credit report services disclose that they are a paid service, not the free annual credit report that all Americans are entitled to. Web sites must change on April 2, and TV and radio advertising on September 1.

Retro4Life · 03-28-2010, 07:13 PM

Actually, I had heard this and I still enjoy the jingles. Yeah, it would be cooler if he actually sang them but hey, it's showbiz and he and the guys still portray their characters well. In the same way I still like the Partridge Family even though I know only David and Shirley were really singing and playing.

catlover79 · 03-28-2010, 09:23 PM

Gee, what a shock.

MickeyMac · 03-28-2010, 10:04 PM

He's still annoying

dakert · 03-28-2010, 10:53 PM

I hope that Americans are smart enough to know that when they hear something is FREE on a commercial--It ISNT FREE!

Brian Damage · 03-28-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakert

I hope that Americans are smart enough to know that when they hear something is FREE on a commercial--It ISNT FREE!

No definitely not, although you have to admit that the company name itself is false advertising,

Janice · 03-28-2010, 11:48 PM

This can't be. Next thing Brian, you'll be telling me that the white-haired old bat is really a hot supermodel in disguise.

Brian Damage · 03-29-2010, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

This can't be. Next thing Brian, you'll be telling me that the white-haired old bat is really a hot supermodel in disguise.

how'd you guess

treky · 03-29-2010, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

This can't be. Next thing Brian, you'll be telling me that the white-haired old bat is really a hot supermodel in disguise.

03-28-2010, 05:17 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	A Scandal Involving The FreeCreditReport.com Guy & Those Jingles!!! http://marketplace.publicradio.org/d...mm-freecredit/ In celebration of the upcoming FTC-mandated drastic changes to "free" credit report advertising and web sites, public radio program Marketplace located the actor and musician who serves as the public face of FreeCreditReport.com in its horrifically catchy ads. That's when they discovered something that, as they put it, means you will never look at the ads the same way again. The singing spokesdude, Eric Violette, is actually a pretty talented musician, but he isn't the man singing the jingle. See, the commercials were cast and filmed in Montreal, and Violette has a distinct French accent. Yes. He's Canadian. Which is merciful in a way, because it means that when he walks down the street in Montreal, no one has any idea who he is....unless they're visiting from America. “Imagine there's a line drawn in the dirt about two hours from your house. Cross it and everything goes haywire. People stop Eric on the street in America and ask for his autograph. They want pictures with him. At one point he made the mistake of going to Mardi Gras. Violette: And when people recognize me they were obviously pretty drunk. So they were louder than, I don't know.... It was like, "Hey that's the FreeCreditReport.com guy!" So everybody like ... Foom! Turn their head." As part of the CARD Act, the FTC requires that the ads and (crucially) Web sites for not-so-free credit report services disclose that they are a paid service, not the free annual credit report that all Americans are entitled to. Web sites must change on April 2, and TV and radio advertising on September 1. Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-28-2010, 07:13 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Actually, I had heard this and I still enjoy the jingles. Yeah, it would be cooler if he actually sang them but hey, it's showbiz and he and the guys still portray their characters well. In the same way I still like the Partridge Family even though I know only David and Shirley were really singing and playing.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

03-28-2010, 09:23 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Gee, what a shock.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-28-2010, 10:04 PM	#4
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	He's still annoying

03-28-2010, 10:53 PM	#5
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	I hope that Americans are smart enough to know that when they hear something is FREE on a commercial--It ISNT FREE!

03-28-2010, 11:48 PM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	This can't be. Next thing Brian, you'll be telling me that the white-haired old bat is really a hot supermodel in disguise.