Deceitful and unsavory business practice have TransUnion and Equifax in hot water. A U.S. regulator ordered both companies to pay over $23.2 million in fines and restitution for misleading consumers about the usefulness and cost of credit scores they purchased. TransUnion and Equifax also has to reimburse consumers for luring them into enrolling in credit services advertised as free or costing only $1, but could actually cost more than $200 a year.

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said TransUnion and Equifax lead consumers to believe that the credit scores they purchased were the same scores being used by lenders to determine whether loans would be approved and consumer interest rates.

The CFPB Director, Richard Cordray, made a statement, “Credit scores are central to a consumer’s financial life and people deserve honest and accurate information about them.” Most financial decisions we make in life revolve around this score from buying a house to starting a business. Their actions are unacceptable. These white collar criminals need to start doing time, these fines are not enough.