Making requests for free credit reports try California consumers' patience.

Byline: Deb Kollars

Dec. 4--A new law guaranteeing free annual credit reports to consumers came with the unexpected price of frustration, confusion and surprise this week.

Some Sacramentans discovered errors in their reports. Others couldn't get through on the clogged and confusing Web sites. Still others were hit with sales pitches for credit products.

One man found a passage in scrambled Latin on one of his documents. And many felt ripped off because they weren't given free personal credit scores alongside the credit reports.

"I thought this was going to be easy," said Brian Thorogood, a retiree who lives near Marconi and Watt avenues.

"I was so frustrated trying to get my own information that I didn't even try to get my wife's."

Until now, most adults in the United States had never seen their credit reports or credit scores, which are used by mortgage lenders, auto-loan makers, credit card companies, cell phone providers and other businesses to determine people's creditworthiness.

Those who did acquire their reports and scores had to pay for them in most cases.

Welcome news came Wednesday when…