Don't people understand the meaning of an easy word?

This really burns me up. It is not a difficult word to understand and all 3 year old kids could explain the meaning but some companies obviously do not. The word in question is "free". If something is free it means that you don't have to pay for it. Aside from a shipping and handling fee, which I can understand, I understand the word "free". Today I missed a phone call and checked my caller ID and only got a number so I decided to do a reverse search. I went to at least 6 different "free" websites and filled in all of the information. After I submitted this information I was told that they had the information I requested but before they would give it to me they wanted me to pay a fee. To me that is not "free" Are these companies stupid or do they think all of us people are gullible enough to just pay them for this "free" information. I think all of these companies should be ordered to repay all of the people they conned. What do you think and tell me of your experiences. Is this legal? Ethical? This has to change. I feel like quoting a great movie when this happens. {Network}- "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!" LIES LIES LIES. I mean who do they think they are, politicians?