DUNS number questions

[Emily B.]

I've been trying to get business credit established and am hitting a wall with my DUNS number. I applied, answered their (D&B) questions when they called, but was told that my business profile will remain incomplete and credit information will not be reported until I pay them $999. Everything I've read or listened to on this says they pressure you to pay, but that you can get your number free or charge, it will just take the longer 30 (ish) days to receive. I've talked to multiple reps at D&B as I've been trying to get this number since October, a lot of which is playing phone tag and being turned over to a different rep for one reason or another. 

Can anyone tell me if this experience is the norm and if I truly have to pay this fee to "complete my business profile"? It sounds like a scam to me and like I said, anything I've read says you don't have to pay for this. I have a DUNS number for another business that was set up years ago and never went through this much hassle, nor did I pay anything. Has this since changed? Any help is much appreciated as I want to get this figured out to start building credit.