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A senator, credit scores, losers and air guitars
The lyrics to FreeCreditReport.com’s latest ditty:
Wanted to get myself a new cell phone
So I could hear myself at a ring tone
Who knew the store would go and check my credit score?
Now all they let me have is this dinosaur
Hello? Hello? Hello? Can anybody hear me?
I know. I know. I know. I should have gone toFreeCreditReport.com
That’s where I should have gone. Could have got my knowledge onANNOUNCER: Free credit score and report with enrollment in Triple Advantage.
Meanwhile, in a not-so-veiled reference to Experian (the owner of FreeCreditReport.com) U.S. Senator Charles Schumer states, “If these companies want to say – or sing for that matter – that they are giving people free credit reports, then they can’t charge people $15 a month, simple as that.” On his website, Schumer continues, “My plan would finally bust up this scam and give consumers some honest choices”
One problem, as stated in the FreeCreditReport.com Terms and Conditions: “The PLUS Score is not currently sold to lenders, and is not an endorsement or guarantee of your credit worthiness as seen by lenders.”
So, it really is true: You don’t get what you don’t pay for. See Fake-O FICO Funk.
Speaking of videos, don’t miss creditscoring.com’s montage of people talking about employers using scores– while the bureaus say that they don’t even sell scores for that purpose.
Insurance credit scores in Michigan
From the Michigan Supreme Court: “The Court will also hear oral arguments in Insurance Institute of Michigan v Insurance Commissioner, in which the plaintiffs, a group that includes insurance companies and individual customers, challenge administrative rules aimed at prohibiting insurance scoring, the practice of using consumer credit report scores to set personal insurance rates.”
The Insurance Institute of Michigan states, “A 2007 study by the Federal Trade Commission found that credit-based insurance scores are effective predictors of risk under auto policies.
The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation contends, “Credit information has been found to contain such a high rate of errors that there is an unacceptable likelihood that persons will be misclassified,” and cites studies by U.S. PIRG and the Consumer Federation of America.
credit score, employers, UC Irvine, New University
From: Greg Fisher
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 7:28 AM
To: newu@uci.edu; newuopinion@gmail.com
Subject: credit score, employers, New University
You wrote, “Employers increasingly run credit checks on prospective hires; a high score is seen as an indicator of reliability.”
Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?
Media depiction, credit score use, employers, CBS, Dallas
Consumer reporting agencies Equifax, TransUnion and Experian all state that they do not provide credit scores for employment screening.
Despite that, the anchor at the CBS-owned television station in Dallas asks the financial expert and analyst to explain it all to us:
KTVT CBS 11, Dallas financial expert and analyst explains it all to us
It is today’s #1 hit in Yahoo News for the term “credit score” (complete with a picture). You can’t buy that kind of ranking.
From: Greg Fisher
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 1:27 PM
To: KTVT: Ginger Allen, interviewer; Lori Conrad, communications director; Steve Mauldin, president & general manager; news@cbs11tv.com; KTVTNewsEyeTeam@ktvt.com; cbs11@ktvt.com
Cc: Jim Lacamp
Subject: credit score, employers, CBS, CBS Television Stations, KTVT
You wrote, “In this economy, your credit score is more important than ever before, as prospective employers are looking at them to help in hiring decisions.”
Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?
More
FreeScore.com II (second contact attempt)
The blogosphere simmers while Ben Stein summers.
The official Whac-a-Mole
From: Greg Fisher
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 10:49 PM
To: Nate Allard, Media First Public Relations; Ryan M. Wines, R2C Group
Subject: FW: credit score, employers, FreeScore.com II
Please reply.
[previous email attached]
Countdown to when Experian removes statement about employers using scores
Return here to find out when Experian removed its statement that employers use credit scores.
Here is the statement:
“Credit scoring helps potential lenders, landlords, and employers quickly gauge an applicant’s credit history.”
At the bottom of the page Experian implores, “Contact Us – If this doesn’t answer your question please contact us.”
By all means, contact them.
The domains qspace.com and iplace.com are part of Experian’s out-of-control pile of web addresses.
From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 9:18 PM
To: help@qspace.com; heather.mclaughlin@experian.com; mediarelations@experian.com; corporate.responsibility@experian.com
Cc: greg@creditscoring.com
Subject: credit score, employers, Experian, iplace.com
You state, ”Credit scoring helps potential lenders, landlords, and employers quickly gauge an applicant’s credit history.”
http://qspace.iplace.com/qspace/DirectPull/3D_key.asp?section=ALL
After the tongue-lashing you took at creditscoring.com, you should consider a different line of work.
What is the name of an employer who uses credit scores?
FreeScore.com and Ben Stein: Employers use credit scores
Consumer reporting agencies Equifax, TransUnion and Experian all state that they do not provide credit scores for employment screening.
But in a television commercial for FreeScore.com, spokesman Ben Stein states, “Whether you’re in a financial hole, or just want to get a loan, a better interest rate, or a new job, you’re at the mercy of your credit scores.”
From: Greg Fisher
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 10:36 AM
To: Nate Allard, Media First Public Relations
Subject: credit score, employers, FreeScore.com
You wrote, “Of his new role as commercial spokesperson for FreeScore.com, Mr. Stein said… ‘Poor scores can cost people higher interest rates on loans and credit cards or even cost them a job.’“
Who indicates that credit scores are used in employment?
Wikipedia Credit Karma/FICO baloney
The 4-year mess continues. But, how long will it take the collective brain of the world to figure out this one?
Genius 99.23.41.118 contributes: “Credit Karma will provide the FICO score from TransUnion for free, but will not provide the actual credit report.”
But, as any idiot can see, at the “wiki” about Credit Karma:
Credit Karma provides users with a proprietary credit score model. The scoring is on a scale of 300 to 850 which is the same scale as FICO Score from Fair Issac Corporation.
And, what a coincidence! The Credit Karma score scale is exactly the same as the FICO! No wonder the wiki is whack.
The editors were duped again by just another Fake-O flim flam.
credit score, employers, ABC News
Despite consumer reporting agencies’ emphatic statements that they do not provide credit scores for employment screening, ABC News writes:
But your credit score can also prevent you from getting that new job. Many recent applicants — from the newly divorced to recent grads saddled with student loans – are finding that their credit scores are keeping them from getting hired.
The television network’s statement is part of a request for stories about the topic from readers.
credit score, employers, Washington Post
http://www.buffalonews.com/410/story/667793.html
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090517/BUSINESS/905170338/1003/ARCHIVES
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/credit-card-rate-2381680-utilization-percent
http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/salinas/story/1374724.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/136/story/1028698.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michelle_singletary/043009_color_of_money.html
http://www.projo.com/business/content/bz_singletary03_05-03-09_DJE6T79_v6.17c60ad.html
From: creditscoring.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:35 AM
To: Michelle Singletary, Wasington Post personal finance columnist (The Color of Money email address); Michelle Singletary (another Washington Post email address for Singletary)
Cc: Andy Alexander, Washington Post ombudsman; Andy Alexander (another Washington Post email address for Alexander); Shirley M. Carswell, Washington post deputy managing editor
Subject: RE: credit score, employers III
Please reply.
From: creditscoring.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 8:49 AM
To: Michelle Singletary, Wasington Post personal finance columnist (The Color of Money email address); Michelle Singletary (another Washington Post email address for Singletary)
Cc: Andy Alexander, Washington Post ombudsman
Subject: RE: credit score, employers II
You also wrote, “If the market has widely embraced the FICO credit score, Congress shouldn’t allow business quarrels — not now when credit is hard to get — to result in shutting down access to information that is essential to obtaining the best loan, insurance rate or even a job.”
Please reply.
From: creditscoring.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 7:24 PM
To: Michelle Singletary, Wasington Post personal finance columnist (The Color of Money email address); Michelle Singletary (another Washington Post email address for Singletary)
Subject: credit score, employers
You wrote: “And a lower credit score means you pay more for the money you borrow. It can also mean higher insurance rates for your home or car, or worse, the loss of a job.”
Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?