Category: Media

media accuracy, errors and corrections, Lee Enterprises, Hearst, AP

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 11:26 AM
To: Mary E. Junck, chairman, president and CEO; chairman, Executive Committee, Lee Enterprises; Mary Junck, Associated Press
Cc: George R. Hearst, Jr., chairman, Hearst Corporation (via Lisa Bagley); William Dean Singleton, chairman, MediaNews Group, Inc.; Dale Dauten, columnist, J.T. & Dale Talk Jobs; J.T. O’Donnell, columnist, J.T. & Dale Talk Jobs
Subject: media accuracy, errors and corrections, Lee Enterprises, Hearst, AP

You published

J.T.: Some companies use credit scores as one measure of how responsible a person is. And with so many people looking for work, they may feel it’s easier to hire someone with a good credit score.

DALE: Which is why you were right to bring it up in the interview. And you should rehearse a brief statement talking about all you’re doing to repair your credit scores, playing up the ‘lesson learned’ theme.

Employers do not use credit scores, and you continue to display advertisements on that page.

Will you make a correction?

Also, an AP (Associated Press) report states, “Not having a credit score, or having a low one, also can mean higher car insurance rates, higher rent, difficulty getting a job and paying higher interest rates for any credit available.”

What are you doing about that?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

[response]

Forbes’ attempt at hipness; Forbes’ correction policy

Ah, youth, and fabulous New York.

The “journalist,” “Interactive Editor,” and “web editor” now works for Reuters, who has it all figured out.

And if you think that’s rich…

 

[ORIGINAL MESSAGE]

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 11:43 PM
To: Heather Struck, reporter, Forbes; Heather Struck, reporter, Forbes
Subject: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20

See this message and your response at https://blog.creditscoring.com/?p=2274, https://blog.creditscoring.com/?cat=134 and https://blog.creditscoring.com/?tag=forbes.

You wrote

But one’s creditworthiness, as reflected in a FICO score or a credit report, now affects a lot more than the ability to borrow money or buy something on credit. It can affect whether you get a job, what you pay for insurance, and even how your personal relationships work out.

and

Employment consultants say a troubling credit score may cause hiring officers to more closely question an applicant. Vic Tanon, chief simplicity officer at Emplicity, an organization that consults in hiring practices across the U.S., says a bad credit rating is likely to be more of a factor in certain industries like financial services.

Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 3:10 PM
To: Vic Tannon, chief simplicity officer, CEO, founder and president, Emplicity
Cc: Heather Struck, reporter, Forbes; Heather Struck, reporter, Forbes; Monie Begley, Forbes
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, Emplicity

Did you discuss the topic of credit scores with Forbes?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Struck, Heather
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 3:09 PM
To: Greg Fisher
Subject: Out of Office: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, Emplicity

I am out of the office at a Fellowship orientation until July 31. Please excuse my late replies to emails. If you need immediate assistance, please contact Tina Russo. [Russo’s email].

 

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 9:28 PM
To: Tina Russo, senior editor, Forbes
Subject: FW: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, Emplicity

—–Original Message—–
From: Struck, Heather
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 3:09 PM
To: Greg Fisher
Subject: Out of Office: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, Emplicity

I am out of the office at a Fellowship orientation until July 31. Please excuse my late replies to emails. If you need immediate assistance, please contact Tina Russo. [Russo’s email].

 

 

From: Struck, Heather
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 5:56 AM
To: greg@creditscoring.com
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, Emplicity

Dear Greg,

My apologies for not responding to this until now. I am unsure if you spoke directly with him, but Vic Tannon was my source for that statement. Perhaps there is something you can add?

Heather Struck
Forbes
Markets, New York
[phone]
Follow me: http://blogs.forbes.com/people/hstruck/

 

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 7:43 AM
To: Heather Struck, reporter, Forbes
Cc: Monie Begley, Forbes; Tina Russo, senior editor, Forbes; Vic Tannon, chief simplicity officer, CEO, founder and president, Emplicity
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, CRAs

The consumer reporting agencies do not provide credit scores for employment purposes.

What correction will you make?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Struck, Heather [mailto:HStruck@forbes.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 8:01 AM
To: greg@creditscoring.com
Cc: Begley, Monie; Russo, Tina; Vic Tannon, chief simplicity officer, CEO, founder and president, Emplicity
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, CRAs

I understand your point, but it is very clearly sourced. The point there is some occupations have been known to look at credit scores in an evaluation, according to this source. I agree this point needs clarification, and you are very welcome to post a comment on the story.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherstruck/2011/07/20/credit-score-fico-can-hurt-you/

Thanks for the note,

Heather Struck
Forbes
Markets, New York
[phone]
Follow me: http://blogs.forbes.com/people/hstruck/

 

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 1:12 PM
To: Heather Struck, reporter, Forbes
Cc: Monie Begley, Forbes; Tina Russo, senior editor, Forbes; Vic Tannon, chief simplicity officer, CEO, founder and president, Emplicity
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, clarity

Only you mentioned clarification so there is nothing to agree upon.

According to consumer reporting agency TransUnion, a “rating” is the manner of payment of an individual account.

Who are your other sources?

What authority do you, as the writer, have in making corrections of errors of fact, or clarifications of unclear stories or attribution published by Forbes?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Struck, Heather
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 2:00 PM
To: greg@creditscoring.com
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, Forbes, 2011-07-20, clarity

My editor has authority to make corrections. You can be in touch with him if you like.

Matthew Schifrin – [email address]

Thanks –

Heather Struck
Forbes
Markets, New York
[phone]
Follow me: http://blogs.forbes.com/people/hstruck/

 

Experian claims employers consider credit scores for hiring

A long time ago, Experian, itself, stated, “Experian’s business policy prevents the inclusion of credit scores with an employment report, at Experian called Employment Insight.”

Today, however, Experian states, “Creditors, landlords, and even some employers consider a person’s credit score before deciding whether they will approve a loan, lease an apartment, or hire an applicant.”

That quotation is from ProtectMyID, a “part of Experian.”

In the United Kingdom, for that kind of monkey business, you are rewarded with knighthood.

And, with that, we have a new countdown.

 

News Corporation erroneous report infects Yahoo!

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 12:40 PM
To: Yahoo! Media Relations
Cc: Melissa Rudy; Jennifer Waters, columnist, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation; David Callaway, editor-in-chief, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Lex Fenwick, CEO, Dow Jones, News Corporation (via Bethany Sherman); Ashley Huston, senior director, Corporate Communications, Dow Jones & Company ; Corrections, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Alan Murray, executive editor, WSJ.com, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Sara Blask, manager, Corporate Communications, Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones, News Corporation; Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, News Corporation (via Julie Henderson)
Subject: RE: credit score, utilization ratio, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, correction V, employers, Yahoo!

Scott Thompson, chief executive officer
Yahoo!

Since your chairman Roy Bostock is a lame duck, you get this message.  Please forward it to the board.

Your website states, erroneously: “Increasingly, your score can help you land, or lose out on, a job, an apartment or utilities.”

Employers do not use credit scores.

You have been screwed, and it is because of the incompetence at News Corporation.  This has been going on for almost ten days, and the problem still exists.  Don’t be a yahoo(!).

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

Rumor thread 1 – Rupert Murdoch (still) does not know how to use the internet

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 10:08 AM
To: Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, News Corporation (via Julie Henderson)
Cc: Melissa Rudy; Jennifer Waters, columnist, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation; David Callaway, editor-in-chief, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Lex Fenwick, CEO, Dow Jones, News Corporation (via Bethany Sherman); Ashley Huston, senior director, Corporate Communications, Dow Jones & Company ; Corrections, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Alan Murray, executive editor, WSJ.com, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Sara Blask, manager, Corporate Communications, Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones, News Corporation
Subject: RE: credit score, utilization ratio, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, correction V, employers

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer
News Corporation

Neither you nor your reporter answered the questions I asked on June 21.

Didn’t you send out the memorandum I requested you send?

It appears that you did not because your material is still inaccurate.  On Yahoo!, a story with your brand MarketWatch on it still says, erroneously: “Increasingly, your score can help you land, or lose out on, a job, an apartment or utilities.”

If even ValueClick can elicit a correction on that website, then why don’t you?

What is the name of your contact at Yahoo!?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

[previous message]

 

Hearst Corporation correction policy: “promptly;” ValueClick / Investopedia

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 10:26 AM
To: George R. Hearst, Jr., chairman, Hearst Corporation (via Lisa Bagley)
Cc: Shauna Carther, VP, Content, Investopedia, ValueClick; Martin T. Hart, chairman, ValueClick (via Rachel McDonald, CPA, sr accountant & Public Relations specialist); Martin T. Hart, chairman, ValueClick ( via John Ardis, VP, Corporate Strategy); Stephen Proctor, managing editor, San Francisco Chronicle; Public Relations department, ValueClick ; Press office, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Subject: RE: Hearst Corporation, publishing inaccurate information II

People in Canada exhibit a lack of comprehension regarding credit scores in the United States.

Neither employers nor “potential employers” have access to credit scores.  Credit scores are not credit reports; one is a document, and the other is merely a number.

What is your definition of “promptly”?  You continue to display advertisements on a page containing misinformation.  Please use any ill-gotten gains to pay someone to make the correction now.

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Shauna Carther [Investopedia]
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 5:19 PM
To: greg@creditscoring.com
Subject: FW: Heast Corporation, publishing inaccurate information

Dear Greg Fisher,

After reviewing our article and a reputable source, we’ve decided to clarify our statement to read “potential employers” rather than “employers”.

See: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Report_20110719_CreditScores.pdf

Page 3, I.A “Consumer files are used to produce reports that the CRAs provide to creditors, insurance companies, potential employers, and other users.”
CS3 – The impact of differences between consumer- and creditor-purchased credit scores. (2011, July 19). Retrieved from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Regards,
Shauna

[previous email]

 

Wall Street Journal furthers credit score urban legend

The sun never sets on the News Corporation empire.

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:32 AM
To: Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, News Corporation (via Julie Henderson)
Cc: Melissa Rudy; Jennifer Waters, columnist, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation; David Callaway, editor-in-chief, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Lex Fenwick, CEO, Dow Jones, News Corporation (via Bethany Sherman); Ashley Huston, senior director, Corporate Communications, Dow Jones & Company ; Corrections, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Alan Murray, executive editor, WSJ.com, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation
Subject: RE: credit score, utilization ratio, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, correction IV, employers

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer
News Corporation

This is not going well.

In one place you corrected a story to say

It’s taken into account when you buy a house, a car or insurance, and when you seek credit for a small business, try to rent an apartment or get utility service.

But in another, uncorrected version, you published

It’s taken into account when you buy a house, car or insurance, or when you seek credit for a small business. Increasingly, your score can help you land—or lose out on—a job, rent an apartment or sign up for utilities.

Employers do not use credit scores.

You are out of control.  Please send out a memorandum to all affiliates before this happens again.  What changes will you make to your correction policy to ensure that it does not?  Do you have a policy?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Waters, Jennifer
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 6:54 PM
To: Callaway, David
Cc: greg@creditscoring.com; Henderson, Julie ( NewsCorp ); Melissa Rudy; Sherman, Bethany
Subject: Re: credit score, utilization ratio, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, correction III, employers

Ok

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 5, 2012, at 5:49 PM, “Callaway, David” wrote:

I’ll take a look at this….Jen, give me and Anne a ring tomorrow………dave

[previous email]

 

 

Consumer Reports’ inaccurate information, whistle stop

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:55 AM
To: Walter D. Bristol, chairman, Consumer Reports, Consumers Union
Cc: James A. Guest, president, CEO, consumer Reports, Consumers Union; Amanda Walker, Consumer Reports senior project editor, Consumers Union; David Butler, communications director, Washington DC, Consumers Union; Michael McCauley, media director, Financial Privacy Now, media director, Stop Hospital Infections, Consumers Union; Michael McCauley, media director, Financial Privacy Now, media director, Stop Hospital Infections, Consumers Union (alt); Margaret Shader, Web associate editor, Consumer Reports, Consumers Union; Kara Kelber, media relations associate, Consumers Union; Heather C. McGhee, director, Washington Office, Demos, and board member, Consumer Reports; Financial Services Team, Consumers Union; Financial Services Team, Consumers Union (alt); Press office, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Subject: RE: Follow up to your visit earlier today, Consumer Reports’ inaccurate information, Whistlestop

Walter D. Bristol, chairman
Consumer Reports, Consumers Union

See this message and your response at https://blog.creditscoring.com/?p=3629 and https://blog.creditscoring.com/?tag=consumer-reports.

You still make these claims:

  • “An automatic FICO disaster information shield would also prevent FICO scores from becoming a barrier to reemployment of displaced people looking for new work with employers who rely in part on credit scores.”
  • “Experian also sells its proprietary PLUS scores along with its credit reports. The company says your score helps ‘lenders, landlords, and employers quickly gauge your credit history and decide what kind of risk they are taking if they approve your application.’”
  • “’Your score is used by lenders, insurers, and even prospective employers, to judge how great of a credit risk you are,’ says Amanda Walker, Consumer Reports Senior Project Editor.”

Employers do not use credit scores.

What is your correction policy?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 10:19 AM
To: Walter D. Bristol, chairman, Consumer Reports, Consumers Union
Subject: credit score, employers, Consumer Reports

Correct this, fire James A. Guest, then resign.

https://twitter.com/#!/creditscoring/status/162542622710312961

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

 

From: creditscoring.com [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: 2/16/2009
To: Gail Hillebrand, Consumers Union
Subject: credit score, employers

You said, “An automatic FICO disaster information shield would also prevent FICO scores from becoming a barrier to reemployment of displaced people looking for new work with employers who rely in part on credit scores.”

See http://www.creditscoring.com/influence/government/employercreditscorebelievers.html#consumersunion.

Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?

What is the name of an employer who uses credit scores?

 

Hearst Corporation, publishing inaccurate information

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 11:17 PM
To: George R. Hearst, Jr., chairman, Hearst Corporation (via Lisa Bagley)
Cc: Stephen Proctor, managing editor, San Francisco Chronicle; Martin T. Hart, chairman, ValueClick (via Rachel McDonald, CPA, sr accountant & Public Relations specialist); Martin T. Hart, chairman, ValueClick (via John Ardis, VP, Corporate Strategy); Public Relations department, ValueClick
Subject: Heast Corporation, publishing inaccurate information

You published, “Mortgage lenders, auto loan companies, credit card providers, insurance companies, landlords and employers buy credit scores from credit reporting agencies.

Employers do not use credit scores, and this is not the first time you published inaccurate information about them.  Please provide your source regarding this urban myth so that they can be informed about their erroneous information, too.  Who is your source?

What is your correction policy?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

MarketWatch, Dow Jones, News Corporation reporting on credit scores and employers

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 6:33 PM
To: Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, News Corporation (via Julie Henderson)
Cc: Melissa Rudy; Jennifer Waters, columnist, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation; David Callaway, editor-in-chief, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corporation; Lex Fenwick, CEO, Dow Jones, News Corporation (via Bethany Sherman)
Subject: RE: credit score, utilization ratio, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, correction III, employers

You published:

Your credit score may be as important as your education and your job skills because it helps you navigate your lifestyle. It’s taken into account when you buy a house, a car or insurance, and when you seek credit for a small business. Increasingly, your score can help you land, or lose out on, a job, an apartment or utilities.

Employers do not use credit scores.

You quoted representatives from VantageScore, Credit.com and Experian.  Experian states: “Experian’s Employment Insight report includes similar information about loans and credit cards that is listed in the credit report. It does not include year of birth, spouse reference, account number or credit score, which are irrelevant to hiring decisions.”

Credit.com claims, “One of the most prevalent credit myths is that employers use credit scores as part of their pre-employment screening processes.”

VantageScore told me that “employers use credit reports and not credit scores.”

If you still believe that your publication is accurate, then who is your organization’s source regarding credit score use by employers?  And, this time, please be specific:  What is the name of one person who said that employers use credit scores?  If the source is a document, please identify it and quote it.

What is your correction policy?

—
Greg Fisher
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio  45409-0342

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:15 AM
To: Jennifer Waters, columnist, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation
Cc: Melissa Rudy; Emily Glazer, reporter, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation; Teri Everett, senior vice president, Corporate Affairs & Communications, News Corporation
Subject: RE: credit score, utilization ratio, Consumer Confidential, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, correction II

If

a + b + c + d + .30 + f = .30

then the sum of… [previous email]