Category: Media

Credit scores used by employers Nonbeliever: Experian

“Employers never receive a credit score.” – Experian U.S. public education director Rod Griffin on Bankrate, Inc.’s CreditCards.com (undated)
 
Experian is a Nonbeliever, sort of.
 
Meanwhile, in a related development, before the mother lode of all corrections (Oct. 25, 2011), Bankrate, Inc. flagship Bankrate.com used to say: “Credit reports and credit scores show up in the background checks employers increasingly order at the time of hire or promotion.”
 
That’s gone.  But, unfortunately–for Martin Halusa, Apax Partners CEO, Peter C. Morse, Bankrate, Inc. chairman and, foremost, readers–the residue of syndication lingers on the website of the company whose sucker chairman is Roy Bostock. 
 
Yahoo!*
 
*refers to the website, not the chairman
 

credit score, employers, The Street, Italian same-sex marriage

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 1:38 PM
To: Brian O’Connell, freelance writer for The Street
Cc: Jeremy Bernerth, assistant professor, Robert H. & Patricia Hines Professorship in Management, Rucks Department of Management, E. J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University; Daniel S. Whitman, assistant professor, Rucks Department of Management, Louisiana State University; John V. Lombardi, president, Louisiana State University; Shannon G. Taylor, assistant proessor, management, Northern Illinois University; John G. Peters, president, Northern Illinois University; Annie Thompson, Springfield press secretary, office of the Governor, State of Illinois; Jack Walker, assistant professor, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University; Guy Bailey, president, Texas Tech University
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, The Street, Italy

You’re at it again.

You wrote, “The LSU study points out that 60% of employers now use credit scores before hiring staffers.”

In 2009, when you included in a story you authored the notion that employers use credit scores, I had not yet called it a myth. 

What clarification will you make?

Also, what is a co-signor?  Is that an Italian borrower?

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

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 2:07 PM
To: Brian O’Connell
Cc: Brian O’Connell; Brian O’Connell; Editors, mainstreet.com; Investor Relations, TheStreet.com; Michael Cooney, Network World; Feedback, thestandard.com; Nancy Schuman, Lloyd Staffing; editor, Long Island Press; Writers Corner USA; Jonathan Maberry, Writers Corner USA; customer Service, The Street; Letters to the Editor, The Street; David Morrow, The Street
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12, 3 not 2

 Please reply.

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:10 AM
To: Brian O’Connell
Cc: Brian O’Connell; Brian O’Connell; Editors, mainstreet.com; Investor Relations, TheStreet.com; Michael Cooney, Network World; Feedback, thestandard.com; Nancy Schuman, Lloyd Staffing; editor, Long Island Press; Writers Corner USA; Jonathan Maberry, Writers Corner USA; customer Service, The Street; Letters to the Editor, The Street; David Morrow, The Street
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12, 3 not 2

You have provided three different sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/business/07credit.html?_r=2&hp

That links to a story written by Jonathan D. Glater and dated August 6.

http://m.thestandard.com/news/2009/08/13/should-your-credit-report-disqualify-you-job

That links to a story written by Michael Cooney and dated August 13.  It does not contain the word “score.”

http://www.longislandpress.com/2009/08/06/does-bad-credit-a-bad-candidate/

That links to a Long Island Press story written by Nancy Schuman and dated August 6.  The story states, “Full account numbers are not revealed and they won’t see a credit score, but they will be able to see late payments, collections and bankruptcies.”

There is a hyperlink to that story from the Cooney story.  They are not the same story.

If the Schuman story says that scores are not seen on a consumer report for employment purposes, then how can it be your source regarding credit score use by employers?

On June 17, you wrote: “A new job could be on the line, too. Many employers are including credit scores on background checks and any low score could cost you that potential dream job.”

For that story, who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?

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

 

From: Brian O’Connell 
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 7:58 PM
To: Greg Fisher
Cc: Brian O’Connell; Editors, mainstreet.com
Subject: Re: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12, dates don’t lie

Greg

It’s common for web sites to carry stories from original sources that ran the story earlier. Couldn’t find it originally, so I found the same exact story but from a different source (The Standard) since you asked for one.

But I just dug the original up. It’s the same story, though.

The second source is actually dated August 6 – from the Long Island Press – here’s the link . . . http://www.longislandpress.com/2009/08/06/does-bad-credit-a-bad-candidate/

BOC

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 4:42 PM
To: ‘Brian O’Connell’
Cc: Editors, mainstreet.com; Investor Relations, TheStreet.com; Brian O’Connell; Feedback, thestandard.com; Press, thestandard.com; Jonathan Glater, New York Times; Angela Onwuachi-Willig, University of Iowa; Jon Switalski, state representative, Michigan; Andy Dillan, state representative, Michigan; The Michigan Messenger
Subject: RE: RE: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12, dates don’t lie

Your second source does not use the word score.

But how can it be your source when it is dated after your piece?

 

From: Brian O’Connell
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 4:07 PM
To: greg@creditscoring.com
Cc: Brian O’Connell; Brian O’Connell; Editors, mainstreet.com; Investor Relations, TheStreet.com
Subject: Re: RE: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12

Hi Greg,

Two sources . . . 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/business/07credit.html?_r=1&hp

http://m.thestandard.com/news/2009/08/13/should-your-credit-report-disqualify-you-job

Best,

Brian O’Connell

Brian O’Connell
The Writers Corner
[address]
[cell]
[office]
[email]

 

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 3:55 PM
To: Brian O’Connell; Brian O’Connell
Cc: Editors, mainstreet.com; Investor Relations, TheStreet.com
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12

Please reply.

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:41 AM
To: Brian O’Connell; Brian O’Connell
Cc: Editors, mainstreet.com
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-08-12

You wrote, “For instance, many employers use credit scores to gauge a job applicant’s quality of character.”

Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?

 

From: creditscoring.com [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:08 PM
To: Brian O’Connell; Brian O’Connell
Subject: credit score, employers, TheStreet, 2009-06-17

You wrote: “A new job could be on the line, too. Many employers are including credit scores on background checks and any low score could cost you that potential dream job.”

Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?

 

Comcast typo: Unnecessary extra space in credit score and employers story

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 11:36 AM
To: Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation (via Rudnay address); Linda Carroll, The Body Odd, msnbc.com, Comcast
Cc: Jeremy Bernerth, assistant professor, Robert H. & Patricia Hines Professorship in Management, Rucks Department of Management, E. J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University; Shannon G. Taylor, assistant proessor, management, Northern Illinois University; Jack Walker, assistant professor, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech; Daniel S. Whitman, assistant professor, Rucks Department of Management, Louisiana State University; Ashley Berthelot, Media Releations, Louisiana State University; Michael Kesterton, columnist, The Globe and Mail, Thomson; Globe and Mail corrections, Thomson; John V. Lombardi, president, Louisiana State University; Melba J. T. Vasquez, PhD, president, American Psychological Association
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, LSU, mainstream, Comcast NBC 

You published, “Employers who use credit scores in their hiring decisions  might be weeding out some of the best applicants, a new study suggests.”  

You used an unnecessary extra space after the word decisions.  Also, the consumer reporting agencies do not provide credit scores for employment purposes.  

You still have not corrected your earlier stories.  If you are too busy to do so, please relinquish controlling interest in NBC to somebody who actually gets journalism ethical behavior.

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, November 09, 2011 1:10 PM
To: Jeremy Bernerth, assistant professor, Robert H. & Patricia Hines Professorship in Management, Rucks Department of Management, E. J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University; Shannon G. Taylor, assistant proessor, management, Northern Illinois University; Jack Walker, assistant professor, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech; Daniel S. Whitman, assistant professor, Rucks Department of Management, Louisiana State University
Cc: Ashley Berthelot, Media Releations, Louisiana State University; Michael Kesterton, columnist, The Globe and Mail, Thomson; Globe and Mail corrections, Thomson; John V. Lombardi, president, Louisiana State University; Melba J. T. Vasquez, PhD, president, American Psychological Association
Subject: RE: credit score, employers, LSU, mainstream, NYT latest to fall

The first sentence of the abstract of your research still… [PREVIOUS EMAIL ATTACHED]

AP spreads credit score myth within story about myths

“In fact, FICO points out on its website that it’s illegal to consider age, race, religion, national origin, gender, and marital status in credit scoring.” – Associated Press

“The law allows creditors to use age in properly designed scoring systems.” – Federal Trade Commission, United States of America

More AP nonsense

 

CANADA | On CBC.ca: Employers and credit scores

“For example, I now have people writing to me saying that they have employers who want to check their credit scores before they hire them. What the hell is that about? In the U.S., you can’t get health insurance if your credit score is crappy. What is that about?” – Gail Vaz-Oxlade, host, TV show “Til Debt Do Us Part,” Shaw Media

“TransUnion does not provide a credit score for employment screening purposes.” – TransUnion

Tribune report vs. claim from FICO

“FICO scores have been around since the 1950s, but they didn’t become a major factor in mortgage lending until 1995, when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac began recommending their use to help determine a mortgage borrower’s creditworthiness.” – Chicago Tribune

“First general-purpose FICO score debuts–BEACON at Equifax. (1989)” – FICO score company Fair Isaac

Other myths, urban legends and misinformation

influence > media > newspapers > tribune

Academia’s credit score urban legend goes mainstream

The consumer reporting agencies all state that they do not provide credit scores for employment purposes (ok, well, sometimes they say they do).  It’s a big urban legend.

But, watch this trail of rumor.

“Most companies attempt to justify the use of credit scores because they think such employees will end up stealing, but our research suggests that might not be the case.” – Louisiana State University

↓

“An emerging trend is for companies to use credit scores as an employment screening tool.” – Psych Central

↓

“’An emerging trend is for companies to use credit scores as an employment screening tool,’ says Psych Central, but a new study to appear in the Journal of Applied Psychology “shows no connection between poor credit scores and theft – although some interesting connections were discovered.” – Globe and Mail

But that’s nothing new for the 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet.

Two and Two: FICO score factors, creditcardguide.com, Bankrate, Inc.

“FICO scores don’t punish people for having a lot of credit cards.” – Eva Norlyk Smith, Ph.D., “longtime correspondent for Credit Card Guide” 
 
“Too many bank/national revolving accounts” –  “US FICO credit risk score reason codes,” Fair Isaac (FICO)
 
“Consumers with a moderate number of credit accounts appearing on their credit bureau report represent lower risk than consumers with either a relatively large number of credit accounts or a very limited number of credit accounts.” – “FICO Score Factors Guide” – ScoreInfo, Fair Isaac (FICO)
 

Bankrate and Fox Business spread urban legend that employers use credit scores

Contact with London, New York, North Palm Beach and Austin

Also, see: 

  • CreditCards.com:
    • “Employers may look at your credit score when you’re applying for a job, and landlords look at it for prospective renters,” he (Scott Crawford, CEO and co-founder of DebtGoal.com) says.”
    • “The general statement won’t affect your FICO credit score, but employers can’t look at your FICO score anyway, says Larry Lambeth, president of Employment Screening Services, a company that provides pre-employment screenings for more than 6,000 companies in the United States and abroad.”
    • “Credit scores, on the other hand, shouldn’t ever be viewed by employers.”
  • Bankrate.com:
    • “Credit reports and credit scores show up in the background checks employers increasingly order at the time of hire or promotion.”
    • “Contrary to popular belief, employers can only see your credit report, not your credit score.”
    • “Watch this video from Creditscoring.com to see how widespread this falsehood is.”

 

From: Greg Fisher
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 12:53 AM
To: Ben Harding, press contact, Apax Partners; Peter C. Morse, chairman, Bankrate, Inc.; Thomas R. Evans, president & CEO, Bankrate, Inc.; Editors, CreditCards.com
Cc: Jodi Helmer, writer, CreditCards.com; Teri Everett, senior vice president, Corporate Affairs & Communications, News Corporation
Subject: credit score, employers, urban myth, Fox Business, CreditCards.com, 2011-10-17

You published, “For one thing, even if you’re not looking at your score, your prospective employer may.”

The consumer reporting agencies all state that they do not provide credit scores for employment purposes.  Even your own website, Bankrate.com, states, “’There’s a misconception that scores are used, and scores are not used,’ says Steven R. Katz, spokesman for Chicago-based agency TransUnion.”

Will you make a correction?

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

Credit score urban myth by the numbers

creditscoring.com

Video 1: 3021 views in 2 years
Video 2. 396 views in 6 months

The Young Turks

“Should Employers Check Credit Scores?”: 13,142 in 4 days

“The Young Turks” host said, “So, who gives a damn what their credit score is?”

The consumer reporting agencies all state that they do not provide credit scores for employment purposes.

[email to The Young Turks]