Tag: employer

Employers, scores and WBIR 10 News at Five

WBIR TV-10, Knoxville asks, “Did you know that many potential employers check your credit score?”

And, the people at the East Tennessee Gannett television station want you to tell them what you think.  Their website says, “Selected comments will air on Wednesday’s 10 News at Five.” 

Here is one comment that may or may not make it on the air:

GregFisher wrote:

Consumer reporting agency Equifax stated, “We do not knowingly provide scores for pre employment screening.”

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

And, in Oregon, a TransUnion official testified, “There’s no such thing as a credit score in employment.”

http://tinyurl.com/ylqv76y

Who is your source regarding credit score use by employers?

UPDATE, 3/3/2010, 10 pm

It didn’t make it.

What did make it was one that said, “A low credit score does not mean someone will not be a valuable or trustworthy employee.”

That’s another one to add to the video compilation.

Into the Audience – Credit scores and employers, CNM

The internet:  A place where almost anybody can write almost any nonsense. 

Here’s a good example.  CNM News Network’s piece on credit scores states, “Currently, employers can pull a job applicant’s credit report, but don’t have access to the actual score.”

However, the title is “Foreclosures and Job Hunting Don’t Mix as Employers Check Credit Scores.”

Watch as the publisher reacts to a comment on its page:

Your article says that employers don’t have access to credit scores, but your title screams that employers check them.

What gives?  Who told you that employers check credit scores?

Greg Fisher

Continue reading Into the Audience – Credit scores and employers, CNM

Cub reporters document employers saying they use credit scores

Recently, a Reuters blogger said that the CEO of credit score company FICO told him that employers use credit scores.

But despite FICO’s claim and the rest of the hoopla, only two employers have admitted it.

A Virginia television station obtained video footage of a credit union representative saying “Being a financial institution we have a set level its yes or no. If the credit score is below a certain number, then there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Virginia

In Texas, a television reporter interviews a bank senior vice president who said, “If someone is going to be handling your money and their credit score reflects irresponsibility with money— with their own money– then there may be some concern that they might be irresponsible with your funds, too.”

Reuters blogger: FICO says employers use credit scores

Fun feedback loop

Selling its score, FICO cheerfully says that employers use credit scores (occurs at :47 in the video).

Consumer reporting agencies claim that they do not sell credit scores to employers.

Ben Stein says that employers use credit scores.

Felix writes about Ben Stein.

creditscoring.com writes about Felix writing about Ben Stein.

creditscoring.com blog comments trackback to Felix’s blog (July 28 comment: “simmers“).

Felix writes that FICO told him that employers use credit scores.

creditscoring.com writes about Felix writing about FICO telling Felix that employers using credit scores (this page).

credit score, employers, KXRM-TV Fox 21, Colorado Springs

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@creditscoring.com]
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 2:05 PM
To: spytlinski@kxrm.com
Subject: credit score, employers, KXRM-TV Fox 21, Colorado Springs

You wrote, “Your credit score can help or hurt you every time you apply for a loan, buy car insurance, Continue reading credit score, employers, KXRM-TV Fox 21, Colorado Springs

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
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

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.

http://www.creditscoring.com/influence/industry/consumerreportingagencies/experian/training-employer.html

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?

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.