Credit Scoring Site

Credit score utilization ratio misinformation

01 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Exploding a myth

Will they issue corrections?

Credit scores used by employers: Media reports video

29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Despite evidence to the contrary, network, cable, local and internet electronic media reports allege credit score use in employment screening.

The camera never lies.

The Dallas Morning News on employers not using Equifax credit scores and reports

14 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Media syndicate reports Equifax does not provide credit scores or even reports to employers, but Equifax's ads say something else.

Equifax's network of scary, inaccurate advertising

Average credit score chart, FHA loans

09 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

HUD trend statistics for government insured FHA loans and their FICO scores

FHA fires back.

McClatchy newspaper will not identify its sources

25 Sep 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Lawyer takes the fall.

BONUS: The definition of the use of the word "usually" from the legal profession.

FICO states average credit score

25 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

FICO CEO's message differs from company line in the past.

In an August 6 interview on CNBC about a company study, the FICO CEO utters, "Average score is somewhere in the mid 600s." [video]

Credit score use by employers depiction by CBS

19 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Dallas CBS television station cannot name its source, but refuses to change its story.

Despite the CRAs claim that they do not sell scores to for employment, the expert financial analyst launches into his shocking revelation for the viewers of Dallas-Fort Worth, saying, "There are a lot of reasons for this."

Members of Congress say credit scores are used by employers

13 Aug 2009 18:00:00 GMT

A bill is introduced while the consumer reporting agencies say that they do not even sell credit scores for employment screening.

Coming soon: Congress makes perpetual motion illegal.

Average credit score trend chart/time series

06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

The ups and downs. Are credit scores getting better, or worse?

A credit score chart, cobbled together from various sources, to show average credit scores over time, year-by-year.

Training Experian update: Employers and scores

31 Jul 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Another example of Experian saying scores are used by employers.

Reset the countdown for the correction-- there's another screw-up.

Getting your Equifax credit report in person

31 Jul 2009 19:00:00 GMT

The secret address

CreditAccuracy.com shows Equifax its problem and even bends-over backwards to provide a simple solution.

Consumer finance company accounts

30 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Consumer finance company accounts affect the FICO score, but credit reports do not identify them.

A query to Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve.

Credit score range

23 Jul 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Definition and comparison of the ranges of various credit score models, including FICO

Range vs. scale. List of various credit scores' ranges. Definitions.

USA Today on employers using credit scores, Part 2

02 Jul 2009 18:00:00 GMT

National newspaper (still) will not identify its source

Newspaper with top circulation sticks fingers in ears.

Wikipedia 4-year error

27 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Overstates importance of credit utilization ratio

Would you take medical advice from Dr. Veghead?

USA Today on employers using credit scores, Part 1

17 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

National newspaper will not identify its source

Vague, unsubstantiated reference to employers using credit scores. Wild goose chase.

Experian: We don't sell scores to employers. Employers use scores.

04 Jun 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Same story; different consumer reporting agency

The pitch and the truth.

Training TransUnion

01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 GMT

TransUnion, pay attention, and make the corrections.

Here is a road map.

Training Equifax

21 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Equifax, pay attention, stop whining and make the corrections.

Here is a road map. Get real.

Equifax: We don't sell scores to employers. Employers know your score.

05 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Missed one

Equifax notified of conflicting statements.

TransUnion: We don't sell scores to employers. Employers use scores.

04 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Back and forth

TransUnion notified of conflicting statements.

Equifax reacts

30 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Changes message

Removes "employers."

Equifax employer elephant in the living room

27 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Unanswered question

Equifax replies-- but with no answer. A week passes.

Equifax states that employers can know your credit score

20 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Consumer reporting agency also said that they do not provide scores for pre employment screening

Includes email to Equifax for clarification.

TransUnion employers survey credit report question error

17 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Consumer reporting agency releases botched survey results

TransUnion conducted a survey of human resource decision makers, but asked the wrong question.

What is a credit score?

14 Apr 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Definitions of the term credit score

Consumer reporting industry and federal government agencies define credit score.

Free FICO Score update

03 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Free for the first 10,000

FICO credit scores for free. The real score.

Fair Isaac defines subprime as, generally, less than 640 FICO score

01 Apr 2009 03:00:00 GMT

CNBC interviews Fair Isaac CEO about mortgage borrowers

But, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Department defines two "Sub-Prime" categories below 660. Other examples contrast with FICO's claim.

Credit scores used by employers: Believers and Nonbelievers

12 Feb 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Which side are you on?

Comparison of those who believe credit scores are used by employers in job screening, and those who reject the notion.

The Credit Score Blog

25 Jan 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Supplements The Credit Scoring Site

See The Credit Score Blog and The Credit Score Blog RSS 2.0 feed.

Average FICO credit score utterances

16 Jan 2009 03:00:00 GMT

They can't all be right.

A bunch of guys say a bunch of different things about what the average credit score really is.

Free FICO Score (No Report, No Simulator) at FreeFicoScore.com

08 Jan 2009 02:00:00 GMT

And you have to hurry to catch it in an open window.

Fair Isaac and Equifax team to provide an absolutely free FICO credit score. No credit card, no obligation-- but not many extras, either.

UPDATE: Fair Isaac Used Only Anectdotal Evidence

02 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

FICO company fails to name one employer using credit scores

Somebody, somewhere said something, but we don't know who.

U.S. Treasury Suggests Employers Use Credit Scores

27 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Federal Government public service announcement television spot refers to credit scores in employment setting

Contrary to statements from the three national credit reporting agencies, the United States Department of the Treasury suggests that employers use credit scores in hiring decisions.

The So-Called "Credit Utilization Ratio," and Advice About It

24 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

You can't make this stuff up.

More various emphatic proclamations from your smiling media. Its suggestions for the amount of credit balances compared to the limits ranges from 99% to zero. Choose your own feel-good point.

U.S. News and World Report Dubious Headline: "Obama Wants Your Credit Score"

16 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Mainstream media knee-jerk story about an alleged practice in conflict with an actual supplier's claim: No reputable employer does it.

To the contrary, the company providing the consumer reports emphatically states, "ChoicePoint does not offer credit scores for purposes of employment-related background checks and no reputable background screening company or employer uses credit scores as part of the hiring process."

FICO Company Warns Employers Use Credit Scores that Credit Reporting Agencies Deny Providing

30 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Fair Isaac uses video to make the statement, but the issue is blurry.

myFICO.com video: "That's right. That little three-digit number between three-hundred and eight-fifty impacts your financial life in a lot of ways."

One Year of Wikipedia Misinformation

23 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Average credit score citation dangerously inaccurate

creditscoring.com press release: "Fundamental credit benchmark is misunderstood, mangled and muddled while mankind mired in major mortgage meltdown."

Heard in senate hearing: 720 FICO

23 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Schumer's statement on credit tightening

"I've heard from car companies that it is virtually impossible to get an auto loan right now, unless you have a credit score over 720." - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, (D-NY), Senate Banking Committee financial institutions bailout hearing, September 23, 2008

Free Credit Score Check Online, FICO with Credit Report

14 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

They really are free, but you still need a credit card to get them

How to get a free FICO credit score, the one used by mortgage lenders, on a trial basis. Cancel before the end of 30 days and there is no charge.

Classic FICO credit score versions and models

03 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

If you think that you have only three FICO scores, guess again.

Deployment and differences of the various Classic FICO score versions and models. Who decides which versions are used.

Equifax on inquiries

17 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

How credit checks within a particular time period affect the score

Statement differs from Fair Isaac message.

Influence: Government. Credit scores. Pre-employment screening.

02 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Experian and Equifax reply

Same as TransUnion and Choicepoint: No scores.

Influence: Government. Credit scores. Pre-employment screening.

24 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Reports vary

Big voices saying different things make it hard to know what to believe.

New York Times correction

04 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Won't be fooled again by Experian

Another big media outlet falls for Experian's PLUS score (average 678; 692) snow job, but sets the record straight.

Happy Birthday, VantageScore

02 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Equifax/Experian/TransUnion troika celebrates the first two years, down at the courthouse

U.S. District judge denies the three blind mice's dismissal request.

Wikipedia, style before facts

18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT

"Downward spiral" vs. "Vicious cycle"

There is important work to be done. Unfortunately, you won't, but won't find it at the United States credit score entry at Wikipedia. Even so, the search engines take you right to it.

Fannie Mae credit score chart

16 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Pricing based on FICO score and equity

Amid the mortgage rubble, Tweedledum fires off new prices, now more closely tied to the FICO score.

Fake-O FICO Funk

09 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT

New York Times falls for Experian's fake credit score.

Confuses it with FICO and ends up misleading consumers.

FICO 08

08 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Fair Isaac's 2008 version of its broad-based credit bureau risk score model

Index and timeline.

Influence: Media, Search engines

19 Dec 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Unreliable

MSN Live Search top ten results score an F.

Influence: Media, Search engines

02 Dec 2007 23:00:00 GMT

Unreliable

Yahoo!'s top ten results score an F.

Influence: Media, Search engines

16 Nov 2007 16:00:00 GMT

Unreliable

Google's top ten results score an F.

FICO 08 held hostage

05 Nov 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Day 36, 11/5/07

In credit scoring, don't believe anything until you (finally) see it.

Get your credit score. Get the FICO score.

23 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

A byzantine, ambiguous, confusing process brought to you by the credit bureau oligopoly. But, just remember this: Get the FICO.

Consumers are bombarded with come-ons from hucksters all over the internet and television, and the sure-fire ways to get a meaningful credit score are less than obvious.

Influence: Media, Wikipedia

14 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Two errors in one sentence

There for over a year.

Influence: Media, lying, challenge

03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Asking them to stop

A Dow Jones MarketWatch writer suggested having lenders lie to the credit bureaus. creditscoring.com posted a comment on the story page asking the author to remove the suggestion.

Influence: Media, Wikipedia

29 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Wikipedia's errors regarding credit scores

Rumor and myth, track and kill.

Influence: Media, lying

22 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Anarchy, and media's unethical suggestion to usurp the credit reporting system.

Stand by for sleaze.

Secured credit cards

20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Add accounts, build your credit report history, and improve your credit score (increase your savings, too).

Media

06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scary

Fake-O FICO Funk: More dupes

30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Others who bought into the 678 rumor

Sanity

30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Baltimore Sun columnist pops the housing bubble media hype bubble

New: Credit scores in mortgage lending

27 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

How the mortgage loan industry uses FICO scores

Fair Isaac on the 678 myth

24 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Straight from the horse's mouth: It's not 678

email to CBS

24 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT

The direct approach to changing the media culture

Experian first to offer FICO 08

18 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

September 07 mystery solved

CBS News financial consultant suggests creating fictitious credit history

18 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Recommends asking your lender to lie to the credit bureaus

Wacky Wikipedia

18 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Pseudo-encyclopedia blows it again

Capital One caves

06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Stops conniving limits reporting practice

Misinformation: Consumer Federation of America / Washington Mutual / Washington Post / et al

02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Trail of a rumor

Consumer group/bank commission survey to make headlines. Create inaccurate press release. Major daily parrots press release. Inaccuracy spreads through syndication. creditscoring.com tries to save the world from itself.

To: news@readingeagle.com, letters@readingeagle.com, wflippin@readingeagle.com, LetterToEditor@buffnews.com, letters@sunherald.com, news@wsjournal.com, news@journalnow.com...

Insurance scores, demographics

02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

FTC releases information about race/score.

Equifax broke the law

30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Failed to make a full disclosure. Equifax has a casual relationship with compliance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

10 years ago

30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

It was a long, hot, summer. In 1997, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax just didn't want to hear about giving consumers their credit scores.

Misinformation: Consumer Federation of American and Washington Mutual

23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Ironic headline: "CONSUMER UNDERSTANDING OF CREDIT SCORES REMAINS POOR"

New Myth section

22 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

The information explosion isn't always a good thing. Here's the Myth page.

More begging: Lawyer's hokey trick

22 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Misguided practitioner gets away with suggesting the pathetic begging "good faith adjustment" bit. The dorky "goodwill" ruse.

New Quirks section. First up: Authorized user

19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Authorized user; seasoned tradelines; piggyback; riding on the coattails of somebody else's credit history. Tune in for the fireworks.

Fake-O FICO Funk: LendingTree is for saps

13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Get a website. Write a bunch of stuff.

Consumer Reports WebWatch study, July 5, 2007

13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

"Sites Offering 'Free' Credit Reports: Worth Consumer Consideration?"

Fun with Numbers contestant: Money Magazine

13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Reporter's revelation: "A report is not a score."

Fannie Mae (Tweedledum)

13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

"And less than 5% of our book has a FICO score below 620."

Fake-O FICO Funk

09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

New section debuts at The Credit Scoring Site. Experian doesn't know its left hand from its right from its other left. Anecdotes, antidotes and mairzy doats.

Authorized user, The Experts

09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

"Credit-score revamp won't halt mortgage fraud, experts say"

Ah, The Experts... eek. This is what is has come to in America, and it is pathetic and sick. He suggests that you beg to create a history that never was.

Fun with Numbers, hired guns, settling, confusion

03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Christian Science Monitor story: "Simple ways to raise your credit score"

Monitor wins a permanent spot in the Funwith Numbers hall of fame. Misinformation.

YouTube videos, congressional hearing

03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Highlights

Equifax inquiry Type of Business non-disclosure

29 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Just another day at the office of secrets in Atlanta

If the inquiry is coded wrong, and you don't know it, you lose.

Congressional hearing

29 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT

GIGO/FICO

Video. Text. Press reports.

Authorized user fallout

18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Now the exciting buzz is on collateral damage

Trade association guy wants spoiled-brat preferential treatment to continue. The house-wifey-dependent relationship (apparently, many still not liberated). El experto del mundo. G-Men.

Supreme Court on insurance and the FCRA

14 Jun 2007 13:00:00 GMT

Adverse action notices not always required

Risk-based pricing is a grey area. SCOTUS decides Geico General Insurance vs. Edo, and Safeco Insurance Company Of America vs Spano, Burr and Massey. Caveat emptor.

TransUnion markets thin-file credit score

14 Jun 2007 13:00:00 GMT

Joins others in the underbanked segment

TransUnion coopts the score casually named Link2Credit from L2C, Inc. L2C is located in Atlanta, the home of TransUnion rival (and leg of oligopoly of three) Equifax.

VantageScore addressed authorized user before FICO

07 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Second-fiddle Experian complains about FICO getting all the attention

"In light of this loophole and the potential threat it poses to lenders, a decision was made during the development of VantageScore to... "

FICO to nix authorized user

04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Announcement of an announcement from Fair Isaac

AP reports Fair Isaac will remove the authorized user effect on FICO scores. That stops the cottage industry recently created by the loophole, but it also kills the false sense of security for others who have depended on it (using their relatives' histories).

FICO Score Overhaul

31 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Started well before the subprime mortgage fallout

White House FICO Credit Score Requirements

31 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

660 is the magic number

Hillis/Slack Settlement

31 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Equifax and Fair Isaac defendants

Fair Isaac tweaks the FICO score formula

18 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Will add two new "scorecards" to the Classic FICO algorithm in September

FICO scores and subprime mortgage loan defaults

18 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Blaming the FICO score for the meltdown

Nevada, New Hampshire warn against authorized users

02 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Nevada: "Potential criminal penalties"

Fair Isaac's FICO Forums

24 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Talk back to the wizard

Blogger uses FICO Score Tracking

17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

612 to 804 in 16 months

Media Creation uses FICO Score Tracking

17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

726 to 490 in 11 months

Insurance Credit Scores in the Supreme Court

5 Feb 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Higher rates based on credit report data; Warren Buffet

"GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE"

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Another high-falutin' study featuring a score not used in mortgage lending

Experian: "Department of Justice Closes Inquiry into Experians VantageScore"

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:00:00 GMT

But Fair Isaac's suit continues

Flipper Nation

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Using your credit score for fun and profit. Or just fun.

Fun with Numbers contestant: Equifax

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:00:00 GMT

(Reeling in a WHOPPER!) Unbelievable, but true; apparently, hotlines to Fair Isaac out

Max goes to Philadelphia

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Hawks the VantageScore

Another credit scoring article, "Myth" story no. 2879...

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:00:00 GMT

... and one more zinger from the Washington Post