Credit score use by employers depiction by CBS

8/19/2009

A Dallas television station owned by CBS stated that employers use credit scores, but the station could not name its source.

Consumer reporting agencies Equifax, TransUnion and Experian all state that they do not provide credit scores for employment screening. Regardless, members of Congress claim that employers "have erroneously linked credit scores to potential job performance."

On its website, KTVT writes, "In this economy, your credit score is more important than ever before, as prospective employers are looking at them to help in hiring decisions."

In a wide-eyed gasp, an interviewer asks the station's expert financial analyst, "It used to be that if you needed to buy a car, or a house, or needed to lend [sic] some money, then your credit score was free game— but prospective employers?"

The analyst launches into his shocking revelation for the viewers of Dallas-Fort Worth, saying, "There are a lot of reasons for this."

Video of people in lines at a job fair is accompanied the words, superimposed on the screen:

MONEY MATTERS
YOUR CREDIT SCORE
PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES [sic] CHECK IT OUT

Later (1:17), the expert advises viewers to keep a balance-to-limit ratio of 20% or less.

Also, see National Financial Literacy Month, 2011 (video), Myth: Employers use credit scores What the President said Credit bureaus claim that they do not provide credit scores for employment screening Groundhog Day, 2012 Groundhog Day, 2011 Credit scores in employment, Believers and Nonbelievers Video: Media say employers use scores (2009) Federal Reserve on credit scores used by employers, 2009 Federal Reserve on credit scores used by employers, 2010 Federal Reserve on credit scores used by employers, 2010 (one more time) Members of Congress say credit scores are used by employers Members of Congress say credit scores are used by employers II Members of Congress say credit scores are used by employers III U.S. House representative testifies employers use credit scores U.S. Treasury Suggests Employers Use Credit Scores DoD agency states it does not use credit scores for security clearances White House credit score requirements Mentions of credit scores in employment in Oregon Washington attorney general on what "can" and "may" happen FICO company warns employers use credit scores that credit reporting agencies deny providing TransUnion employers survey credit report question error Training TransUnion on credit scores, employers Equifax: Employers can know your credit score Training Equifax on credit scores, employers Experian: Employers use credit scores Training Experian on credit scores, employers VantageScore: Employers use credit scores Employers using credit scores blogger meme Canada Day: Reuters, FICO and the employers myth USA TODAY will not reveal its source USA TODAY will not reveal its source II McClatchy newspaper will not identify its sources AP reports legislator said employers use credit scores Dallas Morning News on employers using Equifax credit scores and reports Influence: Hearst; San Francisco Chronicle Influence: Tribune; LA Times Credit score use by employers depiction by CBS Influence: CBS U.S. PIRG fails to prove employers use credit scores Influence: Consumers Union