The Credit Scoring Site A bleak account 

False, yet disturbing headline published by Microsoft News

The anatomy of a media correction. Syndicated error calls attention to systemic failure of people working in information dissemination. Falsity remains.

| By Greg Fisher

This is about credit scores.

In January, Cameron Huddleston, a columnist for Gobankingrates wrote, "In addition, insurers, utility companies, cell phone companies, employers and even landlords use credit scores to determine your dependability."

That is not true. Employers do not use credit scores. It is the 10th anniversary of emphatic statements by the credit bureaus that they do not provide scores for employment purposes.

Microsoft published that false information.

In fact, in September, Huddleston wrote, "Employers look at job candidates’ credit reports — not their credit scores."

Huddleston (an "award-winning journalist" and "personal finance expert") follows @creditscoring on Twitter. So does Gobankingrates.

False yet horrific headline






NBC made a correction but the error still exists in the internet domain msn.com. Rob Bennett is the editor in chief of Microsoft News.

If Microsoft can't get the fundamental history of The United States of America right, the arcane details of credit scoring don't have a chance.

Vote of no confidence. Falsity remains.


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