June 15, 2015 | By Greg Fisher

In a disagreement, one problem is merely confirming that a message gets through. #1506e

That is the case, here, in interaction with a huge media organization, individuals within it, a consumer advocacy organization and a credit score company.

According to the credit score company, VantageScore, to improve a credit score: "A good rule of thumb? Keep balances below 30 percent of the credit limit on any account."

But that's from a concern who came along an entire decade after mortgage government-sponsored enterprise Fannie Mae put FICO credit scores on the map.

Its out-of-the-blue birth, of course, didn't do anything to address another problem. And, what's a guy to say in a state of surprise about a whole new scorer on the scene, anyway? A 2006 Businessweek item states, "Garbage in, garbage out," says Greg Fisher of Dayton, Ohio, who runs two Web sites on the subject, creditscoring.com and creditaccuracy.com."

But accuracy in consumer reporting (credit reports) is another story for another day. This is about accuracy in consumer reporting of another sort: Media reporting on consumer issues. The 4th estate-- those valiant seekers of truth-- will surely use their skills to come up with the answers!

That is if they have the right question (or have even bothered to ask it).

Disregard

VantageScore Solutions, LLC has a very peculiar pedigree: It was created jointly by the three national consumer reporting agencies themselves and is "independently managed."

Think: The three American car manufacturers forming a company to make tires.

Think: False information.

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@truthandfalsity.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2015 2:18 PM
To: Erika Santoro, CNBC
Cc: Landon Dowdy, CNBC
Subject: credit score, utilization ratio at 30%, Myth4, #1505C

I’m a reporter on deadline (tomorrow) and I’m writing about Comcast.

What’s so special about a 30 percent utilization ratio?

https://twitter.com/ErikaSantoro/status/595993559049891840

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/595602729931800576

#1505C I tried to call you.

--
Greg Fisher
Truth and Falsity
truthandfalsity.com
Page A2
pagea2.com
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio 45409-0342
skype fisher100
mobile/text 937-681-3224

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@truthandfalsity.com]
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2015 2:44 PM
To: Erika Santoro, CNBC
Cc: Landon Dowdy, CNBC; Brian Steel, CNBC, Comcast
Subject: FW: credit score, utilization ratio at 30%, Myth4, #1505C II

Please reply. #Myth4 / #2experts

I talked to Mr. Steel.

An item at nbcnews.com states

It's all about the debt-to-limit ratio. If you can't pay it all off within a month, which is ideal, be sure that what you owe is less than 30 percent of your total credit limit. How much you owe compared to the total credit you have, also known as your debt utilization ratio, counts for a whopping 30 percent of your percentage score.

See

http://creditscoring.com/myths/#ratio30

http://creditscoring.com/myths/utilization-ratio/magic.html

http://www.creditscoring.com/interaction/2015/03/04-consumer-reports-consumerist.html

Related: Fair Isaac itself states the other 30 percent myth (a logical mathematical impossibility).

http://www.cnbc.com/id/25097425

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3891881/ns/about/t/nbcnewscom-corrections-clarifications/#.VU0DPWd0xhE

--
Greg Fisher
Truth and Falsity
truthandfalsity.com
Page A2
pagea2.com
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio 45409-0342
skype fisher100
mobile/text 937-681-3224

Are you there, Mr. Steel?

--
Greg Fisher
Truth and Falsity
truthandfalsity.com
Page A2
pagea2.com
The Credit Scoring Site
creditscoring.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio 45409-0342
skype fisher100
mobile/text 937-681-3224

From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@truthandfalsity.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 5:03 PM
To: Brian Steel, CNBC, Comcast; Barrett Burns, CEO, VantageScore Solutions, LLC
Cc: Wen Jie (Jackie) Lin, CFP, EA; Jeff Richardson, vice president, Public Relations, VantageScore Solutions, LLC; Kelley Holland, CNBC; Allen Wastler, managing editor, CNBC.com
Subject: RE: credit score, utilization ratio at 30%, Myth4, #1505C III

Not so fast, Mr. Steel.

That’s one 30 percent issue, but what about the other one I mentioned? Who is the source for the notion that debt utilization ratio counts for (“a whopping”) 30 percent of a credit score? #Myth7

Apples and oranges

The same item of yours gives this breakdown:

• 35% - payment history
• 30% - [“whopping”]
• 15% - credit history
• 10% - mix of credit
• 10% - new credit

However, those percentages are in a list of categories that Fair Isaac uses to describe its credit scores. What is the Vantagescore breakdown? You don’t get to have it both ways.

A man said, “Well, again, what scores?” That lack of focus (a polite description) is why I created the term The Real, BIG Credit Score.

Further, your video states: “It may sound like a no-brainer, but you need to check your credit score at least once a year to make sure that there are no errors or unauthorized activity. You can do it for free by using annualcreditreport.com.”

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau states, “Your free credit report does not include a credit score.”

Also, see “Why don't my free credit reports include credit scores?” on annualcreditreport.com, itself.

Will you make a correction?

Myth 2

Also, your page states (twice, actually; the quote of a financial planner is also used as a shocking inset highlight in large letters), "’Some employers are even factoring your credit score into their hiring decisions because it shows your credibility and trustworthiness.’"

Employers do not use credit scores. I looked into it. Will you make a clarification?

That was an accurate quote of a false statement. But this one you get to eat: Another Comcast story states, “And while Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has introduced legislation to make the practice illegal, for now employers can use credit scores to evaluate job applicants.”

Unfortunate, but fascinating. I corresponded with the senator (long before she was elected). Will you make a correction?

Reply within one day, please.

No phone calls.

Mr. Burns, what’s so special about 30 percent? I’ve been searching for the experts who allegedly said that.

Meanwhile, the second city says the safe zone is 25, not 30 percent. And that claim is just as questionable. Once again, VantageScore's name comes up.

#Myth4: @ChicagoTribune/@ConsumerFed. What's so special about a 25% ratio? Or: I know you are, but what am I? #1506a http://t.co/UIVTCIPu0K

— Greg Fisher (@creditscoring) June 6, 2015