From: Lamers, Nellie J.
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 11:34 AM
To: ‘Greg Fisher’; Kenny Long, owner, El Dorado Springs Sun
Cc: UM President; Board of Curators
Subject: RE: El Dorado Springs Sun, credit score, employers, corrections location
Hi Greg~
In general, nobody can get a copy of your report or score without your written consent, from: http://www.freescore.com/who-can-check-my-score.aspx:
“Any people or organizations who have a “legitimate business need” can check your credit score. The phrase “legitimate business need” casts a broad net over who can access your credit score, and people and entities that fall under the category include:
- Current and prospective employers (with your consent)”
Thanks for your message~
Nellie
Nellie Lamers Family Financial Education Specialist University of Missouri Extension [WITHHELD BY PAGE A2] [WITHHELD BY PAGE A2] Phone: [WITHHELD BY PAGE A2] FAX: [WITHHELD BY PAGE A2]
E-mail: [WITHHELD BY PAGE A2]
URL: http://extension.missouri.edu/taney/
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From: Lamers, Nellie J.
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 12:36 PM
To: Greg Fisher; Kenny Long, owner, El Dorado Springs Sun
Cc: UM President; Board of Curators
Subject: RE: El Dorado Springs Sun, credit score, employers, corrections location
Meant to include this link also: http://missourifamilies.org/features/consumerarticles/consumerpdfs/creditreportbasics05.pdf
Thanks~
From: Greg Fisher [mailto:greg@pagea2.com]
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 9:07 AM
To: Lamers, Nellie J.
Cc: Kenny Long, owner, El Dorado Springs Sun; UM President; Board of Curators; Weagley, Robert O.; Gary Johnson, president & CEO, Vertrue Incorporated (FreeScore.com member support address); Carrie Coghill, director of consumer education, FreeScore.com; Lisa Schlichtman, executive editor, Cassville Democrat, Rust Communications; Gary W. Rust, chairman, Rust Communications (Cassville Democrat); Dieckmann, Rebecca; Jay Nixon, governor, Missouri
Subject: RE: El Dorado Springs Sun, credit score, employers, FreeScore.com
Ms. Lamers:
Since employment credit reports do not contain credit scores, how do employers obtain scores? Is there a black market?
Here are statements by the three biggest national consumer reporting agencies:
“There’s no such thing as a credit score in employment.” – TransUnion, in testimony
“We do not knowingly provide scores for pre employment screening.” – Equifax vice president of communications
“Employers never get credit scores.” – Experian, July 18
Despite those clear statements, many people, companies and institutions (such as yours) still claim that employers use credit scores. None have evidence, and neither do you. For instance, last year, news agency Reuters said that Fair Isaac (aka FICO) told them that credit scores can be accessed and used by employers. Reuters believes it.
Another University of Missouri document (dated 2008) states, “First, a low FICO score can be used by employers.”
Visa U.S.A. says, “Your credit score is a complex calculation of your past financial behavior, like with credit cards and loans, that results in a number of ‘points’ that is not only used by lenders and creditors, but also landlords and employers, when making important decisions about your future.”
Even Experian, contradicting its statement above, makes the claim: “More Employers Check Applicants’ Credit Scores.”
So, thinking independently and critically, and applying rigor in your research, which do you believe?
I wrote to FreeScore.com. So did the Federal Trade Commission.
Speaking of free, your second link leads to a University of Missouri document that states: “Be cautious about companies offering ‘free credit reports’ on slick TV commercials, on websites or in magazine advertisements. Many of them have a snag such as having to pay a hidden fee for some other service they offer or requiring a subscription of some kind.”
The word score does not even appear in that document. What point are you making with it?
What is the name of an employer who uses credit scores?
You failed to answer this question: Where do you publish corrections? Please answer it.
The inaccurate information from your press release is spreading. Please answer the questions or issue a retraction before the myth goes any further.
—
Greg Fisher
Page A2
pagea2.com
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio 45409-0342
From: Lamers, Nellie J.
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 12:38 PM
To: Greg Fisher (greg@pagea2.com)
Cc: Weagley, Robert O.; Procter, Brenda
Subject: RE: FW: El Dorado Springs Sun, credit score, employers, FreeScore.com
Mr. Fisher~
We are investigating further and I will let you know.
Corrections will be sent to the original story outlets.
Thank you~
Nellie