Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports in http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r7291955 en Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:19:43 EDT Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:19:43 EDT Be realistic... http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7557983 phattieg : PLEASE READ!!!

I have a couple of REALLY good question, then I will rest my case. QUESTION ONE!! Does ANYBODY have an actual packet capture of the "Transition Wizard" sending ANY information back to Comcast (with the possible exception to the e-mail address stored in Outlook Express, this may be needed by them only to refer to the new name you may have been assigned during the transition)??? No??? But why not? Because IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. You just agree to a general legal agreement that is required to be forced in your face in order for the software to legally be placed on your machine and be supported by Comcast. But wait... Think about it this way too, sometimes you get outsourced assistance with your internet, this being an affiliate, if they are assisting you with this product (the transition wizard) then that is an affiliate that would need access to the company records to verify they are actually talking to YOU. QUESTION 2!!! At WHAT POINT, does the software (TRANSITION WIZARD) ask YOU, JOHN Q. USER, for personal info like your account number, social security number, address, etc??? NEVER!!! I think you are all just a bunch of paranoid folks with nothing else to do other than be afraid the rich ol' cable company is going to screw you out of your credit report scores... And to add another thing to the subject, if you lease the modem, they have all your info all ready, and the only thing at this point you should be concerned about is what you actually SIGNED on the work order at the time of install, because it is a binding legal document WITH all your personal info on it, including your SS#... Your credit info is only pulled when you lease equipment from someone anyway, just like when you get a credit card, so whats the big deal about that??? Simply purchase your own modem and that solves that problem. Leave the subject alone, you are blowing smoke up peoples rear ends, and you really should stop..]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7557983 Fri, 01 Aug 2003 06:11:35 EDT Re: There oughta be a law - - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7318146 AmeritecTech : Yes, the EPIC seems to be confused about credit headers. Someone should tell them. At any rate, anyone who doesn't want their credit information shared should simply not sign up for Comcast.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7318146 Sat, 05 Jul 2003 14:03:52 EDT Re: There oughta be a law - - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7316685 bistro777 : Someone better tell the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Senate Committee on Banking. From the June 24th EPIC letter to the Senators Shelby and Sarbanes - -

"In particular, financial institutions are allowed to share the personal information of their customers with third-parties and affiliates, placing the burden upon the customer to opt-out of such sharing. Even if the individual opts-out, the institution can nevertheless share an individual's personal information with affiliates. Given the large number of affiliates some holding companies have, the practice of affiliate sharing effectively neutralizes the privacy protections built-in to the FCRA."

And that takes us back to "opt-out" v. "opt-in" authorization and the ongoing abuse of the FCRA by "affiliate" companies. Frankly, in this age of identify theft and the substantial cost to those who are victims of it, I don't want my cable provider bandying-about my personal information nor do I want my banks/brokerage house to do so either. The EULA being discussed here is abuse of power/privilege by Comcast and should be recognized as just that.

I know I'm crazy, but it's kept me from going insane. - - Waylon Jennings ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7316685 Sat, 05 Jul 2003 09:57:19 EDT Re: There oughta be a law - - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7315923 AmeritecTech :
said by bistro777 See Profile:
From my original post - - - "But a loophole in the FCRA enables them to sell "directory information" from credit reports - "credit headers" - your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and Social Security number. The FCRA’s opt-out provision that applies to pre-approved offers of credit does not apply to credit headers. You are not able to opt-out of the sale of your credit header information by the CRAs." - - - And Comcast can do the same with that personal information about you.

This is no longer correct. The FTC disallowed the use of credit headers, except under certain circumstances, which are:

(A) intends to use the information in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished and involving the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of, the consumer; or

(B) intends to use the information for employment purposes; or

(C) intends to use the information in connection with the
underwriting of insurance involving the consumer; or

(D) intends to use the information in connection with a determination of the consumer's eligibility for a license or other benefit granted by a governmental instrumentality required by law to consider an applicant's financial responsibility or status
»www.pimall.com/nais/nl/n.headersdie.html

One of the above is also the requirement to pull a full bureau report, so anyone who had one of the above reasons would more likely do that.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7315923 Sat, 05 Jul 2003 04:18:05 EDT Re: There oughta be a law - - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7310021 bistro777 : From my original post - - - "But a loophole in the FCRA enables them to sell "directory information" from credit reports - "credit headers" - your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and Social Security number. The FCRA’s opt-out provision that applies to pre-approved offers of credit does not apply to credit headers. You are not able to opt-out of the sale of your credit header information by the CRAs." - - - And Comcast can do the same with that personal information about you.

Also - - - "Researchers at Michigan State University recently studied over 1000 identity theft cases and found that victims in fifty percent of the cases specifically reported that the theft was committed by an employee of a company compiling personal information on individuals." - - - If you're comfortable with your cable company sharing your personal info after reading something like that, well God bless and good luck."

Ever move and have to reestablish gas/electric/etc.? Guess what? Credit check. Cell phone? Same thing. Want any unscrupulous person to get his hands on your SSN? Keep clicking "no prob" to stuff like Comcast's ploy...

Cross-country skiing is practical only if you live in a small country. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7310021 Fri, 04 Jul 2003 11:16:56 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7307316 AmeritecTech :
said by blackjeep See Profile:
Your credit score only goes down when there are major inquiries done, examples would include credit checks for purchasing a house, a car, filling out apps for credit cards, etc. Minor inquiries such as when a bank of Idaho or whereever Visa dept does an inquiry and then sends you an offer for a 'free' ($50 cash upfront) credit card, DO NOT hurt your score in any way, and your credit report will note that very clearly.

As a matter of fact, the second set of inquiries that you mentioned will not even show up on the report that someone pulls. You will see it if you pull your OWN report from the bureaus, but potential creditors DO NOT see it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7307316 Fri, 04 Jul 2003 00:09:39 EDT Re: There oughta be a law - - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7307293 AmeritecTech :
said by bistro777 See Profile:
You’d think the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act would protect you, right? Nope! When you “sign your life away” to Comcast, you’ve probably also given them the right to sell/market your personal information to “affiliates” – which, in the credit/marketing industry, has by definition historically included nearly anybody willing to pony-up to buy your personal info. (CitiGroup, for example has over 1,5000 affiliates.)

It gets worse. The law does not allow Credit Reporting Agencies like Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to sell information from credit reports for the purpose of direct marketing. But a loophole in the FCRA enables them to sell "directory information" from credit reports - "credit headers" - your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and Social Security number. The FCRA’s opt-out provision that applies to pre-approved offers of credit does not apply to credit headers. You are not able to opt-out of the sale of your credit header information by the CRAs. And Comcast, I believe, do the same with your info and its “affiliates.”

Here’s a recent letter from the Electronic Privacy Information Center to the Senate Banking Committee regarding this issue. One point it raises is “Researchers at Michigan State University recently studied over 1000 identity theft cases and found that victims in fifty percent of the cases specifically reported that the theft was committed by an employee of a company compiling personal information on individuals.” Makes ya want everyone to have your personal data, huh?

I can see it now - -
Lender: Your mortgage application is denied.
Comcast Customer: Huh? Why’s that?
Lender: It seems that you’ve had 175,000 credit checks run against you in the last 6 months?
Comcast Customer: But I haven’t applied for any new cards or loans!
Lender: Well your credit report shows you have 187 new car loans and 324 Visa cards running an average balance of $185,000 per month.
Comcast Customer: WHAT?!?
Lender: Too bad, pal, you’re SOL. But how’s your digital signal coming-in these days?

"Stand up wherever you are, go to the nearest window and yell as loud as you can, 'I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.” - - Peter Finch in "Network"

Again, it is a clear violation of FCRA for someone to pull your credit without your explicit written permission.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7307293 Fri, 04 Jul 2003 00:06:37 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7307269 AmeritecTech :
said by drakkkar See Profile:
Unfortunately you cant challenge the inquiries on your report either. For example if someone who you did not give access checks your credit, you cannot have that removed, even if you prove that they accessed it without your permission.

Overall individuals have very little protections against having an unfair credit rating (not that the system is even very fair the way it is supposed to work.(

It is illegal to pull a person's credit without getting their signed permission. Doing so is a violation of FCRA, and punishable by law.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7307269 Fri, 04 Jul 2003 00:04:38 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7299393 drakkkar :
said by Jim Gurd See Profile:

Tell them you are disputing the charges and are willing to sign an affidavit of fraud.


That works if you place fraudulent charges, but if they were to simply do multiple inquiries, there is no way to have those removed (hit someone with 20-50 inquiries, and see what happens to thier credit).
--
~Age and Treachery will always overcome Youth and Skill.~]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7299393 Thu, 03 Jul 2003 09:10:40 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7294327 Jim Gurd :
said by Maxo See Profile:
If I'm understanding this correctly you could just start a company and then say someone screwed you over and put bad credit on their report. The person has no way to challenge it so they are just stuck with it. I experienced an issue where a company billed my telephone company (Sprint) on my behalf of some items I never purchased nor received. So Sprint bills me, and my options are pay Sprint or face bad credit. The legal fees to fight it are more than the $26 bill. Sounds like companies can do whatever they want with your credit and you don't really have a say in it at all.


Tell them you are disputing the charges and are willing to sign an affidavit of fraud.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7294327 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 18:35:34 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7294253 anon : If you go shopping for car insurance they do a credit check even if you are going to pay cash.
This has bit people so many times the state of Utah is contemplating laws against it.
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7294253 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 18:27:39 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7293883 Smokey : That seams kind of of true. For me I got my first Credit card from Ford Motor in high school when I was working for them. Thin in college I did the same as you paying as I went and refinancing. When I went to buy my first car on my own last year I was able to get the 0% loan? So it must help a little, but I'm sure not as much as it should
--
If there is any realistic deterrent to marriage, it's the fact that you can't afford divorce. -- Jack Nicholson ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7293883 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 17:45:41 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7293197 drakkkar : Minor checks do not give your full credit file, only a limited amount of information (it categorises you). Only you can see the list of companies that has requested that (thus they do not affect your credit).

Merchants who you have an account with can see slightly more. For example your Visa card may get a monthly report of your basic overall credit worthiness or major changes. Once again, only you see these, and they do not affect your score.

This clause is most likely used to pull the second type of report listed (thus giving them lists that they can sell and are more valuable than the first type which any company can get from the credit bureaus.).

It is, however possible that they will use this clause to justify pulling FULL credit reports. This WILL negatively impact your credit rating. It is, however, fairly unlikely that they will do this too frequently. I think it costs them something like $6 each time. The first 2 types of reports are very inexpensive when purchased in bulk (I think 5 cents or less). It is not likely that they will spend $6 a month pulling full credit reports on you for a $40 a month service (but the scary part is that it is possible).
--
~Age and Treachery will always overcome Youth and Skill.~]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7293197 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 16:27:13 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7293113 blackjeep : Your credit score only goes down when there are major inquiries done, examples would include credit checks for purchasing a house, a car, filling out apps for credit cards, etc. Minor inquiries such as when a bank of Idaho or whereever Visa dept does an inquiry and then sends you an offer for a 'free' ($50 cash upfront) credit card, DO NOT hurt your score in any way, and your credit report will note that very clearly.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7293113 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 16:16:13 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292473 bistro777 : Their reasoning, I think, is it appears you suddenly need credit lines (whether home equity, credit card) for reasons that might include job loss, illness, etc. - with the potential risk of not being able to repay, especially, any unsecured credit lines.

I agree it sucks that this impacts your status in the eyes of lenders, especially in cases where you're "rate shopping" for a loan or where credit checks are run without your explicit consent. (That the crux of the whole opt-IN v. opt-out argument in the link I posted from the Electronic Privacy Information Center.)

"I have been battling something I cannot win and I am withdrawing from the field with honor." -- - actor Roddy McDowall shortly before his death in 1998 ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292473 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 15:13:18 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292374 Maxo : If I'm understanding this correctly you could just start a company and then say someone screwed you over and put bad credit on their report. The person has no way to challenge it so they are just stuck with it. I experienced an issue where a company billed my telephone company (Sprint) on my behalf of some items I never purchased nor received. So Sprint bills me, and my options are pay Sprint or face bad credit. The legal fees to fight it are more than the $26 bill. Sounds like companies can do whatever they want with your credit and you don't really have a say in it at all.
--
God I love being a turtle. - Michaelangelo »www.maxolasersquad.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292374 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 15:03:14 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292311 pnh102 :
said by bistro777 See Profile:
So to give anyone, Comcast or your paperboy, the right to do this with your personal info, can certainly harm your perceived credit worthiness.

Thanks for the information. Although the reasoning still makes no sense to me... if your credit record is clean, it just shouldn't make any difference how many creditors see it.

But other than that, its too bad you can't bite those people who look into your credit report back in the @$$.
--
Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet!
[text was edited by author 2003-07-02 14:56:33]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292311 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 14:55:14 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292273 bistro777 : "The more inquiries on a borrower's credit file, the more likely a borrower may be not to pay his or her bills as agreed" according to the Fair, Isaac and Co. - the nation's leading credit scoring firm and inventor of the FICO scoring system used in over 75% of all mortgage loan originations.

Numerous inquiries, according to lenders, are often a sign that a consumer is obtaining multiple credit cards at once, increasing his/her credit risk and perhaps overextending their ability to repay debt.

That means when you comparison shop online for home or auto loans, guess what?!? Fair, Isaac says it ignores inquiries within the past 30 days when scoring your credit, but lenders DO consider too many inquiries to be a red flag. They typically stay on your credit report for two years(!) and can definitely impact the rate you receive for a car or mortgage loan.

So to give anyone, Comcast or your paperboy, the right to do this with your personal info, can certainly harm your perceived credit worthiness. And to hide this all in the “fine print” is shameful.

You say “carpe diem;” I say “carpe, eat ‘em.”]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7292273 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 14:50:54 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7291955 pnh102 :
said by vic102482 See Profile:
It sucks, each inquiry will lower your rating, and if you get 5 or 10 inquiries from different companies......

I never understood why this was the case. What does looking at a credit report have to do with credit worthiness?
--
Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7291955 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 14:18:17 EDT Re: Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7291090 vic102482 :
said by pnh102 See Profile:
They do nothing overall to increase your credit worthiness.


It sucks, each inquiry will lower your rating, and if you get 5 or 10 inquiries from different companies......
--
I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7291090 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 12:47:04 EDT Re: There oughta be a law - - http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290955 bistro777 : You’d think the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act would protect you, right? Nope! When you “sign your life away” to Comcast, you’ve probably also given them the right to sell/market your personal information to “affiliates” – which, in the credit/marketing industry, has by definition historically included nearly anybody willing to pony-up to buy your personal info. (CitiGroup, for example has over 1,5000 affiliates.)

It gets worse. The law does not allow Credit Reporting Agencies like Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to sell information from credit reports for the purpose of direct marketing. But a loophole in the FCRA enables them to sell "directory information" from credit reports - "credit headers" - your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and Social Security number. The FCRA’s opt-out provision that applies to pre-approved offers of credit does not apply to credit headers. You are not able to opt-out of the sale of your credit header information by the CRAs. And Comcast, I believe, do the same with your info and its “affiliates.”

Here’s a recent letter from the Electronic Privacy Information Center to the Senate Banking Committee regarding this issue. One point it raises is “Researchers at Michigan State University recently studied over 1000 identity theft cases and found that victims in fifty percent of the cases specifically reported that the theft was committed by an employee of a company compiling personal information on individuals.” Makes ya want everyone to have your personal data, huh?

I can see it now - -
Lender: Your mortgage application is denied.
Comcast Customer: Huh? Why’s that?
Lender: It seems that you’ve had 175,000 credit checks run against you in the last 6 months?
Comcast Customer: But I haven’t applied for any new cards or loans!
Lender: Well your credit report shows you have 187 new car loans and 324 Visa cards running an average balance of $185,000 per month.
Comcast Customer: WHAT?!?
Lender: Too bad, pal, you’re SOL. But how’s your digital signal coming-in these days?

"Stand up wherever you are, go to the nearest window and yell as loud as you can, 'I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.” - - Peter Finch in "Network"]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290955 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 12:31:04 EDT Slightly OT - Credit Reports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290855 pnh102 :
said by drakkkar See Profile:
not that the system is even very fair the way it is supposed to work.(

I remember back in college how students would constantly get hounded with credit card offers... one of the key selling point was that they could be used to build up your credit. I had a few of the credit cards and with each one I was in good standing. I used them to refinance other debts at lower interest rates and I would then cancel them when they were paid off. Fast-forward a few years later when I am trying to buy a car. I find out during the financing process that these credit cards did nothing to build my credit at all. It turns out that they only count against you if you fubar things with the credit cards. They do nothing overall to increase your credit worthiness.
--
Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290855 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 12:17:11 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290727 drakkkar : Unfortunately you cant challenge the inquiries on your report either. For example if someone who you did not give access checks your credit, you cannot have that removed, even if you prove that they accessed it without your permission.

Overall individuals have very little protections against having an unfair credit rating (not that the system is even very fair the way it is supposed to work.(
--
~Age and Treachery will always overcome Youth and Skill.~]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290727 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 12:00:44 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290471 Boogeyman : Especially since every time someone checks your credit, it goes down. My mother was trying to buy a house a few years ago and the real estate agent checked her credit, something wasnt right with it, so she checked it again, and again, like once a week for a month. By the time it was over my mom couldnt even get a credit card with a $100 limit. So if Comcast reserves the right to check your credit whenever they please, dont be suprised to find that you soon have no credit left.
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what doesn't this button do?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290471 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 11:35:34 EDT Re: There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290466 Smokey : ya now you have to read the fine print thats on the fine print!! ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290466 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 11:34:52 EDT There oughta be a law http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290373 Maxo : against allowing companies to put things like this in their TOS. On top of that nobody should purchase service from a company which makes such demands.
--
God I love being a turtle. - Michaelangelo »www.maxolasersquad.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7290373 Wed, 02 Jul 2003 11:20:54 EDT