After the deadly riot at the United States Capitol on January 6, dozens of companies suspended donations to the 147 Republicans who tried to overturn the presidential election. Many others paused all their political giving. Experian, one of the three major credit agencies, took a different approach.
Sigh. Yet another consumer-oriented relationship I will severe.
Today I will be cancelling my "subscription" to Experian which allowed me to monitor my credit scores.
I will be (publicly) informing Experian that my decision to NOT continue to engage financially with them is based entirely on THIER decision to financially support the NRSC in it's efforts to decieve the public as a step toward it's goal of weakening our shared democracy.
I'm curious. What compelled you to pay for that information? I get my credit scores for free from the three or four banks holding my various accounts. I've never understood the credit reporting companies' value proposition justifying consumers paying for what's already readily available.
I had always avoided ANY debt (no credit cards, etc.) and then wanted a mortgage but found myself "non-existent" as far as the 3 credit bureaus were concerned (no credit history whatsoever, not a "bad" score, absolutely NO score). I had to do everything I could to put myself on their radar (prepaid credit cards, secured loans, etc.) and had to very carefully monitor and craft my credit identity over a pre-scribed period of time. I have "very good" scores now after the first year with strong jumps every month.
My grandfather found that out in 1957 when he wanted to buy a new car but, of course, had paid cash for everything he bought since the Depression. I find your story amazing in this day and age especially as a good credit record is imperative if you want to buy anything more expensive than a toothbrush.
Yes, it was very confusing and distressing when lenders basically laughed at my application after working so hard my entire life to NOT owe anybody anything (I naively thought that would be seen as a GOOD thing), but it was immediately clear that if I wasn't going to play the capitalist game, the capitalists were not going to even recognize that I exsisted. I didn't want to do it, but I finally had to play thier game, and play it well, just for the privilege of paying crazy interest (my mortgage would cost me 3X what I borrow if I pay it off at their schedule) and fees, and becoming an ID theft target, and on and on...
It would be nice, not that you don’t have enough to do..to have a direct email or address to the correct department so it can be passed on. For those who want to complain.
Even more evidence that campaign finance law needs to be revised. If we can't limit the spending, we need to see the spending in near real time. Give the donors 3 business days to report and the recipients the same amount of time to report. Oh, and eliminate dark money completely. 100% visibility of all corporate and personal donations to, and spending by, any organization that engages in political speech.
Sounds about right. I've always struggled to keep Experian accurate and with slow to no results. Change can't come soon enough for this and the other two agencies who control our buying/ loaning power!
Wow. This is an amazing bit of information, Judd. Even though my own emotions have taken huge hits in the T years, I still continue to believe we need to keep ourselves informed and truly appreciate what you share with us. But, most people I know who would want to know this are too depressed and shattered to read anymore. When the pandemic is over, I will have more one on one chances to share this sort of information. Phone calls and forwarding are not as effective as being there. Keep up the good work. I do still talk to enough people that can handle at least a little bit at a time.
Sigh. Yet another consumer-oriented relationship I will severe.
Today I will be cancelling my "subscription" to Experian which allowed me to monitor my credit scores.
I will be (publicly) informing Experian that my decision to NOT continue to engage financially with them is based entirely on THIER decision to financially support the NRSC in it's efforts to decieve the public as a step toward it's goal of weakening our shared democracy.
I'm curious. What compelled you to pay for that information? I get my credit scores for free from the three or four banks holding my various accounts. I've never understood the credit reporting companies' value proposition justifying consumers paying for what's already readily available.
I had always avoided ANY debt (no credit cards, etc.) and then wanted a mortgage but found myself "non-existent" as far as the 3 credit bureaus were concerned (no credit history whatsoever, not a "bad" score, absolutely NO score). I had to do everything I could to put myself on their radar (prepaid credit cards, secured loans, etc.) and had to very carefully monitor and craft my credit identity over a pre-scribed period of time. I have "very good" scores now after the first year with strong jumps every month.
My grandfather found that out in 1957 when he wanted to buy a new car but, of course, had paid cash for everything he bought since the Depression. I find your story amazing in this day and age especially as a good credit record is imperative if you want to buy anything more expensive than a toothbrush.
Yes, it was very confusing and distressing when lenders basically laughed at my application after working so hard my entire life to NOT owe anybody anything (I naively thought that would be seen as a GOOD thing), but it was immediately clear that if I wasn't going to play the capitalist game, the capitalists were not going to even recognize that I exsisted. I didn't want to do it, but I finally had to play thier game, and play it well, just for the privilege of paying crazy interest (my mortgage would cost me 3X what I borrow if I pay it off at their schedule) and fees, and becoming an ID theft target, and on and on...
*sever
I am not surprised by this move. While it's only $15,000 it speaks to the problem with corporations having their hands in a receptive pocket.
Yes they could have asked for the donation back, but I doubt if they will.
Judd get your free credit score from them today. Make sure in a few weeks they haven't cracked your score. I don't trust these people one iota.
This is a big story, thank you. Looking forward to follow up
It would be nice, not that you don’t have enough to do..to have a direct email or address to the correct department so it can be passed on. For those who want to complain.
https://www.experian.com/contact/business-services-contacts.html
Thank you.. I like to share matters like this through social media, in the hopes others and the company itself takes notice!
Even more evidence that campaign finance law needs to be revised. If we can't limit the spending, we need to see the spending in near real time. Give the donors 3 business days to report and the recipients the same amount of time to report. Oh, and eliminate dark money completely. 100% visibility of all corporate and personal donations to, and spending by, any organization that engages in political speech.
Sounds about right. I've always struggled to keep Experian accurate and with slow to no results. Change can't come soon enough for this and the other two agencies who control our buying/ loaning power!
Wow. This is an amazing bit of information, Judd. Even though my own emotions have taken huge hits in the T years, I still continue to believe we need to keep ourselves informed and truly appreciate what you share with us. But, most people I know who would want to know this are too depressed and shattered to read anymore. When the pandemic is over, I will have more one on one chances to share this sort of information. Phone calls and forwarding are not as effective as being there. Keep up the good work. I do still talk to enough people that can handle at least a little bit at a time.