Freedom4um

Status: Not Logged In; Sign In

Business/Finance
See other Business/Finance Articles

Title: Biden Wants to Shut Down Credit Bureaus – What Would That Mean for You?
Source: Go Banking
URL Source: https://www.gobankingrates.com/cred ... ource=yahoo.com&utm_content=15
Published: Feb 7, 2021
Author: Ann Logue
Post Date: 2021-02-07 09:06:48 by Dakmar
Keywords: None
Views: 272
Comments: 5

One of the more fascinating platform items of the Biden presidential campaign was the idea of transferring consumer credit ratings from Equifax (NYSE: EFX), Experian PLC (OTC: EXPGY) and TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) to a public registry under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

As reported by the Balance, this idea was examined in depth in a paper published by a think tank called Demos in 2019. One major takeaway of that paper was that “decisions drawing on credit data reproduce and spread existing racial inequality, making it harder to achieve true economic equity.” Demos proposed the idea of a public credit registry in that paper.

The CFPB has a new acting director, Dave Uejio, who recently replaced Trump appointee Kathleen Kraninger. In a CFPB blog post dated Jan. 28, Uejio stated his two main priorities would be “(1) relief for consumers facing hardship due to COVID-19 and the related economic crisis, and (2) racial equity.” But nowhere does his statement specifically mention the idea of a public credit reporting agency.

The three primary reporting agencies analyze consumer borrowing and repayment patterns. They assign scores that are then used to assess a person’s creditworthiness. This can affect their access to an apartment and their ability to hold certain jobs in addition to the amount they can borrow and the interest rates that they are charged. It’s big business — enough to support three public companies (although they have other businesses as well).

While lenders certainly have the right to determine the risk of a potential borrower, the problem is the lack of transparency in the process. The three bureaus have slightly different calculation methods and data sources, which can result in the same person having three very different credit scores. Some of the criteria seem unusual and can be gamed. For example, it is better to have a high-limit credit card and only charge part of it than to charge the same amount on a low-limit credit card. Paying off a mortgage can reduce a credit score.

In addition, errors are common but difficult to correct. There’s some evidence of racial biases as well, which in turn affect access to housing, certain jobs and credit. People have the right to free copies of their credit report once a year but have to pay beyond that.

The Biden proposal would improve people’s access to their credit and may lead to standardized calculations. It could also lead to volatility if the criteria used changed with each presidential administration. There are also other credit bureaus out there that use different scoring criteria, often used by lenders that work with customers who have bad credit. It’s unclear how this proposal would affect them.


Poster Comment:

Paying bills on time is racist.

Post Comment   Private Reply   Ignore Thread  


TopPage UpFull ThreadPage DownBottom/Latest

Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 4.

#1. To: Dakmar (#0)

Putting it under a government agency will spell the end of the program and a lot of mistakes, that is how government works or does not work.

Darkwing  posted on  2021-02-07   10:14:28 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: Darkwing (#1)

Basically it sounds like it will be based on "Social Credit" rather than actual financial records (how else is it going to help blacks when the current system is completely colorblind?) Imagine the 2007 mortgage fiasco applied to every sector of the economy.

Dakmar  posted on  2021-02-07   10:18:10 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Dakmar (#2)

Blacks will probably be less credit worthy if their social behavior is graded. The system will have to turn a blind eye to the disastrous behavior demonstrated for the last 200 years.

noone222  posted on  2021-02-07   10:28:15 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: noone222 (#3)

I didn't say it would be an honest assessment, it will be rife with political correctness.

Dakmar  posted on  2021-02-07   10:31:14 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


Replies to Comment # 4.

#5. To: Dakmar (#4)

it will be rife with political correctness.

Yep !

noone222  posted on  2021-02-07 10:37:55 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


End Trace Mode for Comment # 4.

TopPage UpFull ThreadPage DownBottom/Latest