Credit Karma targeted email manipulation #4: Approval odds.

[u/BrutalBodyShots]

Standard Credit Karma here that most are aware of, but it can't be reiterated enough. CK is a marketing site that exists to make money, which is accomplished in part by them getting you to apply for products. All of their "approval odds" should be ignored since they aren't always going to be accurate.

https://old.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1f281op/credit_myth_29_approval_odds_for_credit_cards/

These targeted emails exist to create engagement. They want you to click the link to sign back in and compare credit cards (that they are pushing) in hopes that you'll apply. Who wouldn't want to "make that new card a reality," right?

Of course, if you scroll down, there's another link for you to sign in and "confirm" your cards so that they can do a better job in the future of pushing products on you. This subject was covered not long ago right here:

https://old.reddit.com/r/CRedit/comments/1mgb0a2/credit_karma_targeted_email_manipulation_2/

[u/PichaelSmith]

It’s probably because we can’t really escape Experian as they also have the responsibility of housing our actual credit profiles and knowing that same company resorts to these manipulative tactics (even more they’ll try to sell you a substitution to “lock” your credit profile). 

At least with Credit Karma, we can choose not to have anything to do with them. 

[u/BrutalBodyShots → u/PichaelSmith]

Aside from an occasional freeze lift prior to applying for credit, one doesn't need to have anything to do with Experian either. You can get your Experian report for free from annualcreditreport.com / you don't need to access the Experian CMS for that.

[u/PichaelSmith → u/BrutalBodyShots]

Understood. But they have our credit profile, so whether we use them or not, they are a gate keeper for that information and just knowing they can resort to manipulative tactics to make money can be a bit disappointing. 

[u/BrutalBodyShots → u/PichaelSmith]

I hear you.

[u/1lifeisworthit → u/BrutalBodyShots]

Disappointment is tied, not to performance, but to expectation.

I'm more disappointed in Experian because I expect more of Experian. I hold them to a higher standard than I do Credit Karma. Because they are an effing CREDIT BUREAU.

Like, I don't know why, but I'm far more disappointed in the Washington Post than I am in the Washington Times. Same comparison to me.

But all these companies need to make money and partnering with credit issuers and trying to entice us to apply through them and bombarding me with emails to touch base with my current loan offers is an easy way to get it, I guess.

Both are equally egregious, but I expect more from Experian. And Experian offers boost, KNOWING that the things included on Boost don't really count with FICO.

But the elevation in matches that helped keep me going forward was very much appreciated. I remember being so excited when Credit One started giving way to nonbottom feeders.