SubscriberWise CEO says FierceCable Editor
Daniel Frankel disparages SubscriberWise while dehumanizing NCTC
member operator customers by labeling them ‘deadbeats’ in a
pathetic attempt to increase subscriptions
SubscriberWise, the nation’s largest issuing CRA for the
communications industry and the leading protector of children
victimized by identity fraud, today publicly expressed its outrage
following a harmful and commercially disparaging headline published
by Questex’s FierceCable and editor Daniel Frankel.
The digital publication pursued a pejorative headline and then
falsely associated the claim to SubscriberWise, a civil tort by all
legal and reasonable standards under U.S. federal and state law,
asserting that NCTC operator customers are ‘deadbeats’.
Read the headline and recognize the civil tort:
https://www.fiercecable.com/cable/credit-agency-tries-to-scare-nctc-ops-into-using-service-says-a-quarter-their-customers-are
“Like a trick cigar, this disgraceful attempt by Fierce Editor
Daniel Frankel to increase subscription sales has blown up in his
face,” stated David Howe, SubscriberWise president and founder.
“Make no mistake about it, Frankel should be ashamed and he should
be immediately demoted from position as editor for pursuing
sensationalism over professional journalism and fact finding.
Frankel, with his ugly headline, had defined ‘fake news’
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_news).
“I’m genuinely outraged. I’m also sincerely concerned by this
journalistic catastrophe,” continued Howe. “What’s next for Frankel
and FierceCable? How low will the editor stoop to disparage a
company in a campaign to boost a headline and increase subscription
revenue? Will Frankel eventually retreat to the lowest depths of
disgust and assert a disparaging claim with ugly name calling for
blacks, Jews, Mexicans, gays, rural, and others, if and when an
organization cites facts and scientific conclusions he dislikes,
disagrees, and worse, fails to validate or confirm in any way,”
Howe asked?
“Frankly, I have no choice to remain concerned about this
editor’s unprofessional tactics following this latest demonstration
of disgust and journalistic incompetence.
“But it’s a reasonable conclusion, no doubt about it,” argued
Howe. “Just re-visit the headline. Frankel, in his role as editor
of FierceCable, has made the decision to refer to credit-challenged
consumers as ‘deadbeats’.
That’s an outrage,” insisted Howe. “It’s a disgusting outrage to
be more specific.
“Moreover, we should all be outraged because claiming
individuals who are in a financial crisis and who are very often
unable to meet obligations – as largely determined by federally
regulated credit scores and empirically derived nationwide
delinquency rates correlated to millions of consumer credit reports
– in no way makes these consumers ‘deadbeats’.
“Yes, as a society, we must condemn in the strongest possible
terms the use of harmful and pejorative language, even when those
terms appear less offensive on first impression, but nevertheless
remain wrong and hurtful.
“To be clear, Frankel has crossed a line and there must be a
consequence. In other words, Frankel and Questex cannot have a pass
to disparage a commercial organization that is citing empirically
derived analysis – accurate and industry-specific inquiry spanning
years (https://www.subscriberwise.com/FicoDistribution.pdf) --
while desperately seeking to increase sales by resorting to
unethical and shameful tactics.
“Just imagine the public outcry if, for example, Frankel
asserted in a story or headline that rural consumers were ‘trash’,
Howe stated. “The public response would be extreme and immediate.
It would be swift and decisive. As it should.
“The same reaction should follow when an outlet like Fierce
labels people as ‘deadbeats’ in a greedy and shameful attempt to
boost a headline.
“Of course, if Frankel had bothered to do any research before he
shoot from the hip and disparaged SubscriberWise and NCTC member
customers, he’d have learned, as one example among myriads and
myriads, that the federal government uses similar data and analysis
for FHA mortgage originations. And would Frankel assert the claim
that the government is proclaiming consumers who have FICO 300 to
499 ‘deadbeats’ because the federal government denies 100 percent
of mortgages for consumers in these high-risk scoring ranges
(http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/16/real_estate/tighter_FHA_requirements/index.htm)?
“Indeed, I’m extremely disappointed with Frankel and FierceCable
for this headline.
“For the record, regardless of Questex’s corporate decision to
publicly amend for Frankel’s attempt at sales through
sensationalism, the very real pursuit of civil damages - including
punitive damages - is under careful consideration. On the other
hand, I hope Questex will do the right thing and make a public
statement of contrition and apology.
"Contrition and correction, they would go a long way as it
relates to my decision to seek civil justice,” Howe concluded.
“Consumers struggling with difficult financial situations should
also focus careful attention on their credit. Everyone should
understand that credit can be redeemed no matter the situation or
life event. No one should agonize over their credit. There are
always options.” – David Howe, SubscriberWise founder and FICO
highest achiever.
About SubscriberWise
By incorporating years of communications performance data and
decision models, including FICO's latest analytic technology (FICO
9 Score), SubscriberWise® delivers unprecedented predictive power
with a fully compliant, score driven decision management system.
SubscriberWise is a risk management preferred-solutions provider
for the National Cable Television Cooperative (www.nctconline.org).
The NCTC helps nearly 1000 members nationwide.
SubscriberWise is a U.S.A. federally registered trademark of the
SubscriberWise Limited Liability Co.
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SubscriberWiseDavid Howe, 888-596-1119 x137