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posted by martyb on Friday November 15 2019, @06:13AM   Printer-friendly
from the very-interesting dept.

A few days ago, Jamie Heinemeier Hansson went public with the observation that Apple Card gives better interest rates to husbands than to wives. Several sites have since picked up the story and now it has caught the attention of the US Senate.

I care about transparency and fairness. It's why I was deeply annoyed to be told by AppleCard representatives, "It's just the algorithm," and "It's just your credit score." I have had credit in the US far longer than David. I have never had a single late payment. I do not have any debts. David and I share all financial accounts, and my very good credit score is higher than David's. I had a career and was successful prior to meeting David, and while I am now a mother of three children — a "homemaker" is what I am forced to call myself on tax returns — I am still a millionaire who contributes greatly to my household and pays off credit in full each month. But AppleCard representatives did not want to hear any of this. I was given no explanation. No way to make my case.

From Gizmodo: Now a Senator Is Investigating the Sexist Apple Card Debacle

Wyden has lately taken up the bailiwick in fighting algorithmic bias. In April, he and Senator Corey Booker introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act, which would obligate companies to assess their decision-making systems and training data "for impacts on accuracy, fairness, bias, discrimination, privacy and security." The bill has yet to move forward.

Earlier on SN:
Maybe Don't Keep Your Apple Card in a Leather Wallet, Apple Warns (2019)
Apple Unveils... a Titanium Credit Card (2019)


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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 15 2019, @05:02PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 15 2019, @05:02PM (#920721)

    I had a career and was successful prior to meeting David, and while I am now a mother of three children — a "homemaker"

    In other words you don't have a paying job so of course any loan or credit card agreement won't be as favoriable to you as somehow who does have a job. Tons of people blow through a million and end up in debt, many (most?) lottery winners in fact end up poorer than before they won. So having a large bank account shouldn't be weighted as high as a steady income.

    Prove that this common sense reason isn't the cause before screaming sex discrimination.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16 2019, @02:13AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 16 2019, @02:13AM (#920854)

    Exactly this. What you have counts for very little on the credit score. You could be living at home with your parents for free and hold a job for years and have tons of money in the bank. It counts for *nothing* if you don't take on debt. This is the "stupid" game - and if you're excellent with money, responsible, and save up, you lose. It's geared to take advantage of the stupid - and if you are stupid and spend money you didn't earn, you're favored more than smart folks who are responsible and save up.

    • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday November 16 2019, @06:47AM

      by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Saturday November 16 2019, @06:47AM (#920908) Homepage Journal

      Nah, smart people who want a good credit score intentionally take out recurring debts that they are in zero danger of not being able to pay off at the end of the month. I do not number among them. I don't give a flying fuck about my credit score because I have no desire to ever use it again.

      --
      My rights don't end where your fear begins.