It's also possible because some subprime lenders don't report to the credit rating agencies that people may find that their credit scores haven't changed at all.

NPR: Beware the Bad Home Loans

Although the credit rating agencies don't rate these pools, they give triple-As to the corporate bonds of the sponsors.

FORBES: Magazine Article

So, understandably, credit rating agencies don't trumpet free offerings.

FORBES: Paying For Peace Of Mind

Reinsurers use models to set their prices, and credit rating agencies may downgrade an insurer's rating if they don't like what model results show.

NPR: Coastal Homeowners Stagger Under Insurance Costs

For a start, credit rating agencies' own credibility hasn't recovered - perhaps it never will - from their role in the sub-prime fiasco.

BBC: Sterling steadies after loss of UK AAA credit rating

The sourpuss bond rating agencies weren't so sure and said they're reviewing Valero's BBB-credit rating and might downgrade it to junk status.

FORBES

It hasn't been helped by the three biggest credit agencies lowering the company's bond rating to "junk, " and the Lumia 900's violently slashed price.

ENGADGET: Nokia's Q2 2012 financials: 4 million Lumias sold, $1.01 billion dollar loss