Credit Check For Employment

[SusieQ]

I applied for a work at home position as a customer service rep and they offered me Sprint or Xbox customer service but when they told me I couldn't have more than four things wrong with my credit in the last four years I had to decline because I do. It really makes me mad that they can base a job on that. I haven't missed work at the part time jobs I have in the last two years, I know they say they use it to judge responsibility but basically the bad credit is from my husband getting things and not being able to pay on time. I am so mad!

[Frank]

Unfortunately it happens, I have an ex-wife who did the same thing to me between the time we separated and the time we divorced. She ruined my credit rating and it's not going to get that much better in the time I have remaining in my life. It's a shame they will let someone, even when someone is married to you, sign for or buy products in your name.

[Robbie]

I never knew a place of employment could look at your credit history and turn you down if it is bad. It is a shame because they do not know why a persons credit is bad. It could be a number of reasons other than not being responsible.

[melanie]

I don't think employers should be able to check your credit as a contingency of hiring. I have a friend with the WORST credit history, but she is a great employee. Just because you have problems in one area of your life does not mean you should be punished for it in this way. It is a little too "big brother" for me.

[half dollar]

I never knew a place of employment could look at your credit history and turn you down if it is bad. It is a shame because they do not know why a persons credit is bad. It could be a number of reasons other than not being responsible.

Unfortunately, it is a common practice for a lot of employers to check credit history. Some pay close attention to it and others don't. If you are going to be handling money in any capacity you can be sure your credit check will be checked.

[candice]

There are some places that are wiling to work with people that do have marks in their file, but it depends on what those marks are too. Some places are very stingy when it comes down to it.

[Frank]

I don't think your being hired should depend upon it. Like I said, my ex ruined my credit. Fortunately, I had the same job until I retired so I was OK. But unless you're working with wages or money, it shouldn't be allowed to make a difference in your hiring or firing.

[Paolo32]

Hey, most employers dont check your credit history, but some roles where you will be heavily involved in dealing with cash / money dealing may do so (maybe sharebroker), and that seems fair enough. I think Police recruits have criminal checks as do teachers so its the same idea.

Bad credit is always someone else's fault eh?

[greenknight]

Something many people do not know is that it is common practice in the medical field to run a credit check before hiring. Sadly I have seen some people get there education to not be able to get a job due to their credit.

[Frank]

Paola-in some cases yes, it is. When my ex and I separated, she went to the furniture store and bought a lot of nice furniture and pretended to bring home the contract for me to sign. What she didn't tell them was we were separated and getting a divorce. So she brought it home, signed it and took it back to the store. She bought everything she could and didn't pay for it. Then she got my income tax return out of the mail and cashed it and blew it. She really did a number on me.

[cash only]

Being judged by your credit score for a job is absolutely Ludacris to me. There are so many reasons other than someone else ruined my credit score for me, which could have caused the low score. How about the wide spread of identity theft? Or what if your spouse or child gets sick and you have outrageous hospital bills to take care of? The fact that you need a job alone could be the reason you have fallen behind on your payments!

[misty]

I used to be a recruitment consultant and a credit check makes perfect sense.

Anyone who is at senior management or deals with cash or budgets in any way should of course be credit checked.

If I ran a business and I was handing over my purse strings, do you think I would want to know that my new employee is so crap with finances that they can't even handle their own personal life?

[Kauri]

I could see credit checks if you are dealing with money or in a situation where you would be responsible for payroll. But if you are going to be a nurse or if you are going to work with people as a counselor, what's the deal? It doesn't make sense at all.

[investor1]

I see what several of you are saying in regards to financial positions. This makes sense to me as well. On the flip side of things there is the fact that one person can be the best they can be with money when they have some to work with. When the money is not there then what? You cannot squeeze blood out of a turnip. If someone is really trying to find a job, and I mean really trying and no go. How can they keep their finances in order?

[Bay guy]

I would be more interested in doing criminal checks on potential employers than checking their credit history. But that would be frowned upon