Credit Check in Job Application

[Guest]

I am filling out a job application package and one of the forms is for permission to conduct a credit check.

Has anyone else heard of this? Is this somewhat standard?

My credit is fine but I don't exactly like a potential employer invading my privacy willy-nilly without a stated reason why they feel the need to do so (e.g. we are offering you a job).

I am thinking I am well within my right to refuse the credit check at this point in time. Other thoughts?

JR

 

[roadwreck]

I had to do it recently upon accepting a new position as part of a background check but I didn't have to submit to one simply for a job application. I thought that was less invasive then the drug screening I was subjected to (go into the bathroom, wash your hands, come out of the bathroom, collect your specimen containment device, go back in the bathroom, pee in said containment device but only up to precisely 45 mL, DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET OR WASH YOUR HANDS! Give specimen to large disgruntled nurse (I'd be pissed off too if I had to handle urine all day), watch large angry nurse seal the specimen container, initial form on container that it has been sealed in your presence, go back to bathroom, flush toilet and wash hands... ...wait for results).

 

[Capt Worley PE]

They have no business asking that on a job application....

 

[benbo]

I am filling out a job application package and one of the forms is for permission to conduct a credit check.
Has anyone else heard of this? Is this somewhat standard?

My credit is fine but I don't exactly like a potential employer invading my privacy willy-nilly without a stated reason why they feel the need to do so (e.g. we are offering you a job).

I am thinking I am well within my right to refuse the credit check at this point in time. Other thoughts?

JR

They do it all the time. They are just asking for your permission to conduct the check, that doesn't mean they will conduct it before they decide to offer you a job.

You are well within your rights to refuse, and they are well within their rights to say that if you refuse they will toss your application. They can set their hiring practices as long as it doesn't violate the standard civil rights acts. I don't think this violates anything.

 

[Katiebug]

It's authorizing them to do it. They may or may not actully pull your report. When I was hired here, I had to authorize it but they never bothered.

I do think that at the application stage, it's kind of invasive. I'd expect the authorization for a credit check to come after a job offer is made. The only exception I could think of is perhaps in financial services or banking, where someone would have access to large amounts of cash and assets.

 

[SSmith]

Slight aside...

I am looking at apartments for the new job I am taking until our house sells. One apartment complex wanted for me to give them authorization of my bank account information so they could verify the account balances. I laughed and walked out. Another apartment wanted a note verifying "future employment." I told them I wanted one of those too and if he found a place that would guarantee future employment to let me know. Again, I laughed and walked out.

Both times the person asking were kids no older than 17 who insisted that everyone does it and its no big deal.

 

[MA_PE]

I don't understand the credit check even if they offer a position.

What does your credit rating have to do eith your job?

 

[IlPadrino]

I don't understand the credit check even if they offer a position.
What does your credit rating have to do eith your job?

It would depend on the job. If you are in a position to manage resources, don't you think how you manage your own resources could indicate how you might handle the company's resources? Yeah... could and might - but hiring decisions have been made on a lot less.

 

[SSmith]

What does your credit rating have to do eith your job?

Any job that requires a security clearance would need one. A poor credit rating would reflect a high probability of accepting cash for foreign influence.

Thats the idea anyways...

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Both times the person asking were kids no older than 17 who insisted that everyone does it and its no big deal.

More asides...

I've noticed that younger people, say college age or younger, don't have much trepidation in handing out this info, so they probably do think it isn't a big deal.

Hell, I've heard teenagers at the grocery stores saying Social Security Numbers aloud.

I think this will come back to bite them in the not to distant future...

 

[Guest]

I've noticed that younger people, say college age or younger, don't have much trepidation in handing out this info, so they probably do think it isn't a big deal.

Hey!! Are you suggesting I am chronogically advanced!

JR

 

[ktulu]

Man, JR, you're like fine wine. Getting better with age. Let's just hope your age and credit score are not remotely close!!!

 

[FusionWhite]

Credit checks for employment are legal but I think it varies from state to state. Jobs in which you handle cash or are responsible for large amounts of money ask for them these days. A job like an engineer I couldnt really see it being a valid request unless they think your strapped for cash and might take some kick backs.

 

[gymrat1279 PE]

I work for a utility and they performed a credit check when I accepted my job. I think the reasoning behind it is the fact that I have access to large amounts of confidential information and they are worried that if employees are strapped for cash or have bad credit, they will exchange the confidential information for cash.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses!

I was just surprised because in my current job, I have purchasing authority through my agency. The only credit check through my current job was when I was issued a state purchasing card (called P-Card). That makes sense - you want to know if I am going to be responsible with the public $$.

I don't feel real comfortable consenting to a credit check through my employer as a means to gauge how well I can perform the job. If they performed such a check afterwards because I would have a discretionary spending account I can completely understand that point of view.

I thought that was less invasive then the drug screening I was subjected to (go into the bathroom, wash your hands, come out of the bathroom, collect your specimen containment device, go back in the bathroom, pee in said containment device but only up to precisely 45 mL, DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET OR WASH YOUR HANDS!

Believe it or not - I actually find the peeing in a cup less intrusive than the credit check. But then again, I was in the military and that was just something that you did. I never had any fears so I didn't feel my rights were being trampled.

The information in a credit report though .... that can create some issues.

Man, JR, you're like fine wine. Getting better with age. Let's just hope your age and credit score are not remotely close!!!

:Locolaugh: :Locolaugh:

My credit will stay good if I can get my soon-2-B ex-wife ejected and the house put up for sale.

JR

 

[roadwreck]

Believe it or not - I actually find the peeing in a cup less intrusive than the credit check. But then again, I was in the military and that was just something that you did.

Oh I wasn't worried about peeing in the cup, I just thought the procedures prior to and after peeing in the cup were a riot. I had to go into the restroom and wash my hands. Then I had to come back out and collect the cup. Then I had to go back in and fill the cup to the precise level, I wasn't to flush the toilet or use the sink while I was in there or my screening was invalidated. After filling the cup and not flushing the toilet I had to bring out the sample and watch the nurse seal the container. Then I could go back to the restroom, flush and wash my hands.

This was the first drug screening I have ever had to do, I found the process pretty amusing.

And prior to the whole ordeal I had to empty my pockets with the nurse watching intently. I was a little worried things were heading towards a full cavity search. hmy:

 

[Casey]

^^ Next time, try one of these!

http://www.ureasample.com/buy-drug-test-so...whizzinator.htm

 

[mudpuppy]

I had to submit to a credit check after I was offered a job. Not really sure why, but I wasn't too worried about it. However, I wouldn't want to have to give permission on a job application--if every job you applied to checked your credit, your score could plummet.

I have a friend who has a security clearance. The gov't pulls his credit report every year, which makes his credit score go down. How nice.

Drug tests and credit checks don't bother me too much, but in my opinion, the most intrusive thing I've had to do for employment was have my fingerprints taken.

 

[Dark Knight]

I think this is a standard practice in Florida. My previous employer did it and my actual employer also did it. Going farther than that, when I moved to TN the company that hired me also checked my credit.

 

[SSmith]

I have a friend who has a security clearance. The gov't pulls his credit report every year, which makes his credit score go down. How nice.

I think there is a huge difference between user generated credit pulls (hard pulls) and business generated credit pulls (soft pulls). Hard pulls impact the credit score much more dramatically than soft pulls do. (Incidentally, there are credit rating increasing strategies that revolve around creating user generated soft pulls. Evidently, the FICO system has an automated feature that after a certain amount of soft pulls, it will start removing the hard pulls thereby increasing your credit rating. People who play the credit card arbitrage game tend to take full advantage of this feature flaw.)