Credit Checks on the Job Hunt: Should They Stay or Should They Go?

I agree with what appears to be the majority of people here. Credit checks have no place in the job market, especially in today's economy. I've worked for many small businesses. The individual credit worthiness of these people is laughable. They would not pass their own investigations. This practice is just another way to legally discriminate. I was layed off in JAN 2009. After a year of looking for any kind of job and burning through our savings to "keep my credit record pristeen", in 2010 I filed for bankruptcy. Now, jobs that only required a degree now also require a clean credit check. I find this seems to be very prodominate in Management positions. Today, even our County Government applications are requiring applicants undergo a credit check. If they fail, they are pulled from the application process. To serve my govenment I have to have perfect credit? This is total BS!

People who agree with credit checking in employment obviously think that people drowning in debt from COLLEGE should go pay it off with the money that GROWS ON TREES or something. They're just plain idiots who can't see the big picture. And if I point it out this way then they get all "you made your bed now lie in it" about having borrowed your way through college in the first place when no one would hire you with just a high school diploma even part-time on-campus.

I feel that credit checks on future employees should be banned in all states. They have nothing to do with the persons ability to do the job. a person may have the worst credit and yet be the most hard working, reliable, dedicated person that a company can employ. I dont think they should be done to get auto insurance either which AARP does before they give you a quote.

I think relying on credit reports is an unfair practice.
I was actually offered a position at a corporate office of a MAJOR Insurance Co. I was even given a start date. 3 days before my start date, I received a call recinding the job offer because they found something negative on my credit report.

I think that credit checks should not be done as part of the hiring process. Period. Especially in these hard times, when the majority of the people have something negative on their credit report and jobs being so hard to find.
Criminal background checks should not be done either unless it is for a particular job that would require it, such as an accountant handling a company's money or a management position. IF they have to be done they should not go back further than seven years.

Unless a person actually handles money or has access to money, their credit shouldn't matter. And then, I'm not so sure it matters. If someone can give me some numbers that corelate debt with embezzlement that's one thing.

What should be checked accross the board is a person's criminal record. Businesses should be more concerned about whether Jos Schmoe is going to go postal than whether their credit is bad or not. Bad credit does not denote criminality or poor character.

Jobs should not be checking out peoples credit as long as i show up for work everyday and what ever I do after work and my days off is none of my jobs bussiness, Problem with employers is that they want to control you like our Government,People your employer cant tell you what you can and cant do after work hrs, Its you freedom after work to do what ever you want so I say employers need to stay out of my personal affairs..................

Personally, this credit score thing is a scam because each credit bureau possess different information about you based on who reports it and when. Secondly, the credit scores that are provided to the general public is completely different compared to the credit system a bank or car dealer would use. u advantage. However, I do agree that checking a person's credit score should apply for businesses involved in finance and stocks because this type of screening will help assist on deciding on hiring a person. I a person presents a resume for a position in financing, but their credit report displays bad handling of their personal accounts, would you hire that person?
Finally, to prove my point, why is it so hard to remove errors from your credit report especially when you provide documentation confirming the information was applied in error. Also, if the credit score means soooooo much, how the the economy get F_ _ Ked up anyway???? Because the credit score do not mean a damn thing. It was about making a dollar regradless of who you are or what type of job you have. It is another way to have control and to abuse it. If you don't believe me, Just sign right HERE X____________________.
The credit bureaus are a big scam and it is illegal. Now people are being profiled based on where you use your credit card. Imagine this, no credit you have a problem, bad credit you have a problem, good credit can become a problem when you don't use your cards for a certain length of time. Here is where the credit card company lowers your credit limit. Damn if you do and damn if you don't. "You can not win because you must always spend"
CASE CLOSED!!!!!!!

Another form of discrimination. In todays economy with job loss, state furloughs and hiring freezes. A lot of Americans couldn't pay their bills or have health insurance. So late pays,charge offs and medical collections end up costing them their future too. How are Americans suppose to be able to get back on track and pay their bills if they can not even get a job because of a credit" opportunity". Someone needs to file a civil lawsuit against an employer that denies them of a job because of a credit score when they are completely qualified for the job. There are plenty of people that have good credit that commit crimes,fraud and more. Criminal back ground checks and drug testing should be enough for employers. Credit pulling should be outlawed....

I had recently retired from the military after 23 years. I had a run-in with a credit card company (which is no longer in business), which couldn't be resolved and I refused to pay the remaining balance. Needless to say, I was entrusted with a security clearance with the U.S. Government, which my credit history never compromised my integrity. Upon retirement, I had applied for an IT position with a local bank in my home town. Due to my one and only misstep on my credit report, the bank refused employment. Although, this credit incident happend 5 years ago. I got a letter in the mail, stating that reason for non-consideration was due to my credit report.

The Credit Reporting Industry is the single greatest scam and rip-off since Slavery. These companies collect unathorized data on every man, woman, and child without our direct consent and purport to "score" each of us on some arbitray method they invented from thin air. Did you ever sign an agreement with Experian, Transunion or Equifax? NO!! Using this imaginary data to rate employees is a farce. Employers should be prohibited from such sleavy practices. DO NOT STAND FOR THIS RIP OFF!! The credit report has one purpose, to price money you borrow (called an interest rate) as high as possible. Anyother industry would have long ago been shut down for price fixing. A credit report is simply a product crammed down your throat by unscupulous banks and lenders for no one's good but their own. Using it for emplyment is simply allowing employers to be as sleazy as the banks that support this shameful practice. Slavery was banned for the same practices these Credit Companies now use. Credit Reporting should also be banned for the same reasons.

Credit scores are used for control. Nobody should be able to check your credit unless you are borrowing money.
Insurance Companies use credit scoring to charge additional premiums. It's a tool to get more money. No credit is extended for insurance. Insurance is always "pay in advance".
Employers use of credit scoring should be illegal unless money is being borrowered.

What does your credit score have to do with your employment? NOTHING!!! It is just another way for the company to find a reason to discriminate without citing a cause that is protected by law (Race, religion, etc). It is crazy, but until some one can craft a law that actually protects the american job seeker, those with alow credit score are out of luck and out of work!

When a Company in the USA hires out work to people in other countries do they do a credit check on the foreigners?

NO, the problem with this world now is
totally unfair. This time and time people are loosing their home and everything and they can't afford insurance and now you want to put more pressure on credit checks.

Just a person trying to keep a job is showing they aren't giving up or trying to live off unemployment.

I think anyone who has had to file bankruptcy and been approved should have a ciurtsey on their credit report to start off good scores. They have paid and maybe with a year waiting period.

The government is crazy they want to raise the age limit on Medicare and there are no jobs hardly and now they are talking about credit score checks to be available. I think the United States is trying to push people over a cliff.

I understand why people take their lives and its sad they are being pushed to that point.

Dont say people bring it on them self because there are people who have worked the same jobs for 15 years and all of a sudden they have the rug snatched out from under them.

Its easier to give up now and jump off the bridge than to hold your head up and try to live the right way.

If America wants to lower the population, then stop the law to allow more people here and let the people here that have been born here live in the country they were born in.

Checking the Credit Rating of a potential employee is an invasion privacy that should be disallowed. The poor rating with Credit might be because of a million and one situations besides been a poor judge of character or anything else suspected since in todays world anything can damage your credtit rating from one day to next for actions thsat don't have anythiong to do with the charatec of a person.

Might as well let the employers do what ever they want,the reason folks that have bad credit to start with is because of the crap wages most employers pay anyway.Soon no one will have jobs or credit so who gives a rats azz anymore.Let the employers rule the world lol.Look at general Motors stock holders should have done a credit check on them,look who got bailed out and look who lost everything vested.See folks the regular guy and gal is screwed.

I recently applied for a job as Door Greeter at Wal Mart. I have a very good work history at every other job I have ever had. I even have recommendations from former employers and from friends. However, I was turned down for the job. Their reason? I have a poor credit rating. I tried to explain that the reason I want the job is to improve my credit rating.

Allowing prospective employers to use our credit rating against us in hiring (or keeping) our jobs is only making it harder, and in many caaes impossible to improve our credit ratings.

I read recently that Oregon has made this practice illegal. Why can't the Federal Government, or at the very least, all the other states follow suit?

People harp about new jobs not being created. That's only part of the problem. The biggest problem is that we can't get the jobs that are already out there!

I don't see why any company has the right to look at my credit history and see where I couldn't pay hospital or had to drop this account or that one. And I don't see how my abilities and job performance are correlated to my old mobile account from 2003. Or perhaps they merely want a look so that when they do turn you down they can use and sell your information? True story - I applied for a job at a Tommy Hilfiger store years ago. Instead of offering me a job they started sending me fliers and coupons. They still do to this day, even though I've written "return to sender" and "stop sending me this crap, your clothes suck" on the cards.

It comes down to choice. You have the choice to allow the company to run the credit check. Choose not to do it. Companies have this perceived power to use credit checks, but if all candidates choose not to allow the company to run the credit checks what are they going to do? Not hire anybody? So if you feel strongly about this then do something about it. Not saying this would be an easy task to get 'everyone' on board but maybe it's time to get a grass roots effort to educate and communicate.

For the record, I have declined to allow a credit checks for employment. Sure I lost some opportunities but was able to get a good job. You can also opt for a credit freeze which requires a pin number before anyone can access your credit information. This gives you a bit more control and may get you further in the employment process.

I have been denied employment for the last 5 years since I lost a job that enabled me to pay my bills on time. Since I cant find "gainful" employment, everything is past due and will continue to be. What am I suppossed to do? I cant even feed myself or keep up with utilities. The cost of living is almost the death of me. I'd die today except I dont want a county burial.

As long as I am unemployed, my credit will continue to be unsatisfactory!!! I've been ripped off by consumer credit agencies cause they take most of what I pay for their fees...ROTFHLOL!!!

Some of you out there dont realize if I had a job, I wouldnt need public assistance which comes out of taxes that you dont like paying. I feel If I get an opportunity to get back to work, I can pay my current bills and begin to pay my delinquencies.

Is anyone hiring a fly catcher in the poop house? Where's job security? Did it also relocate to India or China? NAFTA has put America is big trouble. We dont manufacture anything anymore, yet we buy foreign products that wont help our economy.

Thanks Ronald Reagan, the trickle down theory has turned out to be a golden shower here in the bottom of the bowl!!!!!! I'm sober so if I get to go in the cup I can pass the test. Modern day slavery is upon us!!! Debtors prison is full of bank robbers who wanted to pay their bills!!!

Free my 82 year old grandpa from Walmart greeting job. I need that job and he can watch the house so the repo man doesnt get the car while I earn $7/hr to pay for it.

This is one of those crappy policy ideas out of the board room. Most of the very top Execs. who decide the bottom line couldn't / wouldn't pass background and credit checks that they expect employees to pass. Trust is earned, not squeezed from every molecule of the person who needs work. I was asked to take a job of screening managers and Jr. Execs. for working at a Bay Area Tech Company here in California. I agreed to accept the job until I was asked to take a polygraph and submit to a COMPLETE background and credit check. Being human, I was offended by the request, I said I would do the task under one condition, that all personal who receive a pay check, and have a ID card and entry pass code be subject to the same testing and credit checks. What I can tell you is, a big fight started in the board room a couple of days later and the C.O.O. retired, and the C.F.O. took a hike, and a hand full of managers decided to go else where. After I passed the squeeze tests, I started to test the 208 employees who had access to the building. I didn't have any choice but use a random generated numerical list to test. As a result, 36 employees were let go because they had NOT passed the B.S. guide lines set up by the board. That being total crime report, credit and polygraph. The real story here is the 7 employees who filed a wrongful discharge action with labor law. After I was called to testify, I was asked if any one who didn't pass the tests remained employed. I said yes. They were four board members, and the two managers. Less than a week later, a tort action was filed and the others who didn't pass the testing were discharged. And the production went down overall soon after. Employees were leaving because of uncomfortable trust issues created from the policy. Do I think it was a smart idea, NOT unless it is a nation security issue. It is wrong for business to mistreat employees, bottom line. EMPLOYEES MAKE A BUSINESS...

The information contained in credit reports is not always accurate and the credit scores can be very misleading; therefore they should not be used in evaluating a potential employee. Employers overlook the manner in which credit report companies gather information about a person’s credit history and the rationale behind the formula used to calculate a person’s credit score.

The credit report companies will accept reports from any company that wishes to file a report about the financial dealings they have with a creditor. They do not require proof that the report is accurate, and once entered into a person’s credit history, it can be very difficult to get the credit report companies to remove an erroneous report.

The credit report companies use a formula for calculating a person’s credit score that takes many factors into account. Unfortunately, some of the factors that point to a poor credit risk (e.g., a low debt-to-income ratio and the closure of a credit card account) can also be true of a financially responsible person. The formula assumes that a low debt-to-income ratio is caused by a person not being able to get credit and that the account was closed at the behest of the credit card company. Thus financially responsible people are penalized by the formula because they pay off their creditors and close credit card accounts that they do not want.

Too much in life is dependent on credit reports. Legislation should be passed to protect the citizenary. The only way to stop this scourge is to make entities accountable. It would come to a grinding halt if either the reporting companies and/or the companies making the reporting were accountable for damages due to incorrect reporting. This would cost money and therefore change the present corporate practices. Presently, nobody is accountable but the individual as a victim. It is tantamount to blaming a murder victim for being in the way of the bullet. I am surprised with all of the lawyers out there, that there is not a whole industry cropping up to sue for these and other damages caused by incorrect, misleading, malicious and wrong credit reports. When you think of identity theft, layoffs, divorce and other ways that could affect your credit but you have no control over but can prevent you from obtaining your basic "unalienable right" to "pursue happiness". Being a victim to misinformation DOES prevent this when society as a whole uses a flawed system with no accountability to determine peoples futures.

As a hard working,reliable employee,I disagree with this practice of credit check before hire. It's B.S.. I have had medical issues for almost 20 that have resulted in numerous emergency surgeries (without ins.). Let me tell you,that is costly to someone in a position like mine. I work and I work hard, but,when your job has no medical,you accrue huge debt. I lost the opportunity for a good job WITH good benefits due to the credit check. Not a thing on it BUT MEDICAL BILLS.

In this day and time,a credit check seems to be something that most have reason to cringe about. Does this make all of those who have fallen on hard times, due to the economy , unreliable? Can the mass majority of our working class no longer be trusted based on a CREDIT CHECK!? I think not. Potential employers need to pull their heads out of the **s' . They will miss out on a lot of great people with the skills that could take the business to the next level. All because of what a sheet of paper says. I say there is more to a persons true character than this...

Credit scores and political correctness have gotten way out of hand!

There is a missconception on what employers use credit checks for. They are not looking at the credit score to determine to hire or not. They are looking at the size of debt the applicant is carrying and frequency of missed or late payments. Employers use this to gauge how much the person is likely to steal from the company or sell secrets to cover their financial problems. It also shows the person's character, financial responsibility and organization skills. Case in point if the applicant is consistantly missing payments but has the income level to pay it shows lack of responsibility. You know they will check your credit report, so it is your responsibility to prepare for it. Being upfront and ready to offer explanations to negative marks on your report will go along way for them to put it all in the proper context. For some reason today people don't think their history should matter, since the dawn of time your history has always mattered it defines how people view you.

I all ways paid my bills my wife did not.She abused a TN. state law and signed my name all over the place and wrecked my credit. So government has had a big hand in destroying the markets.I should not be punished buy others crimes.My wife abandon our marriage and money responcabilty

I consider the practise an invasion of my privacy for one thing. My credit score has nothing to do with my abilities or my knowledge. The sad thing is that these employers who are not hiring people because of their credit score don't realize that they are losing out on some good employee.

Under no circumstance should an employer run a credit check. No no no. I don't apply to places who use that practice. What if you apply to ten places who all check your credit? That is very damaging to your score and can knock it down two to three points each time. That could mean a 30 point loss on your score. Credit reports are not an accurate account of who someone is. Many things can - and do - go wrong which can make somone look bad on paper. I strenuously say NO to this.

Credit checks should stop immediately. Since when does your credit score tell and employer how well you can do a job or what kind of person you are? It doesn't! No I don't need a Vias card, LIFE HAPPENS ON ITS OWN

Of course we should let employers run credit checks on us. We should also let them film us having sex with our spouse to see if any act offends them. Oh, let them tell us how to raise our kids too. In fact, let them tell us if we should even have kids!

This is the same old crap corporate America has been trying to do to us for years. They do not want employees, they want indentured servants! For how long were employees hired based on the impression of the candidate and their credentials. Seems like the US did OK. But now, thanks to the credit scoring compnaies who have sold a bunch of crap to everyone, employers are now thinking that someone's financial situation has anything to do with a person doing a good job. Not even in situations where an employee handles money does a credit score have anything to do with anything. Does a credit score tell you if a person is dishonest? If a person is unreliable? Screw the credit scoring companies. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Credit checks for job applicants is about as ridiculous as the credit scoring that auto insurers do. Because my credit took a hit when I divorced and then lost my job, I’m a bad driver. Dumb.

I allways paid my bills my wife did not. She is one of the people who caused this crash thanks to the Tn. state government and the abuse of a law being abale to write my name and wreck my credit. Government made this mess and they should clean it up. She abandon our marriage not me.

I really don't think they should do them. So when I was younger I was irresponible with credit cards. All of my current bills are caught up. A job that I was going to applie for said I had to have an excellant credit rating. What does my work ethic have to do with my past credit problems. I have had hte same job for 8 yrs and have never once had a problem at my job. shouldnt that count for something

Your credit score is not based on your S.S. number. Instead it is based on last name, first letter of first name and any similar spellings. So some one else can show on your report, that is what is wrong with credit scoring either for jobs or insurance.

besides that, if you are going to hire illegal immigrant workers who are nameless and faceless in our system and have no credit rating at all, a practice which is a crime for the employer as well, you can sure as hell hire people who have bad credit who are LEGAL citizens and have families who are LEGAL citizens who deserve an equal opportunity. Additionally, it is discriminatory to allow hiring of one group without credit checks just because they have brown skin, but to force credit checks on another group just because their skin is white