Credit checks for employment

[fsaav]

I've read a couple posts saying that a credit check was required as part of the hiring process. I wasn't aware of this and it has me kind of concerned. My husband and I had always had almost perfect credit, until he started a construction business 3 years ago. Since then our credit score has dropped dramatically and is now in or near the "poor" range.

I completely understand background checks, but I was really caught off guard by a credit check being required. How much consideration do employers give this? Could it potentially cost me a job?

Thanks for any help you can give me,

Sara

[Jules A, MSN]

I want to be sure that everyone knows this is a complete UNtruth. Like I said in a previous post your credit 'score' is only 3 characters of information on your consumer report. The information your facilty is using is to match up your resume with residential and employment history which are all on your consumer report (aka credit report). I should also add that when you get a standard credit check from say a car dealership, they are limited to the information they need and that you signed consent to give them, aka credit score. That is why they are typically much much shorter than your full consumer report which is what your company is using.

So if I am understanding you correctly the employers do not receive the actual credit score or payment history, only residency information? That would be the only way I would think it doesn't come into play because whether or not something is illegal isn't a safeguard.

ie. two equally qualified applicants: one obviously pregnant and one not obviously pregnant...who would you guess is getting the job? I would bet my bippy the same goes for one with good credit versus one with bad credit. Not that a credit report gives the whole story but on a very broad level it does show committments being honored if they are grasping at straws, imo.