Empoyers Who Request Credit Reports!!!

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I've been an unemployed RN since June, 2003 and have been doing agency work which is very sporadic here in Salt Lake City. I have been to so many job interviews that I have lost count and always I get the same response from the employers. I have excellect qualifications but we hired another candidate who was more qualified. I went to an interview workshop and the lecturer told me that I was doing all the right things on an interview. I recently found out that here in Utah, many employers do credit checks on prospective employees. An attorney friend told me that pulling a credit report is included in the background check and if you sign a release form authorizing a background check, chances are, they will pull a credit report too. He also told me that employers can deny you employment if your credit is less than perfect and since my credit is less than perfect, I'm beginning to wonder if that is why I have been unable to find a job. I think this is absolutely appalling and underhanded of prospective employers. How do you pay your bills if you are not working??? I also understand that very few states allow this practice and unfortunately, I live in a state that does. Would love to hear some comments about this nasty little practice!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Brownms46

I make it a practice to keep tabs on my credit report frequently, and this is practice all should do. I had a collection company write me a letter, stating I had a bad check written to a place, in a city, I had never been to! After calling the people, I found it was someone with my name, but was writing this check on a bank I have never used, and lived in a city I had never been to!

There are two things I really hate about collection agencies and credit bureaus (beyond the usual complaints.)

I hate this practice where they decide to go through all of their old files, I guess to scarf up extra money. They find some alleged bill that's five years old, don't notify you that they're trying to collect (if, for instance, you've moved and didn't get the notice at the right address), and then they put it on your credit report anyway. So the only way you find out about it is by checking your credit report.

So you go to check the credit report, buy one of these 3-in-1 reports with all three agency reports on it. BUT, if you need to make a correction, and you didn't buy the credit report from the one particular agency who's inevitably reporting the error, you have to buy yet another report from them.

It sucks! My rant for the day. ;)

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Specializes in ER.

I refuse to work for a place that checks my credit. The whole thing is a big, money-making racket! Not to mention, everytime someone accesses your credit report, your credit rating drops.

:(

Makes me nuts. That is why I refuse to use credit unless absolutely neccessary. I have no credit cards, and do not have loans for my vehicles. When I can afford something, I buy it!

Also, another thing that ticks me off, have you ever tried getting something incorrect off of your credit report? In my experience it is darn near impossible!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.

I'M GOING TO ANSWER IN CAPITAL LETTERS...MY CREDIT REPORT, GOOD OR BAD, HAS NO BEARANCE ON MY CAPACITIES AS A REGISTERED NURSE. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.

LARRYG!

I HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO WORK FOR YOU AND I HOPE I'M NEVER A PATIENT IN YOUR HOSPITAL, BECAUSE IF YOU HIRE YOUR NURSES BASED ON THEIR CREDIT REPORT, YOU ARE THE REASON WHY THERE IS A NURSING SHORTAGE AND THE PATIENTS IN YOUR HOSPITAL ARE PROBABLY RECEIVING THE WORST CARE.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I don't like this practice at all. Violation of privacy comes to mind. And my credit is absolutely pristine.

I just think it's overstepping and ANYONE can have a mistaken entry or fall onto hard times, yet be a GREAT employee. I know, my past credit was AWFUL...yet I was ever the reliable employee and never missed a day of work. I think this practice STINKS.:stone

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Originally posted by CeCiRN

LARRYG!

I HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO WORK FOR YOU AND I HOPE I'M NEVER A PATIENT IN YOUR HOSPITAL, BECAUSE IF YOU HIRE YOUR NURSES BASED ON THEIR CREDIT REPORT, YOU ARE THE REASON WHY THERE IS A NURSING SHORTAGE AND THE PATIENTS IN YOUR HOSPITAL ARE PROBABLY RECEIVING THE WORST CARE.

I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous!

How many times have I seen, "I hope I'm never your patient ... I wouldn't want you to be my nurse ... blah blah blah ... "

Like someone is somehow a bad nurse or works in a bad hospital just because they voice an opinion or add information you don't agree with? You're rendering a harsh judgement based upon a single message board posting?

C'mon! That is absurd!

Give us (and Larry) a break. This IS a common employment practice, whether you like it or not. And employers have a lot of leeway under the law.

It does NOT mean than Larry, or anyone else, is a bad person because of it.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Whoa, there Ce. Hold on a sec. No need to shout here. You're jumping to big and erroneous conclusions. Was trying to assist you in my post.

First off, I didn't say I was a sup in the healthcare industry. I'm not, and never was.

But the company I worked for did require a credit check before employment in certain positions. If the applicant refused to agree to one -- and it was clearly communicated that he had a right to do so -- his app just wasn't considered. (Never came across anyone who refused.) This was a financially solid outfit, that paid well, had great benefits, and treated employees with regard -- basically a super place to work. (Only thing I can knock them on was that there was no Christmas / Holiday party -- instead they provided a catered breakfast on the premises.) Accordingly, folks readily acceded to the credit check.

Ce, can tell from your last post you're a tad upset and maybe a little confused right now. But I wish you well. Hence the suggestions I provided previously.

In answer to the question posed by dphrn: Yes, on some credit scoring systems, inquiries can negatively count against your rating. Additionally, the absence of credit history may raise a red flag to some employers, though that's generally more explainable than a negative history.

Ce, hope things get better.

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LarryG,

Thanks for all the helpful info.

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Let's face it, credit checks are a part of life, even landlord's will run a credit check on a prospective tenant. My mother worked for a couple who not only ran a bookkeeping service but also owned rental property. The lady told my mom that people who had the best credit ended up being the worst renters (probably because they spent all their money paying their auto loans and credit cards and had nothing left for the rent). As for credit checks for employment, I can see it being legit if you're applying for a position in which you would be handling money (i.e. cashier), but as a nurse? Would they like blood tests and geneaology (spell?) charts too? It probably will come to that knowing how crazy this world is becoming. Another thing I can't understand is how a 18 yr old fresh out of high school with no previous credit history can apply for a credit card and get it, but if that same person was 28 or even 38 and applied for the same card they would be refused d/t "insufficient credit history." Unfortunately, there are a few bad apples out there who get credit, ring up huge charges, and never pay them off, thus ruining it for a lot of us others. I am in the same position as another poster, I do not have credit cards, I pay for everything in cash or check, if I don't have the money to buy something I don't buy it. Funny how no credit is just as horrible as bad credit.

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Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

I don't like this practice at all. Violation of privacy comes to mind. And my credit is absolutely pristine.

I just think it's overstepping and ANYONE can have a mistaken entry or fall onto hard times, yet be a GREAT employee. I know, my past credit was AWFUL...yet I was ever the reliable employee and never missed a day of work. I think this practice STINKS.:stone

Good point. From what I understand, it's a game of percentages.

Better credit supposedly means less risk for the companies. Kinda like nursing schools preferring higher GPA students. The odds are they'll get better employees/students if they play the numbers.

Certainly there are always exceptions. There are great nurses with bad credit and there are great nurses with low GPAs. But the companies may view this as the exception to the rule.

I do have a friend who's hospital is paying for his advanced nursing education, and the hospital will pay him $80,000 a year when he's done. His credit is truly horrible, and I mean, really really bad. Everyone knows NOT to lend this guy any money. :chuckle

But, he's worked for the hospital a long time and, I assume, they didn't check his credit because of that. This may happen with new employees, more than anything else.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

You're welcome, dphrn.

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The status of my credit line has no bearing on my nursing abilities. I have excellent credit. I do not my info snooped into unless it is an absolute necessity. Have worked with some really good nurse with terrible credit ratings because they trusted a hubby or boyfriend too much.

Do you ever feel like we get further and further away from the real issues of nursing, like patient care everyday?

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