denied work because of bad credit?

I think it stinks too, more and more employers are doing it. I recently found out that local gas drilling companies are starting to do it. My response is that they have a high turnover any way "goodluck" getting employees. I think this is because they put the company gas cards and such in many more peoples hands and it is a trust factor. In some cases such as this companies feel it is a necessary demon. My hubbies company has had people use their company gas cards to refuel the whole family. I don't agree with it, but you know what they say about a few bad apples. this policy was only put into place at his company after they got burnt.
I think a criminal background and drug screening would be enough to tell you the persons character, I don't think a credit report should have ANY thing to do with it.

Yes Fedup!!! I agree, to do a criminal and drug screening should tell you all you need to know. Now, if you're actually handling company funds, then yes perform a credit check. Also, I did sign a consent form and they did send me something in the mail verifying that they were doing a consumer credit check. I've signed those things before for positions but this was the first that actually checked my credit. I think they wanted me despite that from their actions. And ultimately, I think they couldn't pay me enough to relocate for I was asking for their median salary. For an entry level job they wanted a bachelors degree and i have a little more than that. So, I think there were many factors that were integrated into their decision not to hire me. But when I found this forum, I just had to ask how prevalent credit checks are, and apparently they are becoming more popular by companies...
Fedup, i think i know the gas company you're talking about! how rediculous, how does the company, who has high turnover, to get quality applicants if they're integrating credit checks??? oh this job market today. that's another forum though.
I appreciate the responses from previous posters. I have gained some insight as to how this works.

I just think all around it is not fair to the person if they are just looking at credit score and not the report. You can take years to build up a good record with a cr after making bad decisions. Most of my awful junk is from 3, 4, 5 years ago. And in your case where you went through debt management, you are showing responsibility in trying to do something positive about your situation. Goodluck and hang in there, something good will come along.

THanks so much, credit counseling was the best decision I ever made and am still in debt with accounts here and there. You have to be careful though with credit counseling, you have to get one that's reputable. Mine ended up being sued and taken over by another non-profit. it's an ongoing learning process. this forum helps tremendously.

life is a learning process, some of us are just hard learners, I swear when it comes to debt, I have a learning disability. I learned by watching my aunt, she wasn't real good at it. My problem is I spend more than I have.

Well, the main thing is we all realize where our weaknesses are with debt. our 'mistakes' are helping others, not to mention ourselves, to learn and that's what this forum is all about.

Thanks debtstinker, you are going to be an awesome addition to this forum, I hope you stick around.

I was just reading all these posts. I am sooo angry at employers that do a credit check and base that on a decision whether to hire or not.

I lost 4 good jobs due to my credit.Only one asked an explanation, then turned me down after I signed my acceptance letter but a few days before orientation.

They didnt see that I worked at a job for 10yrs making 22,000 a yr supporting a family , and paying all the bills myself, then was forced to move because I couldnt pay my bills and I had to do what I had to survive.
I was soo mad that they didnt take into consideration that a majority were medical expenses that racked up that insurance didnt pay when my kids had gotten sick and were in the hospital or when one broke their arm and insurance wouldn't cover certain things.

They also didnt care that where a few things were on there for 5 or more years that I disputed. and it said on my credit report that I disputed and why...
Here is the kicker, none of my jobs were working with $$$ only documentation review.

I was livid. they sit in their posh offices, driving their BMWs and I was driving a beat up jeep barely getting by. While they give their people min. salaries to barely squeek by with while they are eating at the nicer places, with nice homes, and nice cars , they have no clue how rough some of has it.

bottom line, I got really lucky after 6 months found a good job, and I just sit back and thank my lucky stars. but still It makes me so angry that they can get away with it.

what a joke.


Thanks for letting me vent. I feel sorta better..
I just feel for those , I have been in your shoes.
Just keep the faith I say. It's hard to believe but really , God has plan for everyone.

Hey Lorim,
vent all you want, this isn't fair but we have each other to help when needed! I'm sorry to hear that you were turned down for 4 jobs, that's horrible. i do hope that God's plan for you is in place, sounds like you got a great job! you give us hope, congratulations

Thanks.. I am not sure about giving hope LOL I feel like I just got lucky.. but seriously, I was just flabbergasted on how coldhearted some places are.

They don't know a persons circumstances, you can't judge a person based on a credit report. Everyone makes bad choices. and goes through hardships, I did.

I probably should have paid some of those things off, but I had other priorities. Lame excuse but I would have never thought I would be denied a job because of it.
oh well, I think of it as their loss now.You trumped me up in my interviews of being exactly what you wanted and needed, and with "your knowledge and skills you would make an valuable asset to our team" to a "L"oser because I struggled for a few years.. but I never stole any money from the bank I worked at or any other job I worked at to help pay my bills ..so maybe that was what they feared.. LOL!!!!

but anyway, I don't have the job I exactly wanted, but I feel like I am contributing and learning a whole new thing and I really do like it now...and most importantly, I have one. And that is ok ...

I once applied for a job, and when they told me they would be running a credit check, I told them all the bad stuff that was on there and explained what happened. I actually got hired!

But - And this is a TERRIBLE example to use, I quit that job the first day because I hated it and I'd got a much better offer paying a lot more money. So in the end, if they were looking at credit to determine responsibility, I probably messed things up for anyone with bad credit that applies there. But in general I'm very responsible. It was just a really crappy job!

Goudah, you were very right to be forthcoming about your credit situation when they warned you that a credit check would be conducted! I'm sure that the business you were interviewing with respected you highly for that. And, you may never know, but you may not have been hired had you not been so truthful. I'm glad you got a better job too things work out in the end i've learned

Sometimes things happen for a reason, a better job comes along that does involve that part of your life. I think these employers will find out in the long run that they do eliminate so pretty good perspective employees by using this method. Sometimes people just need a second chance and doing a credit check in a lot of cases does not give that person the opportunity to start over, sad but true. Hopefully this will not be a growing trend, unfortuneatly it seems to be heading in that direction.

This reminds me of the ole saying:
"Bad credit does not equal bad driving habits or poor driving record. Life just happens sometimes"

hang in there, I think it is a bunch of crap too, there isn't even any room for explanation, there may have been good reason for the bad credit, like medical problems or something to that affect. I think if the reason could be given in a good explanation then the credit report should be waived. I don't think it should reflect on a persons work ethic at all. I just think the whole practice stinks.

Thanks fedup it can be crap I could see if you were handling funds or have access to company funds, other than that, the credit check provides a 'lifestyle' type of report. Whatever, the interesting thing is this firm called me for another job! so my credit couldn't have factored in that much if at all. consequently i turned them down because it was a temporary out of state job...so maybe in this case it didn't have as much bearing as i thought. my advice: keep plugging away at it (job searching that is) and don't let credit reports scare you, if they want you, they'll find an excuse to get you!