Why Pull a Credit Report on a Potential Employee?

What is this I hear that some employers are now pulling credit reports on potential employees.

My reponse – UNBELIEVABLE!!

Because of my debt, I have less than a stellar credit report. Will a potential employer see my debt load and decide that they do not want to hire me? Maybe they will see me as a potential embezzler? I’ve stolen a total of three things in my life. Once I stole some nail polish from a garage sale when I was 5 (and hid it away because I felt so bad). And the other time was when I was a teenager I stole two $1.00 pins (and went back and sneakily returned them because I felt so bad). Even in my darkest financial hours the thought of obtaining money through dishonest means never crossed my mind.

And who cares if someone has some late payments? How is that going to relate to the ability of a person to do the job they have applied for? Credit reports do not give the story behind a late payment. Maybe a major event happened in someone’s life and they missed a bill? Gosh knows that when a loved one dies – other smaller things in life like mailing a bill payment just take a backseat.

Man, I guess this is just a sore spot with me…whew!

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Posted by Tricia on April 3, 2006 at 8:09 AM in Credit Reports/FICO | 6 Comments »
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LAMoneyGuy responded:
Posted: April 3rd, 2006 at 12:15 pm
It has taken some time to rebuild my credit after years of debt and sporadic payments. I hear where you are coming from. I guess I can also understand the employer’s perspective, however. Hiring a new employee is very costly, and even more if it doesn’t work out. The theory is that someone who takes care of their business in their personal lives are more responsible, thus more likely to take care of business on the job.
Chitown responded:
Posted: April 3rd, 2006 at 5:43 pm
It happens more often than you think. I know someone who had to basically justify each and every single thing on their credit report and obtain letters for their defaulted student loans just to get a job. I haven’t heard of every industry doing this but definitely in the finance industry.
Tricia responded:
Posted: April 3rd, 2006 at 6:52 pm
I can understand where the employers are coming from too, and pulling a credit report probably does help them weed out “bad” employees – but I think it prevents them from hiring some great employees as well. There are so many circumstances that go into what happens on a credit report.

Which reminds me, I have to go through and explain how I obtained all of my credit card debt
Pissed in Spokane responded:
Posted: January 24th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I for one am very upset with the local hiring practices of firms here in Eastern Washington.
After attending school for over 5 years and maxing out loans and credit cards so that I can be proud of having a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Arts. But wait one second ! Applying for employment within my chosen career justifies a criminal and full credit check to be an artist at a steel stud manufacture ( Scafco ) Why would they want such information? In what position does a struggling graphic artist have any opportunity to be a threat to them or the business? I for one can not think of any use for this biased and unfair hiring process that they use to weed out potential employees. Pissed in Spokane
Credit Scores - Apparently They Are Growing in Importance » Blogging Away Debt responded:
Posted: August 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 pm
[...] wait a minute. Some employers pull credit reports on potential employees. “…most people also don’t know that cellphone companies, landlords, and home [...]
chris responded:
Posted: February 1st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I agree..employers have no business pulling your credit report unless they plan on giving you a loan..Maybe your credit has blimishes cause you need a JOB?