Having hard time finding job w/bad credit! (Phoenix: real estate, crime)

[krock1dk]

You are not alone in your obersvations. Unfortunately, many companies across the country conduct credit checks for potential employees. It is unfair, but its the strange times we are living in. I am totally opposed to credit checks for employees, because credit records do not indicate a person's merit or character. Anyone can fall into bad credit at any time against their will if they lose a job, get sick and need medical care, lose a spouse and a supplemental income, etc. The problem is with Washington DC as they pass legislation to tighten the noose on the financial corporations, thus making it harder on you and I. Yeh, its unfair but blame the times.

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by NYCtoWarm

They probably do more extensive background checks because of the sheer number of people moving from out of state. Credit checks provide an idea of how responsible a person is with money. A person that is responsible with their own money will be responsible with a company's property and less likely to steal. It's hard to tell who will be a good, honest employee, and a credit check is one more way to filter out potentially "bad" workers.

I disagree. How I manage MY money is my business and not that of my employer. Their only job is to pay me, and my job is to managethe money they give me. Period. Whats to stop them from monitoring my banking account activity to see if I'm not doing anything sinister? What I do with MY money is MY business.

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by screwtheusa

How the hell are people with bad credit suppose to get better credit if no one will hire them so that they can pay off their bad credit??? It's just discrimination against the poor. Say it's not, say it's discrimination against the irresponsible... Anyway you put it... our nation doesn't allow people to fix their problems... they'd rather you suffer until you can't afford to live... you die... and then they don't have to worry about paying your social security, because they didn't allow you to survive long enough to get there. And they don't even care... They're more worried about a few stolen items here and there that wouldn't even make a dent in their inventory check lists...... It's all bull****. The United States of America is getting so damn conservative no one can even breath anymore...

AMEN!!!! Our nation has gotton so greedy and so selfish, the upper powers-that-be have declared war against the middle-class and poor. Unfortunatley, our nation oppresses the poor. Sad but true. But it has nothing to do with conservitism. I'm conservative (and have no more $$ than you). Put the blame on the special interest and selfish coming from our policy makers, beurocrats, corporate America, and the class warfare declared by all of the above.

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Credit has nothing to do with getting a job, employers do not check your credit.

OH YES THEY DO! I've been denied jobs because of credit.

[KarmaPhx]

Exactly, my credit sucks because I was irresponsible with credit cards when I younger, it's no ones fault but mine.

[ichoptops]

Moderator cut: orphaned quote
Yes, but what does that have to do with a job, or car insurance?

My wife and I moved from Phoenix JUST BEFORE the big money crash. We continued paying on BOTH houses for over a year, even as we watched our Phoenix home turn upside down in loan/value. We made the decision to let the bank have it rather than burn up all we have worked for go to the toilet. In turn, our credit went to hell. I accept that.

Now, lets talk about jobs. My wife worked for the same company for 20 years till she came to work for me. I worked for the same company for 15 years, till I opened up a shop and began working for myself (which ALSO hurts credit). Now granted I'm not looking for a job, but if I were,,,,,,,,, how does my credit affect my ability to be a GREAT employee??????

Now, lets talk car insurance, since they use the credit game too. I have been driving since 1983. My last ticket OF ANY TYPE was 1987. My wife has been driving since 1985. She has NEVER recieved ANY ticket. Neither of us have had ANY accidents. My rates are higher due to credit rating. My friend has EXCELENT credit. However, he "parks by SOUND". Seems to me, the guy who DRIVES responsibly is the one that SHOULD have the lower rates. Aren't you insuring the DRIVING????????

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by ichoptops

Yes, but what does that have to do with a job, or car insurance?

My wife and I moved from Phoenix JUST BEFORE the big money crash. We continued paying on BOTH houses for over a year, even as we watched our Phoenix home turn upside down in loan/value. We made the decision to let the bank have it rather than burn up all we have worked for go to the toilet. In turn, our credit went to hell. I accept that.

Now, lets talk about jobs. My wife worked for the same company for 20 years till she came to work for me. I worked for the same company for 15 years, till I opened up a shop and began working for myself (which ALSO hurts credit). Now granted I'm not looking for a job, but if I were,,,,,,,,, how does my credit affect my ability to be a GREAT employee??????

Now, lets talk car insurance, since they use the credit game too. I have been driving since 1983. My last ticket OF ANY TYPE was 1987. My wife has been driving since 1985. She has NEVER recieved ANY ticket. Neither of us have had ANY accidents. My rates are higher due to credit rating. My friend has EXCELENT credit. However, he "parks by SOUND". Seems to me, the guy who DRIVES responsibly is the one that SHOULD have the lower rates. Aren't you insuring the DRIVING????????

Moderator cut: orphaned post I agree with you on the car insurance and the job situation.

[Gandalara]

Everyone can yell and scream that it's not fair or it's not the employers' business or that it's not right.

But the employers are checking. If you don't consent to the credit check and sign the paperwork, they don't hire you. It doesn't matter to them if you don't like it. Welcome to how things are done now, another result of the economic meltdown.

There was an article in the LA Times (within the last few months) and some of the reasons were

• If you don't care about paying your credit car bill or car payments on time, why would you care about showing up to work on time or come at all? The credit report is an unbiased summary of your responsibility, something that your references from your resume may not be.

• If you cannot handle your own finances responsibly, how can you possibly handle the company's responsibilities?

• Credit checks can help them determine your character and if you have a good work ethic.

• Personal credit is an indicator of character. If you pay bills timely, it suggests that you honor your obligations.

• They are concerned that if you are in financial difficulties, you may have your wages garnished or similar, which will cause them additional paperwork.

These aren't my reasons - don't flame me, it was the employers quoted in the article. The key words to the employer are character and responsible. And in this job climate, they're going to try to find - using any way they can - the best employee for them.

::: shrug :::

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by Gandalara

Everyone can yell and scream that it's not fair or it's not the employers' business or that it's not right.

But the employers are checking. If you don't consent to the credit check and sign the paperwork, they don't hire you. It doesn't matter to them if you don't like it. Welcome to how things are done now, another result of the economic meltdown.

There was an article in the LA Times (within the last few months) and some of the reasons were

• If you don't care about paying your credit car bill or car payments on time, why would you care about showing up to work on time or come at all? The credit report is an unbiased summary of your responsibility, something that your references from your resume may not be.

• If you cannot handle your own finances responsibly, how can you possibly handle the company's responsibilities?

• Credit checks can help them determine your character and if you have a good work ethic.

• Personal credit is an indicator of character. If you pay bills timely, it suggests that you honor your obligations.

• They are concerned that if you are in financial difficulties, you may have your wages garnished or similar, which will cause them additional paperwork.

These aren't my reasons - don't flame me, it was the employers quoted in the article. The key words to the employer are character and responsible. And in this job climate, they're going to try to find - using any way they can - the best employee for them.

::: shrug :::

If thats true, then the corporate powers-that-be are idiots!! I would argue with any hiring manager that a person's credit does not equal bad character. I am living proof. I accrued bad credit as a result of a layoff, I then lost my health insurance, and two months later got sick and had thousands of $$ of medical bills. Corporate america as well as Washington DC, who make these idiotic policies, are run by total ignoramuses! These people have no clue what its like to be the "common" person and totally clueless about the real world. Personally, I think credit checks on potential employees is just a shorter way for the company to weed out candidates so they dont have to interview as many people. But nonetheless, bad credit can happen to anyone and its not fair for hiring managers to hold it against them, especially if the person is a hard worker, has potential, and would make a great employee.

[Tanque Verde]

I strongly suspect credit checks are no doubt run on people who are applying for senior management positions requiring degrees of various kinds. Others who might have their credit checked would be those who are insured and or bonded against any monetary losses that might occur while on the job such as theft and or damage of any kind.

For the rest of us, I seriously doubt credit worthiness will have any effect one way or the other on our ability to get a job. In addition to that, if you are known by others currently working in the same field you are working in, or applying in, that in itself will carry far more weight then a credit check.

Wage assignments such as child support for example cannot be held against a potential employee during the hiring process. There are laws on the books to help keep that from happening.