Teletech Want Experian Credit Check/Background

dollydiva

I've been working for TT for over a year now, yet suddenly they have sent me a letter saying that as part of random testing for the Client, they now want to run a background AND credit check with Experian.

Now, even though I can understand the background check - despite the fact that I supplied a Disclosure Scotland and the like when I started along with proof of identity, etc. So that's okay with me cos I haven't murdered anyone or changed into Loretta St Dubois in the meantime.:rotfl:

But why the credit check? Why should ANY employer - let alone this one - ask me to give permission for a credit check to be run against my name? Does having bad credit make me a thief? Am I not trustworthy in some way? Does it make me bad at my job?

tbh, it's hubby who is more annoyed than me...he's hopping mad. He thinks they have no right to ask me for it and that I should kick up a damn fuss. :mad:

I really have no idea of my Rights (if indeed any!) as regards this matter. Anyone come across a similar problem?:embarasse

dd

junkmayle

Personally, I would not comply. Your financial details are private and no-one elses business. If they asked to root through your underwear draws, I dont think that you would even be asking if they are allowed. They dont own you. You go to work, do the job and then get paid. Thats the relationship.

Sanity

They have no right to ask you. Your credit rating is none of their business. I would be tempted to get legal advice to be quite honest. This is overstepping the mark.

And asking you after you have been employed with them for a long period? How ridiculous.

It had nothing to do with them when you started. It still doesn't.

stclair

Teletech which client is involved is it a financial company?

As teletech take calls on behalf of other companies dont they?

Its pretty much the norm now a days for a company to what to a credit check on you as part of the application/screening
process.

http://www.backgroundchecking.com/pg.asp?p=home

dollydiva

stclair wrote: »

Teletech which client is involved is it a financial company?

As teletech take calls on behalf of other companies dont they?

Its pretty much the norm now a days for a company to what to a credit check on you as part of the application/screening
process.

http://www.backgroundchecking.com/pg.asp?p=home

It is NOT the norm for ANY company to do a credit check...I do NOT work with financial details. Even if I did...does a bad credit check make someone a potential thief? Is that what you suggest? If so...there are an awful lot of potential theives on this particular forum..I notice you link to Experian BACKGROUND checking...as I say I have NO problem WHATSOEVER with Experian checking my background details. But this form asks implicitly for me to give permission to Experian to run a credit check and report the details back to both Teletech and their Client.

As I say, ALL of my details were checked over a year ago...I supplied all documents asked for and this appears to me to be unreasonable.

Interestingly, such employment credit checks are outlawed in parts of the USA where they have been used by some Employers to discriminate against black afro-american job applicants as their ethnic group is shown to have greater debt problems than other groups....
dd

Louise22

Well it is the norm actually. I have had one done in past jobs, even jobs that are not in finance. I fail to see what the big fuss is about really....

stclair

Which client do you deal with at teltech?

My brother applied for a job at pipex once which is a telephone and broadband provider and they did a credit check on him during the application process.

If you feel so strongly about it you should maybe speak to HR or your union.

Plus im sorry but id have to disagree but quite a few companies do credit checks on its applicants now adays.

PasturesNew

I had full background and credit checking the other month for a 4 week temp job doing some basic number crunching. Nowhere near systems, financial stuff, accounts, or clients.

It was just standard - and is becoming increasingly so these days.

Credit checks today... pee tests tomorrow.

junkmayle

There is nothing 'standard' about it at all. Too many people have allowed companies to probe into thier private affairs, that it now SEEMS standard. What if Asda employees start being told they cant shop at Tescos? BT employees told they cant use Talk Talk? BBC employees told they cant watch Sky? Where do you draw the line? If gutless people roll over and accept that then yes, it would be viewed as 'standard' rather than oppressive.

DVardysShadow

Louise22 wrote: »

Well it is the norm actually. I have had one done in past jobs, even jobs that are not in finance. I fail to see what the big fuss is about really....

Well, no it isn't. It is only the norm to you because you have been too soft and consented. In the OP's case, it comes a year after starting with the company.

As for failing to see what the fuss is about, dollydiva explains in her post how it is used to discriminate in the USA.

Sanity

Louise22 wrote: »

Well it is the norm actually. I have had one done in past jobs, even jobs that are not in finance. I fail to see what the big fuss is about really....

The big fuss is that it clearly has no bearing on anyone's ability to do their job, and in this case, after a long term of emplyment by the company.

The big fuss is that your credit rating is between you and anyone you are trying to buy on credit from.

The big fuss is that every time people roll over and let companies get away with things like this without arguing or questioning, the boundaries will continue to get pushed and they will think they can demand to know anything about you.

What next? The thought police?

I repeat.....your credit rating is of no concern to any potential or current employees. Simple as.