Potential employer asking for credit report?

SeaThreePeeO

Sorry if this is the wrong forum.

My husband has recently appiled for a position as Store Manager closer to home. He has been a Store Manager for over 6 years. He has an interview for the position this Friday and the company has sent through the post several forums for him to fill out and bring with him.

One of them being for an Expedian Credit Report. Due to my husband being made redundant two years ago without pay we have a few defaults against us for our joint loan. We're currently on a DMP and having missed a payment.

My husband is now worried that the fact we have defaults will ruin his chances of getting this position. Should we be worrying?

Numpty_Monkey

If he is good enough for the job,
I wouldn't be worried about the credit report thing,
If they ask questions about it be honest

Good luck to your OH :A

SeaThreePeeO

Thank you Numpty Monkey!

We'd just hate to think that we would be penalised due to getting into financial difficulties when it was beyond our control.

jayss

Hope it works out okay. However I work with someone who missed out on a job due to failing the credit check (absolutly terrified me when I heard).

brians_daughter

Urm, ok. If he is handling money - as i would expect he is, they want to know he is financially ok, ie less chance of him stealing if he is in control of his own finances. This sounds like i am implying he would steal, sorry i am not!

I only know this as i had interview last week for a role that wanted to credit check me when i asked why i was given the response i just gave you.

He should mention it to them, voice his concerns and expalin the situation. It is better to inform them than them find out without explaination. You have good reason for your defaults so it may not count against you hth.

BTW it is getting more and more common (or it seems to be) that prospective employers want to credit check you. I saw an advert for sky customer services (i am pretty sure it was sky) who said they also credit check people prior to final job offers.

alenax

I can kind of see why they're doing it but at the same time I think it's really unfair - what if you're in financial difficulties and want the job so you can start paying off debts rather than steal money? Which I'm sure most people would rather do anyway.

If employers start doing it than those who are in difficulties will be stuck in a vicious cycle of debt - not being able to get a job because they're in debt and not being able to get out of debt because nobody will give them a job. Like I say, I can understand why they're doing it but it makes me nervous that this is being done.

brians_daughter

alenax wrote: »

I can kind of see why they're doing it but at the same time I think it's really unfair - what if you're in financial difficulties and want the job so you can start paying off debts rather than steal money? Which I'm sure most people would rather do anyway.

If employers start doing it than those who are in difficulties will be stuck in a vicious cycle of debt - not being able to get a job because they're in debt and not being able to get out of debt because nobody will give them a job. Like I say, I can understand why they're doing it but it makes me nervous that this is being done.

I agree totally. I had a default on my report that was incorrect, luckily with help from people on here i got it removed last week and the check was done on monday. I did expalin that i had been in difficulty in the past but was now up to date. They said that if the data was unfavourable they could ask for 2 additional ref's from the community ie doctor and priest or whoever.

I know banks do checks on prospective employees but was suprised when i found out lots of other places do them as well. TBH (i feel) its none of their business what my finances are like, but in todays climate i would have been silly to refuse them access to my data.

mixedupdebt

You should enquire about employment law on this one. They may ask for the data but I think they are not allowed to not give the job if its not given. Some exceptions to this are financial jobs like being an auditor or accountant or even the armed forces/police who do not allow you in if you are bankrupt.

Not sure on specifics thou. Jobs like customer service have no right to credit check you - its simply not relevant to the post. If they want to see if you are a criminal thou they can always go a CRB check (criminal records).

You can also tell them that things like credit checks can be provided only once an offer of employment has been made - to reduce the number of searches on your file.

PNPSUKNET

companys do it due to handling of credit card details, money, bank details etc even argos do

confused90

it's quite common to be credit checked before being offered positions where you will be entrusted to handle cash and as a store manager i expect your OH would be the one in charge of cashing up, banking money etc etc and this is probably why they want to do it.

I recently had to be credit checked before being offered a job as i handle cash and bank that cash as part of my role. I have a default on my file but i just explained my situation honestly and they gave me the job, my manager, who handled the application did say they were only realy concerned about ccj's though, maybe the same would apply to the job your OH is going for and his defaults won't matter so much.

I hope so and good luck.

La_escocesa

Hi,

I was told it was only to see if you were ever declared bankrupt (but that was a question on the application anyway).

I also get credit checked every year I'm in the job. Again, only to see if bankrupt and not to see credit score/credit card history etc.