New job want a credit check. Advice please.

tomtom12

Hi guys,

I recently interviewed for a job working for a debt collection company. I got offered a job and now they want to perform a credit check on me.

I have a poor credit history with some unpaid debts and these are likely to show up on a credit report.

Is it safe to say the offer of the job will be taken back if I go through with the credit check?

Cheers

Stigy

tomtom12 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I recently interviewed for a job working for a debt collection company. I got offered a job and now they want to perform a credit check on me.

I have a poor credit history with some unpaid debts and these are likely to show up on a credit report.

Is it safe to say the offer of the job will be taken back if I go through with the credit check?

Cheers

I can only assume they want to perform the check as they don't want to employ people with bad credit as they obviously chase people for non-payment of loans etc, therefore want somebody who will perform the role with the relevant discretion and integrity, and somebody who hasn't had issues, possibly with themselves, before. Also you might not like them and might have an ulterior motive maybe?

A bit like Police officers having financial checks, although much deeper, they need to be integral, and not vulnerable to corruption.

I say play it by ear as it depends which CRA they use, as to how bad your file is, as they do differ. Also depends on what you deem as bad, and what they do.

mrsrwallace

I know for a fact that when my sister applied for a job which required this credit checking she had a seriously poor credit rating with CCJs and thought she'd be ruled out. Yet, it seemed the fact that she was openly honest about her financial situation proved she was trustworthy whereas some who do not declare the full extent of the problem may be caught out lying which "proves" they cannot be trusted. I think it depends on the employer and the actual job. Just apply and be truthful.

tomtom12

mrsrwallace wrote: »

I know for a fact that when my sister applied for a job which required this credit checking she had a seriously poor credit rating with CCJs and thought she'd be ruled out. Yet, it seemed the fact that she was openly honest about her financial situation proved she was trustworthy whereas some who do not declare the full extent of the problem may be caught out lying which "proves" they cannot be trusted. I think it depends on the employer and the actual job. Just apply and be truthful.

Thanks for the replys guys.

Prior to applying or being interviewed, at no point was I told a credit check would take place.

They didn't even mention my previous credit history so I didn't feel a need to pull it up.

I don't have any CCJ's but I do have 2 outstanding phone contracts and 2 small loans (£100 & £200) which I'm working towards getting a payment plan setup on. I lost my job due to being made redundant and couldn't keep up payments and then it just went into a bad swing.

Cheers

Joe_P_2

Hi,

My own story goes back 13 years so things may have changed. I was contracting for a major bank at the time and they wanted to employ me full time in a permanent role. The role didn't involve money - I was a backroom boy writing software for managing property!! - but teh offer was pulled after a credit check because I had debts (credit card and overdraft) that were higher than a certain proportion of my proposed salary.

There's little you can do, really - just be straight up about it, explain teh situation, and I'm sure that you'll be fine.

Stigy

tomtom12 wrote: »

Thanks for the replys guys.

Prior to applying or being interviewed, at no point was I told a credit check would take place.

They didn't even mention my previous credit history so I didn't feel a need to pull it up.

I don't have any CCJ's but I do have 2 outstanding phone contracts and 2 small loans (£100 & £200) which I'm working towards getting a payment plan setup on. I lost my job due to being made redundant and couldn't keep up payments and then it just went into a bad swing.

Cheers

If they didn't ask you to declare anything, chances are they're more interested in the debt you have than whether you're being open and honest for integrity's sake.

tomtom12

Stigy wrote: »

If they didn't ask you to declare anything, chances are they're more interested in the debt you have than whether you're being open and honest for integrity's sake.

I'm really stuck on what to do now. I have 2 working days to email them back to confirm I'll accept the job offer and also confirm I'd allow them to take a credit check.

Should I include something in the email to them?

Cheers

Stigy

tomtom12 wrote: »

I'm really stuck on what to do now. I have 2 working days to email them back to confirm I'll accept the job offer and also confirm I'd allow them to take a credit check.

Should I include something in the email to them?

Cheers

Could do, but what harm is there in accepting nonetheless? If they take back their offer, can you not just not leave your current job and stay as you are? Have you seen your credit report from the three main agencies? You might be worrying over nothing! If you have and know what they'll see, it cant do any harm to email them and warn them of what they'll see.

tomtom12

Cheers, I just sent the email off confirming I'd accept the vacancy and giving them permission to do a credit check.

I have to realize if they do decline me it's not the end of the world.

Maybe they'll just be looking for CCJ's and bankruptcy etc neither of which I have.

Cheers

MissSarah1972

tomtom12 wrote: »

Cheers, I just sent the email off confirming I'd accept the vacancy and giving them permission to do a credit check.

I have to realize if they do decline me it's not the end of the world.

Maybe they'll just be looking for CCJ's and bankruptcy etc neither of which I have.

Cheers

I had an interview for TFL and I had to give consent for a credit search. I have no CCJ's no defualts, no late payments and no arrears and I failed so my interview was a waste of time and didn't get to the next stage.

tomtom12

Anyone else got any advice?