Credit check before an offer of employment

[AbigailLouise]

I have been for an interview today, I would be working in an environment where they need 5 year history ( not a problem) They then said if I was offered the job they would have to run a credit check ... problem ... I have a terrible credit rating.

When they run the credit check would they see everything ? Or are employers limited to what they can see on a credit check ?

 

I have never had a credit check done by an employer before so I have no idea what they are able to see and not see. What on my credit file would stop me getting the job ?

[ericsbrother]

They are probably just ascertaining you are who you say you are. They get to see very little with an identity check. Same goes for insurance quotes, just name, address, DoB confirmed. If you are applying for a job in the financial sector then they look at the bigger picture to determine whether you are vulnerable to temptation.

[AbigailLouise]

Its working in a currency exchange shop.

Would they just need access to my basic info?

[Sidewinder]

Highly likely in that environment that they may use credit scoring and history as a decision factor in offering employment. As with banking, they can legitimately assess credit history as an indicator of risk in handling money.

 

That isn't to say that it will be the overriding factor - hopefully you may have an opportunity to explain the circumstances of previous problems and how you have worked to overcome them.

[ericsbrother]

concur with above, have they asked for a CRB check as well as that will carry more weight when showing honesty.

[AbigailLouise]

Yea, they would need 5 year history, Credit Check and a CRB check. I have never been in trouble with the police so that is squeaky clean, its just my credit check that isn't.

[AbigailLouise]

I've just spoken to them, they said they will need to conduct an Experian Credit check. Is this a full in depth credit check ?

And in some cases a financial sanction check ... I have no idea what this is ha ha

[Emmzzi]

they're looking for county court judgements against you, usually.

[ericsbrother]

As they have asked for the other bits this becomes of less significance but they are probably making sure that there arent reasons for you to be more likely to be tempted to dip into the till than the average person. A clear CRB etc and decent work history will be the real decider.

[Bandit127]

How bad is your credit history? Just bad timings with payments? Defaults? CCJs? Bankruptcy? I have a friend in finance (well, she was in finance) and Bankruptcy was an absolute bar for her. I don't know about CCJs and defaults but I suspect they are in a grey area. Late payments will likely not be an issue.

[renegadeimp]

It depends on the CCJ really. For example banks have been known to lend to people with CCJ's, but only when it is in the last year or so of expiry. Others refuse till its gone. My guess is most employers have the same attitude.