# Employer and credit history **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/employer-and-credit-history/196842 "2003-08-22T02:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/employer-and-credit-history/196842/1 "2003-08-22T02:35:28Z")
When I signed all these papers at my new job, I had to sign something authorizing the company to do background checks, and gave a list of possible things like credit history. I understand criminal and credential checks, but why would they need to do a credit check? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/employer-and-credit-history/196842/2 "2003-08-22T03:04:04Z")
When I did H/R the director told me that she was able to assess a person’s ablity to handle responsiblity for the job by the way he/she handles his/her finances. Also for certain positions it was manditory as they were bonded (i.e. servers, and other money handlers) and that the insurance required it. I disagree with the first part of the statement as I have NEVER been anything but a reliable (and I have won many awards) employee but I didn’t have insurance and got ill and was young. So I charged my bills to visa and mc and couldn’t pay and my credit was so bad. I mean I couldn’t even get a secured credit card. It is OK now. I have seen credit reports and they are pretty much your payment history. I personally would be much more interested in your criminal backround. You would not believe the number of women who have indecent exposure arrests. The director told me most of these are girls who get drunk in bars and flash someone their breasts. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/employer-and-credit-history/196842/3 "2003-08-22T03:05:00Z")
A credit check can indicate whether a person is living beyond his means. Such a person might embezzel funds or steal property to sell so that he can meet his financial obligations. If someone who is being considered for a security clearance is deeply in debt, he might be a security risk because an enemy agent may offer him _x_ dollars to violate security. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/employer-and-credit-history/196842/4 "2003-08-22T03:06:46Z")
> [@](#): > > The director told me most of these are girls who get drunk in bars and flash someone their breasts. Names and addresses, man! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/employer-and-credit-history/196842/5 "2003-08-22T07:48:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HubZilla \* > \*\*When I signed all these papers at my new job, I had to sign something authorizing the company to do background checks, and gave a list of possible things like credit history. I understand criminal and credential checks, but why would they need to do a credit check? \*\* > [@](#): > > By obtaining a copy of a credit report, an employer may be given information on: > > ``` > * 7-10 years of credit history > * public record information, such as: tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, and collection items > * a list of the individual's creditors and their addresses or phone numbers > * a list of companies inquiring into the individual's credit file > * previous employment information > > ``` > > - verification of personal information, such as: a social security number check and an address check to determine that neither has been misused… From [http://www.creditreport.com/creditsense/cr\_employment.asp](http://www.creditreport.com/creditsense/cr_employment.asp)