# You want my Credit Report before the interview..? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574 "2009-01-29T17:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/1 "2009-01-29T17:01:12Z")
Alright so like a lot of people I’m looking for a job and one of the places I look is Craigslist. Well I applied for a receptionist position and I received this email: > [@](#): > > Thank you for having interest and taking the time to reply to our job > opening. We are pleased to tell you that you have > been selected into the final screening process > > This job will be a rewarding and profitable career choice and we offer > our employees the best salary and health packages available. We > believe a happy worker is the key to a growth oriented company. > > As part of our routine background check on all employees we require > all applicants who have reached this stage to do a routine credit > check to verify your details. > > This check is totally free to you and all details are totally confidential. > Please note: We can not and will not use any bad credit to deny your > application (your credit is not important to us), this is simply to > verify your employment history and Social Security number. > > To get your free credit report we suggest using this provider > [http://www.ageipon.com/CreditReport](http://www.ageipon.com/CreditReport) > > Once you have received your report please send it along with your > current cv to our human resources department [alexis.dulac@slofab.com](mailto:alexis.dulac@slofab.com). > > Once again thanks for your interest in the position, we look forward > to working with you in the near future. > > Wanda Terhune (human resources dept.) Ok what? They want a credit report? I’ve never heard of an employer wanting a credit report BEFORE an interview. The link they gave me is an empty page and the human resources email is from an Internet Marketing website. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? I’ve pretty much decided I’m not going to send some yahoo my credit report but it still seems strange to me. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/2 "2009-01-29T17:04:07Z")
It’s a trap! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/3 "2009-01-29T17:12:14Z")
NO NO NO NO NO I can warn you on this. I have had THREE people try to steal my idenity. I actually traced back two. And these weren’t scams these were legit job with shady H/R Clerks. There is NO REASON why a potential employer needs your social security number, your references or credit report BEFORE an interview. If you fill out an application put “on request” and leave it. The scam is these low paid H/R clerks take SS# off of employment applications then use your references to get enough info to open a credit card in your name. Most employers will not check references till you past the first interview, and often they only do so before the final decision 'cause it’d be a waste of time. I found one guy at the DoubleTree Hotel opened a credit card in my name, he was charged. I actually got the job at another hotel and the H/R clerk at the hotel that HIRED me did this with MY information. I got him fired. So it happens a bunch. When I was an internal auditor I found Accounting Clerks will harvest credit card numbers from guests who stay and sell them online. That’s why you have to stay on top of your credit. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/4 "2009-01-29T17:13:36Z")
Credit report before the interview is pretty strange. A lot of larger organizations will want one before they offer the job; seems like it would be a waste of money to pay for credit reports on everyone who came in and flunks the interview. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/5 "2009-01-29T17:29:02Z")
Since this doesn’t seem to be a question for anyone else, I’ll bring it up: What business is your credit report to your employer? ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/6 "2009-01-29T17:35:19Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > What business is your credit report to your employer? Yeah, I’d like to know that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/7 "2009-01-29T17:36:14Z")
I’ve never heard of that being done. Maybe I would understand if you’re going to be handling a lot of money but that’s what auditors are for. I wouldn’t do it and unless it was a government job I wouldn’t even give them my SSN until I had accepted an offer. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/8 "2009-01-29T17:39:46Z")
I’m really tempted to email them back asking exactly what’s wrong with their phone where they can’t call to verify employment. Hell since I’ve got nothing to lose… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/9 "2009-01-29T17:46:23Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Since this doesn’t seem to be a question for anyone else, I’ll bring it up: What business is your credit report to your employer? Some employers want to check your credit history to find out if you’re a deadbeat, especially if it’s a sensitive position where you’ll have access to money or secret information. The employer is required to obtain your consent before getting the report. Most employers won’t care if you have a mediocre credit score, as long as they can see that you pay your bills on time and don’t have mountains of high-interest debt. ---
**Author:** ![Jaglavak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jaglavak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaglavak)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/10 "2009-01-29T18:21:05Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > What business is your credit report to your employer? [Welcome to Amerika.](http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/credit-history-inquiries/) 35% of employers now routinely pull credit reports on job candidates. You’re not legally required to come across - only if you want a job. Something like 90% of insurance companies require a credit report too. And they will double your rates if the report shows problems even if you have settled up. It’s none of their business, they do it because they can. They can do it because they apply money to the political game. Advantage: the bad guys. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/11 "2009-01-29T18:32:02Z")
I’ve tried to get several jobs that requested a credit report - and didn’t get the job because my credit sucks. They can use your credit rating to decide whether or not to hire you. Or, in hindsight, exactly what Friedo said. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/12 "2009-01-29T18:50:58Z")
Yeah, I got one of those and I emailed back, “I actually just checked my credit last week at [annualcreditreport.com](http://annualcreditreport.com) and my score came back at 826. Is there any other information you need?” and never heard back. If you look at that link it isn’t a legitimate credit reporting site, they are obviously just harvesting your information for theft purposes. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/13 "2009-01-31T16:30:17Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Yeah, I got one of those and I emailed back, “I actually just checked my credit last week at [annualcreditreport.com](http://annualcreditreport.com) and my score came back at 826. Is there any other information you need?” and never heard back. If you look at that link it isn’t a legitimate credit reporting site, they are obviously just harvesting your information for theft purposes. Sending sensitive information to a place you found on craigslist? I don’t think so, Tim/OP. I wonder if the FBI would like to know about such a place. [http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm](http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm) Here’s the link to report it. > **[Home Page - Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)](https://www.ic3.gov/)** ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/14 "2009-01-31T16:37:34Z")
My hackles were raised when the email said “This job will be a rewarding and profitable career choice.” No real email of this kind would say that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/15 "2009-01-31T17:37:28Z")
I think it’s a scam of some sort too. What makes no sense to me is that the OP appears to be US-based and said he/she applied for a receptionist position, but the [slofab.com](http://slofab.com) company is based in Slovenia. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/16 "2009-01-31T22:04:36Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > Alright so like a lot of people I’m looking for a job and one of the places I look is Craigslist. Well I applied for a receptionist position and I received this email: > > Ok what? They want a credit report? I’ve never heard of an employer wanting a credit report BEFORE an interview. On the other hand maybe they should do it like that, it would save everybody a lot of time and aggravation. What’s the point of being interviewed, and perhaps nearly getting hired, only to be disqualified at the last minute because you had some credit card problems five years ago? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/17 "2009-01-31T22:12:23Z")
The link in the OP where they “suggest” you pull your credit report from is a broken one. My thought was it’s probably a site that asks you to pay for the report, and that is their real business. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/18 "2009-01-31T22:21:21Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > My hackles were raised when the email said “This job will be a rewarding and profitable career choice.” No real email of this kind would say that. Well, in all fairness, stealing the OP’s identity probably is both profitable and rewarding for the scammers. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-my-credit-report-before-the-interview/483574/19 "2009-01-31T23:12:37Z")
Actually, I have a paycheck stub from every employer that I have worked for in the past 15 years, a letter of recommendation from one supervisor from each employer from the last 15 years. I have carefully blacked out my social security number on the stubs. I have told people that I will provide the information in hard copy when I get to the first interview [I have had that scam pulled on me at least 5 times now] and I never get callbacks from the scammers but on valid job interviews I am apparently given brownie points to providing employment documentation and references … they have always had a postive effect on the HR persons involved. I keep copies of all my various certs even the expired ones, and have both my social security card and a valid passport, current drivers license and military ID. Really, it isnt hard to keep copies of documentation around if you have a single place to keep them and are careful to always keep track of stuff. A locking file cabinet is very useful=) [I once had an exroomie steal some checks out of a checkbook and bounce 3 or 4 checks in my name. How helpful :rolleyes:]