Pre-employment Credit Checks

[blessedbe2]

Hello, I live in Texas, and I have previously been denied a job based on information found in a credit check. I was told I was denied due to monies owed, and having past due accounts. Most of which are from student loans. The job that denied me had nothing to do with money or money handling, but was with a Law Enforcement agency, and I was told the Captain made those decisions. Now that I find myself in a similar situation I was wanting more information about the legality of this issue. Apparently it is legal, (?) but how is it not discrimination?

 

[macckkk]

absolutely and especially law enforcement.....

they need SOLVENT police officers....ones like you are more likely to steal drugs or find some other (possibly illegal) way of supplementing your paycheck ...

LOW debt = better police officer

 

[Beth3]

There are a variety of occupations where poor credit history or large outstanding debts may be a valid consideration and provide good reason not to consider that person for employment.

If the employer is using an outside agency to do credit and other types of background checks, there are laws they must comply with. At the federal level, that is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCA.) Ample information is available on that statute if you do a simple internet search.