I completely agree there are exceptions, im just playing the Devils advocate here. The only reason I have health insurance is because I HAD to buy it. The only reason I have enough savings in the bank to live on between jobs is because I spent money as fast as I could in the past to buy some of the toys I wanted, so I haven’t blown a bunch of money in a while. and the only reason I make ALL my payments on time is because of autopay.
I don’t think what a person did 5,10,20 years ago should stop them from getting a job, but maybe a particular job. I don’t want to sail with a convicted murderer, and I don’t think child molesters should be school teachers and I don’t mean for 5 years after they were convicted, I mean for life.
Unless the employer is passing out company credit cards and large petty cash accounts (such as to Master’s on deepsea ships), I don’t think employers should be allowed to do credit checks on mariners.
Who do you think does most of these “background” checks? Its the same credit report companies.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;159107]Unless the employer is passing out company credit cards and large petty cash accounts (such as to Master’s on deepsea ships), I don’t think employers should be allowed to do credit checks on mariners.
Who do you think does most of these “background” checks? Its the same credit report companies.[/QUOTE]
I’m not even sure a credit check should be necessary in those cases. Masters are typically required to do a cash reconciliation report every payroll period, as well as it being a turnover item. Company credit cards, any charges would normally be supported with receipts. Any funny business with company funds is certainly cause for immediate termination, and if the amounts were large enough, criminal charges could certainly follow.
[QUOTE=awulfclark;159109]I’m not even sure a credit check should be necessary in those cases. Masters are typically required to do a cash reconciliation report every payroll period, as well as it being a turnover item. Company credit cards, any charges would normally be supported with receipts. Any funny business with company funds is certainly cause for immediate termination, and if the amounts were large enough, criminal charges could certainly follow.[/QUOTE]
Now put yourself in the companies shoes. Say that one captain ripped them off with the petty cash. After the crime, they did a background check and found out he has terrible credit and had served time for credit card fraud and writing bad checks a few years ago. So from now on, its company policy to spend $100 and do the check before handing over a company card or thousands in cash. Can you blame them?
[QUOTE=snacktray;159110]Now put yourself in the companies shoes. Say that one captain ripped them off with the petty cash. After the crime, they did a background check and found out he has terrible credit and had served time for credit card fraud and writing bad checks a few years ago. So from now on, its company policy to spend $100 and do the check before handing over a company card or thousands in cash. Can you blame them?[/QUOTE]
Credit card fraud and kiting checks would normally show up on a criminal background check though?
I stand by what I said previously, fuck with company money and get canned instantly, no questions. In fact, I wonder if the Coast Guard would have the power to pull your license if you were caught stealing money from a company? Punish the actual crime, not what “might” happen.
I had a gov job a while back and got a secret clearance out of it. I remember some fellow co workers got interviewed because of their debt…reason being is, they did have a concern over ‘selling secrets’ from certain programs you could be exposed to.
Everyone has some very valid points here…however, I feel that whatever standard various employers set for candidates’ background all goes to hell if they are in a bind enough for a warm body, regardless of capacity to serve.
[QUOTE=awulfclark;159112]Credit card fraud and kiting checks would normally show up on a criminal background check though?
I stand by what I said previously, fuck with company money and get canned instantly, no questions. In fact, I wonder if the Coast Guard would have the power to pull your license if you were caught stealing money from a company? Punish the actual crime, not what “might” happen.[/QUOTE]
I thought anything involving jail time would show up. Perhaps not though? Beats me
The “background checks” that employers do, include a “consumer report.” Which is of course the credit report. So employers are checking more than just criminal background.
I know several people who have had a terrible time with security clearances. They reject people for having “too much” debt, even if it their credit is great, and also for having “bad” credit. I know a guy that was taken off a MSC ship in the Persian Gulf and sent home when a credit check showed that he had “too much” debt. I no some who had his security clearance held up for months just on the false claim of a Black lady that he had worked with that he was a racist. Like everything else these days, this insistence on “perfect people” is way overdone.
The financial industry has done credit and criminal background checks along with fingerprinting for a very longtime. The necessary reasons are obvious.
As Ctony said above, when they really need people the standards are relaxed.
I’ve had security clearances…Confidential and Secret. In the case of a security clearance for government work, you disclose everything. Even if expunged or sealed. They can find info not picked up by routine background checks.
With the money thing- I don’t know how it is now, but I was almost denied a renewal clearance because of a delinquent bill I was having trouble paying. I borrowed the money from family to pay it off and had to show the investigating officer that I’d made good on the bill before they’d give final approval.
I understand the reason why they do these things but it’s tough when one car breakdown or illness wipes out your emergency funds and getting the job hinges on a good credit report.
If you want to check yours for free, CreditKarma.com is pretty decent for a free service. You can also apply for a free copy of all of your credit reports from the major companies. Beware of pay sites.
[QUOTE=LI_Domer;159125]Wouldn’t his health insurance cover it?[/QUOTE]
Conjecture here, but if the insurance isn’t that hot, wouldn’t take much to wipe somebody out. I feel I have fair insurance, but if one of my kids went out and broke a leg or something, its gonna hurt my savings definately.
[QUOTE=LI_Domer;159125]Wouldn’t his health insurance cover it?[/QUOTE]
Not all of it. I had surgery fairly recently, and what with the copay, annual deductible, and 10% out of pocket, I’m on the hook for well over three grand, and that’s just from the hospital. I’m waiting to see what the anesthesiologist and surgeon charge. And this wasn’t emergency surgery. Get into the E/R and watch those costs escalate. Okay, so they may let you do a payment plan on that medical expense. Hell, suppose the hypothetical gentleman didn’t have insurance at all.
Anyway, the point was not all people with bad credit are in that situation due to bad decision making. There’s just never an easy answer nor do people fit into neat little boxes.
[QUOTE=catherder;159126]I’ve had security clearances…Confidential and Secret. In the case of a security clearance for government work, you disclose everything. Even if expunged or sealed. They can find info not picked up by routine background checks.
With the money thing- I don’t know how it is now, but I was almost denied a renewal clearance because of a delinquent bill I was having trouble paying. I borrowed the money from family to pay it off and had to show the investigating officer that I’d made good on the bill before they’d give final approval.
I understand the reason why they do these things but it’s tough when one car breakdown or illness wipes out your emergency funds and getting the job hinges on a good credit report.
If you want to check yours for free, CreditKarma.com is pretty decent for a free service. You can also apply for a free copy of all of your credit reports from the major companies. Beware of pay sites.
I can understand the government’s reasons for checking credit for security clearances. But just how much is an intelligence agency going to pay for the sort of secrets you’ll be privy to with a Confidential or Secret clearance? For the most part those aren’t exactly earth-shattering secrets. Want a Top-Secret, Eyes-Only clearance, then absolutely check credit. For someone who wants to work with MSC, it’s probably pointless. I’m with you, Cat, it’s a right bastard when you need money to fix your credit and clear your debts, but you need to fix your credit before you can get the job.
[QUOTE=awulfclark;159131]I can understand the government’s reasons for checking credit for security clearances. But just how much is an intelligence agency going to pay for the sort of secrets you’ll be privy to with a Confidential or Secret clearance? For the most part those aren’t exactly earth-shattering secrets. Want a Top-Secret, Eyes-Only clearance, then absolutely check credit. For someone who wants to work with MSC, it’s probably pointless. I’m with you, Cat, it’s a right bastard when you need money to fix your credit and clear your debts, but you need to fix your credit before you can get the job.[/QUOTE]
I was in the Navy when the Walker family spy ring was busted. John Walker had enlisted his son Michael, who was stationed on the carrier Nimitz, to help dig up documents from the burn pile (discarded classified documents get incinerated). I believe Michael only had a Secret clearance. Then there is “Need to Know.” You would be surprised what a relatively low level cleared person has access to depending on the job.
As a result of the Walker situation, all of our clearances were re-evaluated and many of us received downgrades based on needs of the job. I went from Secret to Confidential for a while.
Fair enough, I was just poking at you. You’re right though any kind of sudden financial burden could pop up and wreak havock. It’s another thing if you’re credit is completely in the tank.
[QUOTE=LI_Domer;159134]Fair enough, I was just poking at you. You’re right though any kind of sudden financial burden could pop up and wreak havock. It’s another thing if you’re credit is completely in the tank.[/QUOTE]
You have to make a concerted effort to pay your bills. If you hit a bind and are making an effort to pay your debts, these guys aren’t morons, they realize that (well the clearance folks do, most of the time). If you have bankruptcies, charge-offs, repos then we may be talking a whole different ball game especially if employment hadn’t changed much.
Divorce can take a toll, too. My brother got deep in dutch with his divorce but still managed a TS clearance because he was up front and honest about everything.