Yes, you do. If you are denied a job based upon your credit report, you are entitled to a copy of said credit report from the same reporting bureau, for free.

But because the entire process is opaque, how can you know you were sent the exact same report as whoever requested it. There is no guarantee in the system that this is the case, and you have no way of checking, nor do you have much in the way of recourse if your employer or lender based their decision on inaccurate information.

Let me be clear, I have no problems with certain employers or positions requiring certain things or testing their employees before hire.

I am saying that the credit score and credit report system as it stands now does not provide the information those employers are requesting. I have a big problem with that.

how can you know you were sent the exact same report as whoever requested it

Isn't that just a general "everyone could be lying to me about everything" worry? I'm willing to bet that, like most financial companies, any credit company is legally required to have an unalterable record of exactly what they sent out to any of their clients at any time. So they know what they sent HR. But, like any company in any scenario, only the law and decency compels them to send you the same thing.

That's not a flaw in the system. Anyone can game it if they're willing to take the risk.

I think I'm going to need to stock up on Tums or something. I've never taken Tums in my life, but my reflux is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. Today it's bothering me during the day, which is a first. /mememe stress

{{{smonster}}} I'm sorry you are having a tough day at work. Calm~ma headed your way.

{{{{{Maria}}}}} You continue to be in my thoughts.

Isn't that just a general "everyone could be lying to me about everything" worry?

I don't think so, because if there were more transparency, there would be less of a problem.

I'm willing to bet that, like most financial companies, any credit company is legally required to have an unalterable record of exactly what they sent out to any of their clients at any time.

I'm not willing to make that bet. Most corporate laws these days have no teeth. A law with no teeth may as well not exist.

I understand that there will never be a perfect system, but this system is so imperfect as to beg for something better, and the system as it stands strikes me as incredibly oppressive and arbitrary. This may be just me, but I see it as incredibly unjust and needing replacement.

good to see you Maria. lots of 'ma.

So, on one point I can understand Sean's perspective: the credit report is known to have factual problems and above does not necessarily have a high correlation with various property-related behaviors.

If a credit report was requested for finance jobs, etc. that would be one thing, but why its ubiquitous use everywhere? Further, if 80% of credit reports have errors (though I don't know what kind of errors this stat represents), why request a document that is as likely as not to have errors to judge someone suitable for a job?

I'm not willing to make that bet

I'm making that bet not because I believe in the brilliance and sanctity of the human soul, but because I've worked in the financial industry, including mortgage, including Countrywide, and I was being liberal in my language.

It's a law. It's predominantly being followed. Trust me or ignore me, but I say this with confidence. There will always be shady people not following legislation, but it's there, and it's not being ignored. And it's enforced.

Trusting you or not is not the issue. Nor is trusting any one company, or the sanctity of the human soul, nor is your confidence in your assertion. Nor is it the issue that shady people will always game systems no matter what (why ever bother to try and fix any system, then?).

The system as it stands is too wide open for abuse, and large numbers of people are being abused by it.

The system as it stands is too wide open for abuse, and large numbers of people are being abused by it.

More specific to my original point, it is so wide open for abuse as to make in inappropriate for use as a hiring tool.

Hat trick:

It's perfectly legal for employers to use almost any method they want to make hiring decisions. Employers can use phrenology, if they want. If it were common practice, like credit reports are now, I would be up in arms over that, too.

So I guess what my real argument is is that I am explicitly equating credit scores and credit reports with phrenology.

ETA (so's not to spam the thread):

More accurately, my argument is that, regardless of their original intent and design, credit scores and credit reports are now explicitly and exclusively an asymmetric weapon of class warfare, and as such they are unfit for any use, most especially hiring decisions.