Should you have to research your own credit score for a job interview?

[SnoopyCool]

DH is looking for a job, as I've blogged about before. He gets this e-mail in response to an ad he responded to, asking him to give his credit scores from the top 3 bureaus (along with a plethera of other job-related q's that are in line with job seeking). The company is a staffing agency (the link is inlandfirst, put a dot com after that). They seem legit, but you have to pay $5.95 to get the score on Experian, much less the other bureaus.

Oh, and I should mention that in that e-mailed response DH received, there's a link to get your credit score for free at (your credit aid) com. Seems a little fishy to me.

Your thoughts?

[disneysteve]

I've heard of lots of companies running background checks on potential employees, including credit reports, but I've never heard of any requiring the applicant to run their own background check. That sounds fishy to me, too. Besides, how do they know the applicant will give accurate information unless they also require you to present the report?

[arthurb999]

Being an accountant, ive always got my credit report checked when starting a new job. Having to pull it yourself is not normal...

[boosami]

Originally Posted by SnoopyCool

He gets this e-mail in response to an ad he responded to, asking him to give his credit scores from the top 3 bureaus

Let it be known that I don't trust staffing agencies (they are only interested in their commission, and nothing else). Regarding submitting your own credit score information, asking you to provide it is not normal. The agency just wants that information so they can better "pre-screen" for potential employers, and they're too cheap to pay for it themselves. If it is a requirement, do not use them, though most likely they will tell you it's optional.

I'd tell them that credit is excellent and will not be a problem going forward with any employer. If that's not enough for them, you can find another agency.

[SnoopyCool]

I'm thinking that the entire thing is a farce and the second website is where they'll steal your SSN.

If I'm right, people are going through a lot of smoke and mirrors to get SSNs these days. Those sites look good!

[disneysteve]

To the best of my knowledge, there is NO site where you can get your FICO score for free. There are sites where you can get it "free" if you sign-up for a credit monitoring service, and they may offer a free trial period if you cancel within 30 days.

The best way to get your actual FICO score is to buy it from myfico.com.

[rizzmo]

Disney I started using this website to get my credit score (before that I would just start a loan application on prosper)

Always Free Credit Scores and Credit Tools | Credit Karma

It lets you examine how certain actions will effect your credit score and is 100% free with no sign-up/cancel garbage to mess with. Also you can check it any time you want and have it email you once a month.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by rizzmo

Disney I started using this website to get my credit score (before that I would just start a loan application on prosper)

Always Free Credit Scores and Credit Tools | Credit Karma

It lets you examine how certain actions will effect your credit score and is 100% free with no sign-up/cancel garbage to mess with. Also you can check it any time you want and have it email you once a month.

Very interesting. FYI, they are not providing a true FICO score, but rather the score generated by TransUnion. That may differ, sometimes significantly, from your FICO which is what most creditors actually depend on, but hey, for free, it is a great resource for keeping track of where you stand. Thanks for posting that.

[SnoopyCool]

Is your FICO score the same for all three bureaus? Does each bureau calculate it separately? Just wondering, because that application sent to DH asked for a score from each bureau.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by SnoopyCool

Is your FICO score the same for all three bureaus? Does each bureau calculate it separately? Just wondering, because that application sent to DH asked for a score from each bureau.

No, each bureau calculates their own. They are similar but not identical. If there is a big discrepancy, you need to carefully review the credit reports and see why.