Bad Credit?

[jnevil02]

I dont have the best credit in the world....I have a home with a good interest rate (had to go to underwriters to get the interest rate) I had some issues with a credit card when I was 20 (am 27 now) and we got it paid off about 2-3 months ago. So I do not have any outstanding debts, other than a mortgage, car loan, and school loan. But my score is not too hot cause of the old card.

My credit report is not a reflection of the man I am now. But...will it kill my chances?

Jerm

[Uprock]

By what I've been reading, and what I've heard, I don't think this will effect your chances very much.

[stargateSg1]

No ..Credit score does not determine if you get the job or not...Just your mental state score.

[Topher5150]

On the credit report they're trying to see if you are paid up on everything. They don't care about the score, they care if your behind on payments.

[mcsap]

ANY credit issues CAN hve an effecton your getting hired. If a person cannot manage their own finances to an expected degree of responsibility, their will be doubt as to their ability to be an officer.

Having said all of that , your particular situation does not sound bad except for the recent " catching up" you mentioned. I would encourage you to apply and as long as you are otherwise a good candidiate, I think you will do fine.

[Terminator]

ANY credit issues CAN hve an effecton your getting hired. If a person cannot manage their own finances to an expected degree of responsibility, their will be doubt as to their ability to be an officer.

Having said all of that , your particular situation does not sound bad except for the recent " catching up" you mentioned. I would encourage you to apply and as long as you are otherwise a good candidiate, I think you will do fine.

Exactly. Disreguard the above posts that differ from what MCSAP said.

[Signal_W]

Most major departments run a credit check on you when you apply. However, I dont think your credit will be an issue.

[Nole795]

A credit report is part of the total package of doing a background. How much weight it carries is dependant on each department. If you have a history of debt then it will raise eyebrows, especially if you missed payment after payment. All you can do is talk to your BI and let them know.

[akfive0]

Show me a cop on the job that does not have some sort of financial issues and you will be looking at someone that did have financial problems at one time.
We are all human. Credit is only one part of the big hiring picture. You got 9 Visa cards and you are maxed out, paying your Visa bills with your Master Cards.....ehhh there is a problem.

Cops are not some "god" up on a pedistal, we are human and as such we will make mistakes. If you learn from your mistakes and show you do so you will be fine.

For someone to say that your credit is not the best and you are not hired for it...then you parobably don't want to work for that department as maybe their standards are too high.

[retdetsgt]

My credit report is not a reflection of the man I am now. But...will it kill my chances?

Jerm

Probably not as long as you didn't go bankrupt or spent a lot of time in collection. Reduce your credit burden as much as you can before you apply.

[Wombat311]

Show me a cop on the job that does not have some sort of financial issues and you will be looking at someone that did have financial problems at one time.

I do not now, or have ever had financial problems. Good money management is not that hard to come by.

For someone to say that your credit is not the best and you are not hired for it...then you parobably don't want to work for that department as maybe their standards are too high.

What's wrong with high standards? I'd rather work for a department that does a thorough job of vetting its applicants than one that lets almost anybody through the door.


I can undestand why a bad credit rating would make you less attractive to a department. You could be more susceptible to the temptations of the job when coming into contact with money. I don't know any personally, but I know of cops that have come unstuck due ot gambling debts and been caught out nicking cash during search warrants. Three detectives just got arrested this week for doing just that, although I don't know what thier financial situation is.

[meatstick300]

Either way good luck to you!!!

[mcsap]

Show me a cop on the job that does not have some sort of financial issues and you will be looking at someone that did have financial problems at one time.
We are all human. Credit is only one part of the big hiring picture. You got 9 Visa cards and you are maxed out, paying your Visa bills with your Master Cards.....ehhh there is a problem.

Cops are not some "god" up on a pedistal, we are human and as such we will make mistakes. If you learn from your mistakes and show you do so you will be fine.

For someone to say that your credit is not the best and you are not hired for it...then you parobably don't want to work for that department as maybe their standards are too high.

At 45 yrs of age, I have never gone over 30 days on paying off my credit cards. I paid off my house at age 40. I have never ever had any credit issues. My wife has stayed home with our 2 kids since the oldest was born in 1987 and has not been employed since then.

It is not that hard to have and maintain a good financial background / credit score. Having good / bad credit is partially an indicator of what kind of person you are.

[Dash]

The bribe issue is not the only “tell” from a credit review. A person’s ability to pay their bills on time reflects on their personal responsibility. Does this person make appointments and breaks them? Are they a person of integrity? Do they keep their word so on?

Having said that, I had credit problems a long time ago (ok, what for me was along time ago, 5 years  ). It was only a small about of debt, but had gone bad. At first I thought I could get through it, after all, it’s only a little bit of debt, and I’m not susceptible to bribes right? Wrong. So I’ve spent an entire year using all my extra money to pay off that debt. It’s gone, I’m completely debt free, other than a perfect car loan, but I’m still running into problems with it. It shows I went a period of time where I didn’t make any payments on something I agreed to. I’ll probably need to put some more time between myself now, and where I was then.

So again, with all *that* said – it’s not simply credit score that will disqualify you. You’ll need to be able to go in and show that you (if you are) a responsible person that does pay their agreed debts. I’m not an expert on the hiring process by any means, so I can’t say whether it would disqualify you. But I’d encourage most anyone to follow their dream and do their best. G’Luck.

[Jorjio]

As far as credit scores are concerned (I don't know about LE hiring), most if not all problems 7 years back are negligible. Secondly, it sounds as if you were making your payments.