Worried about application...

[s_dee66]

Hey everyone! My husband is actually the on applying for the Austin PD, but seeing as I'm nosy and I like to be involved, I am trying to get some info from real people serving and their experiences. Here's some of what we're worried about. First is his credit. It's god awful!! A number of accounts have gone to collections and he had one vehicle repo. Everything is paid, except for one account we have been making payments on and will be done next month and another account from 2006 just came to our attention today and we are taking care of it ASAP. Another problem we just thought of today while going over a background packet is that a few days ago, my husband had hurt his back at work and he was in a bit of pain so I gave him a Tylenol 3 that was prescribed to me. We didn't even think about...stupid. He is going to be completely honest about everything, but I'm worried. Any opinions?? Oh yeah, one more thing I'm worried about....he goes to Austin next weekend for his first round of testing with the PD there and they said that he needs all this paperwork due that day, including an official credit report. Well, we waited a little too long and ordered it today, BUT it's going to take up to 10 business days to get it, and it is due next friday! Its a DQ with them, but I'm wondering if we call them on Monday and explain do ya'll think they may be lenient??? Thanks for any advice or opinions!!

[Piggy]

The credit may be an issue. Why did he get behind, how far was he behind, and what did he do to solve the problem. Also, are there going to be future problems.

The Tylenol-3 may or may not be an issue. No he shouldn't have taken it but it all depends on how the hiring agency views his intent.

As to the last question, you'll have to call the PD direct. Is there any chance you can pay extra to have it sent overnight, or at least expedited?

[s_dee66]

Simple answer on the credit is he was stupid and irresponsible. He has never been good with money, but when we got married I forced him to look at his credit report and realize how important it is so we have been working on fixing his credit for the last year. All delinquent or collection accounts have been paid and one large we have been making regular payments of $500 a month on will be done next month. Another account just came to our attention today (it was never on the Experian report, just the Equifax one so we never saw it) and we are going to take care of it ASAP.

The credit agency's phone number will not let you speak to a live person and I have yet to find a number that will get an operator so I couldn't ask. He is going to call them first thing Monday and ask them about that as well as the Tylenol 3. The most important thing for him is to be completely honest and notify them at the first sign of trouble.

My problem is I worry too much and I'm terrified of the "real world" lol..my husband gets out of the military in December and I'm starting to freak out about it..I went from my parent's house to the military to being a military spouse and we are always taken care of in the military and it scares me to not have a plan! We just really want this to go well!

[s_dee66]

I also hope his other strong points will help outweigh the bad. He will be honorably discharged from the Marines after 8 years with exemplary service, he has a perfect driving record, no arrests, no drug use (except for our stupid prescription issue), he had one incident when he was 15 when he assisted in the sale of marijuana once but he already cleared that with the department since it was more than 10 years ago. He is in fantastic shape physically and extremely honest and has integrity.

[SnapShawt]

You could also go to www.truecredit.com - and there are others, but that's the one I use. You can pay a one-time fee or a monthly fee and update your report as often as every day if you wish. You get all three agency reports and you can click a link for a printable version. That would solve the time issue for you.

The credit problems will be an issue, but showing that he's made payments and clearing it up will help. Whether it will help enough or not will be up them obviously. The military service will be very helpful as well.

[Roger Dat]

Your taking care of the credit so you'ved limited the damage with that aspect a best you can. While he shouldnt have taken the tylenol most of us have hurt our backs at one time or another and can be explained though it could cause a problem. Never know unless he tries. Order the credit report online and print it.

[bell4fan]

The best he can do with his credit is openly admit to it, let it be known he was irresponsible, but that he has learned his lesson and is fixing the situation. I spoke to a guy hired by DPS this last go around who had a bankruptcy in 04, but he showed financial responsibility from then on.

The tylenol this is touchy. There was also a guy applying to DPS, had his conditional job offer, went to austin, and said he took vicoten(sp?) a year ago w/o prescription. He was not hired.
Its a touchy situation. I would call a APD recruiter, and ask him. maybe not give your name, just say I was thinking about applying, but took tylenol 3 w/o a prescrition and see what he says.

[s_dee66]

The APD won't accept printed out credit reports. They have to be in the original sealed envelope from the Experian reporting agenct. I wish it was as easy as printing it out! We have access to it at freecreditreport.com but they dont accept them.

By the way, thanks everyone for your input so far...I guess there's really nothing else we can do except wait and pray!

[SnapShawt]

Well so much for that suggestion then. It actually makes sense - after all, it would be easy for someone to make some "adjustments" to a report they're going to print.

In that case, go with what Piggy said and see if there's a way to get an overnight or 2-3 day delivery of the report.

[s_dee66]

GRRRRR!!! I just tried 8 different numbers for experian and I finally got one that may have led to a live person, and I missed their office hours by 12 freaking minutes!!!! At least I have a lead on that so maybe Monday I can fix that problem!

[s_dee66]

Update!!! My husband called APD yesterday and they said not a problem with the credit report, he just needs to give them the confirmation number for the order!!! YAY!! He forgot to ask them about the Tylenol 3, but its on his background investigation paperwork, and since he can't change the past, we just have to hope and wait!

[s_dee66]

YAY!!!!! My husband passed every test this weekend so he's off to a great start!! His credit didn't end up being too much of an issue since everything is paid off or being paid off, and they didnt seem too concerned about the tylenol 3 issue since they said they are looking for patterns of abuse, which are not there. YAY!

[Roger Dat]

Thats good news. Good luck to him.

[noelchabanel]

He certainly has a good advocate on his side.

[s_dee66]

Thanks ya'll!! I know he still has a way to go and many more hurdles to overcome, but this is a great start and we're super excited! It's so hard to transition from the military to civilian life and leave the military family, but I think it would be a great thing to move to another family like the LEO community. Just reading all these posts you can feel the camaraderie between everyone and that's the biggest thing I miss and I know my husband will miss it too. It's an awesome feeling knowing you're part of something greater.