Credit History What are my chances

[siryessir]

I'm wondering what are my chances of getting hired with in agency in SoCal. if I have $3900 worth of collections on my credit report.I have 1 charge off which I'm working on right now,I'm trying to get it paid off it's for $1200. I'm also working on the other ones I have they average about $200.

Another issue I might have is my employment, I was terminated from a job I held for 5 years for performance. This happened on 2/28/07. I've had steady employment since then.

Do I have a realistic chance of making it. I have a few test dates coming up that I know I can easily pass. I dont have a degree I just have life experience, I'm 28 so I dont know if that counts for anything.

Does anyone know if theres agencies out there that might look past my credit history, especially if I'm working on clearing it up.I live in So Cal. so any help would be greatly appreciated.

[jlink38]

It depends. I had the same worries, I had $1800 worth of collections, that I settled for about $1000. Try settlements, they're usually A LOT less than the full amounts. I called the department that I am interested in about what I did, and they said as long as I am showing that I am taking care of my obligations then I am OK, and that proof of payment along with the credit report will be good. Having collections on your report is not auto DQ, but from what I understand, you better have a better reason than "I messed up with credit cards" to explain to the recruiters.

NOTE: NOT LEO yet

[siryessir]

One of the reasons my credit went downhill was because after I lost my job I wasnt making the money I used to, so I fell behind on my bills like cable and phone. Eventually they made it to collections. I'm not trying to make excuses for my situation but my wife was in charge of paying the bills and there was one that she thought was paid off, it was for a furniture store. She was wrong and the company made no attempt to collect the debt, it ended up being a charge off on my credit. I'm not blaming her for this, but now I'm in charge of paying the bills. I barely make enough to cover my regular expenses, so it's a little difficult to scrape up enough money to pay anything else.

[retdetsgt]

With credit problems being so prevalent now, I'm not really sure. But I do know that not that long ago, it would be a DQ.

A friend of mine who worked for another dept tried to come on mine and was rejected. He had gone through a divorce and got stuck with all the bills plus child support. Although it was fairly easy to blame his ex wife, they DQ'd him even though he had a number of years experience and an excellent work record. For whatever the reason, depts tend to look at credit problems as a lack of responsibility by living beyond your means.

FWIW, I don't trust anyone with my credit, even my wife. I love her to pieces, but I pay the bills and take care of the money.

[siryessir]

I hope the standards have changed.

[retdetsgt]

I hope the standards have changed.

I would seriously take the bills over. If your wife didn't catch that furniture store bill, that was bad. And now you see how that affects YOUR future. Thinking it was paid when it wasn't isn't going to cut it with anyone.

The job performance thing depends. You can bet they're going to do a pretty extensive background check to make sure there aren't other problems.

[siryessir]

I don't think the job performance issue would be a big deal when they look into it, but I could be wrong.

[mcsap]

Bankrutpcy is a BAD thing to have in your background. Being in collections isn't good BUT isn't a DQ. It is a bruise on your background that will take you a while to shake.

IN the meantime, do whatever possible ( including doing the rice and beans diet) to get current and stay there. You can live without cable TV, a cell phone and that new car.

PS I drive a 1990 year car. I can well afford a new car but really dont need one.

[siryessir]

I have a very high car payment that I can't really afford. I can't default on it because it would make my situation worse. I bought the car 1 year before I got terminated. If it wasn't for that I think I would have been able to clear my credit already. I wont pay for cable because it's to expensive, cell phone is pay as you go. I know now not to live beyond my means.

[DeltaV]

I'd honestly say that your chance of being hired by a decent department with a good applicant pool is pretty slim. Yes, you have the credit issues that will be a black mark. But you also have no degree or military experience. You say that you have "life experience," but that life experience involves being terminated from the job you held for five years. So an agency is going to look at that as a black mark as well.

I'm not saying not to try, but what positives do you have to bring to the table that the other applicants won't have?

[pafindr]

I have a very high car payment that I can't really afford. I can't default on it because it would make my situation worse. I bought the car 1 year before I got terminated. If it wasn't for that I think I would have been able to clear my credit already. I wont pay for cable because it's to expensive, cell phone is pay as you go. I know now not to live beyond my means.

Can you sell your car and then pay off the difference? This may make it easier and faster to pay the car loan down.
Ex. If you still own $10,000 on the car but can only get $5,000 for it you only owe $5,000 instead of the whole $10,000.

[siryessir]

Thats a good point Delta, I hope I can convince an interview panel otherwise. I've heard stories of people being in situations similar to mine and making it. I don't know what to expect when I make it to the BI process.

I've also read threads where people that have degrees and military experience still dont make it all the way through the hiring process. I know every situation is different so I guess we'll see what happens.