Background check - Credit/BK issues

[joneill711]

I'm currently going through the hiring process with the Sheriff's Dept in both Riverside and San Diego Counties in California. I'm 42 married and looking to start a career in Law Enforcement, yes it's late but timing was never right. I'm currently in the mortgage industry and have made some very poor investment moves and now I'm paying for it with quite a bit of debt. My credit is good and I pay my bills on time, I'm just concerned that I'm going to be judged on my outstanding debt. My wife has a good paying job and contributes about $50,000 a year so we do have the ability to pay bills. My other option was to file BK to eliminate that debt all together but was also told that doing that would disqualify me right off the bat, I feel that I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Just looking for someone to shed some light on the subject. :confused:

[phantasm]

declaring bankruptcy does NOT erase your debt, plus it stays on your credit report for 7 years, so forget about a new house, or a car, or even a refinance.

Being married, definitely for a house, both your and your wife's credit will come into play, and they'll take the lower of the two credits (yours with a bankruptcy).

[joneill711]

Thank you for your response but I'm not looking to buy a house, I'm looking for some real advise on how the background check works as far a credit goes... What are they looking at and what are they looking for?? I'm in the Mortgage industry right now so I know how that process works but thanks for the lesson.

[DeltaV]

My other option was to file BK to eliminate that debt all together but was also told that doing that would disqualify me right off the bat

You were told correctly. Having a poor credit score and accounts in delinquency will look bad, but it's nothing compared to a recent bankruptcy.

[phantasm]

I typed bankruptcy into search in the background section, and these threads are among those on the first page.

USE SEARCH.

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...ght=bankruptcy

[joneill711]

Thank you guys for responding. I took physical agility today and passed and met with Background Investigator to go over instructions on completing background paperwork. I asked him how credit is viewed and as long as I don't show multiple BK's and collection accounts I should be good. I have good credit and pay things on time, just was considering going BK to get a new start but I guess I'll have to wait till later or try hard to get out of the hole on my own. The good thing is that I have a wife that earns a pretty good living...... All I can do is turn it in and hope for the best, it's out of my hands.