Background check for employment

[ScottinCrimea]

I just got a reaffirmation of the stupidity of the American system.  My wife received her social security card a couple of weeks ago so went to apply for a job.  The interview went great and she was to be hired pending a routine background check.  There were two results: 1, that her social security number was valid and 2, that since there was no activity at all found on her social security number she was considered a high fraud risk.  I spoke to the company that wanted to hire her and they said that they went strictly on what the background check showed, so the end result is that unless we can appeal to the company that does the background check and convince them to change their assessment, she doesn't get hired. Now of course if she had a criminal record they were willing to work around that.

You just gotta love the logic of the American system!

[alantodd]

I hire a lot of foreigners for work I do.  We do the background check as well.  It takes the government sometime to register the social security number in their system.  I think if she applies in a couple of more weeks it will not be a problem.  This is a requirement that has become very strict this year compared to last year.  Not sure what type of job she applied for but I doubt if she had a criminal record they would hire her.

Problem relies with the American government in that we have way to many people in it with a low quality of service (we could probably fire 70% of all government workers and get more done without them).  This is consistent with other countries government.  With no competition from other companies government groups get lazy.  That is a discussion for a different board.

[ScottinCrimea]

No, this time the government did their job.  The SS# check came back as valid, issued in 2007.  The criminal check showed no matches.  It was the credit check through Transunion that was the problem.  They found no records matching her social security number so flagged this as a "high fraud alert".

[Zadan]

Unfortunately no credit is worse than bad credit sometimes. Fastest way I can think of to establish credit history is to add her as an authorized user to your credit card(s). Be sure to indicate that the new authorized user is your wife, and ask specifically about whether the new person added will also be reported to the credit bureaus.

(Some companies won't report additional authorized users to the credit bureaus unless you're married to the original card holder.)

[alantodd]

May I ask what type of job she applied for.  Does not make sense why this company would care about credit check unless it is in a bank or mortgage company or deals with handling cash.  No criminal record, ability to work (visa), and I assume proper education credentials and no issue with drug test.  No history of credit should not be an issue.  Sounds like someone in human resources who is new or does not understand the process.  I am sure your wife will find something better. 

[jb]

More importantly,,, what kind of job did she apply for?

[Rvrwind]

Actually, more importantly...if they are that friggin' stupid, why would she want to work for them. I'd walk & find another job, piss on them.
Still not enough ammo but I'm saving up!!!

[2tallbill]

Another idea is to apply for a secured credit card like Capital One or your bank (but it's more difficult with zero history) and send in a $500 money order for a deposit plus maybe $35 for an yearly fee. If you don't use guaranteed funds then it will take two weeks to process. They do pay interest on the $500 but it's not enough to exceed the yearly fee.

You can get her credit established fairly quickly this way. Have her make a few charges on it for something
that you would buy or pay for anyway and pay the bill immediately every month when you receive it. Later when her credit is established better she can get a mileage card to help defray trips back to the FSU.

Good luck
Udachi

Bill

[ScottinCrimea]

The job was as a cashier in a department store.  The plan was to use this to get her familiar with cash transactions here and some real life practice with her English before she moved on to the type of position for which she is qualified.  All of the suggested plans are in motion to establish some credit history for her, but she is rather anxious to get out there working and it's quite frustrating to see such idiocy in any form. I did check and learned that the background company only provides the information, not a recommendation and the store makes the interpretation and the hiring decision, so the store HR department is the one deserving of the dunce cap.  I do know the store manager, though, so if HR continues to be stupid, whether or not we decide to have her work there, there will be a complaint filed both with the manager and the store's national office.

[vwrw]

Scottin, what an amazing woman your wife is!!! What a treasure!!! All the best to her and good luck!
 
When are you going to post the promised report regarding your wife’s integration/ adjustment to America and American culture? I look forward to your analysis and observations.