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Post by kylearan on Aug 18, 2017 15:07:04 GMT -5
Friends,
Today I got an email from SSA saying that I might not get selected because they've flagged "issues" on my credit report, "Specifically, past due on credit cards and/or loans." They sent me a copy of the report, and the only thing on there is where I made late payments SIX YEARS AGO (and one late payment from three years ago). Would they seriously object to this? I have 24 hours to write a response.
I also see an "Address discrepancy" on the report, where several years ago my family home address in another state was listed as my address. This doesn't have anything to do with "past due."
I don't suppose there'd be any OTHER credit reports that they used that they didn't send me? I think they are required to send you the report that they use.
Anyway, is this anything to seriously worry about?? Thank you!
Sincerely, Panicking
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Post by Pixie on Aug 18, 2017 15:16:33 GMT -5
I had a PM from another member with a similar problem. Just explain your situation and hope for the best. I have seen others hired in the same situation after giving a good explanation. Pixie
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Post by tiberiustribble on Aug 18, 2017 15:40:42 GMT -5
Got same. And can't open the attachment because it says there was an error when creating it. Emailed asking for resend but no luck. So I guess I answer blindly maybe?
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Post by legalbythesea on Aug 18, 2017 16:02:50 GMT -5
Why don't you call their office if it is not closed? Rather than answer blindly you might reply that you cannot open the attachment.
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Post by kylearan on Aug 18, 2017 16:14:00 GMT -5
I encountered that problem too with opening the thing; you have to download a third party ZIP opener, I use 7 Zip. You can't unzip it with just the ordinary windows thing.
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Post by Pixie on Aug 18, 2017 16:25:26 GMT -5
I encountered that problem too with opening the thing; you have to download a third party ZIP opener, I use 7 Zip. You can't unzip it with just the ordinary windows thing. Wow, nothing like making it easy for you to respond. I would have thought better of OHO.
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Post by kylearan on Aug 18, 2017 16:41:14 GMT -5
Is there any way to appeal if I get non-selected because of this?
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Post by aljwishhope on Aug 18, 2017 16:51:45 GMT -5
Did you get this re: alj application?
Just wondering. Last year I got sent a copy of my credit report when I was on cert. could I have missed an email re: credit issues?
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Post by kylearan on Aug 18, 2017 17:29:31 GMT -5
Yes, it was from ODAR (or whatever) and said specifically that it might keep me from being an ALJ. Credit Karma says my credit is better than 89% of their members - geez how high does ODAR want it to be?!
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Post by Renee98 on Aug 18, 2017 19:02:01 GMT -5
Why don't you call their office if it is not closed? Rather than answer blindly you might reply that you cannot open the attachment. Try "Credit2017" as the password. Its encrypted. That's the password they gave me when I emailed them. My past due was from a few years ago as well, with otherwise perfect credit. I sent back a detailed explanation of what happened and how I have made provisions to prevent it from occurring again.
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Post by tiberiustribble on Aug 18, 2017 19:04:13 GMT -5
Getting the new unzip program did it! Thanks!
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Post by phoenixrakkasan on Aug 18, 2017 19:28:28 GMT -5
The last hurdle can be the toughest. Good luck.
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Post by rtiresr4u on Aug 18, 2017 20:50:28 GMT -5
Along the the same issue: OPM hacked a few years back, signed up for My care ID. Lately someone is trying to open credit cards with all my ID including SSN. I got tired of being of being on hold to all these credit card companies and Equifax and Transunion and Experian and My care ID to tell them it wasn't me. Answer: freeze my credit. Even I cannot open a card without an unfreeze procedure. Anybody with a similar problem? How does this affect gov't hiring credit check?
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Post by murphyslaw on Aug 19, 2017 1:25:54 GMT -5
This morning I woke up to a similar email, specifically, late payment. However, I could not open the zip.
Because I received the same error, I went to Credit Karma and it provides you with two credit reports, one from Trans Union and the other is from Equifax. Equifax is the one SSA uses. I know this because I contacted SSA myself after getting the email and they confirmed what report they used.
I had one thing in collections for a small amount. I had thought paid that bill. Actually I did, but the provider moved and on two separate occasions the checks were returned to the bank since I do automatic bill pay. I was never notified by the bank that the bill was not paid.
I contacted the collection agency and immediately paid the bill and asked for them to write an email to take it off my report. The collection agency sent me the email immediately and I forwarded it to SSA. The agency acknowledged the error. So now, this late payment was taken off my credit report. I was advised that this was sufficient.
I too was unable to open the zip file containing my credit report and so, I decided to get the above credit reports to see what was going on.
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Post by kylearan on Aug 19, 2017 2:41:24 GMT -5
Have to download a third party unzipper.
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Post by kylearan on Aug 19, 2017 2:46:39 GMT -5
Why are they checking your credit before they've hired you? Looking on the bright side, maybe they've already made the decision to hire me and are now doing the credit check after that! Yes, yes, yes, that certainly must be what it is. Yes sir-ree. No doubt about it. Yep. 💯💯👌
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Post by 71stretch on Aug 19, 2017 4:56:59 GMT -5
Why are they checking your credit before they've hired you? They always do. You sign the consent to it on one of the forms they send out for you to complete and return after you make the cert. Why would they wait until AFTER hire to check your credit?
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Post by pumpkin on Aug 19, 2017 6:13:16 GMT -5
Why are they checking your credit before they've hired you? Quite simply, they are trying to determine if you have serious financial issues: living beyond your means; gambling problems; criminal restitution due; tax liens; bankruptcy filings; or other financial "red flags". If you do, you are a potential security risk to the agency. Your precarious financial situation could make you susceptible to bribery, accepting kickbacks, or the sale of personally identifiable information on the black web. Upon information and belief, credit background screening is part of any government hiring process where the person to be hired would have access to sensitive information.
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Post by ok1956 on Aug 19, 2017 6:31:41 GMT -5
Along the the same issue: OPM hacked a few years back, signed up for My care ID. Lately someone is trying to open credit cards with all my ID including SSN. I got tired of being of being on hold to all these credit card companies and Equifax and Transunion and Experian and My care ID to tell them it wasn't me. Answer: freeze my credit. Even I cannot open a card without an unfreeze procedure. Anybody with a similar problem? How does this affect gov't hiring credit check? Someone opened a credit card in my names several years ago (unrelated to OPM hack) and I only found out through lucky happenstance (info gotten through former employer and thief used former work address - friend and former assistant brought me the card and new account info). Long story short, I froze my credit. This was a couple of years before I was hired by SSA. I never got an email about my credit report but I believe I had included a statement in my credit file and it is my understanding is a freeze doesn't keep someone from checking your credit. So I don't think the fact you have a freeze makes a difference.
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Post by okthen on Aug 19, 2017 11:24:10 GMT -5
Why are they checking your credit before they've hired you? Quite simply, they are trying to determine if you have serious financial issues: living beyond your means; gambling problems; criminal restitution due; tax liens; bankruptcy filings; or other financial "red flags". If you do, you are a potential security risk to the agency. Your precarious financial situation could make you susceptible to bribery, accepting kickbacks, or the sale of personally identifiable information on the black web. Upon information and belief, credit background screening is part of any government hiring process where the person to be hired would have access to sensitive information. Do they run the checks for internal candidates as well? I realize they get authorization to do so, but wondering if they skip over this portion for internals, as the internals already have access to such sensitive information?
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