On job applicants with bad credit

Re: “Trapped: It’s hard to get a job if your credit is bad,” June 7:

Employers really couldn’t care less what kind of financial problems their job applicants are having. But with hundreds of applicants for one position, credit checks are an easy way to reduce the number of applicants.

However, people who are planning to go to college should be aware that college may actually keep you from getting a job, because many employers won’t accept your application if you have a student loan default on your record.

Matthew Okada

Pasadena

--

My husband is 63 years old and was forced into early retirement because his job was outsourced to India in September 2006. I am 61 and my job was outsourced to the Philippines last July.

I resent that because of our circumstances, any future employers would consider me or my husband a thief or of bad character. Especially after being previously employed by a company for more than 30 years.

Is this what we have worked so hard for all these years?

We are not thieves or bad people, and besides, my credit history is my private business. I’ll be refused work, but at least I’ll have my dignity.

Linda M. Coon

Palmdale

--

Several years ago, while I was a commercial loan officer for a large national bank, a client referred me to a friend who desired a significant unsecured line of credit.

That person was chief of police for a large U.S. city and had one of the worst credit reports I have ever seen in more than 20 years of lending. Because of the politics involved, his request was approved at a very high level.

So much for the credit report supporting employment.

Joel Soffer

Long Beach