For several years applicants to the banking/finance sector will have had credit checks undertaken as part of the recruitment process.

I have noticed that there seems to be trend for non finance sector organisations/companies looking at using Credit Checking Agencies/ Screening Consultants, who will check Qualifications, credit checks, employment history, residential address history.

Personally I believe that any robust recruitment practice would make all of this un-neccessary, You can easily check qualifications and job history as part of the recruitment process(admittedly it does become more difficult if the company has gone out of business but you will have the same information as the consultant anyway)

What I am uncomfortable with is the credit check and also check on residential addresses, what could legitmate reason would these be of use to an employer?

Paul Strickland