Unless it's MUTUAL, most nannies draw the healthy boundary line with credit checks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. Having had a beloved nanny but one who is horrible at managing money and so has frequently asked for loans I would be very tempted to ask for a credit check if we ever hired someone else. If she wanted to make it mutual though that would be fine with me.

You would go through the work of getting a credit check rather then just saying no? You actually kept this person in your employ? Sounds like you were trying to make up an argument but it just does not add up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here - just curious what the rationale for checking a nanny's credit is? I am not sure what you learn that way. Also if you use a big background check company, is a credit check part of the routine checks? It's never occurred to me to ask for this before - and I always thought that too many credit checks can have a negative impact on someone's credit rating anyway. Do big companies do credit checks before I boarding new employees? Not looking for snarky responses - I am genuinely curious and hoping a family who requires this can offer some insight.

Many companies will run credit checks on new employes as part of the hiring process. A company doesn't want to bring on an employee with financial problems just like they don't want to bring on someone with a criminal history. People with financial problems would be more likely to steal, embezzle, or cheat the company. But apparently nannies think this is crossing the line when someone is hiring you to stay in their home, unattended, for 5-10 hours a day. Also many nannies are entrusted with a debit card to be used to cover expenses while on duty. But to ask for reassurance that your potential nanny be financially mature and trustworthy is apparently egregious.

False. After working in HR of large corporation processing new employee documents for years I can tell you it is not routine. Only for employees with access to funds or financial documents would that be a routine part of the on-boarding process. The application does ask for consent to run a credit check and most people sign their employment application without a fight. The purpose is to ensure that if the employee applies to another position in the company that gives them access to company funds or an obligation to complete financial statements we could run the credit check then.

I would not agree to a credit check unless the position were house manager. Even then, I would only do so after an offer that is contingent on a specific credit rating. Employers should not be running credit checks on every applicant and cherry picking the highest scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here - just curious what the rationale for checking a nanny's credit is? I am not sure what you learn that way. Also if you use a big background check company, is a credit check part of the routine checks? It's never occurred to me to ask for this before - and I always thought that too many credit checks can have a negative impact on someone's credit rating anyway. Do big companies do credit checks before I boarding new employees? Not looking for snarky responses - I am genuinely curious and hoping a family who requires this can offer some insight.

Many companies will run credit checks on new employes as part of the hiring process. A company doesn't want to bring on an employee with financial problems just like they don't want to bring on someone with a criminal history. People with financial problems would be more likely to steal, embezzle, or cheat the company. But apparently nannies think this is crossing the line when someone is hiring you to stay in their home, unattended, for 5-10 hours a day. Also many nannies are entrusted with a debit card to be used to cover expenses while on duty. But to ask for reassurance that your potential nanny be financially mature and trustworthy is apparently egregious.

If you're giving me a debit card, sure a credit check maybe makes sense, but that has never happened to me. I usually just pay for things myself and ask to be reimbursed. I also think its a pretty big jump to say someone with bad credit is more likely to steal. If they were the type to steal, why would their credit be bad? Also, if you're worried about a nanny potentially swiping things from you, wouldn't it be a better indicator and a much more appropriate method to simply ask her references? I don't think anyone would refer a nanny that steals.

I am not advocating for credit checks (I didn't do one one our nanny and am the PP wondering what the purpose was) but checking references only gets you so far. Most nannies aren't going to give references who will say bad things. And it's not always possible to be certain that you are talking to an actual reference - happened to me twice in the course of talking to references that I caught a discrepancy in what the nanny and the reference said and realized I wasn't talking to the person the nanny claimed I was talking to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here - just curious what the rationale for checking a nanny's credit is? I am not sure what you learn that way. Also if you use a big background check company, is a credit check part of the routine checks? It's never occurred to me to ask for this before - and I always thought that too many credit checks can have a negative impact on someone's credit rating anyway. Do big companies do credit checks before I boarding new employees? Not looking for snarky responses - I am genuinely curious and hoping a family who requires this can offer some insight.

Many companies will run credit checks on new employes as part of the hiring process. A company doesn't want to bring on an employee with financial problems just like they don't want to bring on someone with a criminal history. People with financial problems would be more likely to steal, embezzle, or cheat the company. But apparently nannies think this is crossing the line when someone is hiring you to stay in their home, unattended, for 5-10 hours a day. Also many nannies are entrusted with a debit card to be used to cover expenses while on duty. But to ask for reassurance that your potential nanny be financially mature and trustworthy is apparently egregious.

If you're giving me a debit card, sure a credit check maybe makes sense, but that has never happened to me. I usually just pay for things myself and ask to be reimbursed. I also think its a pretty big jump to say someone with bad credit is more likely to steal. If they were the type to steal, why would their credit be bad? Also, if you're worried about a nanny potentially swiping things from you, wouldn't it be a better indicator and a much more appropriate method to simply ask her references? I don't think anyone would refer a nanny that steals.

I am not advocating for credit checks (I didn't do one one our nanny and am the PP wondering what the purpose was) but checking references only gets you so far. Most nannies aren't going to give references who will say bad things. And it's not always possible to be certain that you are talking to an actual reference - happened to me twice in the course of talking to references that I caught a discrepancy in what the nanny and the reference said and realized I wasn't talking to the person the nanny claimed I was talking to.

Posted too soon. Meant to add, it only happened that I caught the discrepancies but I could have spoken to other people and not realized. That is why you also do background checks and take other such steps to ensure you can trust your child's caregiver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here - just curious what the rationale for checking a nanny's credit is? I am not sure what you learn that way. Also if you use a big background check company, is a credit check part of the routine checks? It's never occurred to me to ask for this before - and I always thought that too many credit checks can have a negative impact on someone's credit rating anyway. Do big companies do credit checks before I boarding new employees? Not looking for snarky responses - I am genuinely curious and hoping a family who requires this can offer some insight.

Many companies will run credit checks on new employes as part of the hiring process. A company doesn't want to bring on an employee with financial problems just like they don't want to bring on someone with a criminal history. People with financial problems would be more likely to steal, embezzle, or cheat the company. But apparently nannies think this is crossing the line when someone is hiring you to stay in their home, unattended, for 5-10 hours a day. Also many nannies are entrusted with a debit card to be used to cover expenses while on duty. But to ask for reassurance that your potential nanny be financially mature and trustworthy is apparently egregious.

If you're giving me a debit card, sure a credit check maybe makes sense, but that has never happened to me. I usually just pay for things myself and ask to be reimbursed. I also think its a pretty big jump to say someone with bad credit is more likely to steal. If they were the type to steal, why would their credit be bad? Also, if you're worried about a nanny potentially swiping things from you, wouldn't it be a better indicator and a much more appropriate method to simply ask her references? I don't think anyone would refer a nanny that steals.

I am not advocating for credit checks (I didn't do one one our nanny and am the PP wondering what the purpose was) but checking references only gets you so far. Most nannies aren't going to give references who will say bad things. And it's not always possible to be certain that you are talking to an actual reference - happened to me twice in the course of talking to references that I caught a discrepancy in what the nanny and the reference said and realized I wasn't talking to the person the nanny claimed I was talking to.

Posted too soon. Meant to add, it only happened that I caught the discrepancies but I could have spoken to other people and not realized. That is why you also do background checks and take other such steps to ensure you can trust your child's caregiver.

How would finding out that I missed a car payment or couldn't afford a medical bill make you trust me more with your children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here - just curious what the rationale for checking a nanny's credit is? I am not sure what you learn that way. Also if you use a big background check company, is a credit check part of the routine checks? It's never occurred to me to ask for this before - and I always thought that too many credit checks can have a negative impact on someone's credit rating anyway. Do big companies do credit checks before I boarding new employees? Not looking for snarky responses - I am genuinely curious and hoping a family who requires this can offer some insight.

Many companies will run credit checks on new employes as part of the hiring process. A company doesn't want to bring on an employee with financial problems just like they don't want to bring on someone with a criminal history. People with financial problems would be more likely to steal, embezzle, or cheat the company. But apparently nannies think this is crossing the line when someone is hiring you to stay in their home, unattended, for 5-10 hours a day. Also many nannies are entrusted with a debit card to be used to cover expenses while on duty. But to ask for reassurance that your potential nanny be financially mature and trustworthy is apparently egregious.

If you're giving me a debit card, sure a credit check maybe makes sense, but that has never happened to me. I usually just pay for things myself and ask to be reimbursed. I also think its a pretty big jump to say someone with bad credit is more likely to steal. If they were the type to steal, why would their credit be bad? Also, if you're worried about a nanny potentially swiping things from you, wouldn't it be a better indicator and a much more appropriate method to simply ask her references? I don't think anyone would refer a nanny that steals.

I am not advocating for credit checks (I didn't do one one our nanny and am the PP wondering what the purpose was) but checking references only gets you so far. Most nannies aren't going to give references who will say bad things. And it's not always possible to be certain that you are talking to an actual reference - happened to me twice in the course of talking to references that I caught a discrepancy in what the nanny and the reference said and realized I wasn't talking to the person the nanny claimed I was talking to.

Posted too soon. Meant to add, it only happened that I caught the discrepancies but I could have spoken to other people and not realized. That is why you also do background checks and take other such steps to ensure you can trust your child's caregiver.

How would finding out that I missed a car payment or couldn't afford a medical bill make you trust me more with your children?

I specifically noted that I was not advocating for credit checks - I am still trying to understand what purpose they serve. I was simply responding to a PP who suggested references should be sufficient and I was pointing out that I understand why for a lot of parents they are not (nor should they be).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here - just curious what the rationale for checking a nanny's credit is? I am not sure what you learn that way. Also if you use a big background check company, is a credit check part of the routine checks? It's never occurred to me to ask for this before - and I always thought that too many credit checks can have a negative impact on someone's credit rating anyway. Do big companies do credit checks before I boarding new employees? Not looking for snarky responses - I am genuinely curious and hoping a family who requires this can offer some insight.

Many companies will run credit checks on new employes as part of the hiring process. A company doesn't want to bring on an employee with financial problems just like they don't want to bring on someone with a criminal history. People with financial problems would be more likely to steal, embezzle, or cheat the company. But apparently nannies think this is crossing the line when someone is hiring you to stay in their home, unattended, for 5-10 hours a day. Also many nannies are entrusted with a debit card to be used to cover expenses while on duty. But to ask for reassurance that your potential nanny be financially mature and trustworthy is apparently egregious.

If you're giving me a debit card, sure a credit check maybe makes sense, but that has never happened to me. I usually just pay for things myself and ask to be reimbursed. I also think its a pretty big jump to say someone with bad credit is more likely to steal. If they were the type to steal, why would their credit be bad? Also, if you're worried about a nanny potentially swiping things from you, wouldn't it be a better indicator and a much more appropriate method to simply ask her references? I don't think anyone would refer a nanny that steals.

I am not advocating for credit checks (I didn't do one one our nanny and am the PP wondering what the purpose was) but checking references only gets you so far. Most nannies aren't going to give references who will say bad things. And it's not always possible to be certain that you are talking to an actual reference - happened to me twice in the course of talking to references that I caught a discrepancy in what the nanny and the reference said and realized I wasn't talking to the person the nanny claimed I was talking to.

Posted too soon. Meant to add, it only happened that I caught the discrepancies but I could have spoken to other people and not realized. That is why you also do background checks and take other such steps to ensure you can trust your child's caregiver.

How would finding out that I missed a car payment or couldn't afford a medical bill make you trust me more with your children?

How about if your check revealed you are $10,000 in credit card debt and you have multiple unpaid cable, internet, and utility bills? Is that the type of person you would like to raise your children and spend 10 hours a day alone in your home and have be in charge of a debit card linked to YOUR bank account?

[Anonymous]

I did one. Just looking for huge red flags, like very large debys, lots of charge offs, judgments. I would never hold an unpaid medical bill or a few late payments eliminate a canidate. This person is caring for my child - more import s nt job than a bank manager to me!

[Anonymous]

ZERO evidence of ANY correlation between
"good credit"
and
"good nanny."
ZERO.
Got that?

[Anonymous]

I've never asked a nanny candidate to submit to a credit check, but I absolutely think that a person's credit history provides valuable information about how good his or her judgment is. A history of running up credit card debt that one cannot afford to pay off indicates an impulsive personality and poor planning skills, both of which reflect badly on how good a nanny the person will be.

I may need to start requesting credit checks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never asked a nanny candidate to submit to a credit check, but I absolutely think that a person's credit history provides valuable information about how good his or her judgment is. A history of running up credit card debt that one cannot afford to pay off indicates an impulsive personality and poor planning skills, both of which reflect badly on how good a nanny the person will be.

I may need to start requesting credit checks.

I've reached the same conclusion. All the people arguing against credit checks for nannies seem to be nannies with horrible credit! When I'm choosing between 4 different people I would really love to be able to consider a nannies credit history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never asked a nanny candidate to submit to a credit check, but I absolutely think that a person's credit history provides valuable information about how good his or her judgment is. A history of running up credit card debt that one cannot afford to pay off indicates an impulsive personality and poor planning skills, both of which reflect badly on how good a nanny the person will be.

I may need to start requesting credit checks.

I've reached the same conclusion. All the people arguing against credit checks for nannies seem to be nannies with horrible credit! When I'm choosing between 4 different people I would really love to be able to consider a nannies credit history.

1. You apparently haven't read the thread.
2. Your key word is "mutual" credit reports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never asked a nanny candidate to submit to a credit check, but I absolutely think that a person's credit history provides valuable information about how good his or her judgment is. A history of running up credit card debt that one cannot afford to pay off indicates an impulsive personality and poor planning skills, both of which reflect badly on how good a nanny the person will be.

I may need to start requesting credit checks.

I've reached the same conclusion. All the people arguing against credit checks for nannies seem to be nannies with horrible credit! When I'm choosing between 4 different people I would really love to be able to consider a nannies credit history.

I never dreamed of doing a credit check until I read this story about a much-trusted nanny stealing from her employer. Granted, i would never give out a debit or pin number, but we do not lock up our valuables or personal papers on a daily basis. http://nymag.com/nymetro/urban/family/features/9527/

[Anonymous]

I never dreamt of needing background checks on potential employers, until a nanny friend was raped while the mother was away on a business trip.

[Anonymous]

MB here who requires a background check but never a credit check. Personally, I think there are many reasons a person might have bad credit and still be an excellent employee. For example, medical bills, family expenses, horrible divorces, home expenses after a catastrophe...there are countless reasons for bad credit and I don't see a correlation between bad credit and a good employee.

That said, nannies need to avoid being naive. Many employers, especially for higher paying jobs, will require such checks. You can have a bottom line of refusal, but you could well be sacrificing the higher paying jobs. This has long been the way of the non-nanny world and nannies need to realize they can't always escape the requirements that their employers have to deal with and have become the norm for them.