to tie myself up in knots and argue with DH over this?

[TheMrsClooney]

DH and I are having an argument and clearly I am right

In all honesty this is a rather serious matter so any advice from those more knowledgeable will be appreciated. Here goes!

After months of unemployment I have finally found myself a job (even though it's incredibly monotonous and the pay is crap). Everything is done and signed but now they need to do some checks and make sure I am not lying about my education and employment history etc. Rather standard, I imagine. Since this is a job related to banking, a credit check will also be required. I had never cared much about my credit report until now, but since I knew they were going to be pulling it up, I thought I might as well check and see what's on it before they do. Everything looks good, I've paid the bills on time, no credit cards, no debt.

However there is one teeny, tiny blemish. Around 19 months ago I was out of the country to take care of my ailing sister and I fell a few days behind on my bank overdraft payment without realising it. So there are these two months where it says that the overdraft payment of some £20 was late. I have a separate saving and current account and while I don't have any formal overdraft agreement, the bank randomly allows my debit card to go 20-50 quid over the account limit sometimes. I usually pay it off straight away and there isn't an issue, but since I was out of the country and the card wasn't in regular use, i didn't even realise that this had happened.

SO.

I think that this is potentially bad and that i should put a Notice of Correction to explain why I was a bit late on those payments.
I also think that i might have to call HR to declare this.

My DH thinks I have lost my mind and that nobody cares about two £20 quid payments that were less than a month late some 19 months ago. He is also insisting that the NOC will only end up attracting needless attention to the late payments.

He insists that employers will usually not even be able to see a NOC because it is only for lenders, whereas I disagree.

Who is right?

I would imagine they are only interested in things like ccjs and bankruptcy. For a low paid job they won't care about a years old missed paid payment.

I'm afraid I think your DH is right but some knowledgable MNetter may tell us otherwise.

Bless you but I think your husband is right, they are interested in your overall credit score not £20 from over a year ago. But it is a good sign you are so honest.

I agree with your DH. It actually pays to have had credit cards and loans for a credit history check because you're then able to prove that you can/have repaid the debts.

I'm with him, I'd just leave it and explain if anyone asked.

Well I had a call from HR a while ago ( I hadn't actually seen my report by this time) and they asked me if I had anything in my credit history to declare. When he examples of the sort of stuff he wanted declared he did mention ccj, bankruptcies, directorships, major outstanding debts and late credit card payments. I assumed that if they want late credit card payments declared, then they might want to know about late overdraft payments too? I've never worked in this field before so I have no idea!

I agree with your DH too- sorry!

You wont miss a job offer on the back of 2 late payments for £20! As someone else said, it is bankruptcy and CCJ's that they are looking for.

But what harm could a note of explanation do?

It's just not necessary. Like others have said they're looking for serious financial cock-ups.

It could draw attention to something that they may not even see, and it is never good to highlight anything negative.

It is extremely unlikely it would ever come up.

That does make sense.

The only niggling doubt in my mind is that they asked me about late or missed credit card payments. So I assumed that would similarly care about overdraft payments as well?? I could be wrong.

If it did come up then say "Oh I am sorry, I misunderstood" and then explain but I very much doubt that it would.

Agree with your dh

If you employer has asked you if you have anything to disclose I would just tell them. Chances are they won't care one bit - but it's more about being open and honest.

We do credit checks on our employees and we ask people to talk to us if they have any concerns. It's much worse if they don't tell us anything and then something come us - it makes us wonder what else have they not told us.

We only check for CCJ's and bankruptcy though so in your situation there wouldn't be a problem and to be fair even if there was an issues with payment we would just expect a plan to be in place and then when the check is repeated at the next annual check we would expect to see a reduction in the amount owed in line with what we were told was bring paid off.

The issue is about risk - if you are in lots of debt and need money quick or are under financial pressure you could be more likely to commit fraud to get money.

I really wouldn't worry though.

Agree with your DH, your worrying yourself over nothing, they won't even look at this

Anyone here who works for HR at a bank or finance firm?

Damn! I hate when he's right

Nothing to worry about.

I see a lot of credit checks for work and I am assuming that they won't give the tiniest shite about a resolved, old, not serious issue.

Tell your DH he is right from me...

Had you forgotten this had even happened until you happened to check your credit record? It's such a minor thing, I shouldn't think it would matter, but as others have said if they happen to ask about it then just explain then. Given your reasons I'm sure they'd understand.
I would guess that their concerns are more if you're going to be dealing with money in your job, and if they find you have personal financial worries they may be concerned that it might make you more likely to commit fraud or somthing.

Congratulations on the job though!

I agree with your DH that they won't care. BUT if you're anything like as bad a liar as me, given that you have checked, and you did think it might be an issue, I'd give HR a quick call to explain. Even if you do draw attention to it, they're not going to withdraw the offer because of it, and that way you definitely don't have to have a conversation afterwards where you have to pretend you thought they wouldn't notice.

I agree with your dh-I work in finance and have for years. I've also just passed the check for a new job and I know that I had gone over my overdraft a couple of times in the last year. They are looking for far more serious issues.

Felyne, yes I didn't even remember that this had happened until I saw my credit report recently. Had I remembered I would have brought it up when they called. However, now I feel a bit silly and awkward to call them up and bother them with a story about how I was late with two overdraft payments over a year ago.

I suppose I have no choice but to wait and watch. If they see it and ask me about it, I will answer honestly.

I called up a helpline today for advice on this issue and they had nothing concrete to offer. They said I could put a notice if I wanted and it was also OK if I didn't.