According to the U.S. Department of
Justice, one in 20 Americans is likely to
serve time in a Federal or a State Prison in their lifetime. The numbers are
even higher in men than in women.
Everybody who has ever been convicted and
served time in prison knows that the consequences will be following them in
almost every aspect of life. Getting a job, planning a vacation or renting a
place get increasingly difficult with the baggage in the form of a criminal
record. But many people are wandering the same question: can a criminal record
affect your credit score and does it show on your credit report?
What is a Credit Report
A credit report is made up of information
about credit card accounts, loans, inquiries and public records. All your
accounts, credit card spending habits and other details are there. The public
record contains bankruptcies, tax liens, convictions,
and foreclosures. This information is compiled to determine how you pay your
credit obligations, both now and in the past.
Does Criminal Record Show on my Credit Report?
Fortunately, criminal records do not show
up on your credit report. However, they might be included in any background
checks conducted for employment purposes or by a future landlord. Current
employers might also perform background checks periodically.
However, not every background check is
guaranteed to show your criminal record. Some jobs require a criminal record
check, while others do not. Either way, the employer needs to have a written
authorization to perform a background check signed by the consumer.
Can a Criminal Record Affect Your Credit Score?
Your credit score is not affected by the
fact that you’ve served time in a prison.
Agencies that calculate your credit score
might include criminal records in the process. However, they are usually
excluded, unlike other public records like tax liens and levies. However,
having a criminal record might affect applying for credit. The bank might turn down your credit request if
they deem that the loan might be risky due to your past charges. The same applies to business loans, where you usually
need to have a clean record. Your credit application might be rejected due to a
misdemeanor in your record, as these are recorded for life.
However, even if your crimes do not affect
your credit score, any financial results of that crime does. For example, if
you kill someone in a car accident that won’t show up on your credit score. But
if their family decides to sue you, that will affect your credit score.
The best way to make sure that doesn’t
happen is to pay these debts off as fast as you can. You should do this before
your court date because even if you pay
on the same day it will still show up on your report and affect your score.
However, this information is erased after seven years, provided you’ve settled
the debt. Additionally, they will be immediately erased if you’re granted full
pardon for the crime.
Some infractions like speeding tickets and
jaywalking are erased from your criminal record as soon as you have paid the
fine. However, if you have committed any serious crimes and misdemeanors you
may request to have your record sealed, which will prevent anyone from looking
into it during these check-ups. This is called expungement and civil clear
any infractions, misdemeanors, and
felonies from your record.
If you’re looking for an experienced criminal lawyer
contact Monder Law Group at 424 F Street, San Diego, CA, US; 619-405-0063
Post a Comment