[sweetmoon]

So, I applied to an advertisement for the post of Financial Analyst for a startup company and cleared the first round of interview with the recruiter. Today I got a congratulatory email from them saying that they have decided to move ahead with my application and requested me to complete a background screening application. After filling up the first page with the usual stuff like name, DOB, address and state ID I move onto the next page and here comes a screen requesting credit card info and payment for $30 for a standard background check and $90 for an extensive background check.

It looks unusual to me, is it normal for the candidate to pay for the background check? The name of the staffing company checks out, they have an own website and their email ids are from their company address, but I still do not know the name of the client as they told me that it was confidential and they would reveal it to me in the later stages of interview.

But given the fact that I found this ad in Craigslist and their requesting credit card info makes me wonder if it is a legitimate recruiter?? Has anyone paid for their background screening before?

FAR : 71, 83
AUD : 73,88
BEC : 87
REG : sweet 82 and DONE !!

[mrgriff21]

I have never paid for a background check. The employers have always covered that cost. Seems shady to me.

A - 84
R - 81
B - 77
F - 81

[Ntw6817]

It's normal for them to keep the name of the company confidential but I've never seen the applicant having to pay for the background check

[y_u_no_pass]

Yeah that is a scam. Do not pay! I have come close with many. Send a follow up email. Chances are you never hear back, but even if you do, don't pay because that is a scam.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[sweetmoon]

Thank you. Thats what makes me think too.I dont know what to do !!

FAR : 71, 83
AUD : 73,88
BEC : 87
REG : sweet 82 and DONE !!

[ruggercpa2b]

Was your first round of interviewing with the agency? If that is so, this does not even guarantee you having the job. From past experience, the recruiter meets with me the first time and we've talked about what I am looking for. Then when positions become available they call me and tell me about them and then they present my resume. If the company likes what they see on paper they will send me for an interview. I have never heard of someone having to pay for a background check out of pocket.

I would definitely question it.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

No. That's ridiculous. I would tell them to go pound sand.

[Missy]

No, you should NEVER be giving out credit card information to a recruiter. And just because the staffing agency has a website and email addresses doesn't make them legit.

Absolutely say thanks but no thanks.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Martin]

$30 for a standard background check and $90 for an extensive background check.

Tell them that you need 30.00 to pay off a balance on a credit card that you will use to pay them 120.00 plus the 30.00 they loan you. I did that before,but I never got a reply.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Anonymous]

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'

Give them your canceled/closed credit card information, LOL.

[sweetmoon]

Thank you for your replies. I have emailed them saying I am not comfortable sharing my credit card info. It definitely seemed shady and now I feel that I should never give out my info to them. @ ruggercpa – Yes the first round was with the recruiter. In my experience with my local recruiting firms, it has worked just the way you described. But given that am in chicago area and the recruiting agency being in California, I thought first round of telephonic interview was nothing abnormal. But from now it does get weird.

FAR : 71, 83
AUD : 73,88
BEC : 87
REG : sweet 82 and DONE !!

[Author]

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