Outside our small safe place flies Mystery... A snake beneath the forest floor, a whisper: Melusine

After interviewing a few of the places I've applied for work at, I've discovered a disturbing trend; my bad credit history is being read by potential employers and, based on this bad credit history, I'm being judged as irresponsible and therefore it is determined that I do not qualify for employment with some major companies.  These employers are not even calling my references or even considering that my good prior work history will make me a good employee.  INstead they are looking at my debts, both paid and unpaid, and judging me as irresponsible.  It doesn't matter if I have no prior convictions and that there have been no outstanding complaints filed against me by previous employers.  What matters now is my credit.  Yet should my credit history impede me from employment?

 

I've never had a credit card.  I just consolidated my student loans.  Over the last two years my wages were garnished to pay an old outstanding debt I owed a previous landlord.  You'd think that paying off a debt would gain me good credit!  But the debt is still a big black mark on the record.  Even worse, because of my credit record, I cannot open a checking account.  What I do is go to check cashing places to cash any payroll checks I earn and usually I have to sign over some of my larger checks to my brother's bank account.  I did have a savings account but it was closed when I couldn't keep at least $100 in it.  So I'm in a sucky area in my life.  I can't change my credit history without a good steady paycheck, yet because of my credit history, major corporations are not hiring me.  Has anyone else run into this problem?

 

Again, I have a good work history, I'm not a criminal, and I have excellent references.  I've never stole anything from any previous employer and was entrusted with bank deposits throughout my career as a retail salesperson.  My credit history should not speak louder than my experience.  I am not an irresponsible person.  I hate having to go to social workers for help only to have them think I'm not trying hard enough to get a job.  I'm not a bum.  I'm a hard worker and really am hungry to have a career again.  I can't keep surviving on freelance illustration jobs.  I need employment.

 

Something has to give.  Anyone out there got any suggestions for me?