[ornornor]

My first “real” job demanded a background check where they could “interview my neighbors to get a sense of my character” and other egregious things. I tried many times to get in touch with the background check provider’s (backcheck in Canada) privacy team, never ever got to a human or anyone to return my voicemails.

The employer was completely incredulous I would refuse to submit to the background check and thought I had stuff to hide. I was laid off in short order. I do t regret anything, this was invasive and unnecessary. I’ve never had to do a background check again beyond providing an extract of my police file that says I have no convictions.

[etimberg]

What kind of job was this for? because interviewing neighbours is something that sounds like part of a top secret clearance not a private company background check

[ornornor]

They probably don’t do it but it was in the paperwork I had to sign to authorize the background check and it felt way too intrusive for just a regular job, which is why I always refused to sign it.