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M. Taylor

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Looking for opinions. Received a call-back today on my resume. One of the job stipulations is that you have to pay yourself to get finger-printed, which is around $100, reimbursement in 2 years. I found this very odd, don't think I'm going to pursue the job for other reasons. Thoughts? I've never heard of this. Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous

    This is so odd. I have never heard of this. I would skip the process as well

  2. Mystery Mystery

    Sounds like a scam, report this to your atty generals office and bbb

  3. Anonymous

    Absolutely positively big fat no! Run away from that nonsense

  4. Anonymous

    Industry dependent, MANY positions require you to pay for that.

  5. Kat

    Agree that this is a red flag. It makes no sense either. Why would you wait 2 years for a reimbursement on this expense? What if you don't stay that long? If a company wants to hire you, they should pay for any background check costs. I would not do this. It sounds like a scam.

  6. Anonymous

    Absolutely not. Scam.

  7. Anonymous

    Fingerprinting is required for schools in my state, and you have to pay for it yourself. However it costs more like $30.

  8. Anonymous

    Actually, if you do a quick google search, there are certain jobs (such as education) that will require you to obtain FBI/BCI/etc. background checks (I learned this from Ohio AG's website). Doesn't say how/when/if reimbursed, but this does confirm that there are some jobs that require this. Curious to her what this job is that you are being required to do so.

  9. Anonymous

    Yes, specific jobs will require fingerprinting, and depending on the state, it can run that much. However, I haven't ever heard the reimbursement taking 2 years. Companies should reimburse you in your first paycheck.

    If this is a contracted position, it could be possible the reimbursements are at the end of a contract, but still, that's too long.

  10. Anonymous

    I used to work for an agency that helped clients when the employer would not pay for the BG check. The stipulation was that the clean BG was the only thing between the client and the job. I would suggest that unless this is a job offer contingent on a clean background, pass (in other words, there is an offer of employment also attached, pending the results of the BG). A two-year wait for reimbursement is extreme for a $100 expense, though, as most will do it after three to six months, provided continued employment.

  11. Vanda Lee

    Scam - run.

  12. Anonymous

    No its required in many industries especially if there is contact with children or vulnerable adults. I work in healthcare and have to do mine every 5 years at MY expense

  13. Kenda Dalrymple

    Fingerprinting is becoming the new normal and is often required by state or federal law. Most states have a digital fingerprint system. Why not go get digitally fingerprinted at your own expense and have the digital file ready to go? It would save time and confirm that you plan ahead.

  14. Anonymous

    Pay for it yourself? That is weird. I've gotten all sorts of background checks with finger prints and pee in cups and didn't pay for any of it. Not the norm in financial services or telecom.

  15. Barbara

    If you have a true offer letter then consider asking why they require that you pay for your own live scan. If you do not then run!! Don’t take any psych tests or give any personal information to prospective employers until you e actually met with them. Too many scams out there.

  16. Elizabeth

    The last step to starting my job (at a bank) after receiving the offer letter was to be fingerprinted.

    The bank arranged and paid for everything. All I had to do was show up at the dedicated place and time. This sounds like it might be a scam.

  17. Anonymous

    Not necessarily a scam. I posted earlier in this thread about what a quick google search showed me.

  18. Anonymous

    I've seen this happen in the public school or charter school system.

  19. Georgia Singh

    They may have high turnover rate, and that's why they won't pay.

    Interesting though.

  20. Anonymous

    Either that, or they have run into many people who are failing the check. It depends on the job type and whether it attracts people who are either hard to hire or have records.

  21. Anonymous

    I checked around online and found that many organizations (but not all) require potential employees to pay for their own fingerprinting test. Costs vary by location. In 2023, the cost in New York City was slightly over $100; lower-cost areas appear to be in the $50-$60 range. If you pay for your own test, you presumably keep the prints and results for future use.

    The 2 year reimbursement period seems very long to me. Why wouldn’t you be reimbursed after your probationary period was over?

    All in all, I can see why you are passing up this job opportunity.

  22. Anonymous

    Because they are using that as a $100 carrot to dangle to in front of her.

  23. carolina girl

    Because she’s smart enough to see that it’s fishy . Obviously you’re not.

  24. Anonymous

    It also depends on what you are running on the prints. Depending on the type and number of checks you want to do, the cost goes up. The $100 is likely both for the fingerprinting itself and the related background checks. The 2-year part is the only odd part, but depending on the industry, it may be standard. Google is indicating similar situations within school districts and that it's related to union bargaining.

  25. Elizabyth Harrington

    I once had a contract position that made me front the costs for getting fingerprinted and a background check for a gig - but they reimbursed me after my first pay period. I only did it because the agency themselves didn't ask for the money - otherwise I would have chalked it up as a scam and walked away. But the money was paid to the state for the background check and to the post office to overnight it (the fingerprinting was free).

  26. GirlBossanova934974

    Sounds like a scam. Sign of a very shaky outfit. I have never heard of employees being asked to pay for their background check costs.

  27. Connie

    I have heard of a retail store that requested their prospective hires pay for their own pre-employment drug test. They’ll pay the cost of a negative test and you can start work.

  28. Anonymous

    A lot of companies have put out money on checks and then the employee never starts. I'm sure that's why it's reimbursable. If you fail or if you never start, they don't want to be on the hook for the money. I've had to pay before. The only part that strikes me as odd is the 2-year reimbursement. That part is excessive.

  29. Lori Laurito Betz

    Yeah, that’s hinky…I’ve had to have fingerprints, background checks, etc for multiple jobs (including my current one) and never had to pay.
    My current job also had me do a drug screen and again, no cost to me.

    Edit-I don’t think the concern here is having to get fingerprinted, it’s having to pay for it and wait two years to get reimbursed.

  30. Lori Laurito Betz

    My career has been 18 years in early childhood ed and 12 in human/social services: toddler/preschool classrooms, home visitor, county caseworker, etc…in PA and NJ.
    Never once have I had to pay for any kind of background check for any of these.

  31. Anonymous

    Also in education and I've had to pay for my own. Anecdotes aren't data - It's pretty clear from the comments here that there is a mix of paid by the district, paid by the company, paid by the employee.

  32. Kelly

    Depending on the job requirements many times if you are asked for Fingerprints, it's security requirement. As for the 100 dollars many times you can go to your local or county courthouse and get fingerprinted for around $25 .

  33. L Clark

    If you are serious about the job ask HR if they are mandating use of a particular company for fingerprints or like Kelly’s post stated, inquire at your courthouse. You may also be able to setup an account with the background company they are requesting so if another position comes up within a certain time frame, you may be able to use these prints/background check. I’ve had to do this for teaching positions and working in hospitals. Part of the process and it weeds people out right away. The reimbursement time frame seems long, but perhaps the

    company has paid numerous times up front only for that employee to leave shortly thereafter. Especially if it’s a small company, every expense takes a toll. Good luck!

  34. Anonymous

    Certain jobs require specific digital prints and I'm guessing that's the case here.

  35. Anonymous

    My local law enforcement does ink rolls $15.

  36. Anonymous

    Ink rolls aren't accepted in certain instances anymore. Tax professionals for example have to be digital.

  37. Anonymous

    That doesn’t sound right if it’s a requirement for the job they should pay for it not you upfront . I would avoid this

  38. Anonymous

    In my case when I have to pay for my background check never occurred to me to receive that money back. If they said that they will pay you back is a good thing.

    what I have seen when I have applied to a new job are another things such as, salary, location, and kind of job I am going to do.

  39. Anonymous

    I’m familiar with jobs that require applicants to pay for their own background checks and/or fingerprinting, but the fees are nominal. Regardless if they will reimburse, $100 is excessive, and a 2 year wait for reimbursement is ridiculous. I would think it would be reimbursed within the first 90 days or less. Sounds shady….

  40. Anonymous

    Just say no.

  41. Anonymous

    It's a pretty common charge, imo. I don't know what you do, but the finger printing is probably inclusive of background checks and the scope of those checks dictate the price. Based on my experience, $100 probably means they're running your prints, running a standard background check, running a sex registry background check, and probably also doing education verification as part of it while just calling it "finger printing."

  42. April

    Pass

  43. April

    I would be concerned that it takes 2 years to get reimbursed for a pre- employment action that the company benefits from. This could be a sign of financial challenges. I’ve ordered finger prints- none have ever cost $100. Remember- how you are treated in the early process and how you feel about it may not change once you work there.

  44. Anonymous

    Just FYI healthcare workers and educators have to get fingerprinted for every job and never get reimbursed. Don’t believe there is anything fair about our economy.

  45. carolina girl

    I would turn the job DOWN! companies usually pay for it not the applicant/ employee. This sounds suspicious to me!

  46. Shannon Rose

    I have to agree with Carolina girl. That sounds very sketchy to me as well. I have never had to pay for any kind of background, fingerprinting, drug testing, etc. No reputable company will have you pay for that, I would not do it.

  47. Lisa Byrd

    I had to pay for this process of fingerprinting when I worked as a preschool teacher about two years ago. It was 100.00.

  48. Anonymous

    Ridiculous - they are already showing their culture, i'd keep looking! Good luck on your job campaign.

  49. John Raynolds

    The company should pay for any pre-employment research on you. If they have to make you pay, I find them suspect. What if they find a erroneous or minimal event that disqualifies you, what is their responsibility regarding reimbursement? How do you collect? Did they disclose what would be a disqualifying result of this check ?

    100% agree with you not paying. Move on to a better organization!

  50. Anonymous

    Scam.
    Have you personally met at the job location? Do you know this is a legitimate opportunity?

    Maybe fees are justified for you to pay, but sounds very suspicious.. .

  51. Anonymous

    Depends on the field - There are certain roles that this step HAS to be done in order to move forward especially in the financial sector.

  52. Anonymous

    Fair enough. In my field, I've never paid. I see your point!

  53. Margo Johnson

    I think it *could* be legit *if and only if* paying the fee for fingerprinting is the very last step, after you have interviewed and both you and the employer are ready to make/accept an offer pending a satisfactory background check.

  54. Coco

    Your reservations about providing fingerprints to a company without guaranteed employment are completely valid. The concern isn't just who covers the cost (or when), but also the security of your personal data.

    Speaking from experience, knowing someone who has suffered from identity fraud, the repercussions can be long-lasting and severe ( it's been 12 years and they are STILL suffering the consequences).

    That being said, without clear guarantees of data protection and a firm WRITTEN commitment to cover all expenses in case of a data breach, it's understandable to question the safety of sharing such sensitive information.

    Now with the advancement of technology, it's even more crucial to prioritize your data security, and if this company's approach doesn't instill confidence (and the mere fact that you're asking is a sign), it may be wise to explore other job opportunities.

    Personally, I would trust a company like this.

  55. Steph

    @Coco, did you mean "I *would NOT" trust a company like this" in your last sentence? That's what I think you meant, and I agree. I've been fingerprinted numerous times for jobs and never had to pay.

  56. Coco

    Yes, thank you for catching that. Unfortunately, this platform won't let me edit that. Well, it will let me select "Edit" then won't give me my content to edit.

  57. Anonymous

    Looking at the chain of replies, it appears that it may varied by industry and by state. However, if they want you for the job, I would assume they would pay for any background checks including fingerprinting. I would not personally pay for it, but request that they pay for it -or reimburse me within the first pay period. I would get that in writing.

    I have had to have background screenings for every job over the last 20 years. I have never paid for one.

    I went to work for the United States treasury department as a census worker in 2020. The background check was extensive and included fingerprinting. All I had to do was to report to a location they requested, and was not paid for my time or effort, but everything else was paid for by the US government.

    I think it is a sign of disrespect to the future employee to expect them to pay for the background check. I agree with the commentator who says that waiting two years for reimbursement is crazy, since they are benefiting from your employment during that time. Are they planning to guarantee your employment for those two years? what happens if you leave or are terminated prior to that deadline.

    While this might be a deductible job search expense on your income tax, schedule C, it might not give you the deduction in every state. Again, the burden is fairly great for the future employee. Imagine if you have 6 to 8 companies, all requiring you to be fingerprinted and do a background check at your own expense prior to being considered for a position. Those dollars add up very quickly.

    unless I was desperate for a job, I would not want to work for a company that would expect me to pay for any preemployment screening

  58. Margo Johnson

    And if you are not a homeowner and have no children, you probably don't have enough deductible expenses to be able to itemize.

  59. Tina Clair Healy-Leather

    My sister had to do this when she applied for a job to work in a high school, She was eventually reimbursed from the school district but it was $122.

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