[Mr V]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

So now that it is apparent someone could screw this up, does FIRST get your credit report if you put in your SSN?

If they do, whether they wanted it or not, they are responsible for safe gaurding it.

Also instructions from a right hand column are not at all smart because English is read left to right. I filled in my application on my smartphone because FIRST sent me a request to register because they needed volunteers. A narrow screen means one is just more likely to not see that instruction on the right.

Again I see nothing that indicates that at the level 2 background check that a credit report is pulled. It seems to me that they use the SSN to verify things that come up when they run a criminal report against the given name.

To me it seems as though the whole credit reporting disclosures at the end are their standard disclosure in case a higher level of background check is being done at the request of that particular organization.

I could imagine that in case where a volunteer could potentially have access to money that the requesting organization would want a credit report. For example I can see not wanting someone with a pile of unpaid bills soliciting cash donations.

I agree that FIRST should put that providing your SSN is optional in what ever communication they make requesting anyone to submit for a background check. No link to a guide, no fine print, no sidebar. Something along the lines of:

Thank you for your interest in being a FIRST volunteer. To increase the safety of all participants we require all volunteers to pass a background check. The process checks for X, Y & Z. It will ask for your SSN, but providing your SSN is optional. Not providing your SSN may delay the process, in some cases. FIRST (does/does not) request a credit report and (one/none) will be done even if you provide your SSN. Apply here: Link to application. Again thank your for your interest.

Fact is that many people will not want to provide a SSN to a web page and as we have seen noted here some will just close the application when they get to that question. Sharing the fact that the SSN is optional is likely to increase the participation rate. Clearly stating that the process is to check criminal history and whether the applicant is a registered sex offender should chase away those people who know for a fact that one of those things is likely to be found.

The way it is now there is no way to know whether the person decided not to complete the application because they were unwilling to give their SSN, because they knew that they wouldn't pass, or just because they didn't follow through. We don't want to weed out people who are concerned about putting their SSN in yet another data base that could potentially be hacked.