Job offer recinded. Level 1 Security Clearance Failed.

[Nightfall]

My brother was offered a job last week, but it was dependent on him getting his security clearance. Since he has a clean record and he knows it, he took the offer and was going to be starting in the middle of April at his new job. He got official paperwork which he signed. He put his 2 week notice in at work and started making plans to move since the job was out in Washington DC.

Yesterday, about a week after he got the offer, the company that hired him called back. They recinded the offer saying that he failed his security check. My brother was shocked as the most trouble he was ever in was getting a speeding ticket about 3 years ago. The company wouldn't say what part of the security clearance check he failed.

Whats worse is my brother asked his workplace if he could stay there because his situation had changed. They are "evaluating all options" is what he was told. So he may be jobless in a week or so.

So I guess I am asking if he has any legal recourse here. I am going to encourage him to go talk to a lawyer who specializes in employment. I am not doubting that they can't pull the job from him. What I am trying to figure out is if he can get an explanation/reason why he failed the security clearance.

Any thoughts or experience on this?

 

[rasczak]

don't know if there's any legal recourse here. he should've put his two weeks in after he had secured the job and was given the all go by the new employer. have him check his credit history as well, that tends to be the main reason people are not cleares.

also did he lie on any portion of the application?

sorry to hear.

 

[Glayde]

Maybe it was because his relatives post too much about his work and security clearances?

 

[Cal166]

I think that's just wrong of a company not to give the reason, like your brother, it would bother the crap out of me as well.

Good luck to him, hope it all works out.

 

[bignateyk]

Bad credit history is pretty much insta-fail.

 

[CptCrunch]

If he has too much debt, he will fail his security clearance. What are his finances like?

 

[wwswimming]

totally a guess - the new employer-to-be hit some financial speed bumps
and the failed security process was the reason cited for retracting the job offer.

 

[nerp]

Bad credit? Repossessions? Late on taxes? Late on bills? Divorce? Custody issues? Political affiliations? Donating money to certian political parties? Volunteering for certian agencies? A BG check is a LOT more than the a quick check of criminal records. They're looking for people who don't fuck up their lives in multiple regards, not just criminally.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

alot of debt doesn't matter. The financial related issue is if your character is such that you are willing to sell secrets. They try to weed out hte very greedy. People with debt are not necessarily greedy. And alot of CEOs on Wall Street with millions and no debt are VERY greedy.

Your brother is not telling us something. Paper work for a secret clearance takes time to fill out. If he half a--ed it, they might have just rejected it because of this.

BTW: Your details suck. What level of clearance? Working where?

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: rasczak
don't know if there's any legal recourse here. he should've put his two weeks in after he had secured the job and was given the all go by the new employer. have him check his credit history as well, that tends to be the main reason people are not cleares.

Yes people often overlook how much debt they have. If your brother carries a lot of debt he could be a security risk and in their eyes because he could susceptible to payoffs.

Not saying you brother ever would... but thats the way the powers at be see it.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
If he has too much debt, he will fail his security clearance. What are his finances like?

Actually, I just found out that he has zero credit history. He has a credit card, but has never used it. He still drives around a car he bought used with cash while he was in college. Thats probably the reason why he didn't get the security clearance. Most people his age have an established credit history. While he has no debt at all, which is good, he has never bought anything with a credit card since he uses his debit card for everything.

I talked to a friend who has a level 1 security clearance and he said the same thing as everyone else here did. There is really no way he is going to find out what he failed, but having zero credit history probably nailed him.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
alot of debt doesn't matter. The financial related issue is if your character is such that you are willing to sell secrets. They try to weed out hte very greedy. People with debt are not necessarily greedy. And alot of CEOs on Wall Street with millions and no debt are VERY greedy.

Your brother is not telling us something. Paper work for a secret clearance takes time to fill out. If he half a--ed it, they might have just rejected it because of this.

BTW: Your details suck. What level of clearance? Working where?

You're an idiot.

(a) inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts;


(b) indebtedness caused by frivolous or irresponsible spending and the absence of any evidence of willingness or intent to pay the debt or establish a realistic plan to pay the debt.


(c) a history of not meeting financial obligations;

(d) deceptive or illegal financial practices such as embezzlement, employee theft, check fraud, income tax evasion, expense account fraud, filing deceptive loan statements, and other intentional financial breaches of trust;


(e) consistent spending beyond one's means, which may be indicated by excessive indebtedness, significant negative cash flow, high debt-to-income ratio, and/or other financial analysis;


(f) financial problems that are linked to drug abuse, alcoholism, gambling problems, or other issues of security concern.


(g) failure to file annual Federal, state, or local income tax returns as required or the fraudulent filing of the same;


(h) unexplained affluence, as shown by a lifestyle or standard of living, increase in net worth, or money transfers that cannot be explained by subject's known legal sources of income;


(i) compulsive or addictive gambling as indicated by an unsuccessful attempt to stop gambling, "chasing losses" (i.e. increasing the bets or returning another day in an effort to get even), concealment of gambling losses, borrowing money to fund gambling or pay gambling debts, family conflict or other problems caused by gambling.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
If he has too much debt, he will fail his security clearance. What are his finances like?

Actually, I just found out that he has zero credit history. He has a credit card, but has never used it. He still drives around a car he bought used with cash while he was in college. Thats probably the reason why he didn't get the security clearance. Most people his age have an established credit history. While he has no debt at all, which is good, he has never bought anything with a credit card since he uses his debit card for everything.

I talked to a friend who has a level 1 security clearance and he said the same thing as everyone else here did. There is really no way he is going to find out what he failed, but having zero credit history probably nailed him.

Yeah, that pretty much sucks. No real fault of his own. Next time, he really ought to wait until the new job is finalized before quitting. Good luck to him.

 

[waggy]

sounds like he is a idiot. he quite one job BEFORE he cleared everything for the 2nd job. great idea.

 

[40Hands]

Sucks for him but I would never completely count on passing these ridiculously stupid security clearances.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Sucks for him but I would never completely count on passing these ridiculously stupid security clearances.

Yes, totally ridiculous. We should let anyone have access to sensitive information.

 

[DJFuji]

Keep in mind that a few negative comments from teachers and people who knew you can influence your clearance as well.

 

[40Hands]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Sucks for him but I would never completely count on passing these ridiculously stupid security clearances.

Yes, totally ridiculous. We should let anyone have access to sensitive information.

Yeah because someone who never put themselves into debt or had a little bad luck in the past is such a untrustworthy person. :roll:

Keep in mind that a few negative comments from teachers and people who knew you can influence your clearance as well.

Oh no, a person isn't liked by someone else! Not trustworthy!

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: 40Hands

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Sucks for him but I would never completely count on passing these ridiculously stupid security clearances.

Yes, totally ridiculous. We should let anyone have access to sensitive information.

Yeah because someone who never put themselves into debt or had a little bad luck in the past is such a untrustworthy person. :roll:

it's not just about debt, but your overall character. if you show any significant debt, then you are liable to "turn" in the eyes of the govm't. to get a clearer picture they do interviews as well. my feeling thouhg, is that he put down something on his app that was not entirely true and it came out during the interview process, (i.e. " I never did drugs", they interview a friend and the friend says, "oh yeah, I rememebr that time when we smoked weed at the parking lot in high school".)

honesty on the application is THE most important thing to remember. if you did drugs, tell them you did drugs, if you went to jail, tell them you went to jail.

 

[nakedfrog]

Tell him to quit being a terrorist and maybe he'll have better luck.

 

[acheron]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
If he has too much debt, he will fail his security clearance. What are his finances like?

Actually, I just found out that he has zero credit history. He has a credit card, but has never used it. He still drives around a car he bought used with cash while he was in college. Thats probably the reason why he didn't get the security clearance. Most people his age have an established credit history. While he has no debt at all, which is good, he has never bought anything with a credit card since he uses his debit card for everything.

I talked to a friend who has a level 1 security clearance and he said the same thing as everyone else here did. There is really no way he is going to find out what he failed, but having zero credit history probably nailed him.

I wouldn't think having little credit history would fail him (bad credit, absolutely, though), but who knows, I guess. I was thinking I had no credit history when I got my clearance since I had never had a credit card until after, but I did have a mortgage by the time I got it, so that would count.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DJFuji
Keep in mind that a few negative comments from teachers and people who knew you can influence your clearance as well.

Doesn't sound like he's at that stage yet.

 

[OUCaptain]

Originally posted by: bignateyk
Bad credit history is pretty much insta-fail.

Didn't hurt mine. It went right through without a hitch despite my horrible post college credit.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: nerp
Bad credit? Repossessions? Late on taxes? Late on bills? Divorce? Custody issues? Political affiliations? Donating money to certian political parties? Volunteering for certian agencies? A BG check is a LOT more than the a quick check of criminal records. They're looking for people who don't fuck up their lives in multiple regards, not just criminally.

That doesn't sound like it would be legal.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: bignateyk
Bad credit history is pretty much insta-fail.

Didn't hurt mine. It went right through without a hitch despite my horrible post college credit.

so long as you show you are making an effort to bring the debt down, you should be fine.