I agree that a credit check is an invasion of privacy but I see the importance of the check for potential employers. A bad credit rating should not disqualify you from a job, but it may indicate your unsuitability for a job.

It is fairly obvious that people having jobs related to finance and in financial departments of companies should have their credit checked. The potential for fraud and abuse is there and companies need to protect themselves against it.

I think bad credit may indicate serious concerns about an employee's honesty and loyalty in any given job. What is the gurantee that an employee will not part with sensative internal information to outsiders to help relieve their financial crunch. It can happen regardless of financial circumstances but someone in financial trouble is more likely to engage in such activities.