HELLLLP!!!!!

1 Ok, so i applied at a ALF today and the lady said I have to go online and pay $55 to do a background check, and get fingerprinted. It wouldnt be a problem, but I already paid that money to prometric before I took my test, and I also did my fingerprints. So do I have to basically start all over again? She said I would be good for 2 years, but still, I dont wanna waste my money paying for something that I dont have to get again. Any advice???
I would call the woman you spoke to at ALF, and tell her the situation. Perhaps they can use your most recent information and you won't be short the 55 dollars again.Give her a call. = )

Have you already gotten the job? Sounds a little fishy to me! I have never had an employer ask ME to pay those costs. If they have not hired you yet, I would be wary of spending 55 and not getting the job.

I also have never had to pay for a background check. I go to the police station here, and they do them for only $10. If my fingerprints are hard to read, and I have to have them redone, they re do them for free. I agree, it sounds fishy to me.JMHO and my NY $0.02.Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRNSomewhere in the PACNW

If everything was done over the phone or online, I wouldn't do it! I suggest you go into the ALF office and explain the situation. There isn't any need to get re-fingerprinted, but she may ask that you provide proof from the agency you went to or provide the name of the fingerprinting agency.. I'd have the name written down before you talk to her. The background check is totally understandable though. When I did my CNA training, I had to get 2 background checks.. 1 for the program and 1 for the facility we would be doing clinicals at. It sounded silly to me, but it's important that they have a recent background check (you might have robbed a bank or killed someone right after you had your last check? haha kidding!.. but no, really.. it's more understandable when you think of it that way. Either way, talk to someone in person and explain the situation before you start giving your information and money away! Good Luck! ^_^

Quote from missladyrnHave you already gotten the job? Sounds a little fishy to me! I have never had an employer ask ME to pay those costs. If they have not hired you yet, I would be wary of spending 55 and not getting the job.

What's an ALF?

ALF = assisted living facilityOP, it sounds to me like this employer has had previous bad experiences with job applicants who they invested time and effort in interviewing, only to later find out that they were unable to pass a background check. So they have decided to reverse the process and put the onus (and the cost) on the applicant. Not the most welcoming tactic, but I don't see anything particularly "fishy" about it.If you have already had this done, then no sweat. I'm not sure why you didn't tell the person at the ALF this immediately when you were having this conversation ... but you can call her and tell her that it is completed.

I agree with Altra.. I don't see anything really fishy going on as I explained, much could have happened since your last background check. We don't know if you already told them you had your fingerprinting and background check completed previously either, you didn't say. You also didn't say if everything was done online, or if you had actually visited the facility. Don't assume..just call them and explain the situation. If they won't offer to refund it after you're hired or you don't like their answer, then turn it down.

This is for a CNA position right? So it's the equivalent of asking the CNA to invest a days pay for someone to look at the application. Background checks are the cost of doing business for the facility, just as is investing time and resources in filling out applications, going to interviews, etc. Unless the facility had an excellent reputation state wide, I'd say forget it. If you must, however, pay any such fee, remember to keep a record so you can claim it as job search expense.

Quote from miaa147 We don't know if you already told them you had your fingerprinting and background check completed previously either, you didn't say. You also didn't say if everything was done online, or if you had actually visited the facility. .

I'd skip that place.

Quote from missladyrnHave you already gotten the job? Sounds a little fishy to me! I have never had an employer ask ME to pay those costs. If they have not hired you yet, I would be wary of spending 55 and not getting the job.