If discrimination against people is wrong. Then why is it ok to discriminate against people with bad credit?

Question

Discrimination against people for race and religion is wrong so why isn't wrong to discriminate against people who have bad credit. People can be overlooked for jobs, loans, and insurance just for having bad credit. Why couldn't you sue someone if you knew you didnt get a loan or had a higher insurance rate? If you knew you didnt get that same loan or insuance rate because of skin color or religion. You could sue. Just curious about what everyone thought

I think it is intresting that a couple of you compare bad credit with a criminal past? So people with bad credit are criminals and criminal have bad credit?

Answer 1

The color of my skin does not affect how I pay my bills and if I will repay a loan.

The fact that my reproductive organs are internal (as opposed to external) does not affect how I pay my bills and if I will repay a loan.

However, bad credit is caused by not paying your bills on time, bouncing checks, and generally not being responsible with your money/finances.

Therefore, institutions that lend you money are going to determine if they will give you money - based on the likelihood that they will be paid back - in full and on time. The worse your credit - the bigger the risk the financial institution runs that you will default on the loan (IE - not pay it) - therefore, you pay a higher interest rate than those who are responsible with their money.

Guess what.....people with who have a history of DUI tickets pay more for car insurance than those who do not because people who drive drunk are more likely to cause automobile accidents.

I know...it's really unfair.....but sometimes adults get held responsible for their actions and the choices they make.

Answer 2

Discrimination on the basis of race, gender and religion is wrong because they have nothing to do with how you work.

On the other hand, having bad credit shows a lack of certain skills. And insurance is all a gamble -- your age, gender and type of car are all used against you with insurance -- because they use statistics to show that you may be more of a risk.

If we went far enough, should we stop "discriminating" against people who just stop showing up for work -- I mean, really, how important is actually showing up. Or "discriminate" against people for being smart as they make the rest of the staff look bad.

The purpose of discrimination laws is to protect people from unreasonable discrimination, not from reasonable discrimination. For example, I - as a woman - could not get a job providing sperm for women who want to get pregnant (not that any man could get a job doing that, but this is just an example.) -- this isn't discrimination -- I just don't have the equipment (not on me, any way)

You can sue for not getting a loan if you can prove it was discrimination based on a "protected class" - such as gender or Race. You just have to prove that the cause was the discrimination.

Answer 3

Because it is not discrimination when the "fact" directly is related to what is being applied for. You are applying for a loan, and you have bad credit, the bank has less chance of getting their money. They aren't going to just want to give thousands away to someone! And insurance - they want to be paid, for if they are on the coverage, and they don't get paid, it all costs in the end. Not to mention that individuals with bad credit are somewhat reckless - risky when it comes to insuring them. As for the job - bad credit individuals tend to need money, and if they are in a job working around money, they might be more likely to steal the money to pay off a debt to keep their home, car, or stay out of jail.

Now, one couldn't ban someone from being a member of their church due to having bad credit - that is discrimination. But the other things you listed are not - the credit rating directly effects the choice.

Answer 4

bad credit, ok your insureance company will look at this as you being a risk, so they will charge you more than the person they are more sure is on the up and up, a loans manager will look at your bad credit and either charge you a higher intrest rate, or decline taking your loan, because you are a bigger risk, now unless you bad credit is for a huge amount i dont think many ppl will refuse you empolyment, unless its in a place where money/ trust is part of the job, i guess it all comes down to risk, is the risk worth it to have you on the job, as a borrower, as an insured person,
now color and race and religion is something you can't change, well i guess you can change your religion, but most don't,, as i said, the RISK factor

Answer 5

You cannot choose what race you are. Religion is a personal choice that should be respected. However, people can control their spending and bad credit. The reason people are charged more for low credit scores is because they have failed to hold up their end of an agreement previously. People look at credit history to determine if you will pay or not. The same is true for car insurance...they look at how many wrecks you've had. Health insurance looks at your health and what conditions you might have before insuring you...it's no different!

Answer 6

It's like when you go out into the woods and start chopping down the trees. Soon all the trees are gone and you are left with only a field. of course a bare field just won't do so now you take the time to till this field, plant it with seeds, and fertilize and water it. But then you feel like you accomplished something and walk away. In fact you leave for far too long and when you return you are welcomed, not by the fruit of your labor, but instead by a field overgrown with weeds. So now my son..you must get on your knees and pull those weeds...pull like you've never pulled before..

Oh, shoot..got off on a tangent. People with bad credit are discriminated against because lenders worry that if they issue them credit they will not be repaid.

Answer 7

It should not be considered discrimination that a PRIVATE COMPANY chooses to be selective regarding people with bad credit. Why should the government be in the business of interfering? Why shouldn't a insurance company or a loan office be allowed to "discriminate" against people who obviously prove to be more fiscally irresponsible. If you owned a bank, would you want to authorize a mortgage for someone who has missed their last 7 car payments?

Answer 8

It can be seen as discrimination, but not without just cause. Discrimination we frown upon such as racial and gender based is wrong because of the prejudice that comes as a result of it. But would you really want to give a large sum of money to someone who has not given it back in the past?

Answer 9

Hmm. I don't think all discrimination is wrong. In fact one SHOULD discriminate against people who do bad things or even promote the wrong values. What you can't do is discriminate against people for some aspect of themselves that is beyond their control such as race or sex.

Thus it is perfectly acceptable to discriminate against someone who can't handle their money correctly.

Answer 10

it's only considered discrimination when it's something you don't choose - skin color, race, ethnic origin, etc.
If you have bad credit, generally it's your fault - not paying on time, declaring bankruptcy, etc. the only exception to that would be bad credit due to illness and hospital bills - which some will work with those individuals.