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Or file a police report and charge you with felony degree embezzlement 20 years later: https://gizmodo.com/woman-hit-with-embezzlement-charges-for-...

Is it common for companies to check the credit history of job candidates? Why would they care? they're the ones paying you.

Dunno if it’s common, but the justification I’ve heard is that if you have financial problems you’re more likely to be tempted to commit petty theft and/or embezzlement to compensate.

It varies on sector. Banking/financial is much more likely to do this than other sectors. It's also more common lower down the economic ladder, just one more way we punish the poor for their poverty.

I had no credit. I think they asked for an ID and that was it. I returned their property but didn’t pay their fine.

My wife and I were always able to wait out Family Video. If we had a late fee on one account we'd use the other's account until we got a call to come back, get the late fee forgiven, and get a free rental or something.

They didn't survive the pandemic, but I doubt that was the tipping point.