Maryland has become the fifth state in the US to restrict credit checks by employers. Signed into law on April 1st, to take effect on October 1st, is The Job Applicant Fairness Act, which prohibits most employers from using credit checks to deny jobs to otherwise qualified applicants. The exceptions are jobs involving the transaction of money and/or credit cards. If you believe you are being victimized regardless of the Act, you can file a complaint with the Maryland Commissioner of Labor and Industry, which has the power to assess civil penalties against offending employers.