I am just providing a little insight to why your bad credit was disqualifying. Unfortunately, if you have poor credit you are considered a risk for a security clearance. The federal government believes, rightly or wrongly, that if you have money problems that are public record, then you will be more likely to slip secrets to foreign agents for money. It doesn't seem fair, but the underlying logic makes sense. Essentially, if you have any vices or anything that might cause you embarrassment (moonlight in pornography for example), foreign actors will try to use those against you to get you to talk. It has happened several times in the past.