SC Clearance

whydididoit

Hello , My first post.

I have been offered a job with the MoD, and for it I have to undergo a SC Check for Security Clearance. I am, to be honest, seriously worried. I am currently sorting an IVA as my finances are in a complete mess.

I'm not going to lie, I have multiple defaults and one ccj (which has just been satisfied) over the last few years as I lost my job and a messy seperation. Its got to the stage now that I'm taking steps to solve the mess that I created.

So looking at this scary grey form, it has a very overt financial section. It asks if I've ever been subject to an adverse CCJ (yes) and if Ive got any defaults (yes) so of course I'll be honest with the DVA about that.

Bearing in mind my IVA isnt yet finalised, and that my credit history is such a mess, I have no doubt that when it comes to the credit check i'll fail miserably. I have heard that if this happens they send you a financial questionnaire, however I'm really worried that this job (which is one I'd love) has been thrown away by my actions.

So does anyone have any advice for me? Anything I can do? Been through the same thing? I'm really worried :embarasse

sammyjammy

I cannot find anything that would suggest you current debt problems would casue an issue, they are probably checking for things like fraud etc on your record more than debts, as long as you are tackling your debts you'll be ok (I think).

Have you had specialised independant advice about the possible IVA? They aren't right for many people and there are other options, apologies if you do know what you're doing but you might consider checking out the IVA board.

Sam

whydididoit

Thanks for your advice.

I hop to god that you're right, lord knows I've been fretting about this for the last week or so now.

As it stands at the moment my defaults and ccjs will still be fresh, and my credit record will hold no inormation about my prospective ccj. Will they look at this and think 'whats going on?' as they'll have nothing but my word to say im having an IVA.

I haven't taken any specilist advice on the IVA yet, to be hoenst im in the process of establishing all me creditors before proceding with that,

MsChazzer

I applied for a job with another potentially sensitive government department and the reason they wanted to know all my financial information was to do with selling government information. For example, if I had massive debt problems they would have seen me as a security risk, I might be tempted to sell information to a terrorist organisation if they offered me enough to clear my debt. I would suspect that might be where the MoD are coming from too and therefore view anyone with financial problems as a potential risk.

Obviously this is just my experience with another department and this may not be the case, you should have received guidelines and information with your security checking forms that explains this. The officer who checked my forms said that they didn't discount people because they had debt, but they needed to be careful.

Plus I am certainly not suggesting that everyone with debt problems would do this (what's to stop someone without debt problems doing it either, well, apart from it being illegal!), it's just the way this department viewed it and given what they do I can see where they were coming from.

whydididoit

Thanks Chazzer. I realise the reason for doing that, and understand the need for vetting for access to sensative information. The question isn't so much why am I under going it as do you think I have any chance of passing. I have done a fair bit of reading on the subject but as always I'm looking to see if someone has been through a similar situaiton.

Thanks for your help though.

max2009

It is to find out things like do they think the applicant would be open to bribery.

MsChazzer

Well, I got a hard time from the officer about my debt (personal loan that is months away from being paid off, never missed a payment, and a student loan that is on the old system and I haven't had to start paying off yet) so they may well view your situation with some concern. Again, this was just my experience in another department (and the officer was pretty negative anyway) and it's obvious that you are taking steps to sort the problems out.

I didn't go any further with the recruitment process, although I was offered a place on the reserve list I decided it wasn't for me after all.

whydididoit

Thanks for the feedback. Its interesting, because according to the information on the SC form there will be no contact (in terms of an interview anyway) with the Defence Vetting Agency anyway. I know (as I said) that they'll probabley sent me an Income and Expenditure form, but there are people on here who have got an SC clearance whilst IN a IVA.

the problem is im not in it yet.

MsChazzer

Well that does sound more hopeful then. I think I saw a similar post at MoD (not that I want to work there, just curious to see if the vetting process was the same) to the one I went for at the other place and the security and vetting checks seemed much less intense at MoD.

And that's just for being a librarian! Good luck with your application.

chubbasstian

Hi, I,m just undergoing SC Clearance and i have previously been bankrupt and discharged for almost 3 years.
Keep us updated on your Clearance.
Good luck.

greytroot

These checks are mainly to keep yourself safe - if you have been honest with them then you should be fine - it is purely to stop you from being blackmailed!?.