Employment agencies and proof of ID

BonandDom

Hi all,

Just replying to another thread and got me thinking.......

For someone who has a full, checkable employment history, including a position where a CRB was carried out, why do recruiment agencies insist on one of the following to confirm your identity:-

Passport - I didn't have one, never been able to afford holidays abroad:o

Full birth certificate - I only had the short one - presume being skint runs in the family:rotfl:

In short, to register at an agency I had to fork out £10.00 (cheapest) at a time when I just could not afford it.

So why do they ask for this identification in ALL cases?

Clark80

I would want to make sure I did the checks myself regardless of what any other agency has done previously...

wontfallforit

BonandDom wrote: »

Hi all,

Just replying to another thread and got me thinking.......

For someone who has a full, checkable employment history, including a position where a CRB was carried out, why do recruiment agencies insist on one of the following to confirm your identity:-

Passport - I didn't have one, never been able to afford holidays abroad:o

Full birth certificate - I only had the short one - presume being skint runs in the family:rotfl:

In short, to register at an agency I had to fork out £10.00 (cheapest) at a time when I just could not afford it.

So why do they ask for this identification in ALL cases?

It's evidence of your right to work in the UK. Of course, you have a checkable work history, but the agency needs to cover its own back in ensuring that you're either a British (or EU) citizen, or that you have the appropriate work permit/visa.

I know it's cumbersome, but they're literally covering their backsides. They may in fact be legally obliged to confirm your immigration status (don't quote me on that, as I'm not too sure). I recently went for a job interview, and they photocopied every page of my passport :-S

Passports are useful to have even if you don't travel abroad, as they're the gateway to pretty much every ID-proving scenario. So bloody expensive though :mad:. There should be some kind of cheaper, officiall ID document issued to people who have no intention to travel overseas, that perhaps could be upgraded to a full travel document if/when you did want to travel.

Ebany

Because thats what the Home Office insists they get in order to show they have a defence if it turns out you do not have the right to work in this country. Saying 'Well I presumed the other employers did it' doesn't get them out of a £5000-£10000 fine.

A CRB check has nothing to do with whether you have the right to work in this country.

BonandDom

My understanding is that they require these documents to prove you have a right to work in this country.

Surely a 20 year plus checkable employemnt history, references available, plus NI number, plus CRB etc etc does this?



oops - you beat me to it lol

book12

If you are working 'through' them, as an agency worker, then you need to provide those things you mentioned above. Since you are working 'through' them, the agency pays your wages. Basically, you are the employee of the agency, where they place you at a client company as part of your assignment.

Not sure if they accept a copy of a British citizenship certificate as proof of ID. At least it proves you are British, which means you have the right to work here.

The birth certificate will be fine actually since the agency mentioned that one, as an alternative to a passport.

You don't need to pay to register with an agency by the way. Which agency did you register with?

MrsTinks

BonandDom wrote: »

My understanding is that they require these documents to prove you have a right to work in this country.

Surely a 20 year plus checkable employemnt history, references available, plus NI number, plus CRB etc etc does this?



oops - you beat me to it lol

The problem is that these are easily fakeable... By having ID like passport etc they have a copy of a "legal" form of ID to cover themselves. Also - think about how easy it would be for someone to "borrow" someone elses CV and apply for jobs Besides most people don't have CRB checks... and again there is little to prove that it's for person X applying for the job - it could be person Y who's stolen X's identity

BonandDom

book12 wrote: »

If you are working 'through' them, as an agency worker, then you need to provide those things you mentioned above. Since you are working 'through' them, the agency pays your wages. Basically, you are the employee of the agency, where they place you at a client company as part of your assignment.

Thanks I know all that - sorry that sounded snotty and I didn't mean to be:o

Not sure if they accept a copy of a British citizenship certificate as proof of ID. At least it proves you are British, which means you have the right to work here.

I am not sure what you mean by a British citizenship certificate?

The birth certificate will be fine actually since the agency mentioned that one, as an alternative to a passport.

You don't need to pay to register with an agency by the way. Which agency did you register with?

Sorry I did not make myself clear here, the £10 was for the full birth certificate that I did not have:D

MrsTine wrote: »

The problem is that these are easily fakeable... By having ID like passport etc they have a copy of a "legal" form of ID to cover themselves. Also - think about how easy it would be for someone to "borrow" someone elses CV and apply for jobs Besides most people don't have CRB checks... and again there is little to prove that it's for person X applying for the job - it could be person Y who's stolen X's identity

WOW - do people really do that?- I am so naive:rotfl:. I can just imagine them being interviewed around my CV, would love to be that interviewer.

onlyforboards_2

I don't have a passport (or the need for one for travel) or original birth certificate either and am racing for time/money to get a passport for a new employer.
It is crazy when there are no legal requirements to have these documents in daily life.

computershack

BonandDom wrote: »

For someone who has a full, checkable employment history, including a position where a CRB was carried out, why do recruiment agencies insist on one of the following to confirm your identity:-

Passport - I didn't have one, never been able to afford holidays abroad:o

Full birth certificate - I only had the short one - presume being skint runs in the family:rotfl:

In short, to register at an agency I had to fork out £10.00 (cheapest) at a time when I just could not afford it.

So why do they ask for this identification in ALL cases?

Because the new employment laws require them to. ALL EMPLOYERS have to have proof of an employees identity and right to work in the UK.

piggeh

Why the need for a FULL birth certificate though, rather than the short one? Both registered by the same body, only difference seems to be the full one includes your parents occupations and address at the time.

My agency accepted the short certificate then 4 months later came back asking for a full birth certificate (which I had fortunately ordered a month before after losing my short birth certificate )