Can a new employer find out about previous salary? 18 September 2010 at 8:31AM edited 12 October 2010 at 12:11PM in Employment, Jobseeking & Training 35 replies 71.9K views

Tinuel

Hi, not sure if this has been asked before.
I was offered a position in a retail bank after some lenghty negotiations. However, as I am on low paid salary at the company I currently work, I told them a different figure in regards to my current salary. Actually, I told them I was earning 14k more than what my real salary really is (this additional 14k is the market rate for my position).

I am now worried and realise I was stupid. I reckon they can ask my HR department or perhaps calculate it on my P45. I am so worried now, because I really wanted that position and was after a big boost in salary, which reflects my position. And I did not want them to just lower the offer based on my current salary.

Well, I guess it serves me right for lying, lesson learned. Should I come clean now? Or maybe not accept the offer?

Many thanks




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Gertie_Walker

Of course they can ask your previous employer for your rate of pay and the employer would have to tell the truth. You can withold your P45 from your new employer so they couldnt find out that way.

cashbackproblems

WHat ever you get asked at interview doesnt usually gets folllowed up with hr once your in the job, iv lied before as well.

Just dont tell them, say u lost ur p45 and fill in tht replacement form they have.

Orville

Dosen't previous salary fall under data protection..?

SarEl

I think that the main issue here isn't the P45 - which can, as has been stated, "get lost". The issue is that this is a job in banking and their referencing procedures are significantly more sophisticated than most other employers. That said, I don't know whether they will ask for / find out this information or not. But you don't need to hand in (and in fact shouldn't) your notice to your existing employer until you have a confirmed job offer, so I would be tempted to say that you should say nothing and see what happens. It may be that nothing does.

Just remember next time you are tempted to exaggerate, how stressful it is and don't do it

DVardysShadow

Did you give the figure on your application form or at interview?

Tinuel

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Did you give the figure on your application form or at interview?

Thanks to all for your posts.

DVardysShadow, I was asked verbally once on the final interview for the salary expectations and current salary. Did not write on any form or document

Uncertain

Tinuel wrote: »

Thanks to all for your posts.

DVardysShadow, I was asked verbally once on the final interview for the salary expectations and current salary. Did not write on any form or document

Oh well, they must has misheard you then......:)

DVardysShadow

Tinuel wrote: »

Thanks to all for your posts.

DVardysShadow, I was asked verbally once on the final interview for the salary expectations and current salary. Did not write on any form or document

Rack your brains. Perhaps you got confused?

System

If they think you're up for the job and pay you that much, then perhaps you actually deserve it. I don't think I'd add 14 grand to the amount I earned without really wanting more dosh!

Then again, if you don't get the job because of it, then you've learned a lesson!

mumps

Gertie_Walker wrote: »

Of course they can ask your previous employer for your rate of pay and the employer would have to tell the truth. You can withold your P45 from your new employer so they couldnt find out that way.

Witholding P45 will just delay things. If you don't have a P45 the new employer will get you to fill out a P46 and the Inland Revenue will send new employer a notice of coding which will show correct tax code and year to date figures.