Paying for CRB checks

Anacrusis

I'm applying for a job, have an interview for next week and have been asked to bring a cheque for £44 to pay for a CRB check. The info says that it will be refunded after being employed by them for a certain amount of time.

Now I've seen a few job ads that say the employee must pay for a CRB check but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of this situation? Are they likely to give me written reassurance of a job before taking the cheque? I don't really want to hand over a cheque if I might not be offered a job afterwards!

sweetilemon

My employers have always paid for my disclosures but I wouldn't be happy with taking a cheque. I know it is more comman to ask the employee to pay but I find it strange the money wouldn't be taken out your first pay or the cheque be made payable to the cbr people and be sent with your form.

claire16c

I wouldnt hand over a cheque until they had offered a job. And plenty of companies will pay. I mean theyre the one who wants the check done!

paddedjohn

Anacrusis wrote: »

I'm applying for a job, have an interview for next week and have been asked to bring a cheque for £44 to pay for a CRB check. The info says that it will be refunded after being employed by them for a certain amount of time.

Now I've seen a few job ads that say the employee must pay for a CRB check but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of this situation? Are they likely to give me written reassurance of a job before taking the cheque? I don't really want to hand over a cheque if I might not be offered a job afterwards!

no law that says the employer must pay, some will some wont. if you succeed in the interview and get the job you are going to be refunded anyway.

montymud

More and more non nhs employers are requiring applicants to meet the costs of their own disclosure - I have not applied for a number of these for that reason. I simply cannot afford it!

Savvy_Sue

One of our managers was asking if we could make our 'bank' staff pay for their own checks, I said we could but I hoped we wouldn't! However it can be a significant part of our costs for new staff, especially if they don't do many hours or turn out not to be suitable within a short space of time.

I would ask them at what point they apply for the disclosure, it may be that they won't do it unless they have offered and you have accepted a job - actually it would be wrong of them to apply if they were NOT going to employ you! I'd also ask at interview what their turnover is like, ie do many staff get the cost of their CRB refunded! although quite how you word that question I'm not sure ...

t0rt0ise

It sounds odd to me. If they are going to refund the cost anyway then why charge it, unless they are going to send them off for everyone whether or not they intend to employ them, and that sounds like a waste of everyone's time and money.

kiwi07

Anacrusis wrote: »

I'm applying for a job, have an interview for next week and have been asked to bring a cheque for £44 to pay for a CRB check. The info says that it will be refunded after being employed by them for a certain amount of time.

Now I've seen a few job ads that say the employee must pay for a CRB check but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of this situation? Are they likely to give me written reassurance of a job before taking the cheque? I don't really want to hand over a cheque if I might not be offered a job afterwards!

I would not pay if I were you. I had the same request but i refused to pay and the agency paid for it. I hope it helps.

bluenoseam

Most of the adverts I see which require CRB checks will state "cost will be met by the employee with the cost deducted from first wage" - given they see your CV & qualifications prior to interview it's not outwith possibility that they'll have a good idea if you're suitable beforehand so will interview minimal numbers & only do a check for the person they're most interested in.

Performing the check ahead of the interview seems a bit bizzare to me unless it's "hey, you start tomorrow" style, however someone may correct this, surely if you're CRB checked and you've paid for said check you can demand to be given the paperwork showing such, which could prove handy in the future.

SevenOfNine

If they don't formally offer you the job "subject to a satisfactory CRB check" then don't give them the cheque. Why should you cough up £44 for something you may not need if they offer the job to someone else!

Do say that you'll come in to complete the forms and pay the money as soon as the job is offered to you though.

vax2002

What a perfect Scam ?
Advertise a fake Job, charge £44 for a non existent CRB check .
Some people have brilliant minds...