Newspaper lied about me?

System

arcon5 wrote: »

Because they have a criminal record (to the best of their knowledge)? This is common in many industries.. caring and meter reading as an example.

It's no different imo than turning somebody down because of their (lack of) qualifications

yeah but if a criminal record check was required would they not do a proper one? It seems that if you were turning someone down for a job because they have a criminal record you would need to have done a proper search and not just produce an old newspaper article with vague references to a criminal past. It may not be illegal but it seems very lazy.

OneYorkshireLass

bob_dob wrote: »

The article was showing how a football team full of (minor) criminals are trying to change their ways. A lot of the team did have records but i didn't and haven't.
It said i had convictions for underage drinking and driving offences.

So, you don't have a 'criminal past', or you don't have one for drinking and driving offences?

The PCC states:

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once recognised must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and - where appropriate - an apology published.

You've recognised there was an inaccuracy - have them publish an apology.

cmacca

How on earth did the employer find the article ?, you said it was 2009, I am a recruiter I don't go looking for newspaper articles on candidates esp from 3 years ago, it all sounds very odd to me. Oh and they cant refuse to employ you for this, if they need you to have a clean history ie working with the vulnerable etc they need to do a formal CRB check on you.

bob_dob

Thanks.
I dont know how he found the article but he is a local employer and so was the football team.

As i said, it's not really the employer i care about but i am frustrated that the newspaper didn't check it's facts.

So no point in taking action against the paper then?

So, you don't have a 'criminal past', or you don't have one for

drinking and driving offences?

No 'criminal past' or driving ofences. ever.

OneYorkshireLass

bob_dob wrote: »

No 'criminal past' or driving ofences. ever.

Well, that's a 'significant inacurracy'. Contact the editor/deputy editor of the paper and see what s/he says. I'd do this by email so you have a hard copy of what was said.

cmacca

You can get the newspaper to print an apology or retraction I would think but anything else would probably cost money to pursue

patman99

The employer probably paid the Scout Assocciation to run all the candidates names through it's clipping service.
The S/A has every local and national daily/weekly/monthly paper in the country delivered to them. They then look for articles in which a person is either aquited of a crime, or is mentioned to have a criminal record. They then add the article to their database, along with a scan of it.
This is then made available at a cost to anyone to use.

neilmcl

bob_dob wrote: »

So no point in taking action against the paper then?

Who's suggested that. By all means seek some legal advice.

arcon5

goater78 wrote: »

yeah but if a criminal record check was required would they not do a proper one? It seems that if you were turning someone down for a job because they have a criminal record you would need to have done a proper search and not just produce an old newspaper article with vague references to a criminal past. It may not be illegal but it seems very lazy.

oh I agree entirely.

I can only imagine the employer has more than one good applicants and didn't want the hassle of checking up on the facts having seen the article.

arcon5

Most people have committed driving offences and have penalty points. I'm also betting the employer (like most of us) drunk alcohol before reaching the legal age. Personally I don't think the so called offences are even that significant.