Legality of handing over bank statement?

I've been asked to provide bank statement as part of recruitment process, which I think I'm going to refuse

It was explained that a bank statement is needed to prove legitimate applicants have been in attendance? along with ID
I've never come across it before, is it a law or recognised elsewhere? while I've been daft in the past I've never given bank statements to an employer on this basis - Judge, creditor/lender yes but this is a stretch of the imagination to far

I also thought cash in hand jobs had been pretty much been done away with? which surely doesn't tally to the legitimacy reasoning

Comments

  • dori2o
    dori2o Posts: 8,150 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I've been asked to provide bank statement as part of recruitment process, which I think I'm going to refuse

    It was explained that a bank statement is needed to prove legitimate applicants have been in attendance? along with ID
    I've never come across it before, is it a law or recognised elsewhere? while I've been daft in the past I've never given bank statements to an employer on this basis - Judge, creditor/lender yes but this is a stretch of the imagination to far

    I also thought cash in hand jobs had been pretty much been done away with? which surely doesn't tally to the legitimacy reasoning
    It is also not illegal to receive payments in cash as long as, assuming you are an employee, the relevant deductions are made from the gross salary, or assuming you are self employed, the gross income is declared on a tax return.

    I would be very wary. HHowever it all depends on how much you need the job. I woud definately be redacting any information from the statement that i did not want to be disclosed, i.e. account number and some transactions (incoming i.e. state benefits, other regular income etc etc)
    [SIZE=-1]To equate judgement and wisdom with occupation is at best . . . insulting.
    [/SIZE]
  • brendon
    brendon Posts: 514 Forumite
    This is probably to comply with immigration requirements (employers must make reasonable effort to ensure that employees are legally entitled to work in the UK; otherwise they are liable for fines). There are usually other documents you can provide (there's an official list -- the familiar one with "Part A" and "Part B" documents). A UK passport is normally sufficient. Or birth certificate and official confirmation of your national insurance number. You can also provide bank statements, if you have other evidence too.
  • AP007
    AP007 Posts: 7,109 Forumite
    I've been asked to provide bank statement as part of recruitment process, which I think I'm going to refuse

    It was explained that a bank statement is needed to prove legitimate applicants have been in attendance? along with ID
    I've never come across it before, is it a law or recognised elsewhere? while I've been daft in the past I've never given bank statements to an employer on this basis - Judge, creditor/lender yes but this is a stretch of the imagination to far

    I also thought cash in hand jobs had been pretty much been done away with? which surely doesn't tally to the legitimacy reasoning
    Why do they want a bank statement from you? To prove where you live or to prove you have an account?
    We’ve had to remove your signature. Please check the Forum Rules if you’re unsure why it’s been removed and, if still unsure, email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • AP007
    AP007 Posts: 7,109 Forumite
    brendon wrote: »
    This is probably to comply with immigration requirements (employers must make reasonable effort to ensure that employees are legally entitled to work in the UK; otherwise they are liable for fines). There are usually other documents you can provide (there's an official list -- the familiar one with "Part A" and "Part B" documents). A UK passport is normally sufficient. Or birth certificate and official confirmation of your national insurance number. You can also provide bank statements, if you have other evidence too.
    A bank statement wont prove the right to work here only that you live here at a certain address.
    We’ve had to remove your signature. Please check the Forum Rules if you’re unsure why it’s been removed and, if still unsure, email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 27 November 2013 at 9:34AM
    What line of business is the prospective employer in? What job will you have with them? It sounds like a budget way of doing a fidelity check to ensure you arent in financial distress and thus possibly more prone to bribery, theft, fraud etc

    Ultimately they are entitled to ask for more or less what they want and its your decision on if you want to comply or not. Just obviously accept that if you dont comply you wont get the job
  • ValHaller
    ValHaller Posts: 5,212 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What line of business is the prospective employer in? What job will you have with them? It sounds like a budget way of doing a fidelity check to ensure you arent in financial distress and thus possibly more prone to bribery, theft, fraud etc

    Ultimately they are entitled to ask for more or less what they want and its your decision on if you want to comply or not. Just obviously accept that if you dont comply you wont get the job
    I agree with the highlighted bit, although it does have a scammy whiff about it. Either way, the cheapskating sounds a real warning about a dodgy employer
    You might as well ask the Wizard of Oz to give you a big number as pay a Credit Referencing Agency for a so-called 'credit-score'
  • honeypop
    honeypop Posts: 1,502 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Been asked this a few times before as proof of address, blanked out any other info I didn't want them to see (inc transactions, balance) and never had a problem.

    What's the cash in hand references got to do with being asked for a bank statement?
  • What line of business is the prospective employer in? What job will you have with them? It sounds like a budget way of doing a fidelity check to ensure you arent in financial distress and thus possibly more prone to bribery, theft, fraud etc

    Wouldn't have thought so - lets say home improvements.. to keep it polite (could understand if I was intending to be a provy agent maybe) so perhaps they got confused with what they need from their customers... I've never been asked for a bank statement before, no less so even when I worked in the "upmost good faith" intended industry

    I've found a way round it now, there is my starring role in Watchdog gone! LOL! least I now know who would take on ex. crims if nothing else out of the 'we take on anyone brigade' clearly, at a price

    Thanks all for responding. This is lesson learnt I think.
  • Nebulous2
    Nebulous2 Posts: 5,607 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    When applying for a check on a potential employee from Disclosure Scotland the person needs to provide proof of ID (passport, driving licence etc) and proof of address (bank statement, utility bill) etc from within the last 3 months. Many people only had bank statements to offer for address.
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