New Job Application - Security Check - Defaults

meerkat2007

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but everyone here is such a fount of helpful information, I thought, why not give it a try?

I've applied for a job where, if successful, I will have to be vetted for security clearance. The 4 levels are Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC), Baseline Check (BC), Security Check (SC), and Developed Vetting (DV). From what I've been told, I highly doubt that it will be DV.

Now, I imagine that, whatever level they require, it will include a look at my credit history, which is somewhat less than pristine. The defaults were acquired 6 years ago, so are now disappearing, and 4 weeks today, I lose my one and only CCJ (fully paid off 13 months after I acquired it). The recruiting process is notoriously slow, so I don't expect to be called for an interview (if they decide I'm worth interviewing) until after the CCJ disappears. If it's after 23/08/2007, at that point I'll have one default left, which will be going in March 2008, and a settled credit card (Capital One) account that had a payment arrangement on it, that will only disappear in 2012.

The questions I have are as follows:

1. Does anyone know for certain if a credit check is part of the vetting process?
2. If it is, can they find out about stuff that's dropped off your record (like my CCJ, if they search after 02/08/2007)?

Thanks for reading this, and thanks for any light anyone can shed on the situation.

moonlightpjs

Not sure what kind of job it it so can't advise if they will do a credit check but if they do all they are looking for is court info so you need to get that CCJ off your credit file asap (check it has come off by getting your CR) and also about fraud information.

Somebody may be able to advise you more

gazza975526570

I think it depends where you are applying to

Where i work any kind of default means you wouldnt get the position

Im sure every company is different. State who it is and someone may know

brazilianwax

This is civil service then.

Unless you are having Developed Vetting security they won't credit check you.

DV asks EVERYTHING about your financial status.

What job is it?

fermi

From what I remember from when I had checks done, it was SC and upwards that involved a credit reference check and a less/more detailed review of your financial circumstances depending on the exact level.

I was told that negative information would not necessarily cause you to fail a check, but would contribute to the assessment of what sort of potential risk you may pose. The most important thing is to be completely honest, since any attempt to cover anything up is about the worst thing you could do.

EDIT: Just found the relevant info.

An SC clearance will normally consist of:

• a check against the National Collection of Criminal
Records and relevant departmental and police records;

• in accordance with the Security Service Act 1989,
where it is necessary to protect national security or to
safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom from
threats posed by persons outside the British Islands, a check
against Security Service records; and

• a credit reference check and, where appropriate a review of
personal finances.
In some circumstances further enquiries, including an interview
with the subject, may be carried out.

Individuals employed on government work who have long term,
frequent and uncontrolled access to TOP SECRET information or
assets will be submitted to the level of vetting clearance known as
Developed Vetting (DV). This level of clearance may also be
applied to people who are in a position directly or indirectly to
cause the same degree of damage as such individuals and in
order to satisfy requirements for access to material originating
from other countries and international organisations. In addition to
the Security Check, a DV will involve:

• an interview with the person being vetted;

• references from people who are familiar with the person’s
character in both the home and work environment. These may
be followed up by interviews. Enquiries will not necessarily be
confined to past and present employers and nominated
character referees.

meerkat2007

This place is amazing! Thank you all so much for your incredibly speedy replies. The job is in the private sector, working on government projects connected with defence, and is predominantly financial reporting, believe it or not.

The CCJ will be gone in 4 weeks. I have an ex-colleague who moved from the company I currently work for to the company I've applied to, and it took her two months from the initial phone call to hear anything further, and that was a relatively short length of time compared to other ex-colleagues who've made the same move. So I'm cautiously optimistic that it will be gone before I go for an interview (if I get an interview).

Incidentally, I currently work in the private sector on a government contract for a different department, so I suppose it's possible that some sort of basic check was carried out when I joined the company just over 6 years ago (before the CCJ).

Thanks again for your swift and informative responses.

fermi

As I said, I was told the most important thing was not not to try and hide anything. They don't expect everyone to be 100% perfect, but honesty with the Defence Vetting Agency (or whatever it is called now) is expected.

Just found a copy of the type of questionnaire you will be given here:

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/93F575FD-A406-46B6-AEC1-9263A373B457/0/SCCTCAdobe8Compliant.pdf

But I'm not sure how up to date it is. It should give you an idea of the sort of info asked though.

brazilianwax

That is the current form (I'm an HR manager on Whitehall )

SC and DV have an additional form which requests all information about finances.

You'll only be asked to complete that if the job specifically requires that level of clearance.

meerkat2007

Well, I had (and still have) a plan to completely upfront and honest about the situation, if the subject of a check comes up at any point. If that turns out to be a showstopper before I get a job offer, then so be it - the prospect of trying to hide it, accepting an offer, and THEN they find out about it absolutely horrifies me. I may have been a foolish ostrich 6/7 years ago, but I'm an honest (former) ostrich!

meerkat2007

I really cannot thank all of you enough. :T

fermi

brazilianwax wrote: »

That is the current form (I'm an HR manager on Whitehall )

SC and DV have an additional form which requests all information about finances.

You'll only be asked to complete that if the job specifically requires that level of clearance.

I think I lost track of the number of forms.:o

And that was only the start of them.:rotfl: