IR 35 issue or Not?

[Drei]

I was wondering if this is the norm. Agent asks to opt out as per usual however client wants the following information which is the standard for permanent roles if I remember correctly.

1. Please send me details of 2 Referees whom can provide references for you.

2. A copy of your photographic i.d. is required (passport), please scan and return to me by email.

3. Please scan and email 2 proofs of address. Example, utility bills/banking or official government type communications.

4. Please complete the attached 7 year address history form, please ensure there are no gaps. Please scan and return to me by email

5. Print off the attached Criminal Self Declaration, complete the form, scan and return to me by email.

6. Details of your highest qualification, including course name, college name & address, date of award and forward copy of results/cert.

7. Proof of Right to Work (GNIB card where required).

8. As part of the screening process we are required to account for all periods of employment, unemployment, education, travel e.t.c for the 5 year time period before your start date with XXX.

[missinggreenfields]

Doesn't seem too unusual to me.

But if you're worried that this is anything to do with IR35 then you need to start reading up on IR35 quickly.

[malvolio]

Agreed.

But an agency that doesn't know that a copy of a passport is proof of nothing other than you have access to a photocopier is an incompetent one. And one that thinks contractors have periods of unemployment doesn't even understand his own business.

[SueEllen]

If you run your own limited you have never been unemployed. I simply point that out to agencies who ask and my accountant becomes one of my referees.

[northernladuk]

Does the client want it or has the agent said the client wants it?

Although the client asks the same for permies it is likely the checks are the same whatever your situation. The passport check should be done by anyone they are paying for legal reasons and so on. Don't let IR35 blind you to what the clients responsibilities are. Start of considering the same checks need to be done on every person regardless of engagement style and then work from there.

[Drei]

Cheers. The Client asked for these separate from the agency. The agency didn't even know what the client was asking for. I was more worried about the additional checks, 7 year history, breaks in CV, professional certificates etc, for all these checks I might as well opt in.
Sounded too much like a permanent role check and did not wanted to give any ammo to anyone. Can't remember the last contract I took and I was asked to provide all these, a security check and all LTD info, IDs etc were provided to the agency with whom I have my contract with.

Funny thing is the Main client is another company... so I would be a sub sub contractor)
Main Client contracts a consultant company to implement a new system, the consulting company uses an agency to get additional contractors besides what they already have as permies so I am 4th down the line. 4th working/contract for 3rd working/contract for 2nd working/contract for 1st.

[Fred Bloggs]

These days, if you are previously unknown to the client, then these things are often required.

[Lance]

These days, if you are previously unknown to the client, then these things are often required.

Yep. almost always.

The main difference would be that if you're provided a GB passport they don't check for right to work as that's implicit with a GB passport. Not all agents understand that though.

[Drei]

One thing I didn't mention because I missed it myself was a previous e-mail to that request where this is stated:

"Dear [No Name], XXX has been instructed by XXX to contact you with regards to carrying our pre-employment screening check for the purpose of your potential employment with their organisation. We will be carrying out a variety of background checks on their behalf including:

• Employment History Validation (apparently they will be contacting every single person I have worked for, contracted in the last 5 years)
• Qualification Validation (they will be contacting all my previous Universities, College etc to validate my studying years, courses and grades)
• Criminal Check (a security check has already been provided to the agency)
• Public Domain Searches (no idea what this is)
• Proofing Documentation - Identity, Residency, Criminal (not sure what this is)
• Credit Check (not getting a mortgage with them)

they want my consent for all of the above"

For a 3 months contract it just seems pretty excessive, never ran into this before and not sure I like the whole "employment" wording.

[northernladuk]

You ar3 reading too much in to it even if it says employment. If this is what the client wants and they do it to everyone then it's not an issue.

You think this is excessive wait.till you go for a DV gig.

You've got two choices now and I think you know what they are.