New Gig, Elan Gestapo interrogation

[jiminajam]

Hi,

I'm in the process of starting a new gig through elan. They've asked for my life story before sending me the contract;

# Copy of the Limited Company insurance certificates (All 3 insurances, Public Liability, Employers Liability and Professional Indemnity should be verified to the limit of £1 million minimum)
# Copy of Passport – (we need to check that the contractor has no visa restrictions and we also need the passport as proof of ID) *see Proof To Work document on page
# Also proof of entitlement to work i.e. visa/work permit (if applicable)
# Copy of the Company Certificate of Incorporation – (We need to check that the company is not based abroad and is registered in the UK)
# Copy of the Company VAT certification (no VAT is payable without this certificate)
# Copy of your bank statement (a company cheque is acceptable to verify the bank details i.e. your company name, address and company bank details)
# Copy of a utility bill of worker – (proof of address)
# References - Minimum of two References -These must cover you for the last 3 years, please provide me with the contact details, including telephone number and email address/postal address of referees for you.
# Next of kin details
# National Insurance Number

Is this normal? I know in my last gig, the agency needed my passport, my cert of incorporation and vat certificate. This seems a little excessive, and from a quick read through the forums here, typical of elan?

Comments.

Not that I have any problem in producing all of these details, it just seems a little ott.

[MrRobin]

Most of the first half is fairly normal I think...

The bank statement thing is cheeky and we discussed this a while back. Send them a paying in slip!

Utility bill is dodgy, can't they just look you up on company house, now that they have your company name / number.

Tell them you'll only give references once you have secured an interview or even when you have had an offer.

Next of Kin is odd...

They don't need your NI number, tell them to shove it.

[ratewhore]

Personally I would expect to see the contract first before giving them that information. Even then, I wouldn't give them all of it as they are taking the p1ss.

[Ardesco]

Do NOT give them your NI number. They may set you up as a temp and pay you through their own payroll system which would be a bloody nightmare.

[Dow Jones]

Too much info

NI No and next of kin are std permie info - n/a for Ltd Cos
No problem with any of the others, if you are 'clean'.
Proof of indiv. address is optional and only if this is a prelude to a credit check (again, you'll have to be asked and agree to)

[NotAllThere]

Funny the one about UK ltd co. I get calls about UK gigs from many agencies - some I've been talking to for years and have worked through in the past. I've always asked them about working through my Swiss company, and they say there's no problem.

Perhaps when I'm really bored, I'll reply to an Elan ad.

[jiminajam]

Agree with your comments. thanks. First impressions from them are that they're a bit incompetent, but i'll see how it goes.

I'll drip feed them the info and see how little i need to actually give them.

on a similar note, this is the first contract that i have been asked to have insurance of any type.

so a quick look around on the net has yielded;

£55 for 1m employers liability and public liability through simplybusiness.co.uk and then £132 for £1m professional indemnnity insurance through qdos.

How do these prices stack up. (I've answered that I'm not involved with financial trading applications etc, am in business (with this co) for under 1 year etc.)

[Turion]

Dont send the NI or the references! Wouldn't bother with the utility bill either. Why they need proof of your address? The bank statement is iffy as well.

Have thay actually, offered the contract. If so get a copy first to check the details.

[Alf W]

As it's a company to company deal, you will need to be asking Elan for the same information back from them.

Send them Company Cert, VAT Reg and Insurances. Nothing personal until they send you personal details of all their staff (which would probably be illegal).

[r0bly0ns]

# Copy of Passport – (we need to check that the contractor has no visa restrictions and we also need the passport as proof of ID) *see Proof To Work document on page

# Copy of your bank statement (a company cheque is acceptable to verify the bank details i.e. your company name, address and company bank details)

Somebody posted on here a while ago stating that their bank had told them that not to do it, and if they did send this information to the agent then the bank would no longer cover them for any fraud that occured on the account.

Do a search for it.