Passport ID

[Jason]

The requesting of passport scans is not just aimed at Conractors

Hi Guys,

I am currently in a permy position with a consultancy company. On many of our engagements the client asks for scanned copies of passports and driving licences of consultants, along with proof of address, and proof of employment by the consultancy company. They also run background checks to ensure no legal or financial problems.

Thus, this has nothing to do with being a small independent company or an employee of a large company. It is simply that organisations have gotten more bureaucratic, and worried about the implications of hiring illegal immigrants and so on.

Jason

[BolshieBastard]

Hi Guys,

I am currently in a permy position with a consultancy company. On many of our engagements the client asks for scanned copies of passports and driving licences of consultants, along with proof of address, and proof of employment by the consultancy company. They also run background checks to ensure no legal or financial problems.

Thus, this has nothing to do with being a small independent company or an employee of a large company. It is simply that organisations have gotten more bureaucratic, and worried about the implications of hiring illegal immigrants and so on.

Jason

Yes, we know that.

However, having no need to renew my passport, my original is now more than 10 years out of date. In the last 3 or 4 years, it has got harder to find agencies accepting this expired passport as proof of ID.

A suitable alternative is a photo ID drivers licence. So, I decided to get a photo ID licence (I had the old original paper only version but this wasnt acceptable either) and guess what, this particular agent (hydrogen) would not accept it.

And to be honest, there's not a lot of difference between a scanned document and one taken with a digi camera or smart phone.

They, hydrogen, were just complete bellwhiffs. I actually think they are just a temping company who are trying to move into the more lucrative contract market but, cannot differentiate between temps and contractors.

[Gentile]

They, hydrogen, were just complete bellwhiffs. I actually think they are just a temping company who are trying to move into the more lucrative contract market but, cannot differentiate between temps and contractors.

You hit the nail right on the head.

[malvolio]

You hit the nail right on the head.

Well I'm sure one of the biggest recruitment companies in the world will be pleased to know they're heading in the right direction...

[Gentile]

Well I'm sure one of the biggest recruitment companies in the world will be pleased to know they're heading in the right direction...

And McDonald's is one of the biggest restaurant chains in the world. That doesn't mean they'll be winning any Michelin stars any time soon, or know anything about cooking.

[BolshieBastard]

And McDonald's is one of the biggest restaurant chains in the world. That doesn't mean they'll be winning any Michelin stars any time soon, or know anything about cooking.

Spot on. Hand Mal his arse there too!

[Taita]

Does everyone slavishly scan full details of their passport ie complete with full serial numbers on display, to agents as 'proof' they are a UK national?

It is easier to go the whole hog with everybody than to miss somebody. We live in the information age and the end client may have stipulated that all staff are checked. Many will not be bothered about the distinction of Ltd Co as opposed to employee. Here is why.

UK Border Agency | Preventing illegal working

[Wanderer]

I don't have a problem with demanding identification from a worker I engage or having a client demand identification from me as long as they are reasonable about it. Generally, I'll present my passport on the first day or at the interview, they can take a copy and we're done.

I haven't got a passport. Confuses the heck out of them

That's not a problem at all, the guidance is pretty clear and comprehensive about which documents are acceptable. Just present the documents required from that list and you're good to go. If the poor dears don't understand that then too sad for them, I'd send them a link to the guidance tell them to go and talk to their boss about it because I wasn't going to argue the point with them.

Yeah, but we aren't employees, are we so the law doesn't apply? Well, the truth is that we really don't know because our employment status is a grey area and ultimately up to the courts to decide. The thing to focus our attention on this is that there is a civil penalty of £10,000 per illegal worker employed if you get caught so if you are taking someone on then maybe you'd want to do the checks anyway just to be on the safe side?

Except if they were born here or (apparently) grew up here, you don't need to see their papers, do you? I mean, they'll be fine, they're British, innit. Or are they? Being born in the UK doesn't automatically make you British. Yeah, but someone with a thick accent who has clearly not lived in the UK for more than a year according to their CV, what about them? What if they are African, Asian or from somewhere a little bit too far to east of Europe. Oh yeah, we'd check them out, hell yeah.

Next thing, someone takes exception to you suggesting that they aren't entitled to live and work in the UK and points out that you are being racialist discriminating against them.

So the bottom line is that you just treat everyone the same and check everyone's credentials and be done with it. Stops people giving false names and doing a runner too....

[Taita]

I don't have a problem with demanding identification from a worker I engage or having a client demand identification from me as long as they are reasonable about it. Generally, I'll present my passport on the first day or at the interview, they can take a copy and we're done.



That's not a problem at all, the guidance is pretty clear and comprehensive about which documents are acceptable. Just present the documents required from that list and you're good to go. If the poor dears don't understand that then too sad for them, I'd send them a link to the guidance tell them to go and talk to their boss about it because I wasn't going to argue the point with them.

Yeah, but we aren't employees, are we so the law doesn't apply? Well, the truth is that we really don't know because our employment status is a grey area and ultimately up to the courts to decide. The thing to focus our attention on this is that there is a civil penalty of £10,000 per illegal worker employed if you get caught so if you are taking someone on then maybe you'd want to do the checks anyway just to be on the safe side?

Except if they were born here or (apparently) grew up here, you don't need to see their papers, do you? I mean, they'll be fine, they're British, innit. Or are they? Being born in the UK doesn't automatically make you British. Yeah, but someone with a thick accent who has clearly not lived in the UK for more than a year according to their CV, what about them? What if they are African, Asian or from somewhere a little bit too far to east of Europe. Oh yeah, we'd check them out, hell yeah.

Next thing, someone takes exception to you suggesting that they aren't entitled to live and work in the UK and points out that you are being racialist discriminating against them.

So the bottom line is that you just treat everyone the same and check everyone's credentials and be done with it. Stops people giving false names and doing a runner too....

Points well made. No need to be difficult and being asked to indentify yourself does not impinge upon your IR35 status. But if you have to be indignant, write to your MP.