Agent making contractor pay for CRB check

[RichardCranium]

If this catches on, mark my words it will be the thin end of the wedge - prepare yourselves for an admin fee for each reference an agent checks, £1 fee for handling each CV submitted (due to the high volume of applications expected), hair gel replenishment fees, etc, etc.

Indeed. That is the way the lettings agents went a few years ago. It used to be the tenant paid the rent and the landlord bore the costs. Now the tenant pays for:
- ID checks (for every adult tenant) which have been marked up by the agency by about £50;
- credit checks (for every adult tenant) which have been marked up by the agency by about £50;
- deposit safe keeping services (which is taking the piss since they keep the interest);
- contract renewal fee (FFS!).

We're typically paying a few hundred pounds to the letting agents each time we move over and above the letting agent's margin on the rent.

The recruitment agents would, I am sure, love to be playing the same game.

[Bob The Drummer]

what does "payable at point of invoice" mean? Does it mean "Add the £23 to your first invoice"? Meaning, if you fail, you bear the cost but if you pass it will be refunded?

I spoke to the pimpette who placed the advert - she said they would reimburse the cost of the CRB check when the contractor submitted their first invoice.

Wow, they will be expecting us to pay our own train fares to get to interviews next.

And your own suit!

Perhaps I have misunderstood the sentiment of these 2 comments, but I don't think these are comparable to having to pay up front for the the CRB check. I've had several CRBs done by agents in the past, and it was never suggested that I should pay for them. Sure, I may well have effectively paid for them via the agents' margin, but it was never a front-loaded charge.

If this catches on, mark my words it will be the thin end of the wedge - prepare yourselves for an admin fee for each reference an agent checks, £1 fee for handling each CV submitted (due to the high volume of applications expected), hair gel replenishment fees, etc, etc.

[BrokenGKey]

Wow, they will be expecting us to pay our own train fares to get to interviews next.

Aw heck... looks like your idea has caught on.....

[Clippy]

How long do CRB checks last?

e.g. Do you have to get them re-newed every year?

[MarillionFan]

This brings it all to a new level!

I went out for a drink with an agent recently and he expected me to go halves on the round!!!

[Ignis Fatuus]

In the past I've seen minimum wage temp roles being offered which require the applicants to be already CRB checked, but this advert I saw today takes pimp penny pinching to a whole new level:

Project Manager Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Contract IT Job

"Offer of contract subject to vetting procedures which incl. a CRB at a cost of £23 to the Contractor. (payable at point of invoice)"

If he wants it, he can pay for it. Simples.

Oh sh.. I NEVER say that

[Scrag Meister]

Received a strange call from an agent this morning at 18:50 asking if I was IPAF and PASMA "qualified" for jobs he is handling.

FTFY

When I read it first I thought ten to 7 in the morning.

[Aman]

Scandalous, how are people supposed to pay for that out of £400/day without putting themselves under the bread line.!

[d000hg]

Wow, they will be expecting us to pay our own train fares to get to interviews next.

And your own suit!

[Wanderer]

"Offer of contract subject to vetting procedures which incl. a CRB at a cost of £23 to the Contractor. (payable at point of invoice)"

Wow, they will be expecting us to pay our own train fares to get to interviews next.

[Aman]

I saw an ad today placed by the charitable foundation of a mobile operator, they were expectng volunteers to pay for enhanced disclosure checks.
Crikey, that was all paid for when I did the pre-requisite volunteering and paid work for my degree!

Received a strange call from an agent this morning at 06:50 asking if I was IPAF and PASMA "qualified" for jobs he is handling.
I had to look the terms up and I'm left bewildered why he thought I would even go up a mobile tower scaffold or scissor lift work platform, let alone pay upwards of £400. renewable every three years for the dubious privilege.

What a ridiculous time of night to call!

Good plan B though; devise a mandatory certification programme for an industry sector, then tax and govern those foolish enough to part with their money in that industry.

[RichardCranium]

"Offer of contract subject to vetting procedures which incl. a CRB at a cost of £23 to the Contractor. (payable at point of invoice)"

That's not a penny-pinching pimp, that's a piss-taking client.

However, what does "payable at point of invoice" mean? Does it mean "Add the £23 to your first invoice"? Meaning, if you fail, you bear the cost but if you pass it will be refunded?

[Bob The Drummer]

In the past I've seen minimum wage temp roles being offered which require the applicants to be already CRB checked, but this advert I saw today takes pimp penny pinching to a whole new level:

Project Manager Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Contract IT Job

"Offer of contract subject to vetting procedures which incl. a CRB at a cost of £23 to the Contractor. (payable at point of invoice)"