Reply to: SC Help - Have Read Sticky - Letter sent to DVA

[gingerjedi]

The more I think about it, the more I see it as a blessing in disguise, do I really want to work for people either like this, or this incompetent.

Get used to it, I've just finished a 2 month contract and AFAIK they still haven't transferred my SC as the sole BSO wasn't informed until the contract was 6 weeks in.

I'm pissed off as a transfer was a precondition of me accepting the contract, I start a new SC role next week and I'm worried that it may transfer after I start though I don't know what the impact would be??

Incompetence is rife.

[TheFaQQer]

I still have valid SC

... until it lapses in a year, unless you find an SC environment to work in.

The more I think about it, the more I see it as a blessing in disguise, do I really want to work for people either like this, or this incompetant.

Yes - the project will run late, you bill more, and no-one will know whether you add any value or not.

[littlejim]

You've had it confirmed that your SC is valid until 2016 and your 'seriously pissed off', would you have preferred it to laps??

Just move on and find something else, contracting can be a crappy business.

Yes I am pissed off to have had this happen - it's pretty crappy after all.....

But, I have moved on...

At least I know what happened now and tbh that was my main concern. I still have valid SC, this was just a balls up and not a problem with or about my clearance.

I only posted as someone asked to know the outcome as they suspected my SC had lapsed.

Lessons learnt tho, just hope the people at the next organisation are not chimps and have more of a clue.

The more I think about it, the more I see it as a blessing in disguise, do I really want to work for people either like this, or this incompetent.

[littlejim]

I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that DVA were happy to disclose this kind of information to someone over the phone though.

Given the huge amount of personal information I could confirm which was provided to me by my last emplyoyer, Certificate Number, expirary date, date obtained, date transferred out, surely it is not that unreasonable. As I said in an earlier post, they would not talk to me on Friday when I knew very little information. It was only when I knew every important detail relating to my clearance the conversation could progress.

[gingerjedi]

Seriously pissed off now

Phone call to UKHO reveals that :

Clearance Valid until 2016 -

DVA were informed of my termination date, which made my SC available to be transferred to the new sponsor.

Phone call to DVA - spoke to an uber helpful person who confirmed everything UKHO said, SC still valid. He also confirmed that no request for a transfer out had been made. o.O really

So how come the useless WAG have now lost me a contract as they have been unable to transfer the SC to themselves.

The guy at DVA was amazed I was having problems getting SC transferred, was surprised this didn;t just sail through

Damn i am even more pissed off now

You've had it confirmed that your SC is valid until 2016 and your 'seriously pissed off', would you have preferred it to laps??

Just move on and find something else, contracting can be a crappy business.

[SimonMac]

..

[SimonMac]

The boat has already sailed - the client has found someone else. Go find something else to do.

All you can do is speak to the client and tell them that you are disappointed that there was some kind of breakdown in communication somewhere, and that DVA have confirmed that the clearance is still valid and that no-one has tried to transfer it. Don't whinge about it, though. Then, if the client needs someone else in the future, they at least know you and know that they aren't wasting their time by looking at you. They might also chase whoever was meant to be doing the transfer and ask what happened.

I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that DVA were happy to disclose this kind of information to someone over the phone though.

I wouldn't even go that far, the Client would be the only ones that could have initiated the transfer so unless you want to go down the "someone at your end is either lying or incompetent" route to make sure the ground is scorched for any future roles.

It make me wonder why there is no "Name and Shame" culture on this place, I know we are all competing against each for gigs but surely this is some sense of brotherhood

[TheFaQQer]

The boat has already sailed - the client has found someone else. Go find something else to do.

All you can do is speak to the client and tell them that you are disappointed that there was some kind of breakdown in communication somewhere, and that DVA have confirmed that the clearance is still valid and that no-one has tried to transfer it. Don't whinge about it, though. Then, if the client needs someone else in the future, they at least know you and know that they aren't wasting their time by looking at you. They might also chase whoever was meant to be doing the transfer and ask what happened.

I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that DVA were happy to disclose this kind of information to someone over the phone though.

[SimonMac]

Seriously pissed off now

Phone call to UKHO reveals that :

Clearance Valid until 2016 -

DVA were informed of my termination date, which made my SC available to be transferred to the new sponsor.

Phone call to DVA - spoke to an uber helpful person who confirmed everything UKHO said, SC still valid. He also confirmed that no request for a transfer out had been made. o.O really

So how come the useless WAG have now lost me a contract as they have been unable to transfer the SC to themselves.

The guy at DVA was amazed I was having problems getting SC transferred, was surprised this didn;t just sail through

Damn i am even more pissed off now

Sounds as if you have been thrown a red herring, possibly by WAG or the Agency

[littlejim]

I still have clearance ^^

Seriously pissed off now

Phone call to UKHO reveals that :

Clearance Valid until 2016 -

DVA were informed of my termination date, which made my SC available to be transferred to the new sponsor.

Phone call to DVA - spoke to an uber helpful person who confirmed everything UKHO said, SC still valid. He also confirmed that no request for a transfer out had been made. o.O really

So how come the useless WAG have now lost me a contract as they have been unable to transfer the SC to themselves.

The guy at DVA was amazed I was having problems getting SC transferred, was surprised this didn;t just sail through

Damn i am even more pissed off now

[TheFaQQer]

We've had this before, only one is called UKHO.

Have we? It's been a while since I read every post on CUK - memory must be fading.

[gingerjedi]

Which UKHO? Hydrographic Office or Home Office? I would imagine that there are significant differences between the two

We've had this before, only one is called UKHO.

[TheFaQQer]

So whats the UKHO like? I was considering applying for a permy role there, money not great but it is a civil service post which has it's own benefits.

Which UKHO? Hydrographic Office or Home Office? I would imagine that there are significant differences between the two

[SuperZ]

Choosing now to specialise in SC work might not have been your best decision.

As part of the SC tranfer you probably had to do a BPSS check. Could you have failed that in some way? A transfer can take a number of weeks incl the BPSS check and I doubt you woud lose the contract because it took too long, would more likely be a reason associated it (ie, you been naughty naughty person or something ).

It might be that the company offered the job to two people and first one to have SC transfered wins? Or agency decided to cause an issue as the no.2 choice also on their books and provded a larger profit margin ? Agency can really do what they want as your contract is with them and until it's signed and sealed.......

Please post back when you contact the security controller at the old place and find out more information. I doubt they would have intentionally caused any issue as that would be VERY naughty (ethics, integrity etc). I would like to know what caused the outcome, if private PM me.

As a general comment on the SC rules/guidelines. Things I beleive have changed a fair bit over the past few years. Also noticed a private client working on public sector projects was very aware of the rules recently and indeed interviewed and offered contracts to non-SC cleared contractors and in fact also let them start under BPSS while the SC continued. Actually probably doing a better job with regard to following the guidelines than some of the pubby sector orgs!
One thing I will say though, in some cases if a load of CV's land on a desk and a lot already have clearance, the individual manager can still decide to bin the non-cleared CV's if they can find what they want already SC cleared. I think that's fair enough. So those with more niche skills are more likely to be put through the SC process

[littlejim]

So whats the UKHO like? I was considering applying for a permy role there, money not great but it is a civil service post which has it's own benefits.

Hard to answer that question as fully as I would like to, probably safer to just say the following.

I really loved my time there and they were a fantastic organisation to work for. However, due to the economic climate I cannot possibly comment on how secure it might be long term. Hope you catch my drift here...

Also, Civil Service pensions have changed considerably. Flexi time was great though