They want to see my personal life before being my client
Discussion
Evening!
Back in April I asked about IR35 for an IT contract I was offered and got some very helpful answers. See https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Since then accepting their offer, I've been in in a long-running vetting process and it's still not over. They've asked to see some legal documentation, they've done some DBS checks on me, and now they are asking for three months of my most recent bank statements, uninterrupted. I've asked why they want them, who will get to see them, how the data will be stored, and for how long, and they will only give me the most vague answers back. As it's a financial institution, I actually thought it was a test to see how free I am with confidential information, but it turns out that they actually want to see my statements. To make matters worse, they are insisting that I either email them or fax them.
I've offered to take my statements along in person and show them to a person who can examine them in depth and make a decision, but they are refusing. Either I email them, fax them or walk away. And I'm not willing to do the first two. They have said that they want nothing but PDF or image files attached to the email, but this strikes me as pure madness. I have archived my files in a 7zip file encrypted with AES256 encryption, and will send the decryption key separately. Zip with the default zipcrypt is as easy to break as an eggshell, so that's out. Let's see what they come back with.
I have nothing to hide, but equally the potential for loss through fraud is massive should this data get into the wrong hands. I literally can't believe this institution is so lax about the security of people who might potentially work for them. And it's not as if they will be my employer. They would be my client!
Do you think I'm taking my privacy and security too seriously? I'm very curious as their expectation that I will just email my statements leads me to believe that other people don't see this as a problem!
Thanks!
Back in April I asked about IR35 for an IT contract I was offered and got some very helpful answers. See https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Since then accepting their offer, I've been in in a long-running vetting process and it's still not over. They've asked to see some legal documentation, they've done some DBS checks on me, and now they are asking for three months of my most recent bank statements, uninterrupted. I've asked why they want them, who will get to see them, how the data will be stored, and for how long, and they will only give me the most vague answers back. As it's a financial institution, I actually thought it was a test to see how free I am with confidential information, but it turns out that they actually want to see my statements. To make matters worse, they are insisting that I either email them or fax them.
I've offered to take my statements along in person and show them to a person who can examine them in depth and make a decision, but they are refusing. Either I email them, fax them or walk away. And I'm not willing to do the first two. They have said that they want nothing but PDF or image files attached to the email, but this strikes me as pure madness. I have archived my files in a 7zip file encrypted with AES256 encryption, and will send the decryption key separately. Zip with the default zipcrypt is as easy to break as an eggshell, so that's out. Let's see what they come back with.
I have nothing to hide, but equally the potential for loss through fraud is massive should this data get into the wrong hands. I literally can't believe this institution is so lax about the security of people who might potentially work for them. And it's not as if they will be my employer. They would be my client!
Do you think I'm taking my privacy and security too seriously? I'm very curious as their expectation that I will just email my statements leads me to believe that other people don't see this as a problem!
Thanks!
This constant requirement to prove things that are irrelevant like this really makes me sick. I'm trying to sell a house at the moment and the number of documents the buyer's solicitor is asking for pisses me off. I've refused to provide some where they can't explain the reason behind them, and told them I'll walk away from the sale if they insist.
Tell them they are welcome to do their own background checks but you need to draw the line at providing bank statements. They are an employer/client. What on earth do they need your bank statements for that that they can't get from a credit check, DBSS etc.? I don't think there's any risk of fraud whatsoever but your bank statements are none of their business. Stick to your guns buddy.
So, having read your other post, is this position inside or outside IR35?
So, having read your other post, is this position inside or outside IR35?
Edited by cs174 on Friday 11th June 22:07
cs174 said:
Tell them they are welcome to do their own background checks but you need to draw the line at providing bank statements. They are an employer/client. What on earth do they need your bank statements for that that they can't get from a credit check, DBSS etc.? I don't think there's any risk of fraud whatsoever but your bank statements are none of their business. Stick to your guns buddy.
So, having read your other post, is this position inside or outside IR35?
It's financial so presumably they are mitigating any risk?So, having read your other post, is this position inside or outside IR35?
Edited by cs174 on Friday 11th June 22:07
Why not redact the account/sort code if you have nothing else to hide?
cs174 said:
Tell them they are welcome to do their own background checks but you need to draw the line at providing bank statements. They are an employer/client. What on earth do they need your bank statements for that that they can't get from a credit check, DBSS etc.? I don't think there's any risk of fraud whatsoever but your bank statements are none of their business. Stick to your guns buddy.
So, having read your other post, is this position inside or outside IR35?
Despite the fact that I have a few clients and will continue to do work for and invoice those other clients, it's caught by IR35 and they insist that I provide my services through an umbrella company. So I will be employed by the umbrella company of my choosing and that company will invoice the client.So, having read your other post, is this position inside or outside IR35?
In the past 3 years I've been s director of an FCA regulated firm. I had to fill in a lot of exhaustive forms (Long Form A being one of them. It's long. It's a form). Don't recall them asking for my actual back statements.
Mind you, try for a mortgage without them. Do people get so upset when mortgage companies ask to see statements?
Mind you, try for a mortgage without them. Do people get so upset when mortgage companies ask to see statements?
toasty said:
If you don’t want to let them investigate then walk.
Unless it’s your dream role, there’s plenty of other jobs going.
It's not my dream role, but this particular company are headquartered in certain a Southern European country in which I would like to retire one day. This might be a way of gaining a foothold which might be necessary now that Brexit had destroyed my plan to eventually leave Blighty for a better climate and much better food.Unless it’s your dream role, there’s plenty of other jobs going.
I'm reluctant to let them investigate as even my medical records don't reveal as much about my lifestyle as my bank statements do. What I absolutely object to is sending them via open unencrypted email, where they can be intercepted by every hacker aged 10 years old and above. To the person who posted the tinfoil hat - how do you think passwords get breached and you end up getting loads of spam email. Hackers have vast networks of bots scanning the internet for information useful for committing fraud.
Austin_Metro said:
Download it into xls, filter it for relevance and send it to them with account details deleted.
Can’t see it is anything to do with them.
Nope, they want to see it with all formatting and logos unmolested as if it just dropped through my letterbox. I don't get paper statements but they do accept PDF statements, with all formatting and logos intact.Can’t see it is anything to do with them.
APontus said:
In the past 3 years I've been s director of an FCA regulated firm. I had to fill in a lot of exhaustive forms (Long Form A being one of them. It's long. It's a form). Don't recall them asking for my actual back statements.
Mind you, try for a mortgage without them. Do people get so upset when mortgage companies ask to see statements?
When I got a mortgage with Santander two years ago, they did not request any bank statements. I supplied a p60, three months pay slips and they carried out a credit check.Mind you, try for a mortgage without them. Do people get so upset when mortgage companies ask to see statements?
APontus said:
In the past 3 years I've been s director of an FCA regulated firm. I had to fill in a lot of exhaustive forms (Long Form A being one of them. It's long. It's a form). Don't recall them asking for my actual back statements.
Mind you, try for a mortgage without them. Do people get so upset when mortgage companies ask to see statements?
If they are intending to borrow from the mortgage company no, if they are after a job then probably yes. Particularly if they want them emailed rather than handed in personally.Mind you, try for a mortgage without them. Do people get so upset when mortgage companies ask to see statements?
Sporky said:
Voldemort said:
Ask them for a copy of their payroll.
I like this idea.It sounds a bit "dance, monkey, dance!". I can't see a valid reason for them needing to see your bank statements. What next, a webcam in your bathroom for a month?
Edited by Sporky on Saturday 12th June 08:55
Personally I think it's no issue to send bank statement via email. I've just done it for a remortgage.
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