Police job - vetting procedure/financial issues.

[User3849]

Have NC'd for this.

I have applied for a job in the police control room of my local force and I'm starting to panic about the vetting check because of my financial situation. I've done some reading and I think they are mostly going to look to make sure your debt is manageable (which mine is) but I was stupid for a bit and have defaulted on two things a couple of years ago.

Briefly, it is as follows:

I owe two different amounts on defaulted cards (an old Argos card account and PayPal credit) totalling about £1100 (only £70 left to pay off on the Argos one). These are debts with third party companies now because the companies sold them on. I can prove consistent payments for the past year and possibly longer.

I also have a few credit cards that I'm paying off as have cancelled the cards. I have also made consistent payments on these for over a year.

I have debt roughly in the amount of about £10k other than this.

All very manageable.

I have occasionally gone into my overdraft and have got a Klarna card as well which is always paid off monthly if it is used.

Writing this all down I actually feel really ashamed. Does anyone know if the above will bar me from passing the vetting check?

If the force ran a check through Experian - what would they see? Not all debts appear on your record if they are over 6 years old - I believe that’s right. Do you have access to your credit file?

I don't know specifically about the police, but we have vetting in the civil service and I'd imagine it would be a similar level of financial checking to a civilian police role.

In our vetting, debt that is under control and that you're open and honest about wouldn't be a problem. If you lied about it or minimised it in any way, that'd be a problem.

They're looking to see whether you might be in such a sticky position that you'd steal or be open to bribery (either bribery to give you money or bribery to tell people about the debt). If you declare everything honestly and are totally open when answering any questions they might come back with, I doubt this will be a problem. Absolutely no point lying - they already know the answers to the questions they're asking you; they just want to see how you answer!

Thank you for the reply. Yes they would see everything on there. My credit rating is currently 533 out of 710 (it's a trans union one one with the bank). I can prove that the debts are all being paid quite comfortably but I'm just worried the presence of them at all is going to chuck up some barriers.

As pp, be honest. Also consider your social media accounts and members of your family who may have a criminal record or if you have “interesting” friends or current or ex partners that may be of concern. Consider any drinking or gambling issues you may have. Be open, honest and transparent.

Thank you. 🙂

My family are absolutely squeaky clean thankfully and I think my social media is fairly clear (although was thinking about deactivating Facebook anyway so this might be the prompt I need to do that!).

Do you think it will all be okay as long as I'm honest about it all? That was going to be my tactic anyway but I suddenly panicked tonight!

Oh, and no friends, family, ex partners or myself with anything resembling criminal records, not even an arrest between us!

They are not worried about acquaintances or distant family btw - through work I know many people with interesting backgrounds plus have a wayward family member, I passed full vetting (not police, higher clearance) I was honest and clear about a few individuals

The reason debt can be an issue is that it can make you more vulnerable to being targeted for bribes etc. if the debt is well managed I don’t think it would be an issue. If you had massive debts you had defaulted on and/or evidence of uncontrolled spending habits that would be a problem

What would you consider to be uncontrollable spending habits? I don't spend loads at all really, just what would be considered normal these days!

Bottom line is that I just made some poor choices in my 20s and early 30s and I've been sorting it out over the last few years. I am reasonably confident I will be completely debt free within two years.

Be honest, we get staff vetted and if they have queries they will ask you but I’ve get to have someone fail police vetting for managed debt as you describe

Thank you. 🙂 I'm happy to be honest about it, I'm just so desperate to get this job because I've always wanted to do it and to not get it because of my own previous stupidity would be crushing!

My DH works for the police. He took out an IVA whilst employed by them and has recently been through vetting again for a new role within the police. They asked him where he was with things and he hasn’t had any problems

They are looking for honesty and integrity. Don't fudge and don't hide anything. Just be upfront and all will be well

The financial check is to see if you would be more susceptible to blackmail / corruption so as long as your debt is manageable you should be fine.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to me. This is really reassuring! I will try to remember to come back and update if I get the job. Figure it might help a fellow panicker if they come across this thread and it turns out to have a happy ending!

As pp said just be honest. If you're on fb etc make sure you have the tightest security settings possible

I work in a Police control room. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions

I think they only care about CCJ

I recently went through vetting process myself ( ministry of justice) and asked on live chat if debt is an issue

Clearly not! I also have credit card debt and an Argos card

You are all so kind! This is the fantastic thing about Mumsnet isn't it? I'd probably have sag up all night worrying about this if it wasn't for you lovely people!

@Redglitter if it's ok, I may take you up on that offer soon! Thank you!

@User3849 Please do. Happy to help if I can. Its a fab job

Echo the comments here

The financial check is to ensure you're not struggling and therefore open to bribery or coercion- or loan sharks, criminality etc

They apply a ratio depending on the vetting level - management or security vetting has a tighter ratio than standard vetting

Honesty is key; vetting is denied if you've hidden anything. Although they'd accept you might not know about a family members criminal conviction, the conviction might prevent someone getting vetting - and they don't tell you why you've failed

Sounds to me like you'll be fine with the debt ratio you have

My daughter is worried about the exact same thing.
She's 28 and has been accepted to train as a call handler for the police but has has debt in the past.
She's paid most of it off and I advised her to be honest and say it is from bad decisions when younger...credit cards/phone contracts/klarna.
Good luck OP this thread has been helpful.
I will show it to my daughter.

You sound like you should be ok. By uncontrolled spending I mean something like a shopping addiction, gambling problem, or drugs problem. All of those could result in poor financial management. And all of those could make someone vulnerable to bribery or blackmail. But it doesn’t sound like the kind of debt you’re talking about would signal that.

I know you said you’re thinking of stopping fb, but in the meantime lock down all your social media so there’s nothing publicly viewable. Police vetting will still be able to view it, but the settings will be clear.

Its not a bad idea for everyone to lock it all down anyway-public SM causes so many unnecessary problems.

Good luck with the interview -I’ve been a police dispatcher for 20+ years and still enjoy it!

I work closely with the police vetting team, in my force this would not preclude you getting a job. Good luck x

The only thing that might preclude you is if you lie - your interrogatory will not be trusted.

Loads of people are in debt - so long as its being managed and under control.
But don't lie - this will be what gets you into trouble