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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I should not have to pay for my own CRB? Or interview travel?

73 replies

Southwest · 07/09/2012 16:51

um that's it really
I've applied for 2 jobs 1 wants me to pay for a compulsory CRB, the other is offering no travel expenses for the interview (second class train fare not first class flight unfortunately Wink

These are both high responsibility, (but unfortunately not high paid) they are both temp posts but will undoubtedly involve many hours of unpaid overtime.

I've just never had to pay for these myself before so am a nit shocked but then wondered if it was normal!

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 07/09/2012 18:05

I have never paid for a CRB check inspite of having 4 of them and I am currently awaitng my 5th!

If someone applied for 5 different jobs does that mean that they have to pay for 5 seperate CRB check. Surely the job should be offered subject to CRB check. It is very rare for a candiate to fail a CRB check. I have only ever heard of one case in the places I have worked.

LydiasMiletus · 07/09/2012 18:09

Only had one job that offered travel expenses, that was because the interview was moved to hq at short notice.
Dh has paid for his crb. Usually reimbursed when comes back clear.
The company he worked for last, did it because so people applied for the job, told them they had no criminal record but the crb check came back that they did. It lost the company lots of money every month.
They got fed up of doing crb checks pointlessly. When they told people they would be reimbursed, people were more honest and they saved quite alot.
but I have not heard of paying your own and not get it back.

LaurieFairyCake · 07/09/2012 18:11

I'm shocked so many think that expecting travel expenses is unreasonable Shock

One of the problems with college students, people on JSA, people trying for their first job is how prohibitive it is to try to get into the job market.

I travelled from Wales to London for an interview straight out of uni, there is no way I could have afforded the travel if they hadn't paid.

ajandjjmum · 07/09/2012 18:19

DS has been offered travel expenses for an interview for a graduate scheme. He says he's not going to claim, as he thinks it would look bad! Grin

AnitaBlake · 07/09/2012 19:09

I've always been offered expenses regardless of it being public or private sector. From my current job I travelled to Leeds for the interview and the job was in Newcastle. I've only ever claimed when its not been a local interview though.

DorothyGherkins · 07/09/2012 19:14

I was interviewed by an agency, who expected me to have a CRB check, who was then able to tell her clients I was okay. I didnt think it unreasonable for me to pay the £35 - I then had it to show other agencies or people interested in employing me, and its valid for several years anyway. Seems simpler for me just to get checked once, than expect several agencies to check me out each time.

SoldeInvierno · 07/09/2012 19:15

As an employer, I only offer to reimburse travel expenses if hiring for a junior position and the person has to fly in or take a long train ride. For senior positions, I never offer.

Abra1d · 07/09/2012 19:17

My husband had to come down from the Highlands to the South of England for an interview during our holiday. You bet we asked for travel expenses. After 17 months of unemployment we couldn't afford not to. He didn't get the job (we only asked for the expenses AFTER the decision was made). There were no problems at all with this from the recruitment consultancy.

Knobbers · 07/09/2012 21:02

So if say 10 people have been short listed for interview, the company is expected to pay for all their travel expenses although only one person gets the job? The NHS do this?

I've worked for the NHS for 11 years, frontline admin. I see where money is wasted all the time.

This is a ridiculous expense the NHS could do without.

IMO if you want the job, pay for your own travel to the interview. Just like most people have to.

If you get the job and your required to travel around for it then definitely claim travel costs. But not to get to and from work. That's your choice to work that far away from your home.

LisasCat · 07/09/2012 21:10

I've just hired an assstant. We din't offer travel exenses for the interviews, but did offer it when we asked our favourite candidate to come back to meet some other members of the company. I felt we were asking her to go above and beyond.

Melty · 07/09/2012 21:28

In our Trust, doctors get their travel expenses.
No other staff group do. (To my knowledge anyway)

CRB paid for by employer. Although there is currently a nonsense rule that no CRB will do, other than one requested by our Trust. So we had a daft case recently, where a conversion student had a CRB done by uni, by the hospital where she had her recent (3 week) placement, and still needed one from us.
Bonkers.

delusionsofadequacy · 07/09/2012 21:49

The NHS trust where I work expect you to pay your own CRB as well. I was told at the interview that they would pay but during the (fairly long) gap before starting they changed their policy. On induction I was asked to sign to say they could take it out of my first wage. (Not at all bitter, honest)

EmmaNemms · 07/09/2012 21:58

I have, until recently, run a small care agency and we asked candidates to initially pay for their own CRB's because it was costing us a fortune to pay for them at £65 per head and for people to then drop out of the recruitment process, once offered a position. We reimbursed them at the end of the first months work.

thebiglight · 07/09/2012 22:07

i travelled to dublin once for a job inverview for a graduate prog (13 years ago) didnt get a penny in expenses :(
Come to think of it the company were based in Kerry and were meeting us half way - but still...

re CRB checks... here in NI a lot of public sector employers looking for temps expect them to have an enhanced disclosure so they can start work straight away - prob is the body which administer the checks dont let individuals pay to get them off their own bat so to speak. most confusing and quite ridic in my opinion..

i had suggested my bro get one after graduating this year to try and broaden his options and help him get his foot in the door but no dice. Poor sod. :(

WipsGlitter · 07/09/2012 22:12

I got travel and hotel covered, but it was a flight and an overnight. In fact i made it through to the second stage and they covered all the costs of both interviews.

MAYBELATERNOWIMBUSY · 08/09/2012 00:47

money" short , times are hard ............once upon a time

Kayano · 08/09/2012 00:50

Hahaha! Are you actually joking?!

Pendeen · 08/09/2012 00:54

I have always been paid travel expenses for interviews.

Seems odd for a potential employer not to pay.

MrsMangoBiscuit · 08/09/2012 01:05

I think it usually depends on the post. If it's a hard to fill post that they are recruiting for from a wider area, then travel expenses are often covered. If not, then they're not and I honestly don't think they should be. For a CRB though, I work in the NHS and our trust always pays for the CRBs. I can't imagine having to ask applicants to pay for their own, and the delays that could cause in recruiting people.

thecook · 08/09/2012 01:37

Travel expenses - not to be expected.

CRB - the company is taking the living piss expecting you to pay.

Original poster
Southwest · 08/09/2012 01:55

Thanks

I thought in the past that CRBs were only valid for the organisation that requested them, that's dating back to when I had some involvement in my child's nursery, Interesting to see that has changed. I can see why an agency might want staff to pay until they have actually worked for them although I do feel at some point they should pay them back.

I can remember the paying thing from conversations about nannies on here in the past, I was surprised to see they were so easy to get now.
I have also been told by one employer that you need a new one every year I find the very thought of having to find 5 documents from section B (or whatever it is now) exhausting never mind actually finding them, I need to refind that thread about organisation.

Actually just thinking about lawyers and wigs and suits I assume if you pay yourself it is two deductible?

OP posts:
Original poster
Southwest · 08/09/2012 01:55

Sorry that should be TAX not two

OP posts:
Morloth · 08/09/2012 02:03

Wow, I had no idea that people got paid for travel expenses for an interview - no company I have ever worked for has offered this.

CRB though they should be paying as they need it, not you.

MrsMangoBiscuit · 08/09/2012 07:26

Every year?? Wow! Doctors only have to be re-CRB'd every 3 years. Also, 5 documents is a lot. If you have a current passport or UK photocard driving license(incl counterpart) you only need 2 proofs of address. If you have both, then only 1 proof of address. Council tax bill is usually ideal because they can accept one dated within the last 12 months instead of 3. Part of my job is checking CRBs, feel free to pm me if you need. :)

PurplePidjin · 08/09/2012 07:37

Afaik, crb's are valid for 3 years and transferable for the first. I find it incredibly rude to be asked to pay my own and tend not to apply for jobs that ask me to (with 7 years and NVQ3 i can be a bit picky within a certain industry!)

I would only expect travel expenses if i were head-hunted and the journey were over an hour long. If i apply for a job, i assume it's up to me to get there.