Astonished by the amount of data requested for a background check

[MrsDustyBusty]

I've been offered a six month fixed term contract and they're doing background checks.

So far they've asked for:
Proof of address;
Passport;
Social services card;
Marriage cert;
Bank statements.

Is this not an excessive amount of data to request (in addition to normal stuff)? It's been years since I was last recruited so maybe things have changed but I'm not comfortable with just emailing all this highly sensitive data.

Well you should be showing them the originals, they shouldn't be accepting copies via email

But employers have been given the job of checking the right to work (passport) . To pay your salary they'll need your bank details (not your bank statements though, that seems a bit much - I'd query that one unless your job is in the Finance sector when it might be required) and the marriage cert may be for a pension scheme/death in service benefit. If you are concerned about any of the requests, they should be able to explain what they need that particular document for.

Congrats on the new job!

Thanks very much! It is finance. They have requested scanned documents sent by we email which seems awfully insecure to me - in fact, contrary to the legally required data security protocols I've had to do several tedious courses on over the years.

It just seems excessive and insecure to me. I've never had to supply this kind of information before.

Ah, it is finance! I am with you with the email/scanned docs, they probably have a secure system but I would raise an eyebrow at that as well. Brace yourself for having to take the originals in as well at some point

Different employment sectors have their own requirements - if you apply for a security job they usually want to go back 10 years in your employment records.

The actual screening for keeping illegal migrants out of the country is done by employers. Didn't you know?

Do you mean ni number rather than Social Services card? Some will be proof of right to work in UK, some for a dbs check.

No, I'm in Ireland so it was my social services card they wanted.