Ridiculous security request

[Aposterhasnoname]

DH has a new job, they’ve brought a security company in to do back ground checks. Way over the top for the type of job, but whatever. Having been asked for, and miraculously providing, the contracts and resignation acceptance letters for his last four jobs, they are now asking for “proof of school years”, WTF, it was over 40 years ago, they already have his O level certificate.

Anyone got any experience with this, what’s likely to happen when he can’t provide anything? It was a bog standard secondary, it’s not like he’s claiming he went to Eton or anything.

That’s madness. I had to show my GCSE certificates to start my teacher training but other than that I don’t have any real proof.

I don’t think I could name my last 4 jobs as I’ve been in my current one for 15 years now.

I’d be mindful of sending details of my whole life by email. They will have every possible answer to any security questions you’ve ever been asked!

I had to do similar to work in Homg Kong. Rather than acceptance letters they accepted pay slips as evidence of working somewhere. I also had to contact some people I had previously worked for, to get letters which took ages. Once they understood why I needed it they were helpful.

They're presumably not requesting favourite colour and name of first pet though!

I don’t have pay slips from 20 years ago!

I had similar in the past and even though I could not find all my O Level certificates (different exam boards), I did have the paper slip you received with your results, which, if I remember correctly, included the numerical code for the school. I wrote to the headteacher - the school does exist albeit as an 11-16 instead of a 13-18 as it was then. She wrote back confirming the dates I attended and my examination results.

Recently I also emailed the London Council that employed me as. Saturday and holiday assistant during sixth form to find out if I was due any pension. It took them less than a week to check their records and reply.

If they won’t accept what you have, I wonder if his medical or dental records may help as it was common to have dental examinations or vaccinations at state schools in the 60s and 70s. I would use this as a last resort as NHS staff have better things to do with their time. You would be required to pay.

I was thinking I might send copies of my school photos - which for secondary were those long whole school ones!!

Give em time 😀

*I worked in a county archive and we’d get these types of requests occasionally for employment purposes

if the records have survived and then been deposited with the county archive you could request to see if they have any type of register if class - but of course there will be GDPR restrictions… and that’s if they hold the registers, which is doubtful but possible*

Either the school or the county archive may have the admission registers which can provide dates of admission and leaving. But not all schools kept them or thought to place in the archives. You can only ask both.

I think this is a bit OTT. I have a high level of Government security clearance and this wasn't one of the questions! They wanted addresses of where I have lived but didn't ask for schools.

I wonder if it's a nationality thing? Certainly when I worked at the passport office we caught several people out with fake identities by asking about their secondary school (they'd claimed to be born and schooled here but surprisingly their English wasn't fluent). Maybe give the schools details and invite the company to ask if they have records?

I have all my school certificates and can get at them right away - I was asked for my GCSE Maths and English certificates when I was about 40, despite having A levels and a degree.

I've undergone vetting for a US company but it was nothing like this and I only had to give dates, I didn't have to give evidence of schooling.

I don't keep payslips though I might have some P60s from down the years. I certainly don't keep job offer letters! Anyway most of this stuff is online now so it just disappears unless you think to keep it.

Ha, no. American here and it's amazing when they want the actual proof. I've never had to provide my high school certificate ever, it's useless if you have a Bachelor's or higher. I'm starting to wonder if the reason we never have to provide some of the proof stuff is because US companies pay third party to do the background checks. They don't require much input beyond past 3 jobs, where you lived, your university, and a full name. If you lie, they find out, it's probably through the internet etc but then they're done. My dad's had to work on this stupid application about his employment gaps and it's a UK company. If those US companies don't need for the employees to manually find the info, I'm so confused why UK background checks are? I'm guessing it's to do with laws possibly.

I think they are often just on a fishing expedition. Some jobs need it like financial services and obviously anything involving children or adults at risk, but lots of jobs don't, and although it's technically a breach of the GDPR to collect data you don't really need, the ICO doesn't have the resources to deal with it.

It's like the criminal records checks. In theory you are only meant to carry them out for certain jobs, in practice lots of employers do them who really don't need them and shouldn't be doing them.