Agency insisting on a new DBS despite my current one

[user1471867483]

They approached me to do temping. No problem. I'm currently not working. I funded my own DBS in December, so I'm good to go - or so I thought. They now want to charge me £29 for another DBS through their agency. I scanned over my current one and now they're saying it's out of date and not clear! Well, it's very much IN date and I supplied them with my existing DBS reference number so they can check for themselves on line. I told them I can't get it any clearer as I have only a standard camera! What do should I do now?

They are being super careful as theoretically you could have become a criminal mastermind in the last 4 months and they won't take that risk.

Really annoying though.

Every employer I’ve worked for and every charity I’ve volunteered for has done their own DBS check on me. I’ve never been charged for it though.

Lol.

If you'd applied within 30 days of your check, you could have joined the update service. Its £16 a year and then employers can check your DBS, without applying for a new one each time. I was with an agency and they checked on this system annually- with no additional costs to me. The update service is also tax deductible I believe.

TBH, a check is only as good as the day its done so I'm unsure how them checking months/years later is of much use. Is the new check of the same level as your old one? Standard vs enhanced? Child vs adult? I can understand them covering themselves.

Do you subscribe to the update service? If you do, then all they have to do is check your details for an up to date result and there's no need for a new application.

No idea, but as they want me to work for them, I'm not paying a penny. Another agency asked for my DBS and accepted it no bother! 🤷

I had to have one to work in a hospital and a separate one to be a school governor 🙄 in Canada my sil just goes to a police station and asks for a report. She gives her ID and they stand at a computer, search for her and print it, hand it to her and she gives that to her school or wherever else needs it.

I do know that organisations won't necessarily accept the DBS of another, so it is a nuisance, but I have never heard of anyone charging an individual for them to get it done themselves. I would push back on this aspect, not the actual getting re-DBSd. Hoping this helps x

I just hope they're not pulling a fast one 😞

I worked freelance and was also a school governor. Each organisation demanded a separate DBS. But they paid.

I've never had a company accept a DBS from another company, totally ridiculous. I think i had 4 at one point. I'm on the update service now as its easier.

It's becoming more and more common that you have to pay for your own as well.

Where ever I have worked in the past with children or vulnerable adults I have had to have separate DBS checks. It doesn't matter how new your certificate is, if it's a new company you will be working for they will want their own up to date certificate.

I mean you'd have to find a police station that's open over here which would be more of a challenge than anything else!

But yes, I do think it's needed, the certificate is only really valid on the day it's printed, you could commit an offence the next day and it never comes to light. That said it took 6 weeks for my DBS to come back, during which time I could not be alone with the lady I look after or do any personal care, I will subscribe to the update service to prevent that (hopefully) being a problem again, I do think that the current DBS system isn't really fit for purpose though, and the update service should be expanded and used more, it's more reliable, I could have committed any crime the day that my DBS was printed clear and my employer is relying on me being honest and telling them - while I'm working with a very vulnerable person.

And yes, I've had to pay for my own DBS in the past, it's not that uncommon in social care to pay for the DBS, uniform, training etc.

I'm not paying. I can't afford to as I'm on job seekers allowance. I simply don't have the funds.

I already commented up thread about the update service. In a previous agency, we paid up front for DBS but the cost was reimbursed after X amount of hours working for them. It was also tax deduction as a work expense.

OP- have you spoken to the agency? Maybe they could pay for it, then you reimburse them once you've worked X hours and got some cash in? Or not pay at all?

They are right to insist on a new one, but better employers will either pay for it or for you to join the update service. They should be regularly checking it once you’re in work too so it makes sense for them to have you on the update service.

A standard DBS is £21.50, an enhanced one is £49.50 according to gov.co.uk. So if they're doing a standard one and charging you £29 then they're charging you more than it actually costs. I wouldn't want to work for them, they're taking the piss IMO.

I've told them in an email I'm not going to pay, but they haven't answered. At least I've put it in writing. Nothing from their side has been properly explained.

Couldn't have put it better myself!

Is this something the job centre can fund if youre unemployed? Might be worth asking your job coach

I didn't think of that - thanks. It's just that I don't see why I should have to pay when they're the ones (the agency) who approached me for work.

I agree that you shouldn't have to. But if you do then this could be a work around. I know they can help with transport and clothing. So don't see why they can't do this too.

As a PP has pointed out, your DBS is only accurate on the day it's carried out. I'd never employee a member of staff without carrying out an update (we don't have DBS, but have an equivalent)

This. I’ve often had 2 valid DBSs running concurrently - one for work and one for my volunteering. It seems that each organisation has do their own.

Update: Just had confirmation I don't have to pay!