Temp work legislation

[the millster]

Hiya, went into a temp recruitment agency the other day and apparently I need to get an A4 sized birth certificate to register, something to do with making sure I'm eligible to work in the UK, now I'm not being funny or anything but personally I think it's an outrage that I should have to spend �60 to get the certificate within a reasonable time scale to prove something that can be checked on a computer and is also blatantly obvious. Is it actually neccessary to do this? I think it's absolutely disgusting.

[kempie]

You do not have to spend �60 at all... you can choose to not register with the agency.

[the millster]

Not so kempie, all agencies apparently require this documentation.

[atolhurst]

I'm not sure companies can check birth certificates on the computer - I think there are data protection issues there - how comfortable would you feel about anyone being able to log and look at your personal data. also think about your own security - you only need your birth cert details to open a bank account these days; if someone could log onto that computer system and take those, you could have an account opened in your name which could lead to all sorts of problems. I also don't understand what you mean about something being "blatantly obvious".

Anyway, all employers and employment third parties require anyone joining them to prove who they are and that they have rights to work in the UK. A passport or birth certificate will do that as it prooves you are either a UK/EU citizen or that you have a valid visa to work in the UK. A driving licence is proof of ID but not proof of right to work.

So if you have a passport that should do, If you don't, then you need your birth cert. Why it has to be A4 size as opposed to the smaller version normally issued in the first instance I don't know.

I also don't know where your �60 came from - I just googled and came up with the following

http://www.ukcertificates.com/birth_cert.php

which says its �19.95 for standard deliervy service - admittedly it's �45 for a speedier service but still not �60.

[kempie]

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates /fees.asp

[CheekyChops]

A birth certificate only costs �7, use the link that kempie has given you or contact the register office where your birth was registered.

[dee5]

Im signed up with various agencies and they all accepted my passport as proff of eligibility!

[pixie_woo]

Like dee5 i have previously registered with several legitmate agencies and they all accepted my passport. Are you registering to work in an industry where background checks are necessary e.g the MOD or maybe young children/vulnerable adults? If the agency is asking you to pay them �60 to source your certificate on your behalf then run as fast as you can in the other direction!

[the millster]

Well, I was born in Scotland and so contacted the Coldstream registry office and the prices are as follows:
�25 for despatch up to 15 working days
�40 for despatch up to 5 working days
�60 for despatch 1 working day
My concern being there is some work coming in next week and I very much need to do it and with this issue holding me up it's unlikely that will happen.
Are they the only people I can get my certificate from? Unfortunately I haven't got a passport, it was on my to-do list! Although, just so everyone knows, this legislation (as far as I can make out) concerns only those born after 1983 and you also need the A4 sized certificate to apply for a passport now, if you haven't already got one.

[kempie]

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/hlpsrch/ leaflet2.html