Job Interview & Disclosure of IVA

[SLM]

Hi
I've just been offered a job interview with a police force & have been sent lots of forms to complete to take with me on the day. One of the questions asks about whether I have ever entered into an IVA. I will be honest & say yes (my IVA commenced in August last year) & the information says they will run a credit check on me.
The job is admin related & has nothing at all to do with budgets or finance so I cannot understand why this question is relevant & I'm also worried I may not be offered the job based on this, despite the information saying the form will only be looked at if I'm successful & discarded & not looked at if I'm unsuccessful.
I have to take their word on this but can anyone offer me advice as I really want this job? I haven't committed a criminal offence, just got myself into a financial mess which I'm now trying to sort with my husband fairly & squarely.
Thank you for any help!

[chris.g]

We had this discussion the other week and it seems that the police force may deem it as unsuitable, as you may be open to corruption.....crazy I know!!!
I'll try to find the link for you,
xx

[animaleyes76]

This is a toughie.

Although you haven't really committed an offence etc some jobs do credit checks as a character reference (bit harsh i think) and (like my job) if you are in enough debt to become bribeable etc.

Some employment contracts state that you can become sackable if you do enter an IVA as well as bankruptcy.

I needed to get Security Clearance at SC level and they did a check, obviously i failed so they sent me a financial questionnaire which is basically like an I&E form so that they can see if you are under enough financial pressure to be bribeable or not. I did get the clearance in the end, subejct to a review after 2 years. Clearly my debt will have reduced a lot in that time.


You are best asking to be honest and being upfront. In the majority of jobs it wont be a problem. in my case if i had lied and they had employed me and found out i would have got sacked for gross misconduct.

Just be honest and you should be ok

[chris.g]

here it is,
http://www.iva.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10560
hope it helps
xx

[Moneystinks]

I think if they are 'concerned' then they ask you to fill in your I&E like animaleyes did. I think it also depends on the type of vetting required for your post. For example if you are required to have enhanced vetting (you would need this if the job was in a counter terrorist unit) then it may pose a problem. If not and it is a general admin role within a divisional office or branch then you will be required to have standard vetting (you will still fill out the finance form but more emphasis is put on your CR Check.

Good luck - don't let this stop you applying or going to interview as you never know they might not raise it as an issue and if you don't go you will never know!

xx

[animaleyes76]

I should have said (cos i can as none of you know me) lol that my clearance was for a job in the MoD. I had to do basic clearance, counter terrorism check and SC clearance. You should be fine. It would have been a problem if i had required DV (developed/deep vetting). You can get an idea of the levels by googling uk clearance levels.


If i can get it you should be fine )

[SLM]

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I suppose unless I go for the interview and (maybe) if I get offered the job, I will never know. I can only be honest.
The daft thing is that the reason I went for the job is a) I've always wanted to work for the police but not operational (although I did many moons ago), b) its close to home so I can walk so less petrol for the car and c) its more money so I can pay more into my IVA!

[chris.g]

It's best to be honest about it as you will lose your job when they find out anyhow. Good luck and I hope it doesn't effect it.
xx

[SLM]

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know how I get on.
I've just been searching their website & it seems there are certain jobs where bankruptcy is a "no no" & applicants will be rejected, however, no mention of this happening where you declare an IVA. I've heard Martin Lewis "money saving expert" talk about IVAs as a partial bankruptcy, lets hope the police don't think the same!

[TheMatrix]

At the end of an IVA though, you should not have to disclose that you were previously in a IVA surely not, as once it is off the register there would be no record will there?

[kallis3]

Hi,

I too work for the Police force in a civilian capacity. Fortunately I was already employed by them when I got into trouble, so will not need to tell them about it.

I have checked within my force, and they don't look too kindly upon anything like this when you apply. Even though it is an admin post, they think that you could be open to bribery (how anyone else would know if you didn't tell them I don't know). Just because you have a few problems does not mean that you are anything other than trustworthy.

As far as I am aware, they don't look at anything other than your basic application form at the start, and won't check anything else until afterwards if you are successful.

I'm sorry about the doom and gloom, but that's the way the forces seem to operate these days.

[acsn]

Hi

I filled in a reference for someone applying yesterday.

The guidance for the financial section read :

Members of the Police Service are in a privileged position with regard to access to information and could be considered potentially vulnerable to corruption. Applicants to the Police Service should not therefore be under pressure from undischarged debts or liabilities and should be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.

Most applicants have debts, such as mortgages, undischarged student or other loans, and credit/store card debts. Debts which are within your means and are manageable are not a bar to appointment.

• Applicants who have existing County Court Judgements outstanding against them or who have been registered bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have not been discharged will not be considered
• Applicants who have discharged County Court Judgements may be considered
• Applicants who have been registered as bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have been discharged will only be considered after three years from discharge of that debt

I suppose it depends on their interpretation of Bankruptcy and IVas.

But as everyone says go for it and see what happens.

Good luck

[TheMatrix]

It only talks about Bankruptcy and undischarged debts there and does not mention IVAs. So I would think you would be OK once your IVA has been cleared, and will not have to wait 3 years since being discharged from a IVA. (Sounds painful lol)

You may not get in now, but I would not rule it out for the future.

[animaleyes76]

i really hope you are okay. If i can be cleared in an iva (albeit with the equivalent of an i&e to prove im not bribeable ) you should too. good luck to you. i worried for ages re this.. when i applied i had to wait 3 months to get my clearance, they accepted me on basic clearance but had to wait for the the higher level. i could have been sacked just weeks in. it's a horrible feeling, worse than waiting for my iva to be honest. Fingers x'd for you loads cos i know how it feels

)x x x x x

[kallis3]

Further to the questions asked about employment in the Police Force with an IVA/Bankruptcy, when I went to work this morning I checked on my force's website.

They will not entertain anyone who is bankrupt, and even when you are discharged, they will not employ you within 3 years. They will not employ anyone with CCJ's or with an IVA.

The financial questionaire is quite searching and you will not get away with fibs. They are even funny about mortgage arrears.

Thought I would just update this post