www.iva.co.uk

Hi - I always seem to come back here when things get tough! And so far this year has been very tough. I started a new job at the beginning of June but it's now become apparent that the Company has serious money problems. I don't know if one day I will get in and the Liquidators will just be there. We have had bailiffs taking things away and I have lost count of the number of creditors chasing for payment. I started looking for another job last week and have just heard that after a second interview I have been successful. It's been an involved interview process, aptitude tests, psychometric etc. It's my dream job...and it's secure but I am worried about the contract and declaring that I am insolvent if they ask for disclosure. I will be honest about it and tell the truth but am so worried that they will then withdraw the offer. I won't get to see the contract until Monday, so have a weekend of worry ahead.

Well done on the job offer What line of work is it ? If solvency was likely to be an issue I would have thought they'd have mnentioned it seeing as it's been a complicated application process.

Hi Foggy and thank you. It's for an IT company, I will be working in Marketing so won't be handling any monies but they do deal with high profile clients. An Agency referred me but I have obviously had the whole interview process with the Employers themselves.

Hi, to you have. Aperson specificationn or job description? It may be in there. Failing that phone and ask, obviously I would get a friend to phone o ask anonymously . My husband worked with finance so it affected hi but it wouldn't have if he did not do finance or present bills. Ask them maybe?

Sorry predictive text..do you have a person specification?

It doesn't say anything in the spec/job description but wonder if it will be in the actual contract. Many employers seem to use credit checks/insolvency as proof of a persons character. It seems crazy as there may already be people working within a company who didn't have arrangements when they joined, do now, but haven't been asked. I am probably worrying for nothing but I really need this job as much as to secure our IVA going forward.

I'm in marketing too and love it!!! I wouldn't want to do anything else! When I worked in banking and was credit checked the credit check was raised at the same time as they asked for references. x

Hi BOL I love it too! I guess that my stress levels are simply heightened by the fact that I believe my current job will end because the company is in such a poor financial state.If the new job asks then I will of course declare it - I have nothing to be ashamed of, people are in debt for any number of reasons and it should not be used to decide if I can do a marketing job or not when they have already offered the job!

Hi and well done on getting the job!

I work in HR and it is becoming more and more common for companies to put clauses into contracts re: bankruptcy or legal agreements with debt companies, regardless of the position!

I have been asked to draft new contracts which have similar clauses and I'm challenging it with Directors.

Good for you Julie - wish more companies could take people on merit and not credit history.

Employment law solicitors are putting these clauses in regardless of the role /company.

I'm in a position to make a stand, but appreciate others can't.

I used to advise honesty, but I have to admit, if you are already in employment and then go into an IVA /BR, I would not advise to declare it to employers.

We don't get credit checked but we have to do a disclouser which is then sent off to the police to check for any criminal background and this isn't done until the job has been offered. I work in the public sector and being in an IVA hasn't been a problem hopefully everything will be already good luck Carle

A CRB check will only check criminal records, it doesn't touch on finances at all.

Some public sector employers do discriminate against people in an IVA though.

Thank you for your comments and advice. I am still worried! Will see what tomorrow brings. I think that what is unfair is that potentially people can be working for a company who did not have an IVA when they joined but do now. Therefore how are they any different from new people who have applied for work? Either way it is discrimination and needs challenging. In an IVA our finances are much more strictly managed than somebody outside of an arrangement who may still be racking up debt that they cannot afford to pay back. However when I had debts that I could not afford to pay back prior to IVA status I was still not a threat to my employer! This topic needs some publicity. I have noticed that in America some states have banned the use of credit checks for recruitment purposes in recent times. I will let you know how things go....

It is discrimination and I know what you mean.

Thinking of you and hope it goes ok tomorrow.