Virgin Salespeople with Criminal Records

[rogerdraig]

Originally Posted by techtrouble

the company i work for made me get a disclosure certificate from disclosure scotland!
I dont even deal with customers bank details just their personal details!

Originally Posted by Virgin Salesman

Sorry rogermevans do you work for Virgin Media?

all the companies i have mentioned previously (apart form Virgin) conduct these checks as well as gain references from previous employers. If the checks are not (to quote) "worth the paper they are written on" then why are they used by police recruitment candidates, local councils and all the big companies out there.

As far as employing somebody at a nursary you would have to CRB them and gain satisfactory references from their previous employer?!

As far as it being easy to catch those selling on DD details I think you are wrong.We have all seen the stuff on TV where this happens and it is happening today. Should we not be reducing the risk rather than act after the horse has bolted?

yep i know lots of companies get them done but they are not suposed to be used the way they are

its part of the reason it can take up to 6 months to check a person to work in a nursery or school where they will have direct access to children

why do councils etc get them done to make it look like they have done everything my point is though that none of this checks you are the person you say you are unless all references are checked preferably by talking to a real person who can describe you

---------- Post added at 22:18 ---------- Previous post was at 22:16 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy J

To be fair at one time there was a section on the form about one's financial and credit standing along side the criminal section of the form.

there still is but the part that was most important imho which asked for personal references isn't used any more as it took to long to do the checks

[Virgin Salesman]

foreverwar

This would not not include people with spent convictions. When its spent its spent! these people have the right to ork where they want to.

People who currently get checked would not be affected with an assault charge ten years ago.

Its about here and now. I could be working with people who got convicted for fraud last week!

---------- Post added at 22:25 ---------- Previous post was at 22:20 ----------

Background checking requires the individual to supply passport/driving licence etc with their applicatin and to correct you the check with Disclosure Scotland currently takes on average 16 days (their stats not mine).

Originally Posted by Virgin Salesman

foreverwar

This would not not include people with spent convictions. When its spent its spent! these people have the right to ork where they want to.

People who currently get checked would not be affected with an assault charge ten years ago.

Its about here and now. I could be working with people who got convicted for fraud last week!

Ahem

CRB

"If however you are being employed by a government body or large organisation then they are responsible for seeking this disclosure - after having informed you of their intent to do so - and may under law seek to gain an enhanced disclosure which will detail all offences, charges or arrests leveled against you spent or otherwise.

It is worth remembering as well that if you were cautioned by the police for whatever reason - should it even have been a caution received as a minor - this too will show up on your CRB disclosure."

[Virgin Salesman]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Ahem

CRB

"If however you are being employed by a government body or large organisation then they are responsible for seeking this disclosure - after having informed you of their intent to do so - and may under law seek to gain an enhanced disclosure which will detail all offences, charges or arrests leveled against you spent or otherwise.

It is worth remembering as well that if you were cautioned by the police for whatever reason - should it even have been a caution received as a minor - this too will show up on your CRB disclosure."

Are VM not a large organisation?

I believe a common sense approached is used by companies using these checking services.

a caution or conviction for driving would not be involved in the decision to employ if it was not relevant.

But lets say someone had a conviction for credit card fraud or some sex offence would you as an employer not want to know about it?

Have you raised this with the HR department, and if so, what was their response.

You started this thread off with the statement
"Dont quite know how to put this but I am aware of people who are working within direct sales at Virgin Media (who visit customers in their own homes and have access to bank details etc) who have Criminal Records for fraud, theft and violence."

You have not qualified this statement, because if they are spent, what is the relevance? If they are not spent, ask VM what their policy is, and if you are not happy, you have a number of options.

[Virgin Salesman]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Have you raised this with the HR department, and if so, what was their response.

You started this thread off with the statement
"Dont quite know how to put this but I am aware of people who are working within direct sales at Virgin Media (who visit customers in their own homes and have access to bank details etc) who have Criminal Records for fraud, theft and violence."

You have not qualified this statement, because if they are spent, what is the relevance? If they are not spent, ask VM what their policy is, and if you are not happy, you have a number of options.

They are not spent - they are unspent, dont want to speak to HR.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Virgin Salesman

They are not spent - they are unspent, dont want to speak to HR.

I have an idea.

Here at Cf we have high-level contacts within VM. How about we put your concerns to them. No names will be mentioned but the people we're in touch with are the movers and shakers within VM. They get things done.

I'm not saying you will neccessarily get what you want but your concerns will be given to people who have the power to make changes.

[webcrawler2050]

Surely Virgin Media has a legal obligation to customers to ensure that they a visited by by a salesperson who has been checked?

NO! If the sentance is "spent" then the potential employee does not have to declare their record.

That said, if the sentance is "not spent" they must by law declare this.

Personally and this is personally, you have nothing to worrie about, its offending you think this, some people have just made the wrong choice is a split second and paid for it. Where as there are others, who continue to make the wrong choice.

I have worked for the MOD with DV Clearance and I have a "record" its all about if your a risk or not.

Originally Posted by Virgin Salesman

They are not spent - they are unspent, dont want to speak to HR.

No disrespect, but you are saying you believe there is a problem, but don't want to hear what the VM policy is, which may mitigate your concerns.

Webby, an enhanced check will show spent convictions as well.

[webcrawler2050]

Webby, an enhanced check will show spent convictions as well.

Either way dude, this is a petty and down right frustrating topic, if these people have made such a choice by where they face a custodial sentance or something else, community pay back etc and they have "done their time" then, these people are entitled to put their life back together and start a fresh, most people deserve that chance, unless you have done something stupid or down right foolish.

Honesty is the best policy.

Correct and enhanced check would show this but it's a bit over the top isn't it, just a crummy £15 - £20k a year "sales" job. Ill give you that, if it was something like "head of customer services" etc etc then yes, it is needed but something as simple as a sales job, what aload of old tosh.

Totally agree.

Done the time, move on.

[rogerdraig]

depending on the type of CRB even some spent convictions may show up theres even a section that a concerned police man can fill in about suspected offences

this is why they shouldnt be being used on mass by organisations for people who may just meet children in the course of their day

side point but because it can take 6 months or longer to get these done did you know schools don't have to get a new one done on temporary or substitute teachers unless they plan to work there for longer than that

so your kids could be taught by a person whos crb is well out of date or not even thiers

so forgive me if i am not really that concerned if sales men dont have one

[webcrawler2050]

A CRB is ONLY if you are to have " one on one " contact with children and the eldery and the special needs.

ill give you that, its needed for any "government type" role, along with SC clearance.

Schools etc etc are a different kettle of fish, compared to a sales job at Virgin Media.

[Virgin Salesman]

Originally Posted by webcrawler2050

Either way dude, this is a petty and down right frustrating topic, if these people have made such a choice by where they face a custodial sentance or something else, community pay back etc and they have "done their time" then, these people are entitled to put their life back together and start a fresh, most people deserve that chance, unless you have done something stupid or down right foolish.

Honesty is the best policy.

Correct and enhanced check would show this but it's a bit over the top isn't it, just a crummy £15 - £20k a year "sales" job. Ill give you that, if it was something like "head of customer services" etc etc then yes, it is needed but something as simple as a sales job, what aload of old tosh.

Sorry but "crummy £15 -20k sales job" is not what it is - i work and have worked in the direct sales industry for some time OTE is £34K - and you will not stay unless you are on/around sales target! Some earn (if they are good) in excess of £60K, last year the top earner over £100K.

I dont think earnings are the point of this topic. I will say it again - its about protecting custmers! Who do you want knocking your door?

[cnewton2k]

Originally Posted by Virgin Salesman

VM direct sales staff have access to bank/credit card details, are in a customers home and potentially around kids etc.

The question is.........should these salespeople be checked?

I personally think the answer is yes.

I have never had a criminal conviction for anything - why should i be working alongside people who have convictions?

It is about protecting customers and the vulnerable.

Just to let you guys know i am going to resign and inform the press if Virgin do not address this.

This forum has allowed me to air my views but if a company is not willing to look after its customers interests do i really want to work there anyway. I will go and work in utilities (gas and electric) at least there i will be able to hold my head up high and say to customers "I have been background checked" to give them confidence in who I really am!

From what i can gather he just don't wanna work with people that have made some mistakes!!

Live and let live i say!

And TBH you could resign and tell the press, the only person that would end up looking daft is yourself. VM would be respected because we now live in a day an age where acceptance is key.

Just because you have a criminal record shouldn't stop you moving on and getting on with your life....