Poll: Would you undergo a background check requiring your ID and/or oficial criminal check for a job? Persoa que publicou o fío: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you undergo a background check requiring your ID and/or oficial criminal check for a job?".
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As far as I know, both the EU and the UN are very strict about what they require from their freelancers but I can’t remember ever been asked for a criminal background check as a freelancer. Of course, before I started working as staff translator at an EU institution, I had to give all that information, and much more, to my employer.
In any case, although I consider such a request excessive, if I'm available and the work is interesting, go over a certain amount of words and is we... See more As far as I know, both the EU and the UN are very strict about what they require from their freelancers but I can’t remember ever been asked for a criminal background check as a freelancer. Of course, before I started working as staff translator at an EU institution, I had to give all that information, and much more, to my employer.
In any case, although I consider such a request excessive, if I'm available and the work is interesting, go over a certain amount of words and is well paid, I wouldn't say no... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 07:57
Membro (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
All that matters is the quality of my translations. The rest is irrelevant, or should be irrelevant.
If a copy of my degree and my cv aren't enough, then I will gladly walk away. My time is precious, I hate to waste it.
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Given the hoops you have to jump through to make a simple bank deposit these days, I imagine it’s only a matter of time before ID checks are required for pretty much everything we do.
Luckily I still have plenty of false moustaches stashed away from my years at the CIA.
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I've been requested by one agency in the US for a criminal check. I had one lying around from a "normal" job application, so just passed it along. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise.
| | | | Liena Vijupe 
Latvia
Local time: 08:57
Membro (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
I did when I was working at the NATO summit in 2006 and maybe on a few other occasions, but never in relation to my freelance translation work. It is hard to imagine a scenario where this would be necessary, but I guess I could consider it where justified if the job opportunity would be tempting enough.
| | | | B&B FinTrans
Germany
Local time: 07:57
Membro
English to German
| Tomorrow, yesterday will be better! | Jun 27 |
In the "Wild West" days of crypto finance, I had to undergo a background check to work as a translator, including providing a certificate of good conduct (which I was happy to do as the pay was very attractive at the time), but ironically there were no water-tight KYC procedures in place back then, resulting in a Nigerian scam fest/hell later on. Today it is the other way round: Translators no longer seem to be subject to any requirements (and rates are approaching third world "best rate" levels... See more In the "Wild West" days of crypto finance, I had to undergo a background check to work as a translator, including providing a certificate of good conduct (which I was happy to do as the pay was very attractive at the time), but ironically there were no water-tight KYC procedures in place back then, resulting in a Nigerian scam fest/hell later on. Today it is the other way round: Translators no longer seem to be subject to any requirements (and rates are approaching third world "best rate" levels), while crypto users are being harassed just like in traditional finance. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 07:57
English to German
+ ...
| who is entitled to ask for? | Jun 27 |
I think only public bodies have the right to ask for this information, so if you want to work with them you'll have to disclose it.
Is it legal to ask for it in the private sector? I think not. (Imagine requiring a "criminal check" from a plumber...)
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| ID copy and number was requested once | Jun 27 |
My ID copy and ID number was requested once in 21 years, a few weeks ago, by a US-American private client.
I did give them what they wanted but also mentionned to them I found it annoying as this is neither standard nor necessary.
Also, a Greek client requests every year a proof of fiscal residence, which is not standard but fully legit.
If not for a public body, I would never accept a criminal check.
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Two people I knew and trusted - and had worked for in other contexts - landed a job for the state that was highly confidential. They needed an English translation, but I pointed out that I was not a Danish citizen at the time, and did not get the job. I do not know what it was all about. I would have provided those two with my clean ´criminal record´, but not just any agency!
I have a VAT registration, which is sufficient for all normal business purposes, and clients can, of cours... See more Two people I knew and trusted - and had worked for in other contexts - landed a job for the state that was highly confidential. They needed an English translation, but I pointed out that I was not a Danish citizen at the time, and did not get the job. I do not know what it was all about. I would have provided those two with my clean ´criminal record´, but not just any agency!
I have a VAT registration, which is sufficient for all normal business purposes, and clients can, of course, have my bank pay-in details,  but statements and so on are none of their business. They can in fact see I am solvent if they check the business register from my VAT number. But my private ID is private! ▲ Collapse
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If you do work like interpreting or on-site translation in sensitive environments (military, nuclear power, dams, diplomacy, railway/air traffic management...), I think it's only normal that they verify extensively who they're dealing with. NDAs and fancy signatures don't go a long way with profiles that are resolute.
As long as they don't think that 0.08 or 25 is decent pay for that.
Philippe
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I’ve just remembered a case where I have to present my ID card: certified or sworn translations. In Portugal, unlike other countries, there are no sworn translators. To certify a translation, one has to go to the organisations empowered to do so (namely Notary’s Offices and Attorneys). So, each time a client asks for a certified translation I have to present my ID card.
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 07:57
Membro (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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A client recently requested this of me. I said OK.
Then a background checking company contacted me with various instructions, but the company misunderstood how local police certificates work, so in the end I did not get vetted because I was unable to provide the information they were looking for, because they were looking for information that was not available. It did cost me a trip to city hall to meet with an official, who explained to me why they can't give me the requested i... See more A client recently requested this of me. I said OK.
Then a background checking company contacted me with various instructions, but the company misunderstood how local police certificates work, so in the end I did not get vetted because I was unable to provide the information they were looking for, because they were looking for information that was not available. It did cost me a trip to city hall to meet with an official, who explained to me why they can't give me the requested information, and what the company was supposed to do to get it.
The company did everything via online forms etc. and never gave me their contact details, so I wasn't able to send them a mail to explain the situation, so I had to use the public contact form on their main website, and they didn't respond to it. I also informed my client, but the client eventually decided not to bother trying to get that company to do their job properly. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 07:57
French to English
I suppose it might be necessary if you're working in sectors like the military. As a pacifist, that's not going to happen for me.
The curators of art exhibitions are more concerned with translation quality, which rather endears me to them. The day they ask me for a background check, I'll retire!
| | | | Maja_K
Germany
Local time: 07:57
English to Macedonian
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When I worked on a project as an external IT consultant at the Federal Employment Agency (in Germany); the German authorities had to perform an "erweiterte Sicherheitsüberprüfung (SÜ2)".
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