How to spot a fraudulent DBS provider
In recent times, Checks Direct has seen a dramatic increase in the number of applicants misled by fraudulent providers of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks.
The rising demand for DBS Checks has unfortunately correlated with the risk of encountering an untrustworthy provider. It’s important to remain vigilant or you could pay substantial amounts for DBS Checks that will never be processed.
So, what should you watch out for?
As a DBS Umbrella Body and trusted provider with over 20 years’ experience, here are our top tips on how to spot a fraudulent provider of DBS Checks.
Check the DBS GOV.UK site
This should be your very first check. All trusted DBS providers will be listed on the DBS Umbrella Body directory. Before choosing your provider, make sure you check they’re listed on the directory.
You can search the Umbrella Body directory for trusted DBS providers. For example, you can find Checks Direct under our parent company, New Directions.
Check accreditation
Legitimate companies normally list their accreditations on their website. They do this to allow you to easily identify their affiliation with regulatory bodies.
Don’t be afraid to discuss their accreditation. A legitimate provider should be proud of their achievements and be able to provide proof of their accreditations. If they avoid the conversation and don’t answer your questions, then you have reason to be question their credentials .
On our website, we clearly highlight our accreditation at the bottom of each screen to reflect our reliability.
Are they contactable?
Another tell-tale sign of a fraudulent DBS provider is their contact information. Do they have a contact number that’s for their location?
We display our contact details at the top of each page of our website, along with our Contact us page, to ensure you can easily contact our team of friendly advisors.
DBS Pricing
From our experience, the people we’ve spoken to who have fallen victim to fraudulent sites have paid way over the odds for DBS Checks. Generally, you shouldn’t expect to pay more than £65 for your DBS Checks. The DBS charge set rates for checks and the provider will have an additional administration fee on top.
JobsAware
We’ve partnered with JobsAware, the new name of SAFERjobs. The non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation is designed to support job seekers, agency staff and contractors with any suspected fraud, malpractice, breach of legislation or poor experience they may encounter.
The reason we started our relationship with JobsAware is because we’re committed to helping make the UK labour market safer. It’s unlikely fraudulent DBS providers are associated with organisations like JobsAware, so keep that in mind when you’re looking for a provider.
Get in touch
Making time for these few extra steps only takes a few minutes but it could save you from being deceived by fraudulent DBS providers, who will cost your time, money and resources.
If you’re looking for a reliable Umbrella Body to process your DBS applications, register with Checks Direct and start safeguarding your people, data and organisation.
Whether you need 10 or 10,000 checks a year, we offer a full range of DBS and vetting services to suit your needs. You can see our services here.