General Consultant Discussion

Have you ever been asked by a customer to undergo a background check? I have had customers ask for NDA which seems standard. I have one high-security customer in the medical industry asking for my background info for criminal and credit check. While I have nothing to hide I'm not all that thrilled to be providing social security number and permission to access my credit history. I also see this as a potential delay for this to happen and the customer is already hoping to upgrade quickly. My experience is that in these instances the customer has no qualms about coming back to you and asking that you maintain their tight deadline even when internal processes derail that.

I have never been asked for a background check although I can see that in the future as customers start realizing what access to data that our consultants have. Wayne's personal information is already floating on the darkweb somehow from past transactions so one more place can't hurt (IMHO). I would provide the info and then proceed with the upgrade. Let their internal processes linger as they wish. Cooper

I am basically in Cooper's camp. Especially if you provide the info directly to the firm doing the check, not the prospect. I would also not provide the info until the agreement is signed, contingent on a successful check. If they can't agree to that, they strike me as perhaps to set in their ways rules-wise to be worth the money ...

They've already paid so fee doesn't seem to be an issue. My concern with high-security customers is that they have multiple people involved and the accounting often has a deadline which IT couldn't care less about. In many cases, IT doesn't even speak to accounting unless forced to. In this case, I'm going to complete the info. They wanted it emailed but I am going to mail it instead as I'm not confident about emailing personal info. Also, I'm going to inform the contact that if the background check delays the start date that they will have an option to move their go live (perhaps materially as I have several other upgrades to complete) or complete a change request for more money to cover a ""rush order"".

Already paid! Definitely changes the dynamic. Makes sense to me. Especially making accounting aware of potential delays.

I've undergone background checks and bonding. I'm happy to comply with the customer's requirement's. I've **never** mailed the information, hand deliver or fax it. Background checks can be 'rushed' if needed.

I have a client that is a brokerage house and all employees working on the project had to undergo a background check. I didn't like it much. Had to disclose all investments too and during the project had to get permission before buy/selling stocks or bonds.

Thanks, everyone. I filled out the paperwork and reluctantly emailed it to the HR department who for some reason doesn't have a secure way to collect the info. They did offer fax but I threw my fax machine out three years ago.

Windows Faxing? Print the PDF to that driver and away you go. Of course, you have to have a modem for your LT connected to your land line phone....