UK paperless offices

[saike]

I just started  a new short term contract here in the UK and the company I am working with have teamed up with a paperless organisation that handles all the id checks and details of their subcontractors.

I just received an email from this organisation with a 'click here' link asking me to upload my

• full name
• adress
• date of birth
• bank name
• account number
• sort code
• national insurance number
• photocopy of my passport

The organisation is legit but I feel like emailing them and asking if they are a bunch of jokers.
How many people would be prepared to upload all this?

[engineer_in_shorts]

How else do they pay you? Cash in hand?

[Rerouter]

If you wish, just ask to meet at a location in person at one of there offices to hand over the relevent information, paperless means they dont want to print paper, it doesnt mean they are incapable of data entry from paper.

[saike]

Obviously I have to identify myself as I have done hundreds of times before, but this is an external organisation, not the company I am contracted to,  that is going to hold all my details in one place for up to one year after I use the service with the contract clause


The [Redacted] User acknowledges that complex software is never entirely free from security vulnerabilities; and subject to clause 11.2(b) and the other provisions of the Agreement, [Redacted] gives no warranty or representation that the [Redacted] service will be entirely secure.

[AndyC_772]

What exactly is the concern here?

The information they're asking for is just what's needed to pay you, pay your taxes, and confirm that you have the right to work in the UK.

Of course no database is completely 100% secure. That's true whether it's the company you're working for, or one which specialises in HR and similar services. I'd be surprised if they didn't have a clause in their T&C's along those lines.

[soldar]

If your employer is required to ask for that information then you need to provide it.

Now, it seems your employer is asking you to give the information to a third party and this may be tricky and the only way to know for sure your rights and obligations is to consult a lawyer licensed and knowledgeable.

I guess you could ask to give the information to your employer directly and they can pass it on to the third party if that makes you feel better.

If your concern is with sending the information over the internet then you just need to make sure you have a secure connection.

I remember I once scanned my passport and then watermarked it prominently with "Only for X" so it could not be used for anything else.

[bd139]

Depends on how you do it. As a contractor I never have to do this though as I’m doing fixed rate work for jobs between limited companies which are invoiced. You’re setting yourself up for some IR35 fun potentially if this is disguised employment.