Prooving Identity

[lolpeters]

I work within recruitment and recently an applicant has provided a UK passport when asked for proof of eligibility to work. Their first name on their application is different to that which is on their passport. I have been advised that proof of bank statement and driving licence will back up the passport name. Should a bank statement and driving licence be enough? As long as I have known the candidate they have gone by a different first name. When pointed out to the candidate they explained that since a couple of months old they were called by a different name than that which they were officially regsitered by. Obviously without having this pointed out to me from the outset I'm a little suspicious. They obviously have not changed their name by Depoll so I can't understand why at the age of 40 they should not declare this. The client has pointed it out to me and asked what identity checks we have in place and that it would have been nice to have told from the outset that they go by a different name to that which is on their passport. The company they are working for is not that sensitive but the candidate is a Snr Board Member working on an Interim basis.

[sammy snake]

If the person is called something like John Smith and the passport is in the name of David Jones then I would be suspicious.

If as IAP says, if someone is just using a middle name instead of a first name or something then I can't see a major problem.

I know plenty of people that were christened one name but have always been known by their middle name instead.

One lady I know was christened Alison Jennifer W*******. Her parents actually wanted her to be called Jennifer Alison but her initials then would have spelled out JAW. She was known as Jennifer to everyone her whole life even though Alison was her official christian name.

[lajohn]

So long as the photo in the passport look like the person who's in front of you, I don't see a problem.

[lolpeters]

The forename they use/used on their application doesn't appear on the passport at all. The application also didn't include the passport forename or middle name. So isn't a middle name. Just makes it a little suspicious if they haven't pointed it out even when they supply their passport I thought.

[thugulike]

Lolpeters I agree with you and you are right to be suspicious. That's what Ian Huntley did to avoid CRB.

[cassa333]

John Smith is my husbands name and he doesn't like being called John... His family are the ONLY ones who use it. Everyone else doesn't know his real name untill it comes up officially.

How long have you known this person? do you know his family to ask?

(I think) that if you have a suspision on identity regarding work permits you have to make further enquireies. Otherwise anyone could give anyold rubbish and say it's true...

[Oneeyedvic]

I know a few Asian people who are called completely different names to their birth names.

As an example: Jeyandran is known as Bill (this was because his Brother in law could not pronounce his name so called him by the initials of his relationship.

A person called Vyramuthu is known to everyone as Jimmy

And someone's name who escapes me is called Stan - this was because they initially called him by the first four letters of his home country (next to India), but were told they couldn't - so they used the last four letters instead!

[loonytunes]

Be careful.. A casino manager I know allowed someone in for membership with a passport as identity. It was actually the passport of their twin brother (face identical) and they were trying to launder money under the unknowing persons name.

[MAD BUTCHER]

Surely a 40year old applying for a responsible job would have the sense to enter his identical passport name on to an application form.

My brother was christened Michael Robert but known all his life as Bob. At his funeral, his son-in-law commented to me that he did not his actual first name was Michael, even though the son-in-law had bought his car with a personalised plate MRC.

However, on all documents, my brother had entered Michael Robert as his names as this is what his birth certificate said and OF COURSE his passport. Personally if I were in your position, I would terminate all proceedings with this person otherwise it may well rebound on you later.

[Eve]

I know many people called by a different name from their real one but in my job I have to get a back up for ID and wuestion any disparities.

If you're recruiting for a client then I'm sure they would want everything to be checked out right in case there was a situation where it did matter and certain checks hid things the company would have wanted to know eg criminal record.

Does he have an original birth certificate and could he get a professional to back up his identity such as a solicitor?