When to give info for background check to family?

[Anonymous]

So I recently had an interview that went great and the mom asked for my social security number and driver's license number for a background check. No problem, I have nothing to hide so I went ahead and shared the info. I was pretty confident the job would be mine. The next day we lined up a second interview for me to meet the kids. Great! Well 2 days later she tells me her old nanny is coming back to help them so no longer needs to meet with me again. I email her to express my disappointment and ask if there was anything I could have done differently, if she could please keep me in mind should things change, etc. 2 days later no reply. I am so frustrated. And feel like I gave her all this info and now she has it to do with what she wants. At what point in the interview process do you share that info with families? And would it be silly for me to message her again and ask her to make sure she destroys my information?

[Anonymous]

This situation is extremely dangerous.
Talk about easy identity theft.

You should not give anyone your personal information until they give you a written offer, and you are interested in accepting the position.

Individual parents are not a corporation who have any training how to protect employee (or potential employee) social security numbers.

I even had a MB accidently give me another employee's W2!
Was I ever shocked.

[Anonymous]

The parents can make their job offer contingent on "no criminal convictions", if they want.

[Anonymous]

I always provide any prospective employer a copy of my national criminal background check and DMV record with all personal information blacked out. It's expensive but it allows you to avoid situations like this. You also stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always provide any prospective employer a copy of my national criminal background check and DMV record with all personal information blacked out. It's expensive but it allows you to avoid situations like this. You also stand out.

Which company do you use for the national criminal background and what does it cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always provide any prospective employer a copy of my national criminal background check and DMV record with all personal information blacked out. It's expensive but it allows you to avoid situations like this. You also stand out.

Which company do you use for the national criminal background and what does it cost?

I'm PP. I use this company:

https://www.certifiedbackground.com

It's $99 and is very thorough. You have to go through your state's DMV for your driving record.
Most states allow you to order it online.

[Anonymous]

I think you handled your side of things perfectly OP. I don't think there is much you could do differently if a previously valued employee decides to return to the job - it isn't about you in that case so don't take it too personally.

In terms of the risk of having given out your SSN there is not much you can do - we all take that chance when we give that info, in all kinds of job settings or credit applications, etc... Your SSN gets seen by lots of people when you buy a car for instance. It's a risk but it's not a fully avoidable risk.

In this instance, should anything happen (credit fraud for instance) you would certainly know exactly to whom you had given the info and it would be very easy to prosecute them. So you are not without recourse should anything happen.

Basically though this just sounds like a bummer for you - nothing more personal or dangerous than that.

Good luck finding a position.

[Anonymous]

I personally would not give it to them until they had made a written offer, and I had accepted it or negotiated it. The offer can be contingent upon a clean criminal record and driving history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you handled your side of things perfectly OP. I don't think there is much you could do differently if a previously valued employee decides to return to the job - it isn't about you in that case so don't take it too personally.

In terms of the risk of having given out your SSN there is not much you can do - we all take that chance when we give that info, in all kinds of job settings or credit applications, etc... Your SSN gets seen by lots of people when you buy a car for instance. It's a risk but it's not a fully avoidable risk.

In this instance, should anything happen (credit fraud for instance) you would certainly know exactly to whom you had given the info and it would be very easy to prosecute them. So you are not without recourse should anything happen.

Basically though this just sounds like a bummer for you - nothing more personal or dangerous than that.

Good luck finding a position.

FYI, identity theft IS personal. It's now the fastest growing crime. Have you had it happen to you? What measures do you take to protect your identity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you handled your side of things perfectly OP. I don't think there is much you could do differently if a previously valued employee decides to return to the job - it isn't about you in that case so don't take it too personally.

In terms of the risk of having given out your SSN there is not much you can do - we all take that chance when we give that info, in all kinds of job settings or credit applications, etc... Your SSN gets seen by lots of people when you buy a car for instance. It's a risk but it's not a fully avoidable risk.

In this instance, should anything happen (credit fraud for instance) you would certainly know exactly to whom you had given the info and it would be very easy to prosecute them. So you are not without recourse should anything happen.

Basically though this just sounds like a bummer for you - nothing more personal or dangerous than that.

Good luck finding a position.

FYI, identity theft IS personal. It's now the fastest growing crime. Have you had it happen to you? What measures do you take to protect your identity?

Of course identity theft is personal. But identity theft hasn't happened here. What happened is that OP provided information during a job application process. She did not receive the job. What I said was that her not getting the job isn't something she should take personally, given that they simply brought back the former nanny.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the replies. I messaged the mom to make sure she destroyed my info and she said she already had so I feel better. I find most families don't ask for this info/don't do background checks or they do it through care.com so I don't have to hand over my personal info.

[Anonymous]

At this point, there really is nothing much you can do.

You can send her another e~mail and just let her know that you would appreciate it if she would shred any information she has on you for your peace of mind. I am sure it is legit and she won't mind.

However, if she still doesn't respond, then that is a red flag and I would try to contact her again to see what's her deal.

I always give out my private info to families, yet I always feel kinda funny about it because I don't even know some of them and wonder what exactly they will do w/my info.

So this was a very good question OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally would not give it to them until they had made a written offer, and I had accepted it or negotiated it. The offer can be contingent upon a clean criminal record and driving history.

This is good advice.

[Anonymous]

All nannies should look into Legal Shield. Just google it. Trust me it is fantastic and helps protect you against identity theft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All nannies should look into Legal Shield. Just google it. Trust me it is fantastic and helps protect you against identity theft.

I agree.

Do NOT give strangers your SS number until they give you a written job offer (can be contingent on background check) AND a written proposal agreement.