One of the most common questions about applying for criminal records checks is: “Does a DBS check show debt?” Given the sensitive nature of our personal financial information, it’s understandable that people want to keep it private. With DBS checks needed for work, voluntary and other purposed, it’s a reasonable question to ask about whether your boss will find out about your credit or financial history.
What Is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a criminal record check processed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in England and Wales. Similar systems with different names operate in Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are three levels of DBS checks, each revealing different information:
- Basic DBS Check: Shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
- Standard DBS Check: Also includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands.
- Enhanced DBS Check: Also reveals all of the above, plus any relevant police information and, if necessary, a search of the barred lists.
Financial Records and DBS Checks
A DBS check will not show any personal financial information, including debt. However, if an individual has been convicted of a financial crime, such as fraud, this would appear on a DBS check as with any other criminal offence would. This is obviously more of a concern in roles which include working in a bank or handling cash in a shop, or when working in care roles where individuals might be tasked with picking up benefits or doing shopping for vulnerable adults they are looking after.
Background Checks and Financial History
Although a DBS check will not show an individual’s financial history apart from any financial crimes, there are other background checks which can delve a bit deeper into your financial situation. These are most commonly used in roles in banking, financial services, or in other positions where you might have access to other people’s money. There are two main sorts of financial checks which might be done if you are applying for jobs in these industries.
- Credit Checks: These look into an individual’s credit report and will reveal things like whether you’re paying off your credit cards or have a high level of debt.
- Adverse Financial Checks: These checks look into data held by official databases which show information such as CCJs, bankruptcies, voluntary arrangements, decrees in Scotland, and administration orders.
Both of these checks provide detailed financial information without affecting an individual’s credit score. Many positions in financial services are barred to people who have been made bankrupt or who have a high number of CCJs.
Poor financial history can seriously impact your employment prospects, especially in roles that involve managing money on behalf of customers. Employers can often refuse to employ someone if a financial background check reveals serious issues. Financial checks are separate to DBS checks and employers will ask for consent before accessing your credit score or credit report. Financial information is just one of the factors which recruiters will use in their decision-making, along with references, interview performance and experience to do the job.
