AFP Police Check Delayed Dispatch Due to Internal Error and I Had to Forfeit a Job Position Due to Delay

Empharand on 01/09/2019 - 16:02
Last edited 01/09/2019 - 16:03

Hi guys,

This is a bit of an odd one, something I have been throwing around in my head for a few days but I can't seem to conclude on an answer.

Long story short, I have been applying for a new job, most employers within the field I'm looking to be employed in require a Police Check, so I decided to pre-empt this and organise it in advance, according to their website "Most National Police Checks are completed and posted within 48 hours of the AFP receiving the application" so I figured I might as well do this in advance so I would have it sooner rather than later.

I applied payment via the AFP certificate online portal however I received an internal error once payment had been taken out and it didn't allow me to continue through the police check application process, this was at 1am fyi. I called them later that morning and they confirmed that my application has come through but payment wasn't applied, I explained the issue and they asked me to send them an email explaining the issue I received at the time of the application and quote the first 6 numbers and last 4 numbers of my debit card and a screenshot of the payment through my bank statement.

This kept going on for about 2-3 days back and forth via email. In the meantime I have received a call for an interview, sit the interview (all that boring stuff) and the employer said they would employ me however they would need to see my Police Check certificate before continuing and would need it by a specific date as they need to fill the position. I emailed the AFP twice and just received the default 'Your application is currently being processed emails

I didn't receive the certificate until 1.5 - 2 weeks after I paid for the Police Check and as a result the employer was required to fill the position with another candidate.

Do I have leg to stand on by requesting a full refund for the Police Check or am I the one who should have organised the police check further in advance to offset any issues during the process? I should also remind everyone that their site says police checks are posted within 48 hours, which in my case was extended due to errors on their end.

TL;DR - New job field requires police check, police checks take maximum 48 hours to be posted, applied for said check, encountered issue with payment side, which threw out the lead-time, employer was interested in employing me provided I had my certificate by a certain date, that date passed and I hadn't received the certificate so employer had to employ someone else. I want to know if I'm in the rights to request a full refund for the inconvenience and due to the circumstances.

Education & Work

Comments

  • whooah1979 on 01/09/2019 - 16:08
    +4

    "Most National Police Checks are completed and posted within 48 hours of the AFP receiving the application"

    "Most" doesn't mean maximum.

    A 1 or 2 weeks wait is normal.

    • IVI on 16/09/2019 - 18:34

      AusPost also does NPC's…

  • Davo1111 on 01/09/2019 - 16:15
    +16

    You have no legal leg to stand on.

    • ronnknee on 02/09/2019 - 10:25

      OP has to sit this one out.

  • holdenmg on 01/09/2019 - 16:20
    +1

    Why didn't you reapply and then cancel/refund the first?

  • SBOB on 01/09/2019 - 16:41
    +24

    Why isn't the employer doing the police checks if they are required?

    • nfr on 01/09/2019 - 16:45
      +4

      Yeah I was wondering the same

      • Kangal on 01/09/2019 - 18:29
        -2

        Cause the guy wants to get the certificate, then commit a crime, then get employed.
        Win-win-win!!

    • terrys on 02/09/2019 - 08:23
      +2

      Because the amount and depth of information required is more than many people would be happy giving to a possible future employer they know little about?

      • original15 on 02/09/2019 - 19:13

        Employer shouldn’t collect the information, just facilitate contact between candidate and the probity check company/service.
        Then receive report based on the police check, not necessarily every piece of info candidate provides, but some would vary depending on TCs

  • Empharand on 01/09/2019 - 16:43
    +3

    Thanks guys, I got my answer. lesson learned.

    • TheBooleanOne on 01/09/2019 - 17:39
      +6

      What industry are you trying to work in? Never once have I had to organise one myself in the IT industry, it's always been done for me after being the preferred candidate.

      Sounds like you dodged a bullet with this employer. Consider yourself lucky imo

  • Quantumcat on 01/09/2019 - 17:05
    +8

    It is very unusual that you would have to organise your own police check - should have let the employer handle it. Very cold comfort now though, sorry you missed out on the job.

    • vinni9284 on 01/09/2019 - 17:52
      +6

      Many potential employers are hand-balling the running around and expenditure to the candidate for Police & WWCC's

      In my view, if they valued the OP, they would have waited. They could of got him to sign a provisional declaration until they have receive it.

      OP, it's a godsend you didn't get this job if they treat you like that.

      Good luck

      Cheers

      • Davo1111 on 01/09/2019 - 18:15
        +2

        willing to bet OP job was through a recruiter. and was just for the interview stage.

        • vinni9284 on 01/09/2019 - 18:21

          Agree. Probity checks should also be conducted on the company as IMO they are bigger crooks

    • nakahanap on 01/09/2019 - 22:12

      Not that unusual.

      In my industry, some are registered to a governing body which organises the five yearly checks and the employer can access a database to confirm. Usually they just photocopy the registration card instead. In another part of the industry everyone has to organise and provide proof of their check. Regardless everyone is expected to pay for the checks, not our employer.

      • Quantumcat on 02/09/2019 - 06:52

        Oh ok that's interesting. No job I have ever applied for has ever asked me to organise my own police check out pay for it.

        • vinni9284 on 02/09/2019 - 07:50

          Not this day and age.

          Many companies now want to spend less money as possible on their employees and utilise 150% of your time and efforts; including working after hours that is not paid as extra.

          Cheers

        • cimrak on 02/09/2019 - 22:40

          Every position I've had in the last 15yrs has requested I arrange for the clearance myself, however the cost was refunded when I provided the receipt. The clearance was only requested after passing the phone + initial onsite interviews but before the last interview.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2019 - 18:03
    +3

    Sounds like the employer found a more suitable candidate after you, and this was just an 'out' for them to replace you with somebody else of a higher preference.

    If your employer doesn't want you, present or future, best you find other work where you are more appreciated.

  • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 01/09/2019 - 19:09
    +1

    Call the police? Oh wait…….

  • jackinyourbox on 01/09/2019 - 20:26

    Yeah. Tough titties I guess

  • desertsand on 01/09/2019 - 20:33

    How much did you pay for it? AFP police check only costs 42 dollars. Is it worth your time?

  • TightTerry on 01/09/2019 - 21:37

    Do you have a common name? This usually leads to a manual check and can take the 10 business days

  • esty on 03/09/2019 - 11:35
    +2

    Its kinda like saying…

    You need to take a train to an interview - but to pre-empt this, you took an earlier train to be safe. However, that early train still gets delayed half way and you miss your interview.

  • Lucille Bluth on 03/09/2019 - 15:56

    Yes it might get processed within 48 hours, but you need to account for transit time through AusPost. Doesn't sound like you would have received it prior to the interview even if it went through.

  • HeWhoKnows on 03/09/2019 - 22:12

    OP asked FOR a Police check, not a job application.

    OP outsmarted himself and blew the job.

    In the end OP was NOT selected for the job regardless of the police check.

    Let me assure you dear OP.
    It had nothing to do with the police check.
    If the employer wanted you they would have waited or done the check themselves - FACT!
    You simply gave the employer a convenient to say - NOT SUCCESSFUL!

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