About Experian background checks: what applicants need to know

Experian may verify information, collect evidence, process screening steps and return results to the organisation that requested the check. Experian is not the organisation hiring you, unless you have applied for a role directly with Experian.  

The organisation decides which checks are needed, what happens next and how to communicate with you, the applicant. 

You need to provide the information Experian requests so we can successfully complete the screening checks ordered by the organisation. If you want to query an information request, cannot provide something, or you think a request does not apply to you, please contact the organisation that requested the check. Be aware that any delays in providing the requested information may delay your screening and recruitment process.

No. Experian’s role is to gather and verify information on behalf of the requesting organisation. Any decision about the outcome of your screening is made by the organisation, not Experian.

If you have applied for a role and been advised that Experian will conduct your background screening, you may be asked to provide information or documents to support the checks requested by the hiring organisation.

If you are ever unsure about a request, contact the organisation directly to confirm that Experian is carrying out screening on their behalf before sharing your information.

Experian and the organisation that requested your background check can help with different parts of the process.

Contact Experian if you have questions about:

• completing your screening application;
• documents or information requested as part of a check;
• providing additional evidence;
• the progress of your screening through the candidate portal;
• technical issues or support with the screening process.

Contact the organisation that requested the check if you have questions about:

• the role you have applied for;
• why specific checks have been requested;
• recruitment timelines and start dates;
• hiring decisions;
• the outcome of your application.

Experian completes background checks on behalf of organisations and provides the results of those checks. Any employment or hiring decisions are made by the organisation requesting the screening.

Don’t worry if you’ve made a mistake on your screening application. Whether you’ve entered incorrect information, missed something or uploaded the wrong document, our customer support team is here to help.

Contact us as soon as possible and we’ll advise on the best way to resolve the issue. Depending on the stage of your screening, we may be able to update the information directly or explain any additional steps that may be required.

To contact our dedicated customer support team regarding your employment screening application:

Phone: 0333 000 0227
Email: clientsupport@backgroundchecking.experian.com
Live Chat: Via the personalised application form link sent to you by email.

If you’re concerned about the progress of your background check, you can check the status of your screening through the candidate portal. This will often show whether your checks are still in progress or if any action is required from you.

If you believe information is incorrect, need help with your application, or would like to understand whether anything is outstanding, please contact Experian’s customer support team. We can explain the status of your screening, help resolve issues and, where necessary, advise if additional information or documentation is needed.

There are times when checks can take longer than expected, particularly when we are waiting for information from a third party or require additional assistance from you. If this happens, we’ll contact you directly.

For questions about the role, recruitment process, start date or hiring decision, please contact the organisation that requested the background check.

Experian returns the relevant results or status to the organisation that requested the check. The organisation reviews the information and decides the next step. Experian does not decide whether you are hired, onboarded, approved or given access.

Background check times can vary depending on the checks required and how quickly information is received from third parties.

We will contact you if we need any further information or support from you during the screening process. Delays do not necessarily indicate a problem, and no action is required unless we get in touch.

• Missing or inconsistent personal details.
• Documents that are unclear, expired or do not match the information provided.
• Referees or previous employers taking time to respond.
• Gaps in employment or address history that need clarification.
• Overseas checks.
• Long third-party processing times.

Your check may include one or more of the following, depending on what the organisation has requested.

• Identity checks
• Right to work checks
• Address checks
• Employment history checks
• Education or qualification checks
• Criminal record checks
• Adverse financial checks
• Directorship checks
• Professional membership or licence checks
• Adverse Media and Social Media checks
• Sanctions
• DVLA
• International checks if you have lived, worked or studied overseas in the last 5 years.

The information requested will depend on the background checks being completed on behalf of the hiring organisation. You may be asked to provide:

• your full legal name and any previous names;
• date of birth;
• current and previous address history;
• contact details;
• proof of identity, such as a passport or driving licence;
• Right to Work evidence, including a Home Office share code where applicable;
• employment history and referee details;
• education or qualification information;
• consent and declarations required for specific checks;
• additional documents needed to verify information provided during the screening process.

The documents and information required will vary depending on the checks requested. Experian will guide you through the process and explain what is needed as you complete your application.

If additional information or supporting documents are required to complete your checks, we’ll contact you directly with further instructions. If you need help understanding what to provide, our customer support team is available to assist.

Some employment verification checks use trusted digital data sources, such as HMRC, payroll or banking information, to help verify your employment history and periods of occupation more quickly and accurately.

Using these sources can help reduce delays by electronically confirming employment dates and other relevant work history information, reducing the need to contact previous employers or request additional documents.

You will only be asked to provide access through a secure process as part of your background screening application. If you have any questions about the request, how the information is used, or would like to confirm that a link is genuine, please contact Experian’s customer support team. We will be happy to explain the process and provide support.

Yes. Experian uses secure systems and high-level data security controls to protect the information you provide. Your details are used to complete the checks requested by the organisation and are shared only with authorised parties involved in the process.

You can view our full data retention policy in the terms and conditions when you complete your application form with us.

Gaps, overlaps and short-term roles are common and do not necessarily cause a problem. When completing your application, provide accurate information about your employment and activity history. If there are any gaps in your history that need to be explained as part of the requesting organisation’s screening requirements, you will be prompted to provide additional details. Depending on those requirements, we may also ask you to provide supporting evidence for some periods in your history.

If a previous employer or referee does not respond, don’t worry. We will work with you and explore alternative ways to verify the information. This may include contacting a different referee, asking for your assistance, or requesting supporting documentation to confirm the relevant period of your history.

If we need anything from you, we will contact you directly and guide you through the next steps.

Background checks can take place at different stages of employment, depending on the organisation’s requirements. While some checks are completed before employment begins, others may continue during onboarding, a probationary period, an internal move, or as part of an organisation’s ongoing rescreening programme.

Experian carries out the checks requested by the organisation and will contact you if any further information is needed.

Social media checks are only completed if they have been requested by the organisation as part of their screening process. Not all background checks include a social media check.

The checks we carry out will depend on the organisation’s screening requirements. If you would like more information about the checks being requested, please speak with the organisation you are applying to or work for.

Some employers ask for a financial history checks, but only where it’s relevant to the role. This is different from applying for credit, it doesn’t affect your credit score and isn’t visible to lenders.

The check can include things like County Court Judgments (CCJs), bankruptcy records, and, where requested, missed payments. It does not include your full credit report or spending history.

For details on exactly what’s been requested for your application, contact the organisation you’ve applied to.

No. Employment background checks do not affect your credit score.

In some cases, a soft search may be recorded on your credit report as part of the screening process. This is visible to you but does not affect your credit score or any future credit applications. The checks completed will depend on the organisation’s screening requirements.

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