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Topic: Background Check...Help?!  (Read 1208 times)

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Background Check...Help?!
« on: June 24, 2014, 09:47:14 PM »
I've recently accepted a new job offer, and am going through the background check process. 

The job is at the UK-branch of a US-based company. The Background Screening Company used, also appears to be US-based -- the first question in their online system was "Do you have a SSN"-- to which I selected yes, so continued to provide them with pretty much ALL my US identifying information as well as ALL my UK identifying information. 

Anyway, long story short -- I've provided 7 years of Address History, and 7 years of Employment History, which spans both the US and UK. The Screening Company have now come back requesting that I upload a W2/Payslip from a summer waitressing job that I had in 2009 at a family-owned restaurant that has since closed down (and I don't know how to get in touch with said family, as they also moved states...)

I don't think it's necessarily unreasonable on their part to request a W2 from 5 years ago, as they're just looking to confirm everything in my background to be true.  However, having moved countries close to 4 years ago -- I don't have this information! I'm not even sure if I've stowed it at my parents' somewhere!  I'm also confused regarding this request as they've not asked for it for any of the other 3 jobs I had in the US since 2007.

Anyway, I've tried the following:
- locate my 2009 tax return, which I filed using TurboTax, but: FAIL. Can't seem to access the information through their online system (Not sure if I filed online or via their desktop interface).
- followed a link to the IRS to request my transcript, but: FAIL. I cannot log into/register on their system with my most recent tax address/filing status..or the one before that...or the one before that. (Which now makes me wonder if they ever received my 2012 taxes!)
-emailed the woman who's been liaising with me throughout, but: FAIL. Got an Out of Office response saying she won't be back in the office until 09 July.
-emailed my Mom to see if I was organised enough to have kept it in a safe place....

The deadline for me to submit this information is 01 July....And I'm not sure where else to go from here if I can't locate the information.

Do any of you lovely UKYers have any further ideas/suggestions??
2007-Short Term Student;   2010-T4;   2011-T1 PSW;   2013-FLR(M);    2015-ILR;    2016 - Citizenship (approved!)


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Re: Background Check...Help?!
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2014, 11:34:31 PM »
Any chance you've got a scan of the W2 or a copy in your email?

Good luck, PS. Sounds like a headache.
July 2012 - Fiancée Visa | Nov 2012 - Married
Dec 2012 - FLR | Nov 2014 - ILR | Dec 2015 - UK Citizen


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Re: Background Check...Help?!
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2014, 08:56:59 AM »
Oh no, that sounds like a nightmare.  

You could try TurboTax customer services.  

For the IRS, try calling 1-800-908-9946 to see if they can help.

Maybe someone in your "social network" (online if you use them or your real life one)  is connected to the family who owned the restaurant and may be able to help you locate them to help?  

Or, do you have access to old bank statements and wage slips that show you were paid by them? (However, on the tax front, if they wanted to prove you were paying taxes, not sure that would help?)

Good luck!  

I've never gotten food on my underpants!
Work permit (2007) to British Citizen (2014)
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Re: Background Check...Help?!
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2014, 09:22:22 AM »
What about a social security statement?  That can be downloaded online.  It won't show the specifics of your income but will show your taxable income for each year.

Or tell the company exactly what you told us (summer job, 5 years ago, you've moved and don't have any paperwork relating to the job).  Hopefully they'll tell you not to worry about it.


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Re: Background Check...Help?!
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2014, 09:27:42 PM »
Thanks all!

Or tell the company exactly what you told us (summer job, 5 years ago, you've moved and don't have any paperwork relating to the job).  Hopefully they'll tell you not to worry about it.

This is what I've done.  The one HR lady I've been working with had a second person to contact in her out of office response.  That second person was also out of the office (doh!), but had an alternative (third) person to contact...So I reached out to the third HR person, who said "Leave it with me, and I will revert" 
I've never used "revert" in such a context, but I take it to mean she'll go back to the Screening Company, to tell them they don't need it...

I've emailed my mom to check, and will continue to look into the social security statement, IRS, and TurboTax to see if they can help in the event that HR at the hiring company can't.

It's just a bit ironic really -- I've been so religious about keeping important documentation for all the various visa applications, and have kept everything (and anything even remotely relevant) easily accessible and well organised, but am getting picked up on a single US-W2 form for a UK job application...
2007-Short Term Student;   2010-T4;   2011-T1 PSW;   2013-FLR(M);    2015-ILR;    2016 - Citizenship (approved!)


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