Agency checks prior to starting a contract

by spearmain at 15:57 27/01/15 (Ask-Legal-Accounting)

I have been contracting via my own personal services company since 2009. I have been on maternity leave since June 2013 (fully salaried by my company except for the period I received Statutory Maternity Pay). I have just been offered an 8 week contract by a City institution, but am having no end of hassle with the agency they are using to complete all the relevant security/credit checks as they seem to fail to understand the difference between contractors working via a limited company and PAYE employees.

We have reached an impasse as they are demanding I supply copies of my personal bank statements for the period I was on maternity leave to prove how I financed myself during this time, and I am refusing as I think the request is intrusive and unnecessary. I do not understand why they are pushing for this information as (1) it does not affect my ability to do the job the client wants me to do (2) I have already signed a declaration stating that I have never had any income from illegal sources and (3) as I was employed by my company I do not have any employment gaps, I just didn’t have any clients during the period. I find it hard to believe they would ask every female candidate (perm or contract) how they financed their maternity leave! Does anyone know whether this is a PRA/FCA requirement, or even legal? Thanks Tweet

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