Security Watchdog Reviews 

Just had a notification they have a data breach and password is compromised.

This is the most terrible service I have ever experienced. They never respond to emails and they falsely claim to not receive them. When you try to call, no one answers and they use the excuse of being on a break. The government should consider switching companies as this one is hindering people from getting their work done. It has been two months and I still haven't received clearance.

Shocking experience from start to finish, dozens of emails asking for more information
And ended up asking me to chase up my own reference, could not accept any digital copies of forms, took days to respond and when they did, asked for old information or repeated themselves

Cannot accept anything "online"! Seriously! What that actual ffff!... Everything is online, council tax, bank statements, utility bills. Other similar companies seem to manage. Absolutely clown show...

I can't believe anybody would outsource routine right-to-work checks to this company. Their non-functional software has resulted in successive failed checks and held up my job offer, creating knock-on problems for my current employer as well.

It is over 2 weeks since I was asked to perform a right-to-work check, pretty simple as I am a UK national with a valid passport. Their browser-based system has repeatedly rejected my '3D Face Scan' because I look slightly different to my passport photograph. Several customer services staff have admitted to me on the phone that it's obvious that I am the same person as in my passport photo, but the software won't accept it. I've repeated these checks 3 or 4 times, each one failing - and by the way, every time they do a check, the client gets charged. I've spent hours in total chasing them up on the phone and re-doing these tests.

So here I am, well into what should be my notice period, with no contract of employment offered (because no valid right to work check) and my current manager unable to replace me because I haven't formally resigned yet. Bravo Security Watchdog and your software geniuses. If someone wrote this as a parody of AI it would be too obvious to be funny.

Currently awaiting my checks to go through. They come back and ask for paperwork, then don't tell you if the paperwork is good or not for a few days. You call the number to speak to an operator and they say we'll call you back. 48 hours later still nothing. I don't have faith in this company and I wish the company I have applied for didn't use them

I had to undergo a check before I started work.. the DBS was the easy part but they kept on asking for more and more information.

I was willing and happy to comply however things got really weird when they asked me to send my bank statements....
They started questioning my transactional history... can you explain this transaction and this transaction etc.

This was the most invasive thing I have ever been through when it comes to work checks and I seriously felt violated in terms of my privacy.

So what if I receive a refund for a returned item? Or I have an only fans subscription?? Or I make a sale on ebay... I mean seriously this is ludicrous

I had to tell them my Only Fans payment was a subscription service... I mean was there a need to embarrass me like this???

Needless to say the process took 6 weeks and my start date got moved back because of how slow they are... and if I didn't chase them up constantly it would have been 2 months.

I seriously felt like withdrawing from the job offer just because of this process.. all I can say is thank god its over with and I don't have to deal with these clowns anymore.

I have not had a background check like this before poor service. Very intrusive and over the top even after providing all necessary evidence.

I finally thought the arduous process was done and 3 weeks into my new job guess what they need more information. They really need to improve the way they operate.

Smooth process. It has taken about 5 weeks in total for the checks to be made but I understand these things take time. Ikra dealt with my screening and she was very nice. Always helpful and informative.

The most terrible referencing experience so far after working with other agencies.

Like the people mentioned below, they were arrogant like MI5 or treated me as a criminal by default.

They started by challenging my nationality before doing anything as if I was using a fake passport or having a fake identity - when I had more than necessary documents and government links to prove who I am. I found them extremely offensive.

They never clearly stated the exact documents they needed - so they hoped I to provide more than they needed due to "miscommunication". Yes, they were very eager to ask for bank statements. Everything is up to 5 years, and they would avoid specifying which exact months they need, hoping that I would supply some more months by mistake.

They never confirmed with me how to contact my previous employers. This is a joke! They worked very hard to fake an outcome that I provided false references by saying my previous employers were not responding to their requests! All the people I asked for their help to deal with Security Watchdog's request were pissed off by their behaviour in this process.

Just no more! Next time if I know my employer uses this agency for background checks, I will give up the offer. No way.

I’ve been through security background checks before and they’re always a tedious and worrying time, especially as your future depends on it! The lady who worked on my file, Ikra Khan, was very helpful in informing me of the process, how long it could take and the types of documents that would be required. Each time she asked for additional documents, she would give me a courtesy call to check I received the request and she always called me back when I tried to contact her. She was very patient and courteous in answering my numerous questions and made the whole process so much better. It’s already quite stressful having to go through the process and her professionalism and helpful nature helped a lot.

Very concerning the lack of protection of data by Security watchdog that they allow a third company to have- Konfir -

The consent form says: accept my personal data, required to undertake the checks listed above will be processed outside of the UK/EEA, why and how is that possible - (I know a lot of their work is done in India one of the leaders in spamming calls and now our data using Security Watchdog is with them)

They also state
this may be verified via our supplier, Konfir, who will use Open Banking to confirm your income information - A company outside UK regulation will be allowed to confirm my banking income - why would one have to allow that to be employed by a company in the UK?

I find their consent document (which I imagine no one read) totally unacceptable
Also they send you an email with a number to call if you want help, guess what it's the wrong number, they then give you another number to call which you call and they can't help you and say India will give you a call - very concerned with who is checking on them

The complete process was quick and hassle free.

Very straightforward, uncomplicated process with good communication.

Easy procedure

Overall I had a good experience. The background checks were ideally done.

Regular updates of ongoing process, Precise screening of documents.

Simple forms.
Quick and easy.
Takes moments.

Easy to follow and work through, understanding and accommodating .