Zinc's automated Address checking process saves you time whilst ensuring compliance
On the 6th of April 2022 the DBS released new guidance for organisations that want to digitise their DBS checking process. This guidance is the equivalent to the longer standing guidance for checking documents physically for the DBS - section 1.2. Hence this new guidance does not supersede the existing July 2021 guidelines, you can choose to follow either set of guidelines for Address checking. Zinc is a technology first business which supports the digital address checking route first and physical address documents second.
Programmed compliance
If you are conducting a criminal check on Zinc and the applicant selects England & Wales residency and a DBS check is conducted. In this case an ID check and Address check will be added to your request if they're not present, ensuring compliance.
Address routes
Zinc cares deeply about candidate & recruiter experience and our tech team works hard to remove as any steps as possible in the checking process. We show the route with no documents required first, which candidate's find very easy to complete immediately without searching for documents. If this fails, a physical document upload fields is shown within 1-2 seconds. This is in accordance with checking through "an authoritative source through a certified IDSP" in 4.4.2 of the guidelines.
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1. A text based address is collected, alongside the applicants name history and date of birth. A search is conducted via our certified IDSP in authoritative sources: credit agencies, national postal and electoral lists for matches. The search will return if an identity exists at that address, the strength of match and will return connected addresses over a five year period. Find out more here.
2. If no matches can be found via the text based address search, a physical document collection process is shown to the applicant. The applicant is shown a list of options for the types of acceptable physical address proof documents, including:
| Documents | Notes | Issue date and validity |
| Mortgage statement | UK | Issued in last 12 months |
| Bank or building society statement | UK and Channel Islands | Issued in last 3 months |
| Bank or building society statement | Countries outside the UK | Issued in last 3 months - branch must be in the country where the applicant lives and works |
| Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter | UK | Issued in last 3 months |
| Credit card statement | UK | Issued in last 3 months |
| Financial statement, for example pension or endowment | UK | Issued in last 12 months |
| P45 or P60 statement | UK and Channel Islands | Issued in last 12 months |
| Council Tax statement | UK and Channel Islands | Issued in last 12 months |
| Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider | Non-UK only | Must still be valid |
| Utility bill | UK - not mobile telephone bill | Issued in last 3 months |
| Benefit statement, for example Child Benefit, pension | UK | Issued in last 3 months |
| Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, for example from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC | UK and Channel Islands | Issued in last 3 months |
The backup physical address document proof process is built into Zinc's address check and is included in the price. No matter how many documents we process to verify an applicants address, the applicant will just see one single flow.
Trusted IDSP
Zinc is partnered with Onfido as its Identity verification partner (IDV). Onfido are registered on the trust framework as an approved IDV partner who can deliver high confidence against Right to work and DBS checks. Find Onfido's certificate here.
The certification confirms our Identity Service Provider meets the requirements set out in thein the UKDIATF and the DBS digital identity guidelines. Although it's not required, as a testament to its commitment to the highest standard of compliance, Zinc is also undergoing an audit to join the trust framework. Zinc has a stage 2 audit scheduled for March 2023. Zinc works to and holds the ISO 27001 certificate.