I don't understand. Did you murder someone?

If you did then just go to the employer direct. It's not like they're going to object to saving money on the agency fee.

>>13517
What did you do to "leave under a cloud"?

It's up to them I and depends on what you did.

>>13517
Legally, under data protection, employers are only supposed to keep detailed records on you for upto 5 years. All they'll have now, if anything, after 18 years is your name and old employee number.

In theory.

>>13520
A big [citation needed] on that. I thought GDPR stipulates that records are retained only for as long as is necessary for a legitimate purpose and shies away from imposing arbitrary maximums. It's up to individual businesses to interpret that and put into writing a defined policy.

Not sure what you mean by detailed records but payroll data, for one, has to be kept for at least six years.

>>13521
You're right and >>13520 is wrong. HMRC mandate at least six years for tax purposes, but "legitimate interest" under GDPR can obviously be longer - most companies do at least seven years.

Depends on what the OP has done. eg if you worked for a bank and there was suspicion you had your hand in the till, they can keep those records for a long time.

Well, I'm going to apply for a job on Tuesday and see what happens. Will report back soon.

>>13523
Oh don't leave us hanging like that.

WHAT ARE YOUR CRIMES?

>>13524

I slept with the receptionist's wife (the receptionist was male, extremely popular, and he kept working there for at least five years after I left).

>>13517
Chances are they don't have the details and nobody from the last time still works there.

>>13526
I wouldn't say nobody from 18 years ago is still there. It could be very likely that the middle aged business support type is still there.

>>13527
If they've been there that long, they'll probably see you for the massive ledge you are.