Disputing a DBS certificate
If a DBS certificate contains wrong or incomplete information, there is an official process to have it corrected — but it is time-limited. You must report the mistake within 3 months of the date on the certificate. [GOV.UK]
This guidance is maintained by the Complys team and reviewed against the primary DBS / GOV.UK sources listed above (last reviewed 24 September 2026). It is general information, not legal advice, and DBS rules can change — always confirm against the official sources.
Two kinds of mistake
The dispute process separates errors in your personal information from errors in the record itself, because they are handled differently. [GOV.UK]
| Type of mistake | How it is raised |
|---|---|
| Personal information (e.g. your name or address is wrong) | Complete Section A of the dispute form, or contact DBS customer services by phone. |
| The record shown (e.g. wrong or irrelevant conviction information) | Complete the DBS certificate dispute form (the AF14/AF15 forms). [GOV.UK] |
Disputes about police information on an Enhanced check
An Enhanced check can include information a police force considers relevant. Where a dispute concerns that information, the DBS works with the police to reach a decision. If the police do not agree to change or remove it and the question is whether the information is relevant or should have been included, the case can be referred to the Independent Monitor, who can direct that an Enhanced certificate be corrected. [GOV.UK]
A dispute is different from asking why old or minor items were disclosed at all — that is governed by the filtering rules, which determine what a certificate shows in the first place. [GOV.UK]
Not sure which level applies?
Our free DBS eligibility guidance checker walks you through the official criteria and points you to the guidance to confirm against. It is guidance, not a legal determination.
Open the DBS eligibility checker →What an employer should do while a dispute is open
Employers must handle certificate information lawfully and make recruitment decisions fairly on the individual facts. [GOV.UK] Where an applicant has properly raised a dispute, an employer should not treat the disputed content as settled while the process is under way. Confirm the correct approach for your situation against the official guidance and your own safer-recruitment policy — see DBS checks for employers.
Where Complys fits
Complys does not raise or handle DBS disputes and does not advise on their outcome. It can help you record that a check was completed and its date, and note where a check is under dispute so the status is visible against the role — within the official handling rules (see DBS record keeping & compliance).
FAQs
How long do I have to dispute a DBS certificate?
You must report the mistake within 3 months of the date on the certificate. Because the window is short, raise a dispute as soon as you spot a problem rather than waiting.
What kinds of mistake can be disputed?
Two broad kinds: errors in your personal information (for example your name or address), and errors in the record itself (for example wrong or irrelevant conviction information shown on the certificate). The route differs slightly between the two.
How do I raise a dispute?
For record-content errors you complete the DBS certificate dispute form (the AF14/AF15 forms). For personal-detail errors you can complete Section A of the dispute form or contact DBS customer services by phone. The official page sets out the current form and contact route.
What happens with information the police added to an Enhanced check?
The DBS works with the police to decide. If the police do not agree to change or remove the information and the dispute is about whether it is relevant or should have been included, the case can go to the Independent Monitor, who can direct that an Enhanced certificate be corrected.
Can my employer dispute the certificate for me?
The certificate is issued to the individual, and disputes about its content are ordinarily raised by that person. An employer should not treat a disputed certificate as final while a dispute is properly under way — confirm the position for your situation against the official guidance.
Related DBS guides
- What a DBS check showsWhat each level of DBS check actually discloses, and the filtering rules that keep some old or minor cautions and convictions off Standard and Enhanced certificates — including the specified offences and custodial sentences that are always disclosed.
- DBS checks for employersHow UK employers establish eligibility, request the correct level of DBS check through the proper route, check identity, handle certificates lawfully and keep safer-recruitment records.
- Which DBS check do I need?Basic, Standard, Enhanced or Enhanced with a barred-list check? Eligibility depends on the role's actual duties, setting and regulated-activity status — not the job title. A UK employer guide.
Official sources and further guidance
- Dispute a mistake on your DBS certificate — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- DBS certificate disputes and fingerprint consent forms and guidance (AF14/AF15) — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- Filtering rules for Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- Handling of DBS certificate information — GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service
- Check someone's criminal record — types of check you can make — GOV.UK
This guidance is maintained by the Complys team and reviewed against the primary DBS / GOV.UK sources listed above (last reviewed 24 September 2026). It is general information, not legal advice, and DBS rules can change — always confirm against the official sources.