One of the major benefits of conducting a background screening using a public records pay site is that you can obtain valuable information on individuals and businesses that is gathered from multiple databases from across the country. The databases contain information on bankruptcies, judgments, lawsuits, liens, sex offenses, UCC filings, motor vehicle records and arrest and criminal convictions. In the past, this information was costly to obtain because you needed to have enough money to hire a private investigator to perform the task. You could undertake the project yourself, providing you had the time and knowledge to physically complete background checks in the appropriate county where the records were located.

Today, a public records pay site can provide background information on a job candidate, independent contractor or virtually anyone else at the click of a mouse. Not only is the process quick, but it is also relatively inexpensive. The information contained in background check reports can potentially save employers from making hiring decisions that could later prove to be liabilities to the company or even expose the firm to costly lawsuits. However, one of the pitfalls of a public records pay site is that the background check reports provided are not always complete or 100 percent accurate. This is why you may want to obtain a background check from multiple services to be sure of a complete record.

If you apply the information gained through a background check in a manner that violates the law in any way, you could be liable for damages, whether you intentionally violated the law or not. That is why it is essential that you educate yourself about what your responsibilities are under federal laws as well as state statutes when you elect to use a public records pay site to conduct a background check.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) covers laws for companies that gather and sell the background reports. The FCRA also applies to employers that use outside firms to conduct investigations. Additionally, there may be state fair credit reporting laws that may apply.