Background Investigation

• What does a Federal Bureau of Investigation background check typically contain?

  A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check contains all data reported to the FBI by state and local law enforcement agencies, including each time an individual has been arrested or finge...

• What does a background check cost?

  Background check costs vary depending on the type of background check conducted. Consumer credit background checks can cost as little as $10, whereas driving records and basic criminal background che...

• Is all information generated from a background check available to use for hiring purposes?

  Although a company can conduct its own background check, most employers use a third-party to conduct investigation of job candidates. When an outside entity is used to investigate a candidate, nation...

• Are background checks available for minors?

  There is no law that prevents you from learning about a minor that works for your business. In general, you should be able to run background checks on minors; however, the availability of juvenile re...

• How often are background check records updated?

  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to update their files every 30 days. There are no other federal laws that direct other companies, which are defined as consumer reporting a...

• Can I perform a background check on someone without a social security number?

  Yes, you can perform a background check without a social security number. But you will need to have some other identifiers, such as the person’s name and birth date. Most public records backgrou...

• What information do I need about an individual to conduct a background check on them?

  ...k on yourself or someone else, obtain a background report today by submitting your request online. Background checks are fast and easy and can get you the information you’re looking for.

• What is the most thorough type of background check between county-wide, state-wide and nation-wide?

  ...nd private and public databases, including criminal databases, in the United States and abroad. Background checks are being used by more and more employers because screenings are a good predictor ...

• What if someone I am trying to conduct a background check on has changed their name recently?

  If someone has changed their name recently, you can include the alternate name in your background verification request. Sometimes, during the course of a search, the report will be returned with addit...

• Can I request a background check and receive the results immediately?

  How quickly you can request a background check, and receive immediate results, depends on the method you use for conducting the consumer background. Since background check information is now gathered ...

• Can an employer run a background check on a current long-term employee?

  Yes, an employer can run a background check on a current long-term employee. If the employer hires an outside company to conduct the investigation, the employer must follow the Fair Credit Reporting ...

• What should I do if I feel an employer may have used background check information illegally when determining my candidacy?

  An employer must get your written permission in order to conduct a background check. If your permission is not obtained in writing, any information uncovered by the investigation is deemed to have be...

• What are my options for receiving background check information? (Phone, email, online access, mail, fax, etc.)

  ...ng criminal information directly from an agency like the Department of Justice or Federal Bureau of Investigation is much more involved, as those agencies require certain written documentation and tak...

• Can I access my own criminal and employment records that would show up on a background check?

  ... obtained through governmental agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with restrictions. There are also many online companies that offer quick and easy acc...

• Can I perform a background check on a public figure or official?

  There is no law that prevents you from performing a background check on a public figure or official. However, you are subject to the same federal and state laws that apply to a background check on ave...

• Do non-citizens have U.S. criminal records I can view with a background check?

  Yes, you can obtain the United States criminal records of non-citizens by conducting criminal history background checks. There are basically three methods of conducting background check investigatio...

• Will having a criminal record show up on a background check disqualify me from getting a job?

  No, there are federal laws that prevent an employer from denying a person employment because the background check shows an individual has a criminal record. The Equal Employment Opportunity Act, whic...

• Do I have access to the information employers see when conducting a background check?

  Yes, you do have access to the same information any potential or current employer would see in a background check report. You will have to go to the same sources the employer or background check comp...

• What does the Fair Credit Reporting Act affect concerning a background check?

  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) outlines national laws consumer reporting agencies must follow when providing background check information to employers. The FCRA also defines the standards emplo...

• Who can order a background check?

  Your background, particularly your criminal history background, if you have one, is not private information. It is a matter of public record, so the short answer is that anyone can order a background...