Background Screening

• 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...

• What is a background check?

  ... background check, including credit history, job history, criminal history, and driving history. Background checks have become commonplace in many situations, from pre-employment screening to corpo...

• How do I perform a background check on an individual?

  To perform a background check on an individual, you will first need permission if you are an employer screening a job candidate or a creditor screening an applicant, among others.With authorization, y...

• 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.

• Are nonprofit organizations subjected to the same privacy laws regarding background checks?

  Yes, nonprofit organizations must follow the same federal and state laws when conducting background-checks on employees, volunteers and independent contractors as for-profit companies. The federal sta...

• 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...

• Will a bankruptcy show up on a background check?

  Yes, a bankruptcy will show up on a background check. Bankruptcies appear on a consumer’s credit report for a maximum of 10 years. However, federal law prohibits employers from making an adver...

• 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...

• 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...

• Do I need to obtain a release from a potential employee before running a background check?

  Generally, you are required to obtain written permission from job applicants, contractors, employees or volunteers before you can run background checks. The federal law that pertains to employment scr...

• Will an employer conduct a background check if I am an independent contractor?

  Whether or not an employer will conduct a background check on an independent contractor depends on the company’s internal policy. Increasingly, more and more employers are obtaining background ...

• How long does a background check typically take?

  A background check can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to even longer, depending on the type of background check being conducted. Typically, consumer reports take just a few minutes to...

• 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 if I know someone has a criminal record but their background check states "no records found"?

  There can be various reasons that a criminal history background check might return results that state “no records found.” One reason could be that the record has been expunged or sealed. I...

• What is the process employers undergo when conducting background checks?

  The process employers undergo when conducting background checks varies by employer. Generally speaking, employers must gather information about a prospective employee, obtain permission from the pros...

• If I am terminated from my employment as the result of incorrect information from a background check and that information is corrected, will I be re-instated?

  There is no definitive answer to the question of whether you can get your old job back if you are terminated due to inaccurate information in a background check because a number of factors can come to...

• How can driving records help me when I’m screening employees?

  ... you can then use to weed out risky applicants and improve your chances of making the right hire. Background searches in general are very helpful for employers when screening prospective employees. ...

• 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...

• Will my divorce record show up when someone conducts a background check on my records?

  Your divorce record may show up when someone conducts a background check on you, but it depends on the type of background check they conduct. Divorce records do not appear on the kinds of standard ba...

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

  Yes, you are permitted to obtain the same information from a background check that an employer or anyone else would be able to obtain. Criminal records can be obtained through various governmental ag...