Best Background Checks
Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 200+Hours of research
- 40+Sources used
- 24Companies vetted
- 5Features reviewed
- 6Top
Picks
- Check companies' reputation for rigor and accuracy
- Look for perks like extended customer service hours
- Make sure you get the information you're looking for
- Look for compliant, accredited companies
How we analyzed the best Background Check Providers
Our Top Picks: Background Checks Reviews
Intelius review
Most Overall Features
Intelius is a great option for those looking for an online “people search” platform that features everything from basic name searches to reverse phone and address lookups. The company was founded in 2003 and is a subsidiary of Inome, Inc.
Like most people search companies, Intelius allows its users to find others by entering a few details, such as the searched person’s name and last name, city or state.
Screenshot intelius.com, August 2019.
It will then redirect them to a page displaying the different profiles that match the entered information, so users can choose the one that best fits their subject of investigation. If available, Intelius background reports may include the person’s full name, age and date of birth, current address and address history, phone numbers, aliases, relatives, neighbors, social network accounts, email addresses, property records, marriage and divorce records, lawsuits, judgments, liens, bankruptcies, and criminal history, so users can have a complete picture of the person they’re looking for.
With Intelius, users have the option to purchase single reports or subscribe to the Intelius Premier membership, which offers unlimited searches for a flat monthly fee. The company’s membership is automatically renewed after each monthly cycle and can be canceled at any time without penalties.
When testing the different background check companies, Intelius was one of our favorites, since its platform features a sleek and straightforward design, with easy-to-read results, making the people search process a breeze. The company also offers an identity protection service plus a mobile app, for additional convenience.
While Intelius didn’t have a lot of information on our subject of investigation, the information provided was accurate. We also liked the fact that the company allows users to cancel the service through their online accounts, for a hassle-free experience.
Identity Protection Services
Intelius’ IdentityProtect can be added to any subscription and is designed to protect your identity with instant credit reports and scores, identity theft protection, which includes a $1 million identity theft insurance and recovery kit plus around-the-clock access to fraud resolution experts, and credit and public records monitoring.
The company’s IdentityProtect service has a monthly cost of $19.95 plus any applicable taxes. Additionally, Intelius is currently offering a 7-day risk-free trial, for those who want to test the service beforehand.
Screenshot intelius.com, August 2019.
Top-rated App
Intelius Mobile App is available for both Android and iOS devices, and has been rated 4.3/5 on Google Play and 4.5/5 in the App Store. The company’s app offers the same convenient features as the Intelius’ online platform, but in a mobile-friendly version.
With the Intelius Mobile App, users can identify unknown callers through the app’s reverse phone lookup feature. Additionally, they can also run a “people search” while on the go, which can be useful before meeting an online date or a prospective employer.
BeenVerified review
Best for Finding Old Friends and Family
BeenVerified is a New York-based company that specializes in people searches and background check services. The company has been operating for over 11 years and currently has more than 100,000 subscribers nationwide.
BeenVerified covers all the basics of a people search service with a simple platform that allows users to search for the subject of their investigation by entering their name, city or state. They can also search for phone numbers, email, and physical addresses. BeenVerified offers its services through 1- and 3-month membership plans where subscribers have access to unlimited searches, and a $1 trial is also available for those who just want to test the waters or only need one report.
The company’s reports may include things like the searched person’s name, social media accounts, criminal records, property ownership, bankruptcies, and a list of possible relatives and associates, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reconnect with old friends and family members.
Screenshot beenverified.com, August 2019.
Something worth noting is that, when we conducted our research, BeenVerified’s report was extremely accurate and complete. It had comprehensive information on the subject of investigation, plus we were given the option to download the report as a PDF file, a tool that could be useful for those in search of long-lost ones.
Screenshot beenverified.com, August 2019.
The company also offers a dark web scan and an app that’s available for all Android and iOS devices.
Easy Cancellations
BeenVerified allows subscribers to cancel their memberships via email and over the phone. At first, we saw this as a minor drawback since other companies allow you to request cancellation through your member portal, but we were pleasantly surprised. After testing the company’s services, we decided to request a cancellation over email to see how long it would take for them to process our request and, within minutes, we received an email from the support team telling us that our membership had been successfully canceled.
TruthFinder review
Unlimited Reports and Instant Search Results
TruthFinder offers its background check services through two subscription packages, which only differ in duration (1 month or 2 months) and pricing.
Both subscriptions feature unlimited background reports, containing information such as the person’s date of birth, phone numbers, aliases, address history, arrest and court records, government license information, social media presence (including dating apps and blogs), related persons and email addresses.
Screenshot from truthfinder.com, July 2019.
TruthFinder also offers an extended data search as part of its subscriptions, which is designed to reveal more detailed information, including the person’s assets, weapon permits, foreclosures, and associates, among other things.
Additionally, the company offers reverse phone number and address lookup, access to criminal records and a family tree maker, plus instant access to reports, which can be printed and downloaded.
Dark Web Monitoring
Besides unlimited background reports, reverse phone number and address lookup, TruthFinder offers its clients Dark Web Monitoring at no extra cost.
Screenshot from truthfinder.com, July, 2019.
The company’s Dark Web Scan is powered by Experian, which is one of the nation’s most trusted consumer credit reporting agencies, and is designed to help you see if your identity has been compromised by monitoring bulletin boards, peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, forums and chat rooms, social media fees, web servers, file transmissions, servers, web services, credit card, social security, and social network activity, and court and public record alerts.
Online and Mobile Account Management
TruthFinder clients can manage their subscriptions online or through the company’s mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices.
The company’s website is easy to navigate and complete with extensive information about the company’s services, as well as general information and advice on topics like identity theft and social media monitoring.
TruthFinder also offers email or text alerts to notify you of any new or updated information regarding the searched person’s criminal records, social media profiles, contact information, financial and civil judgments, as part of its subscription packages.
Customer Privacy Guarantee
TruthFinder uses 128-bit encryption to keep all connections safe, which is considered to be one of the most secure encryption techniques used by most modern technologies. The company also uses a verified and approved SSL certificate to secure all credit card transactions, data transfers and logins.
When you request a background check on someone, that person will never be notified of your request, meaning that your search history and results are completely confidential.
Responsive Customer Support
TruthFinder is a California-based company and it has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2018. Despite having an excellent A+ rating with the organization, consumers have rated it 1/5, but most complaints seem to be due to consumers misunderstanding how the company’s services work. Nonetheless, TruthFinder’s staff has been highly responsive by making an effort to answer and resolve most complaints to ensure client satisfaction.
TruthFinder offers customer support via email and over the phone, 7 days a week, and you can cancel your subscription anytime by visiting your online portal or by calling the company’s staff.
PeopleLooker review
Screenshot peoplelooker.com, August 2019.
Information Gathered from Reliable Databases
PeopleLooker gathers the information used for its reports from millions of nationwide public records, including real law enforcement agencies and government courthouses. For social media, it looks up social profiles, websites, and blogs. The company’s in-depth people reports feature names, criminal records, date of birth, phone numbers, addresses, court records, relatives, email addresses.
Comprehensive Search Features
Searching for others on PeopleLooker isn’t limiting to inputting names and addresses. Users can also use a variety of search features few other companies other. Searching for results on social media and through satellite imaging are two examples of the kind of comprehensive approach PeopleLooker takes to background checks. The search also includes family members’ names, which is helpful for those seeking to reconnect with family members, for example.
Subscriptions Starting at Less Than $20/Month
- Instead of charging for individual files and reports, PeopleLooker works as a subscription-based enterprise. After finishing an initial people search, consumers are asked to buy one of the company’s two membership programs. They will have the opportunity to pay on a monthly or three-month basis. As with other people search and background check platforms, PeopleLooker offers a suite of tools and benefits with its membership programs, namely: unlimited background reports, contact information, phone lookups, email lookups, and address lookups, and criminal records, as well as faster searches and more way to look for people.
Search Records On The Go
Two app versions of PeopleLooker's platform are available to consumers: one for Android and the other for iOS devices. These apps allow users to look for personal overviews anywhere quickly, making them handy tools in a variety of situations. Person, email, and property searches are available for free; other types of searches and more in-depth information can be accessed through the apps' paid membership plans, which start at rates even lower than the desktop version of PeopleLooker does.
US Search review
Find People 3 Ways
Screenshot ussearch.com, 03/09/2022
US Search--like Intelius, owned by PeopleConnect, Inc.--allows you to find people by entering their name, address or phone number.
US Search offers three main types of reports: People Search, 1-State Criminal Check, and Background.
The People Search report includes details like the person’s full name and aliases, age, current address and address history, relatives and associates. The 1-State Criminal Check includes everything featured in the People Search report, plus criminal charge history and criminal court records. The Background report offers all of the information found on the People Search and Criminal Check reports, plus the names of the person’s neighbors and their addresses, social network accounts, property ownership details, marriage and divorce records, civil judgements, bankruptcies, and tax liens, making it the most comprehensive out of all three reports.
Monthly and Quarterly Memberships
US Search offers monthly and quarterly subscriptions through its Omnisearch membership program, through which clients get access to unlimited searches by name, phone, and address during their subscription period. All memberships are renewed automatically at the end of each billing cycle, unless you decide to cancel it. Additionally, US Search allows you to view sample reports, so you know what to expect before subscribing or purchasing any services.
Single Reports
Besides its monthly and quarterly membership plans, US Search allows you to buy single People Search reports, Basic Background Check reports, Instant Nationwide Criminal Search reports and 1-State Criminal Check reports, for a one-time fee, without further commitment. The website also offers a discounted price on each report by subscribing to the Omnisearch 2-day trial, which you can use to run as many searches as you want, without paying for each report. However, if you don’t cancel once the 2-day period is over, you’ll be automatically enrolled on the website’s monthly subscription.
Social Network and Email Search
US Search offers a social network search service, which allows you to view the person’s social media presence, making it ideal for those looking to reconnect with family and friends.
To perform a social network search, you need to enter the person’s name and location. Based on this information, the website will redirect you to a page with multiple potential profiles, so you can select the one that best fits the person you’re looking for. Once the desired profile is selected, you’ll be able to view a complete report with details about the person's accounts on sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Friendster, among many others.
GoodHire review
Best for Flexible Solutions
GoodHire is an excellent choice for those who want personalized checks tailored to their hiring and business needs. The company has been servicing consumers nationwide since 2011 and is accredited by the NAPBS and by the Better Business Bureau, where it holds an excellent A+ rating, with many consumer reviews praising its services and staff.
GoodHire’s services include background checks, credit checks, drug screenings, healthcare sanctions reports, identity verification checks, and international checks, ideal for small-to-medium business organizations as well as for large enterprises in the construction, staffing, retail, technology, non-profit, and healthcare industry.
Something that sets the company apart from other background check providers is that it offers packaged and custom checks, with a versatile volume pricing model, so you only pay for what you need. GoodHire also allows consumers to purchase personal background checks, making it a great choice for prospective candidates as well.
Quick Turnarounds
GoodHire delivers a seamless integrated employment screening experience through a platform that’s compatible with multiple applicant tracking systems like Lever, iCIMS, Newton, Bamboo HR, Jobvite and Greenhouse, among others.
The company's proprietary algorithm includes several features that can speed up the background check process without sacrificing accuracy. To start, it can link records from different public record sources in order to create a complete profile of the candidate, including aliases and criminal cases. It can also automatically filters results in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, removing records that cannot be used by employers when making hiring decisions and reducing the risk of potential liability.
The algorithm’s criminal code classifier - which can separate major offenses from minor ones - also enables employers to set up custom filters, ensuring they get only the results that really matter to them.
In the same vein, GoodHire’s platform also allows employers to set preliminary hiring criteria and adjudication, to automatically eliminate candidates that don’t meet their standards. Additionally, results are checked by experienced personnel that can verify the accuracy of the information by checking additional sources.
GoodHire’s background checks are FCRA- and EEOC-compliant. They also provide consumers with a chart explaining the county court fees and turnaround times by state, giving them a better understanding of the overall cost and timeframe of the process.
User-friendly Interface
Besides speeding up the background check process with automated tools, GoodHire’s platform also simplifies the screening workflow with an all-in-one dashboard featuring eConsent forms and easy-to-read results. If there are any gaps, unclear information, or criminal records in the applicant’s report, the dashboard allows them to add comments within that section to explain or give any context on those events, thereby promoting transparency and accuracy during the process.
GoodHire’s platform can be downloaded on any mobile device, making it highly convenient for both applicants and employers with a busy lifestyle.
VeriFirst review
Best for Tenant Screening
VeriFirst offers background screening and verification services for small businesses and corporations. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
VeriFirst is ideal for those in the rental and real estate industry since it offers tenant screening solutions for multifamily properties as well as for student housing. The company’s tenant screening service includes identity checks, criminal searches, tenant reliability screens (which show any past evictions), guarantor financial history checks, and rental history checks through its RentForecast™ service. Additionally, VeriFirst offers backend debt collection services through their sister company, BYL Collection Services.
One of the benefits of using VeriFirst’s tenant screening services is the company’s VeriGuide Decision Assistant, which automatically approves or rejects an applicant based on requirements established by the consumer.
Compliance Cloud Available
VeriFirst allows consumers to combine its background screening platform with a compliance portal, featuring automated applicant data transfer, free online applicant consent portal, along with electronic I-9 forms and E-Verify.
If an applicant fails the criteria, VeriFirst Compliance Cloud’s applicant notification services will send them FCRA-compliant pre-adverse and adverse action notifications, simplifying the entire process. The company also offers a Compliance Library for Tenant Screening that can be downloaded straight from its website and includes documents, forms, and templates required to reduce your liability during the tenant screening process.
Free quotes and sample reports
VeriFirst offers sample employee and tenant screening reports on its website, so consumers know what to expect before purchasing any products or services. Free quotes are also available through the company’s website.
To request a quote, consumers must provide their company name, contact information, website URL, permissible purpose (tenant or employment screening, customer identity verification, or business credit reports), their desired number of checks per year, and the types of screenings they want. Once they submit this information, the company will send them a quote via email within one business day after receiving the request. Consumers can also request a free quote by calling the company’s support staff.
Unlike other companies, VeriFirst doesn’t require that consumers order a minimum amount of reports per month, making it an excellent option for those who want flexibility and affordability.
HireRight review
Best for Multiple Industries
HireRight is a California-based company that offers over 150 background screening solutions, including criminal background checks, identity checks, employment and education verification checks, global screening checks, I-9 and E-Verify forms, and diving records checks, for both small businesses and corporations. The company was founded in 1995 and services more than 200 countries worldwide.
HireRight was one of the first companies to launch an internet-based background screening service in 1997. The company is both FCRA-compliant and accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. One of the main benefits of using HireRight’s services is that the company offers specialized solutions suitable for a multitude of different industries, such as transportation, healthcare, education, financial services, non-profit, retail, and extended workforce (contractors).
HireRight is affiliated with the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA), the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), the National Association for Health Care Recruitment (NAHCR), and the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPPA), among others, making it a great option for employers looking for a company that delivers quality reports they can trust.
Cutting-Edge Technology
HireRight’s different platforms integrate with some of the industry’s leading applicant tracking systems (ATS), including ADP Recruiting Management, Avature, Ceridian, Greenhouse, IBM Kenexa, iCIMS, Kronos, and Jobvite, to simplify the hiring process by delivering results as they become available. The company’s platforms also offer automated compliance tools to assist employers when taking adverse action and stay on top of the latest rules and regulations established by each industry.
HireRight’s Applicant Center is designed to improve the candidates’ experience by allowing them to upload any requested documentation from any device, including their mobile phones, and view status updates and results in real-time. The company’s highly convenient and unique Applicant Center is available in 22 languages and offers live chat assistance.
Online Resource Center
One of the many great features of HireRight’s website is the company’s online resource center, which consists of a library, blog, videos, webinars, newsletters, benchmark reports, and a screening glossary meant to help both employers and candidates through the background screening process.
Additionally, the company’s support staff is available through chat, email, and over the phone to answer any other questions you may have.
InfoTracer review
Screenshot infotracer.com, August 2019.
Instant Background Check
A single search on InfoTracer can provide users with a wide array of information on any person in its databases. The information users can find includes criminal records, arrest and warrant records, marriage and divorce records, social profiles, property records, contact details, court records.
InfoTracer gathers its data from billions of records originating in thousands of sources, such as courthouses, registries, county sheriff offices, the World Wide Web and consumer databases. Instead of showing the customer each multiple reports from several sources, InfoTracer builds a single digital profile for each individual with the data it finds.
100% Confidential Searches
Searched made on InfoTracer’s platform are fully confidential. No one except users themselves can know the documents they are accessing and the people they are asking background checks on. Searches can be made for numerous single categories, including arrest, birth, and court records, plate, VIN, and phone lookups, and reverse email and assets search.
Databases Updated Constantly
InfoTracer is constantly updating its databases to make sure the information in them is as factual and relevant as possible. The company makes no promises as to the accuracy of the records themselves, as al the information it uses is gathered from third parties, but it still attempts to maintain a high standard of veracity, updating records on nearly a daily basis.
The records and information that users obtain through InfoTracer are not exclusively accessed through a computer device. Users can open InfoTracer anywhere and at any time through mobile devices.
Publicseek review
Screenshot publicseek.com, August 2019.
Reliable Data from Trusted Sources
Every time a user requests a report Publicseek goes through more than 10 billion public records located in vast databases. These databases are some of the most trustworthy suppliers of background information in the country. Publicseek updates its records every 24 hours with the latest information available.
Instant Background Checks
Publicseek's Standard Background Reports provide instant access to information from more than 10 billion public records. They contain a person's date of birth, phone numbers, address history, related persons, arrest records, government license information, social media profiles (including email addresses), and nearby sex offenders.
One-Time Purchases and Unlimited Subscription Plans
Consumers can buy individual background reports or opt for Publicseek's membership program for unlimited access to reports. Customers who subscribe to the company's membership plan can pay an additional fee for its Premium Reports, which provide additional and supplemental data about the people users inquiry into. When purchasing a Publicseek membership plan, customers are granted a one-day trial that may be canceled at any time. The trial allows consumers to try out all of the full service’s features and only costs $1.
ID Protection and Insurance
Customers of Publicseek’s membership plan have the option of adding IDSafeGuard to their purchase. The software helps prevent fraud and identity theft by protecting users’ ID and, in the worst-case scenario, offering insurance to offset the damage done to victims.
Verified Credentials review
Best for Self-checks
Verified Credentials is a leading background check and verification solutions provider. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Screenshot verifiedcredentials.com, August 2019.
Verified Credentials services include criminal, public record and ID searches, academic and professional verifications, healthcare-specific searches, I-9 verifications and E-Verify, international screenings, credit reports, and screening workflow and technology solutions. In addition to all of these services primarily aimed at businesses and HR departments, the company also offers personal background checks.
Verified Credentials offers three main types of personal checks: My Public Record Standard, My Public Record Premium and My Credentials Premium, priced at $32.00, $46.50, and $85.50, respectively. The company’s My Public Record Standard package includes county criminal and sex offender registry searches. My Public Record Premium includes everything included in the Standard package plus your driving record, and My Credentials Premium includes everything featured in My Records Premium in addition to employment and academic verifications.
Verified Credentials also offers its users a QualifiedFirst portfolio, which essentially stores and organizes your background check results, and allows you to manage and update your information as needed.
Custom Checks Available
Besides offering three personal background check packages, Verified Credentials also allows you to build your own package. The company offers consumers a total of 13 options, including academic verification, criminal county search, criminal state search, driving records check, Q10 drug screening, employment verification, government watchlist check, FACIS level 3 individual search, GSA excluded parties list check, national sex offender public registry check, OIG sanctions report, professional certification check and professional license verification check, all of which can be combined or purchased separately.
NAPBS-Accredited
Verified Credentials is a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) and is accredited by this entity, as well as by the Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program (BSAAO) and by the Background Screening Credentialing Council (BSCC).
Additionally, the company is a Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPAA) Certified Third Party Administrator (TPA) and all of its checks are FCRA-compliant.
Ownerly review
Services
Unlike traditional background check services, which focus on finding people and information about them, Ownerly provides information strictly on real estate. The service is geared towards homebuyers, homeowners, homesellers, and real estate investors. Reports contain data on current and past homeowners, selling price history, comparable home prices, and real estate taxes. This information can help homebuyers find current property values—which may not be the same as a home's asking price—and make appropriate bids on any homes they are interested in purchasing. The tax information provided by Ownerly reports can also aid them in understanding the true cost of owning the home. The company offers demographic data on individual neighborhoods, which may influence some homebuyers' purchasing decisions. By the same token, sellers can use the information provided in Ownerly reports to price their homes competitively in their local markets.
While the information Ownerly is certainly helpful, much of it is available for free through public records. In addition, sites like Zillow and Realtor.com provide property value estimates, sale price history, and tax information. But for a fee, Ownerly does make it convenient to find relevant information on real estate transactions.
Ownerly also serves as a gateway to educational information on buying and selling homes and services related to homeownership. The site's library includes a homeowner checklist, articles on mortgages and refinancing, home improvements, and more.
Pricing and Plans
Ownerly makes it easy to get started with a 7-day trial that costs just a dollar. Under the trial plan, customers can access up to $25 reports. You can also choose a $5 trial plan that gives you the same number of reports, but also allows you to download PDFs of the reports you pull. After the trial period, your membership will convert to a subscription plan that costs $29.99 per month.
Reputation
Ownerly is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but earns a B rating from that organization. Trustpilot users award the company a poor rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars. Trustpilot reviewers go so far as to call the company a scam, with many reviews citing trouble with being billed after they canceled the service. However, there are no complaints against Ownerly in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau database.
Ownerly Summed Up
Ownerly isn't your traditional background check service. You can't search for lost friends' addresses, phone numbers, or social media profiles. But you will find comprehensive data that's helpful for buyers, sellers, and investors alike. You can try the service for as little as $1 for a 7-day trial. While the information contained in Ownerly reports is accessible through public records, the company offers speed and convenience, helping customers access a lot of data from a single resource.
More insight into our methodology
When we first started researching background checks, we thought that all of them followed the same rules and guidelines, regardless of the user’s intent. After conducting approximately 150 hours of research and consulting with experts, we realized that in order to better assess which companies surpassed the industry standard, we needed to separate background checks into two categories: those for employment or business purposes and those for personal use.
Background checks conducted for employment purposes are regulated by a system of checks and balances, with industry regulators such as the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) and laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) providing accreditations and guidelines. Companies that offer these types of reports tend to be very similar in scope, with comparable offerings, and features allowing for integration with applicant tracking systems or mobile apps. This type of check can only be conducted with the subject’s signed agreement.
Personal use background checks, on the other hand, can range the gamut from legitimate to frankly unethical. To qualify for inclusion in our list, we required that each company be completely transparent about their sources, never make unverifiable claims (for example, “it reveals all there is to know about a person, address, email, or phone number"), and provide a reasonable level of accuracy and updated information, with few gaps in a person’s history.
We started with a total of 24 companies--14 of which were best suited for personal use and 10 for employment or business purposes. We then evaluated them based on the types of background checks they offer, the quality of their reports, their accreditation, value, and customer support. This led us to six top picks that we think represent the best in the industry.
Types of Background Checks
There are many types of background checks:
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Reference check - Reference checks are commonly done by rental companies, or employers during the hiring process. Their main goal is to know more about a person’s character by contacting references such as family, friends, former teachers or coworkers.
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Employment and education verification check - Employment and education verification checks are done to corroborate the accuracy of the employment and education information found on a person’s resume.
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Criminal records check - Criminal records checks verify a person’s criminal history, and include things such as misdemeanor and felony convictions, warrants and past arrests.
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Credit check - Credit checks investigate a person’s credit history and are particularly useful for rental companies, banks, and insurance providers.
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Identity verification check - Identity verification checks are designed to verify that you really are who you say you are.
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Civil judgments check - Civil judgments checks reveal any court judgments or liens that a person may have in their history, though these usually won’t turn up if they’re more than a decade old.
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Driving records check - Finally, driving records checks examine a person’s driving history, accidents, and license suspensions.
Background checks are not a “one-size-fits-all” type of product. So, when vetting the companies, we started by selecting the ones that offered at least three types of checks to ensure they catered to different needs.
Report Quality
A good background report must be comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date. In order to determine which companies offered reports that met these standards, our team of researchers took on the task of putting them to the test.
With the help of a volunteer who agreed to be our background check guinea pig, we signed up to the different companies’ most basic subscription. We then ran a “people search” with the name of our subject. Once the results were in, we compared reports to see which ones were the most complete and accurate. Based on this, we managed to narrow down our list even more.
Reputation
Since “people search” companies are not credit reporting agencies, they don’t need to abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, nor do they need to be accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.
However, if you’re running a background check for hiring or tenancy purposes, you’ll want a company that’s both FCRA-compliant and accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners, to protect yourself and others from liabilities.
In our efforts to find the best companies for employment and business purposes, we chose companies that are accredited by this entity and comply with the FCRA.
Pricing
Many background check companies offer “unlimited reports” when you sign up for a monthly subscription. While this may sound like a tempting offer, some people just want to purchase one report.
Our top picks offer both affordable and flexible pricing models that accommodate every consumer and business need, including trials or demos, one-time reports, and monthly subscriptions or volume pricing.
Customer Support
After evaluating our volunteer’s background reports, we contacted the companies’ customer support staff to experience the cancelation process firsthand. Based on this, we chose the companies that were responsive and made the process easy.
Additionally, our team selected companies with a strong reputation as shown on consumer reviews across different outlets, such as the Better Business Bureau. We also took into consideration how many contact methods each company provided, favoring those that had multiple ways to get in touch.
Helpful information about Background Checks
Overview of the Industry
Whether you’re applying for a job, looking to hire prospective candidates, checking out a new tenant, or searching for long-lost friends or relatives, background checks can be a useful tool to help you obtain the information you need.
A background check is the process of compiling both public and confidential information to investigate and review a person’s history. As we mentioned above, there are many types of background checks: reference, credit, criminal, social media, drug screening, social security number tracing, and education verification, just to name a few. The information included in your report will be based on the nature of the check, but oftentimes you’ll see details such as the subject’s bankruptcies, tax liens and other financial information, employment history, education, court, criminal and licensing records, as well as a list of possible relatives or associates. Background checks are used to confirm a person’s identity and can be conducted by federal and law enforcement agencies or by private companies and licensed investigators.
Prior to the era of digitalization, performing this type of investigation consisted of numerous visits to different financial institutions, courts, county offices, and other government agencies, which was both time-consuming and expensive. This sort of exhaustive investigation wasn’t really tailored to individual consumers, but rather to government agencies or businesses. While some records still need to be obtained on-site, many courts and governmental institutions now store their records online, making it much easier to access this information digitally. Because of this, there are many internet-based companies that now specialize in conducting background checks, offering quick turnarounds and reasonable prices.
However, there are limits to what these companies can find. “There’s a lot of states that limit what you can get online,” says former FBI security specialist R. L. Walters.
As previously stated, not all checks are equal, and the more sensitive information you want to access, the stricter the regulations. So, before choosing any companies to help you with the task, first you’ll need to understand the difference between background checks for personal use and those for employment or business purposes, to better assess which service best fits your needs.
Background Checks for Personal Use
Online Dating and Catfishing
According to a 2015 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds using dating apps in the United States nearly tripled from 2013 to 2015, and 29% of those surveyed reported knowing someone who had met a spouse or long-term partner via online dating.
Despite many success stories, it is also true that online daters are much more prone to deception since it is easier to trick someone while hiding behind a screen. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2016, romance scams were responsible for over $230 million in financial losses.
In order to reduce the chances of someone falling victim to an online scam, some dating apps, such as Gatsby, are incorporating background screenings into their platforms, to weed out people with a history of sexual assault, identity theft, and other crimes, and keep their users safe.
Locate a long-lost relative, learn about your new neighbor, or check yourself out
Background checks have become increasingly popular, and online dating is just one of the many scenarios where they could be useful on a personal level. Since many reports include previous and current contact information like phone numbers, social media accounts, email and residential addresses, people also use them as a way to track down old friends and family members. Still others use them to find out more information about new acquaintances and neighbors and ensure they’re surrounded by people they can trust.
You can also conduct self-checks before applying for a job that might require a security clearance or screening to see what a report would show a potential employer. This can get you prepared to explain any gaps or unclear information and increase your chances of getting hired. Additionally, you can use self-checks to dispute and correct any erroneous information that could affect your future.
People Searches
One way of obtaining background information for personal use is through an online people search service. Just like their name suggests, people searches are designed to find individuals by entering their first and last name, city, state, phone number, email, or any known physical addresses.
Most people search companies offer background checks as part of their services, creating reports that can include the searched person’s contact details, any known aliases, social media accounts, birth, death, marriage, divorce, driving, liens, bankruptcies, and property records. It can also show details about their assets, associates, any existing lawsuits, employment and education history, along with criminal and arrest records.
For the most part, people searches obtain their information from public records databases. Public records are any documents or pieces of information that are not considered confidential and have been filed with a government agency or public office. These records are legally required to be kept and maintained and are divided into two main categories: those pertaining to the government and those of individuals.
Public records include birth, death and marriage records, some types of licensing, business, driving and voting records, court, criminal and government records, statistical data, transcripts of public hearings and meetings, administrative policies and procedures, government contracts and leases, correspondence, public meeting minutes, and government manuals. Most of the time, public records like census data, judgments, liens, bankruptcies, and property information can be accessed by anyone for free, but some federal and state courts might charge small fees or require paid subscriptions in order to access their records.
Searching on your own for public records can be frustrating since you’ll have to check different county clerks’ sites and other sources to gather all the information you need. People search companies simplify this task by offering you a one-stop platform that compiles all this information and makes it available for you instantly. Nevertheless, as we mentioned above, since not all records are digitized, reports may be incomplete or somewhat outdated.
Besides being limited to what’s available online, inaccuracies can also be attributed to the companies’ instant results models, which means that the’re not vetted by licensed professionals before reaching the clients. This inaccuracy can be reduced if you have additional information about the person besides their name.
Still, people search websites can be used as a starting point to locate someone. According to Walters, “if you know where to look, you can get so much information from an email address, a telephone number, an old residential address, or a username. A lot of times you can find other accounts they have through tracking that stuff.”
People searches can also be used as a way of doing a quick check when you don’t have time to wait for an actual screening. However, it should be noted that these companies are not credit reporting agencies and, because they do not adhere to the regulations established by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), any information obtained can only be used for personal intent, not for employment. So if you’re planning on running a background check on the girl next door to determine whether you can hire her as a babysitter, you need to obtain the report from a company that is FCRA-compliant.
Employment Background Checks
Employees can make or break a business. According to HR expert and people lead specialist, Amarilys Burgos, who has over 20 years of experience working in the field:
Checking out someone’s background before hiring them can help you learn more about that person’s character and determine whether they will be a good fit for the company, as well as reduce employee turnover rates and liability risks.
In 2017, the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of companies offering background screening services, commissioned a national survey to measure how companies approached background checks to identify the current trends and practices.
The results showed that 96% of the organizations surveyed conducted one or more types of employment background screenings. Additionally, 52% of them cited “improving the quality of hires” as the main reason for conducting the screenings, while 45% said that the checks were done to protect the company’s reputation.
The ideal background investigation will depend on the type of business you run. For example, if your company hires medical caregivers, you’ll want to conduct a background check that includes an Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) sanctions report and an I-9 employment eligibility verification, to ensure compliance and protect your company’s funds and resources.
Similarly, if you own a rental business, you may want to run a background check and screen any potential tenants to view their credit and criminal history, since this will help you determine their ability to pay, as well as ensure the safety of others surrounding your property.
Federal Trade Commission Regulations
Regardless of your business’ nature, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has set several ground rules that you must follow when obtaining someone’s credit history and other confidential information through a background investigation.
The FTC is the government agency responsible for consumer protection and the elimination and prevention of anticompetitive business practices. The FTC enforces the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a law that aims to ensure fairness, accuracy, and the continued privacy of consumer information, by regulating access to credit reports, as well as the collection and disclosure of credit information.
Besides complying with its regulations, the FCRA requires you to follow these steps before conducting a background check on any potential hires, even if it’s someone working in your home:
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Inform the person that you might use the information for decisions about their employment or tenancy. This should be in writing and in a separate document from the application.
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Get the person’s consent in writing.
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If the screening is an investigative report, you must describe and disclose the nature of the investigation to the person.
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Provide the company preparing the report with written certification that you notified and have the consent of the subject of the investigation, complied with all of the FCRA requirements, and won’t discriminate or misuse the information in violation of federal or state equal opportunity laws or regulations.
Violating these rules could cause you or your business some serious legal and financial woes. This is why it’s extremely important to get these types of reports from companies that are FCRA-compliant and, if possible, accredited by the NAPBS.
What To Watch Out For When Buying A Background Check
Groundless Claims
Many people search companies claim to give you extensive background checks that will reveal everything there is to know about a person, including misdemeanors. While there may be a lot of information about a person’s criminal history online, former background investigator Taína Cuevas points out that “there’s uneven reporting in all types of court cases, as many smaller counties and municipalities do not store their records online.” This means that, unless these companies hire investigators or court runners that can do research and request records on-site, these types of claims are simply untrue. Walters also told us out that hiring personnel to conduct these investigations “would get expensive, and if they’re doing a low-cost background investigation and making that claim, I don’t think the two go hand in hand.”
Essentially, if a company tells you that they can guarantee accurate results and a comprehensive report that contains every detail about the searched person’s life, but doesn’t have trained or licensed staff that can verify this information, don’t believe it.
Billing Practices
While there are a fair share of complaints about people search and background check companies across multiple consumer review websites (including the Better Business Bureau), most of them complain about one thing: unclear billing practices.
Many companies offer a trial for a specified amount of reports at a discounted price. While this may sound like a great deal for those who just want to test the service, many people overlook the fine print and end up subscribing for automatic renewals, only noticing when the company starts charging their card every month.
Aside from contacting the company to cancel the subscription and asking for a refund, there’s really nothing else you can do. The practice isn’t illegal in any way, it was just buried in the contract. We encourage consumers to always read a company’s terms and conditions, and pay special attention to the fine print before purchasing any products.
Email-only customer service
Something you need to consider before subscribing or purchasing reports is how the company communicates with its customers. A lot of businesses offer customer support via live chat, phone, email, and through social media, which is both convenient and extremely helpful when you need to ask questions about products, or need assistance canceling or making changes to your subscription.
We’re wary of email-only customer support, since limiting communication to its written form can lead to slower response times and make it near impossible to cancel. This can be both expensive and frustrating if you no longer desire or can’t afford to keep the service.
Privacy Protection
As previously discussed, most people searches that offer background checks are not considered credit reporting agencies, meaning that they do not have to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Simply put, they have less strict rules on how they use the information they collect than other companies that do have to comply with these regulations.
Some of the information collected by these companies includes, but is not limited to: your name, email address, phone number and carrier, date of birth, billing address, IP address, operating system, browser type, names of the people you search for, and their contact details. By agreeing to the company’s terms and conditions you’re legally surrendering this information voluntarily, which may be passed on to third parties.
If you’re not comfortable with sharing any of this information with third parties, be sure to check out the company’s terms and conditions section before subscribing to its services, so you’re aware of how your information is being used.
FAQs about Background Checks
Will someone know if you did a background check on them?
How far back will a background check go?
Is it legal for someone to deny you employment because of a background check?
What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
Our Background Checks Review Summed Up
| Company Name | Best for |
|---|---|
| HireRight Background Checks | Best for Multiple Industries |
| GoodHire Background Checks | Flexible Solutions |
| VeriFirst Background Checks | Tenant Screening |
| BeenVerified Background Checks | For Finding Old Friends and Family |
| Verified Credentials Background Search | Best for Self-Checks |
| Intelius | Most Overall Features |