There are plenty of reasons to run a background check on someone. Are you trying to hire new staff members? You also could be trying to find love online. Background checks can be used for several situations, including those.
You’ll be able to see their basic information, criminal history, and more. Thankfully, there are plenty of background check services available. But how do you know if a background check service is legit versus a scam? Below you will find all the information you need to help you choose the best service for your needs, budget, and requirements. Let’s see what you can do!
Choose the Perfect Background Check Service
FCRA Compliance
The very first thing that you’ll want to look for when searching for a background check service is that the agency is FCRA compliant. It is crucial to find a company that is FCRA compliant. If they’re not, you can’t use them.
Agencies also must have accreditation from the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. Websites like CheckPeople.com meet these standards and thus must follow strict rules and regulations.
Services Offered
You’ll also want to look at what services that offer. While initially you’ll be looking for a background check service, there may be specific information you need. Not all background check services will offer things such as criminal records, drug test results, or even motor vehicle history.
You’ll also want to make sure that they provide customers with accurate results. You don’t want to receive a report that’s hard to understand. Getting out-dated or incorrect information is useless. It is also a waste of your time and money, which we’ll talk more about next.
Turnaround Time
This is a big one for a lot of people. How fast a background check service can bring you results really matters. It can also be crucial, depending on what you’re needing the information for. This is especially true when hiring employees or looking up information about a family member.
Let’s say you have a date with John Doe. You met him off of a popular dating app, but want to make sure he’s not a criminal. In order to receive results before it’s time for that first date, you may need them rather quickly. The average turnaround time for a background check is between one and three days. There are some services that take weeks, while others will get you results in less than 10 minutes.
Price Point
Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a background check service. If having a background check performed on someone in your life is important to you, you’re likely willing to pay for it, but the question is – how much? There is something you need to keep in mind when shopping around for a background check service.
Are you looking for a statewide report or one from the county court? On average, a statewide report will cost you between $10-$20 per individual, whereas county court reports will cost you between $15-$20.
Customer Reviews
Background check services that are safe to use show reviews from people who have actually use their services. This is an important thing to keep in mind when looking for a background check service. There other sketchy background check services will buy fake reviews to try to lure customers in. Doing this will save you money and get you accurate results.
You should be able to see customer reviews on the main page of some background check services websites. You may also want to look at reviews other places such as Google Reviews or Yelp. This way you’ll be able to see authentic reviews left by real people. This can also give you a good idea of what you can expect from that specific company! Always keep in mind that there will be both good and bad reviews.
