Background Checks:
Understanding the Basics

In the past few years, the only people who had access to personal information were those licensed and certified investigators, the police detectives, and the federal government. Today, with the newly amended laws and some databases available, you too can practically investigate anyone, whether job applicants, your neighbors, the potential dates, relatives, or even friends. This would be made possible by running background checks.

What is Background Check?

Basically, background checks pertain to a manual or database search to investigate the background of the person. It could range from a simple criminal check to a full blown investigation. A more simple background investigation could include criminal record search, employment verification, education verification, driving record and credit check. However, for a full blown investigation, it is so typical for a background check to cover more in-depth elements, such as multi-jurisdictional civil searches to interviews of friends, relatives and neighbors.

The Reasons for Conducting Background Checks

Background checks in general can provide some enlightening information about a person. But, what really can a background check tell you that you don’t already know? Well, let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons you might want to conduct your own background check:

To Determine Criminal Records

Some companies conduct checks on their potential employees to determine whether or not the worker has a criminal record. This is especially vital if the employee is going to be handling money or working closely with customers. Just imagine hiring a person who has a history of violence and then assigning them in a customer service position. It’s clear that you could be looking at a negligent hiring suit and subjecting your company to a great deal of liability.

To Determine the Person’s Ability to Work

Several companies these days run credit checks, in particular, on their potential employees to determine the person’s ability to work. But, how credit checks relate to the ability of the person to work? Well, in some instances, it does not relate but it may provide a good indication if the person is reliable and can be counted on. There are also some instances in which it relates directly to the position the person applied for. For example, you may not want to hire a tax consultant who is in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy. It’s just a matter of common sense.

There is a myriad of other reasons to conduct a background check on someone. If you have met someone and think they may be the “right one” and he or she seems too good to be true, a background check can help you find out the answer.

Does a friend or a coworker really have that college degree they have been bragging about? Have you got some strange neighbors? Or, are you about to hire someone for a critical position such as a nanny for your child and you need to make sure that the person does not have a criminal record or past criminal history? If you have these questions in mind right now, then there’s no reason for you not to conduct a background check. Just exert extra efforts and find out!

The Requirements

When conducting background checks for any purposes, whether for employment, criminal, nanny services, etc. it is very important to note that there are a great many laws and guidelines that must be followed. After all, when you are dealing with someone’s livelihood for example, you may want to make sure that you have all the necessary facts correct before you deny them employment.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Now, one of the most important set of laws that must be followed is the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA. The FCRA is basically a set of principles developed by the federal government for one particular purpose, that is, to make sure that accurate and up-to-date information is used when the decisions for credit reporting are made. To make this aim possible, the federal government considered background checks for employment purposes.

Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)

Recently enacted, the Drivers Privacy Protection Act or DPPA is but another important set of federal laws. The DPPA basically regulates how information from DMV records can be released and distributed. Primarily, it regulates how the motor vehicles departments provide records as well as vehicle records. More to that, the DPPA regulates how a recipient of the DMV records can share information with another person.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

Here is another important set of federal regulations that primarily apply to employment screening – the GLBA. Well, this act was first developed in order to keep the information maintained by the financial institutions private. Also included in this act is the information that a potential employer may gather and use.

State Laws and Guidelines

So you are living in one of the states in the US. It is then worth noting that state laws and guidelines are but another thing to consider when conducting background checks. Every state today has rules and regulations set for the people to follow prior to the conduct of background checks. Most of them however are concerned with employment screening and background investigations.

The Background Check Services Available

Now that we have seen a few reasons and a few laws to follow when considering a background check, let’s take a look at some of the available background services these days. It is somehow important for you to know these services as you might consider one or two of them one of these days.

Personal Background

This particular service digs on the person’s personal details such as verification of name, address and phone number, age, marital status and other personal information relevant to the subject.

Name, Address and Phone Number Verification

You can verify the person’s name, address and phone number in a variety of ways as follow:

1. Start searching for a local telephone directory or directory assistance. Then, verify that his or her name, as listed, corresponds with the address and phone number he provided you. However, if there’s any doubt on your part, you can dial the phone number he gave you and check if he or she really lives there.
2. If he is not listed, you consider looking him/her up in an online crisscross directory. Also note that a number of libraries these days have a print crisscross directory known as the Haynes Directory. Now, on the directory, enter his address to verify his/her name. You can also enter his phone number to verify his address, or enter his/her address to verify his/her name and phone number.
3. After which, run a social security trace or national identifier to obtain his/her name, past and present address, as well as social security number.

Age Verification

To verify his/her age, follow the following steps:

1. Look at his/her birth certificate.
2. Check his/her marriage license.
3. Check his/her Department of Motor Vehicle records.
4. Check his/her voter’s registration records.
5. Run a social security trace or national identifier.
6. Look for his/her occupational licenses.
7. Check the high school or college yearbook.
8. Check associations to which he/she belongs.
9. Consider civil or criminal litigation.

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