Apr 28, 2013

Utilize Free Online Record Checks for Everyone!

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By Alexzander B. Groll


Looking for a free background check? You are not alone. Each year, thousands of people do a Google search hoping to discover that one comprehensive background check that's completely free. If you're among those trying to find the elusive 100% free criminal record check, you may stop right now. It really does not exist. Countless websites advertise free background searches; but they will not supply any info besides a name, a couple of basic identifiers and data that a fairly easy Google search provides. For "full" immediate criminal checks, you'll generally be asked to sign up for the website or perhaps pay a one-time fee.

When people plan to spend on these instant criminal inspections, they usually expect the results to be correct. After all, the searches are simply pulling information from a central public record information database right? Completely wrong! While the National Crime Information Center is accessible for police officers, there is never been a complete public records database available to the private sector.

Therefore where do online background screening companies obtain the information for their own "free" background checks? They usually end up searching free databases supplied by state and local government bodies. The problem with these kinds of databases is that they're often incomplete, infrequently maintained and inaccurate. A whole lot worse, court clerks in many areas of the country do not post any kind of criminal history records on the internet.

When immediate checks do find criminal history records, the information are frequently for an individual who has comparable identifiers to the individual being investigated. For instance, try performing an immediate criminal search for someone named "John Jones" in your state. Would you be confident that any of the records that appear actually belongs to the one "John Jones" you're investigating?

Just before reporting a criminal history, professional background screeners attempt to match several identifiers like name, date of birth and Social Security number, in order to make sure the record is made for the proper person. If the actual court files lack some of these identifiers, the background screener might call district attorneys, probation officers and jails to locate corresponding identification. This particular service can never be provided by an immediate background check.

Many people and companies who depend on free instant background checks would be shocked to find out how imprecise and incomplete they are. The Wall Street Journal recently did an assessment of several of the most popular "free" check services like InfoRegistry, US Search, Intelius, and NetDetective. The test subject was a middle-aged lady with no criminal records. Even if this should have been a simple search, every single instant background check returned results full of mistakes. The Intelius check even turned up three false civil judgments for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

These checks were not simply inaccurate, they were also costly. They ranged in price from $30 for a 1-year subscription to $50 for 1-month access. Plus, like most "free" online background checks, they tried to get users to join numerous extra services that will bill their credit cards every month.

While instant checks might have their own place, only human-run searches will regularly create full and also correct results. The entire process of browsing a county's computer records or perhaps going to a courthouse might be time consuming, but it is likewise necessary for employers who wish to avoid negligent hiring lawsuits.




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