The High Cost of a Free Background Check

We have all heard the saying, "The best things inthat arrest records or other charges that are
life are free." However, in reality we know thatreturned have since been expunged. Most
nothing is free that doesn't come with a hitch.professional background screeners process
Hiring mangers may feel that by processing acriminal searches with the use of a live court
free background check they are obtaining theresearcher who physically enters the courthouse
same information that would be received if theyand manually pulls the court dockets to be certain
were to outsource these checks to a backgroundthe information that is being returned is correct.
screening provider. When it comes to freeResearchers will look for any identifiers listed in
background checks, you get what you pay for.the court records to help determine if the
You can go to any search engine and type in ainformation found belongs to the individual being
request for a free background check and will bechecked. Does your free background check do
barraged with hundreds of ads, each one claimingthat?
to provide free criminal record searches alongWhen you utilize the services of a professional
with a variety of other background screeningbackground screening provider, all searches
options at little to no cost. Though these webprocessed are governed by the Fair Credit
sites may appear enticing with their declaration ofReporting Act. This act requires that background
providing free and accurate information, as a hiringscreening providers have a process in place to
manager you want to be informed of what youcorrect inaccuracies. Many courts remove
are receiving. In reality most of these sites willidentifiers from court documents as a means of
only allow you to sign up for free to access theirsecuring the safety of an individual's personal
services, but will require you to pay a fee forinformation as these documents are public record.
obtaining information that is usually incomplete,Thus, there will be times when only a "name
outdated and inaccurate.match" is returned because the courts have
The information returned from these "free"removed all other identifying information.
searches is usually retrieved from variousIf an applicant is denied employment based on
databases or is simply data collected directly frominformation that has been reported by a
the internet that you could recover on your own.background screening provider, the FCRA requires
Courts are not required to report any informationthat the applicant receive a copy of the
to databases, so even if results are returned,background report along with their summary of
there is no assurance that the information yourights and a pre-adverse / adverse action letter.
receive is accurate. With database searches, theyUnder the guidelines of the FCRA, an applicant has
may return a "name match" only with no otherthe right to dispute any information contained in a
identifiers (ex: date of birth, social security numberreport that they feel is inaccurate.
etc.) available to ensure the information you areWhen processing a background check on potential
receiving belongs to the individual you areemployees, it is well worth the cost of utilizing a
searching. A search may also return as a "nobackground screening provider who is governed
record" result when the person was actuallyby the FCRA to process these reports. The cost
convicted or charged with a crime.of a free background search could open the
In view of the fact that courts are not requireddoors to potential lawsuits that could cost
to report information to databases, records thatcompanies far more in the end.
are returned may also be outdated; it's possible