Background Check
A background check is a process of collecting public information of a person to be used to verify if they are who they claim to be.
A basic background check report includes criminal record, professional licenses and employment history, financial history and education status. The report will also show the following information about a person:
- – Complete name
- – Aliases or nicknames
- – Family members
- – Birthday
- – Present and previous addresses
- – Social Security Number
A person is usually the subject when conducting a background check when when engaging a legal agreement like:
- – Signing of lease on a space for rent
- – Buying firearms
- – Loan application
- – Application for special permit, license or other certifications
Doing a personal background check on oneself using the Internet or through the local government agencies is very important. This way, you will be able to check if the publicly available information about you are accurate.
What Are The Common Types Of Background Check Report And What Information Is Usually Included In Them?
Criminal Background Check
Criminal background checking pertains to an individual’s criminal history. Usually run by certain private companies or when an individual is attempting to acquire a firearm. Information that are commonly included are:- – Arrest records
- – Felony and misdemeanor conviction cases
- – Court cases
- – Arrest warrants
- – Incarceration records
- – Sex offender registry information
- Credit Background Check
Reviewing a person’s credit score and or financial history is called credit background check or credit check. Information includes:- – Credit score
- – Credit card debt
- – Car and mortgage payments
- – Bankruptcies
- – Closed accounts
- – Outstanding student loans
- Universal Background Check
When purchasing a firearm, buyers are required to run a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS by the FBI. As of now, 29 states use NICS for background checking. The other 12 states and District of Columbia requires a universal background check upon buying guns for private or personal use including those for gun shows. The information includes:- – Military records
- – Arrest records and criminal convictions
- – Mental health records
- – Restraining orders
- Personal Background Check
This one refers to a background check done by the subject himself in order to check the available personal information about them and if they are correct and accurate data. This could be done through online record service providers who are offering background checking service or through other reliable resources. Commonly included data:- – Criminal background information
- – Driving records
- – Credit score history
- – Marriage records
- – Divorce Records
- – Court cases
- – Work or employment history
- – Educational background
- Fingerprint Background Check
It is a process done by the law enforcement agency using fingerprint scanning equipment to check a person’s criminal record if there is any. This is one of the most accurate background checks and verification. Included data:- – Criminal background check, if any exists
- Professional Licenses Background Check
This verifies if a person holds a certified professional license, permit or degree to hold a certain position. This is done by searching through the databases of the state and federal agencies or educational organizations. Commonly included information are:- – Professional licenses or certifications
- OIG Background Check
OIG or the Office of the Inspector General background check searches the OIG exclusion list. This list includes entities or individuals who are excluded from federal healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Reasons to be included in the OIG exclusion list:- – Malpractices
- – Fraud
- – Misdemeanor convictions
- – Submission of false information to federal healthcare agencies
- – Entity or a person’s presence or absence from the OIG exclusion list
- – Reasons given for an entity or a person’s inclusion on the OIG exclusion list
What Is Fair Credit Reporting Act And How Does It Apply to Background Check?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law passed in 1970 ensuring the information on consumer credit bureau files of an individual is accurate. This law has some restrictions of an individual’s information to be used by financial institutions, employers and organizations.
What Rights Does The FCRA Give Me?
The FCRA gives individuals the rights and powers to ensure credit history and other details are not being used in unlawful acts.
These right include:
- – As stated above, citizens are freely given one file disclosure annually from the 3 national credit bureaus (Equifax Experian and TransUnion) and have the right to request all information that is available about you.
- – As stated above, citizens are freely given one file disclosure annually from the 3 national credit bureaus (Equifax Experian and TransUnion) and have the right to request all information that is available about you.
- – The right to dispute inaccurate and incomplete data on your credit score report.
- – The right to know if the reason for application denied for insurance or employment has to do with your credit file.
- – Can obtain full access to your own credit report but restricted to access other people’s credit score file.
- – Employers are obliged to ask for written consent when looking up your credit report.
- – Right to reject prescreened offers of credit.
How To Run A Personal Background Check?
There are several options for you to conduct a background check depending on the type of information that you need. The following are some reliable sources for you to get started:
- – Sheriff’s Office or the Police Department
Holds criminal records, arrest and conviction records - – County Courthouse Clerk’s Office
Hold information of court records and criminal record information. Can be searched by name or case file. - – State Police or State Department of Safety Website
Most states in the US have at least either an internet search tool or an application form that can be filled out and to be submitted through mail or in-person for criminal records. - – National Credit Bureaus
Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax are offering one free credit report every year. - – Third-Party Background Check Company
There are several reliable background check services available online which can provide instant results by just paying a reasonable service fee. Although there are many services that claim “free background check” but typically they still require a service fee before you can view the results.
What To Do If My Background Check Has Mistakes?
Having inaccurate or mistakes in your background check report can be a headache but good thing that this can still be corrected by filing a dispute.
Here’s the basic process in correcting the information but the process varies depending of the source of the information:
- Identify the error – Highlight the error on a hardcopy of the background check.
- Create a written notice explaining the error – A full description of the error and include an explanation why the current information is a mistake.
- Gathering documents to support – Provide available supporting documents to prove that the information on your background check report is incorrect or incomplete. Can be a court record, arrest report or bank statement.
- Contacting the source of the incorrect information – Reach out to the party who is responsible for the error.
- Solve the problem – Go over the process in correcting the mistake on your background check. This may involve filling out and submitting an application form along with your supporting documents.
States Comprehensive Background Check
- Alabama Background Checks
- Alaska Background Checks
- Arizona Background Checks
- Arkansas Background Checks
- California Background Checks
- Canada Background Checks
- Colorado Background Checks
- Connecticut Background Checks
- Delaware Background Checks
- District Columbia Background Checks
- Florida Background Checks
- Georgia Background Checks
- Guam Background Checks
- Hawaii Background Checks
- Idaho Background Checks
- Illinois Background Checks
- Indiana Background Checks
- Iowa Background Checks
- Kansas Background Checks
- Kentucky Background Checks
- Louisiana Background Checks
- Maine Background Checks
- Maryland Background Checks
- Massachusetts Background Checks
- Michigan Background Checks
- Minnesota Background Checks
- Mississippi Background Checks
- Missouri Background Checks
- Montana Background Check
- Nebraska Background Check
- Nevada Background Checks
- New Hampshire Background Checks
- New Jersey Background Checks
- New Mexico Background Checks
- New York Background Checks
- North Carolina Background Checks
- North Dakota Background Check
- Ohio Background Checks
- Oklahoma Background Checks
- Oregon Background Checks
- Pennsylvania Background Checks
- Rhode Island Background Checks
- South Carolina Background Checks
- South Dakota Background Checks
- Tennessee Background Checks
- Texas Background Checks
- Utah Background Check
- Vermont Background Checks
- Virginia Background Checks
- Washington Background Checks
- West Virginia Background Checks
- Wisconsin Background Checks
- Wyoming Background Checks