What You Need to Know Before Buying Background Checks Online

There are literally tens of thousands of websites"Live" court access searches means that a
on the internet selling background checks andresearcher physically goes to a courthouse and
public record information. A simple Google searchsearches the court system's public access system
on the phrase "online background check" returnsor case files. By definition, this is a delayed search,
more than 28 million results. This tells us thatbecause it is conducted on request. Any
there are lots of choices out there.background check company that claims to do
So, if you are in need of a background checkinstant "live" court searches is misrepresenting
service, the question quickly becomes how dotheir service. Very few private companies have
you know which background check company toever been granted direct access to a court
choose? Before you pull out your credit card andsystem's database. Even fewer have ever been
shell out your hard earned cash, a little duegiven permission to make their court system
diligence is called for. The idea is to avoid gettingaccess available in real-time to the public for a fee.
duped by online background check websites thatConducting a live, real-time court search means
over promise and under deliver. Most of thesethat a researcher receives the name to be
background check websites don't provide asearched, goes to the courthouse to conduct the
service at all; they simply give you access tosearch, records the results of the search, and
instant data that has been circulating around thethen reports it back to the client. To complete all
internet for years.of these steps, it takes time. Realistically, this
Let's get right to the chase. What are the thingsprocess takes a couple of days. The most
you need to look for when selecting an onlineefficient of background check companies could
background check service?complete this process in perhaps 24-48 hours; but
1) AVOID "INSTANT" BACKGROUND SEARCHESthere is no such thing as "instant". A website
"Instant background check" is just code forclaiming to do an "instant" live court access
"database" searches, which is why they can besearches makes about as much sense as a
produced instantly. Database searches aredoctor's office advertising "instant" checkups- it
background searches from data that has beenjust doesn't exist.
complied and entered into an online database.3) CHECK WHO IS DOING YOUR BACKGROUND
Most of the time, these databases are owned bySEARCHES
private companies that buy their information fromAnyone can set up a website and purport to do
data brokers or government agencies. Thebackground checks. Just because a website looks
problem with this is that database information islegitimate, does not mean that the business you
almost always inaccurate, incomplete or not up toare dealing with is legitimate. It is important to
date. This is because databases by their verymake sure that you check out who you are doing
nature- even government run databases; onlybusiness with. A legitimate business will have a
update their information at certain intervals. Thesephysical address and phone number listed
intervals can be monthly, every other month,somewhere on their website. Ideally you should
every quarter, or even every year. This means ifselect a company that has a professional license,
you search a particular database, the informationsuch as a private detective license. Dealing with a
you are getting is only as up to date as the lastlicensed professional gives you the confidence to
time it was updated. For example the Illinois Stateknow that the company is overseen by a
Police runs a database repository of criminalregulatory agency that has authority over them.
record information which is gathered from localThis means that if the company does something
counties. When this database is searched, it isdishonest or unethical, you have some recourse
called an "Illinois Statewide Criminal Record Search"because they will be held accountable for their
simply because the majority of counties in Illinoisactions if you file a complaint. Another indication of
submit criminal record information to thisa legitimate business is accreditation with the
database. But calling this a "statewide" search isBetter Business Bureau (BBB.org). Just because
really misleading, because not all counties in Illinoissomeone has the BBB logo on their website
report to the database, and out of those that do,doesn't mean they are accredited; the logo should
many are backlogged by 30, 60 or even 90 days.specifically say "BBB Accredited Business", and
Most of the time, the larger the county, thewhen you click on the logo it should take you to
longer the backlog. This means that if someonethat company's Reliability Report and grade rating
was convicted of child molestation in Cook Countylisted on the Better Business Bureau's website.
on June 1, and you do an Illinois statewide criminalNow that you are armed with the information
record search on that person July 1, there is ayou need to identify and select a legitimate
great likelihood that this record will not show upbackground check company to provide you with
and the search will come back clear. Imagine thethe background check services you need, you
problems involved with a national databaseshould feel confident in contacting a company you
maintained by a private company! The fact is, asare thinking about doing business with and asking
you now know, that there really is no such thingthem questions about their services. A
as a "national background search". It is a simply aprofessional background check company will be
network of online databases from private datawilling to answer your questions and take the time
brokers and state and local jurisdictions that maketo address any concerns you may have. A
their records available to an online databasecompany that doesn't allow communication by
search.telephone or won't answer questions in a
2) LOOK FOR LIVE, DELAYED COURT ACCESSstraightforward manner is not the kind of service
SEARCHESyou want to do business with.