FAQ

How is a check conducted?

With every order you are actually hiring a real private detective to locate the information that you are seeking. All of our search products are conducted by licensed private detectives who access our extensive database network on a case by case basis. The more accurate the target search criteria you provide, the higher the likelihood that we will find the individual results that you are looking for. We then provide a report to you with our findings via the email address that you provide when the order is placed.

How long does it take to perform a search on a person?

Information is collected on three different levels: County Level, State Level and Federal Level. If you were to add every possible record that exist at each of these levels together then multiply that number by the number of people who reside within the U.S. you would arrive at a sum that would equal billions and billions of total records to be searched. If this was needed to be done by hand, the average person would not live long enough to complete a single search, neither would the job applicant for that matter. The good news is that most of these records can be reviewed in a matter of seconds with the use of National Databases that compile county level, state level and federal level records.

What are public records and publicly available information?

CheckRecords.com has a network of databases that contains information from a variety of publicly available sources including government records, State Records, County court documents, professional licensing organizations, and phone book directories.

Will someone know if I run a search on him or her?
No. Our searches are completely confidential, and the person being searched for will not know a search has been performed or who has performed it.

Why should I use CheckRecords.com to search public records?
Although some of the data that we provide is publicly available, to gather it yourself would be expensive and very time consuming. Moreover, while the information may be publicly available, it is not contained in any one specific location or database. Information is collected and stored on three different levels: County Level, State Level and Federal Level. If you were to add every possible record that exist at each of these levels together then multiply that number by the number of people who reside within the U.S. you would arrive at a sum that would equal billions and billions of total records to be searched. If this was needed to be done in person the average person would not live long enough to complete a single search on any one individual. The good news is that most of these records can be reviewed in a matter of seconds with the use of National Databases that compile county level, state level and federal level records.

CheckRecords.com has a premium database that has compiled information into one location – making it easier for us to access this information and provide that information to the consumer. Every order received by CheckRecords.com is completed by a licensed private detective that understands the many ways to search for something in order to achieve the desired result.

Which parts of the country can I search public records through CheckRecords.com?

CheckRecords.com gathers data from various state and private agencies, and our network extends nationwide. Not all counties and states report the same information. Please check the availability of each specific report for more detailed information.

Where does the information obtained by CheckRecords.com come from?

Information and records can be found at three different levels:
County Court records are generally the most accurate and are updated more regularly than most other sources but there are over 3,187 counties within the United States. Searching each county would be very costly and time consuming. Running a Residential History can help to identify the counties where a search subject may have resided and allow for county specific searches to be conducted but, that does not exclude the possibility that a person may have committed a crime in an area where he/she has not resided. So a broader coverage area is recommended to limit results that might otherwise have been missed.

State records are now available in all 50 states and most U.S. Territories but some states require a signed release from the applicant. More importantly state records are not updated as often as county level records and may not include all counties within a given state. You must also take into consideration that an applicant may have resided in several different states or may have committed a crime while traveling outside of their home state. With this in mind even a statewide search does not provide a broad enough coverage area.

You should also understand that the Federal Court system is completely separate from the County/State court system therefore a search at the federal level will not reveal records that are kept on a county or state level.

Federal level searches are also matched on a first and last name basis only, which complicates the proper identification of a specific search subject. If you were to add every possible record that exist at each of these levels together then multiply that number by the number of people who reside within the U.S. you would arrive at a sum that would equal billions and billions of total records to be searched.

The good news is that most of these records can be reviewed in a matter of seconds with the use of National Databases that compile county level, state level and federal level records. Many vendors who claim to have National Databases do not update their sources regularly enough to generate accurate and reliable information. Our National Database is updated daily to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information that we provide to our clientele. As part of our general practice we take this National Search one step further by using licensed private detectives to manually review the three most recent county level records where a search subject has resided. This allows our clients to receive the broad coverage offered by a National Search while maintaining the up to the minute accuracy offered at the county level searches. These checks and balances are just one of the things that we believe define the quality of our services among the industry.

How Often Does CheckRecords.com Update Their Databases?

Many vendors who claim to have National Databases do not update their sources regularly enough to generate accurate and reliable information. Our National Database is updated daily to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information that we provide to our clientele.

How do I pay for my search?

We accept all major credit cards. You can also mail in your payment by personal check, cashier check, or money order.

What information do I need in order to search for someone?

We can run a search with as little information as a person’s first name. However, the more information that you are able to provide the greater the likelihood that we find the person you are seeking.

Can you do a search if I only have a woman’s maiden name?

Yes. There are many ways to locate an individual even if they are no longer using their maiden name. Having a previous known address will greatly improve the chances of locating a person based on a maiden name. Our highly trained investigator’s can run an address by itself and obtain a list of people who have been known to have resided at that address along with their social security numbers and dates of birth. The investigator can then use these valuable tools for narrowing the search and pinpointing the current information for the individual you are seeking.

Can you search for people in other countries?

No. CheckRecords.com only conducts searches within the United States and US Territories.

Can you search for people from other countries currently living in the United States?
Yes. If they have been living in the US for over six months or so, they typically will show up in our network of databases.

Do your reports say where someone works?
We have several checks that could include a persons’ place of employment. The information provided in these reports is based on publicly reported information and may not contain a complete work history.

Do your reports provide credit history?

Yes, with a signed release from the search subject. In order to protect individuals from identity theft and to maintain their privacy, CheckRecords.com does not provide this information without a signed release from the individual being searched.

Do your reports provide Date of Birth and Social Security Number information?
Yes. We do provide dates of birth and partial social security numbers. In order to protect individuals from identity theft and to maintain their privacy, CheckRecords.com does not provide the last four digits of a person’s social security number.

Do you provide financial records, such as bank account information?

Yes. We do have access to this level of confidential information through our investigative services option.

I ordered a search. When will I receive my results?

Unless otherwise specified, most orders will be completed and sent to the email address provided with the order within 24 hours or less. We also have rush services available for an additional fee. Rush orders will be returned within an hour of the order receipt.

Why is information I already provided repeated in my report?

We provide you the most current information that our network of public and private databases provides. If we report back the same information that you provided to us that means that the address is either current, that the individual has not been generating any consumer activity at another address, or that the information may not yet have been updated in the databases we access (this typically occurs every 3-6 months). If the individual had been generating activity at another address, they would have shown in our information network.
Common reasons why someone may not be generating consumer activity include: incarceration, death, and hospitalization. Also the individual could be homeless, a fugitive, a minor, a temporary resident in the US, temporarily staying with friends, or they may have changed their name through marriage, etc.

Why is there no phone number?

We maintain the most complete and accurate information regarding landlines, cell phones and no-published numbers available. If no phone number is returned in the report, then the individual either has no telephone number listed in our network of databases, they could be unpublished, or they may be using a cellular or prepaid phone that’s not showing up in our databases.

How do I remove myself from these records?

We obtain most of our information from public record sources. We do not maintain or control the public records, and we are unable to remove your name from any public records

If the information reported in your reports is wrong....
Can I update it?
We obtain most of the information for our products and services from public record sources. As we do not maintain or control the public records therefore we are unable to update information on you. You may want to seek out the specific agency that provided the information and attempt to have the records updated or modified where the records are actually kept.

I already placed an order with CheckRecords.com, but I have a question about my charges. What should I do?
Questions can be addressed by submitting a support ticket with our customer service department, which can be found in our Contact Us tab, located at the top of our home page. Please include all possible information regarding your order in your correspondence if possible.

I have a question not answered by your FAQs. How do I contact you?

Questions can be addressed either by submitting a support ticket with our customer service department, which can be found in our Contact Us tab, located at the top of our home page or by contacting one of our licensed private detectives at 888-801-9870.

Do you offer discounted rates for large volumes or repeat business?

Yes. We do offer discounted corporate rates for qualified businesses who offer a larger volume on a monthly basis. Contact our home office for more details at 888-801-9870.

Do you charge for repeat orders?

No, once you have already paid for an order and need a copy at a later date for any reason we can forward you the original search results at no additional charge. You will need to provide us with the date the search was received and the name of the search subject.

Why would I need an Asset Search?

Asset searches can be used as a valuable tool in both pre and post litigation. For example, before spending thousands of dollars to hire an attorney to file a lawsuit on your behalf it would be wise to first run an asset search on the person(s) or business in order to determine the ownership of anything of value. Remember… “If there is nothing to obtain there is nothing to gain!” If after reviewing the asset search it can be reasonably established that the intended target of the lawsuit has nothing of value then it is probably not worth pursuing and you can prevent even greater losses by not spending even more money on an investment that is not collectable.

It is important to realize that even if a lawsuit is won in a court of law most courts will only provide the judgment against the other party while leaving it completely up to you to locate the assets and provide information to the appropriate officials in order for them to order seizure and/or garnishment. Many individuals hide assets to preclude paying judgments rendered against them, which is why you will want to know where the assets can be found!

Under most circumstances we can find bank accounts, motor vehicles, merchant vessels, FAA Aircraft, Corporate Affiliations and property throughout the United States and in some cases, we may be able to trace funds to overseas or “off-shore” bank deposits.

How do I determine what kind of criminal background check to choose?

Information and records can be found at three different levels… Those levels include County Level, State Level and the Federal Court Level.
County Level Criminal Check:
County Court Records are generally the most accurate and are updated more regularly than most other sources but there are over 3,187 counties within the United States. Searching each county would be very costly and time consuming. Running a Residential History can help to identify the counties where a search subject may have resided and allow for county specific searches to be conducted but, that does not exclude the possibility that a person may have committed a crime in an area where he/she has not resided. So a broader coverage area is recommended to limit results that might otherwise have been missed.

Statewide Criminal Check:
State Records are now available in all 50 states and most U.S. Territories but some states require a signed release from the applicant. More importantly state records are not updated as often as county level records and may not include all counties within a given state. You must also take into consideration that an applicant may have resided in several different states or may have committed a crime while traveling outside of their home state. So a statewide search may have a broader coverage area than a county level but it is not updated as regularly and does not provide information on crimes committed in other parts of the country.

National Criminal Background Checks:
The good news is that most of these state and county records can be reviewed in a matter of seconds with the use of National Databases that compile county level and state level records. Many vendors who claim to have National Databases do not update their sources regularly enough to generate accurate and reliable information. Our National Database is updated daily to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information that we provide to our clientele. As part of our general practice we take this National Search one step further by using licensed private detectives to manually review the three most recent county level records where a search subject has resided. This allows our clients to receive the broad coverage offered by a National Search while maintaining the up to the minute accuracy offered at the county level searches. These checks and balances are just one of the things that we believe define the quality of our services among the industry. This is by far our most popular search and our National Criminal Background Checks are used by major law firms, law enforcement officers, lending institutions, businesses and private individuals nationwide!

What do Employers need to know about making hiring or firing decisions based upon consumer reports?

1. Employers should carefully review background screening results – Many times an employer will request a background check, see a criminal conviction and decide not to hire an applicant. Not only is this illegal but, it could eliminate a good candidate for the job opening. The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) stipulates that employers consider the following before excluding an applicant based solely on the results of their background screening:

a) Did the applicant actually commit the offense?
b) What was the nature and gravity of the offense?
c) How long ago was the offense?
d) Does the offense conflict with the nature of the job being applied for?

2. Employers must abide by all state and federal screening laws, including the FCRA. In addition to state specific laws, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act governs the use of background screening for employment purposes. The FCRA rules apply to employers who use a third party provider to complete background screening on potential employees. The main provisions of the FCRA include:

a) Employers must have a permissible use – Prior to ordering background checks employers must certify that they are using them for a legitimate business use. Pre-employment screening is an acceptable reason for obtaining criminal records and the like.

b) Disclosure and Release Forms – Prior to ordering background checks employers must have applicants sign and date a Notice and Disclosure Form. This form provides written proof that applicants acknowledge the employers use of background screening as part of the hiring process.

c) Applicants must also sign a Release Authorization that gives courts, schools and other government agencies legal permission to release information in their possession for employment purposes.

d) The FCRA also requires employers to give applicants a copy of the “Summary of Rights Under the FCRA.” This document explains the procedures that applicants can use to dispute the findings of a background check or consumer report.

e) Adverse Action Notification – Before employers decide not to hire an applicant in whole or in part based on the result of a background screening two letters of notification must be sent to the applicant. The first letter is known as a “Pre-Adverse Action Letter” which is to inform the applicant that he/she will not be hired as a result of information obtained from their background screening report. This letter will also explain the steps an applicant may take if they believe the information obtained from the background screening report is incorrect.
f) Adverse Action Letter – If a reasonable amount of time has passed after the Pre-Adverse Action Letter was sent and the employer has decided to deny employment to the applicant based on the results of the background screening the employer must then send the second notice or the “Adverse Action Letter” to the applicant. This letter offers the applicant a final chance to dispute or correct the information obtained from the background screening.

3. Arrest Versus Convictions – It is important for employers to understand that an arrest simply means that a person was taken into police custody because there existed a probable cause that he/she may have committed a crime. The Constitution of the United States of America states that all people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Under the EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) laws an employer cannot use arrest information that did not result in a criminal conviction as the sole basis for denying an applicant employment.

4. Twelve Steps of the Criminal Justice Process – Prior to an arrest becoming a criminal conviction the following steps are taken:

1.) Arrest – This is when a person is taken into police custody for a suspected crime.

2.) Booking – The suspect is searched, fingerprinted and placed in a holding cell.

3.) Bail – If circumstances permit a monetary amount may be established that, once paid, the suspect is temporarily released from custody.

4.) Arraignment – This is where a Judge formally charges the suspect with a crime and obtains an initial plea from the suspect. (Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest).

5.) Plea Bargain – Many cases are resolved at this stage without the need for a criminal trial. The defendant may agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence.

6.) Preliminary Hearing – At this hearing the Judge determines whether or not there is enough evidence against the defendant to warrant a criminal trial.

7.) Pre-Trial Motions – The prosecution and defense teams are heard by the Judge to set boundaries for the trial. This is where they decide what evidence and testimony will be allowed during the trial.

8.) Trial – This is where a jury will hear both sides of the case and ultimately decide if there is enough evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime in question.

9.) Judgment – Once the jury returns with a verdict of guilt or innocence the judge formally adjudicates the defendant guilty or not guilty as decided by the jury.

10.) Sentencing – After a guilty verdict has been established the Judge decides the appropriate punishment for the crime which may include cash fines, imprisonment or in some states even death.

11.) Appeals – Once a person has been convicted of a crime they can petition a higher court to review the case for errors in an attempt to reduce or escape the sentence.

12.) Expungement – Are rare cases whereby a person may have their conviction sealed and erased in the eyes of the law if enough time passes and he/she has met certain obligations of the court.

5. Criminal Convictions – indicate that there was a factual adjudication of guilt and it can be reasonably assumed that the person actually committed the crime as has previously been found beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of his/her peers.