FAQs for business solutions
DISCLAIMER
NOTHING ON THIS PAGE SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE, GUIDANCE OR COUNSEL. VERIFIED CREDENTIALS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES OR RESPONSIBILITY OR DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH OR ARISING OUT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED.
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What are your hours of operation?
8 AM to 5 PM Central Standard Time: Monday – Friday, excluding major Holidays
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How will I order search requests?
There are three options:
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Online via your web-based account
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By fax (data entry fees may apply)
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Automated Electronic Data Integration
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How will my background check be returned?
There are three options:
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Online via your web-based account
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Email with a PDF attachment
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Automated Electronic Data Integration
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How do I find out the status of my order?
The most common way is to log on to your online account, which provides real time status updates, 24/7. You can also call our friendly and knowledgeable customer support staff Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm Central Time.
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How much does background screening cost?
The cost of background screening can vary based on several factors such as, types of background checks, annual volume, geography, candidate demographics, and so on. Most background reports contain several different types of background checks, such as an Address History, County Criminal Searches, Employment History Verifications, Education History Verifications, and more. We can help you tailor a cost-effective and robust background screening program that meets your unique needs.
Request your FREE consultation and quote today!
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What is your average turnaround time for a background report?
Most background reports are completed within 2 to 3 business days. However, certain background checks may be subject to lengthy delays beyond our control. These delays are often due to policies or processes established by the source of the information (ex. court access, state board, international employer, etc.). You can track real-time status updates online, 24/7.
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Why are county criminal searches more accurate than statewide criminal searches?
State criminal “repositories” are often not linked with county-level data. Although Statewide Criminal Searches can be a great supplement to a County Criminal Search, county-level information is more commonly up-to-date and accurate. State “databases” are often periodically updated making them less reliable. County-level searches provide a more complete and accurate picture, identifying records near places of residence, employment and academic attendance. As a prerequisite to county-level searches, a National Criminal Database search can help identify jurisdictions on a broader scale where a person may have a criminal record.
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What’s the difference between the Federal Criminal Search and National Criminal Database Search?
The Federal Criminal Search uncovers case information from one of the 94 Federal District Courts. Searching on the federal level can reveal high-level crimes such as white-collar crimes, fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion and more.
This type of search is ideal for:
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Employees with access to secure or financial information
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C-level executives
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CPAs
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Financial and banking staff
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Public sector employees
The National Criminal Database is a database search that draws from over 600 million records from thousands of jurisdictions, including databases with terrorist and sex offender information. Its purpose is intended to help identify jurisdictions on a broader scale where a person may have a criminal record. This popular search serves as a valuable supplemental search with every background report.
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Does a nationwide criminal background check exist?
Yes, but the only reliable and accurate way to perform a true national criminal background check would require a county level search in every county throughout all fifty States. With more than 3,200 available county-level sources to search from, it would cost too much to include them all.
However, we do offer a National Criminal Database Search that draws from over 525 million records from thousands of jurisdictions, including counties, department of corrections (DOC), administrative office of courts (AOC), and offender registries from all 50 states, plus Washington DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This search serves as a great supplemental search intended to help identify jurisdictions on a broader scale in which a person may have a criminal record. The search is only available in conjunction with additional county and statewide searches. When a record is returned, we automatically confirm its accuracy with the originating source at the county or state courthouse.
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Do I have to get written permission to conduct a background check on a candidate?
Yes. Organizations are required by federal law to obtain authorization from any individual that will be subject to a background check.
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Do you offer administrative reports to help me manage my screening process?
Yes. We offer several reports that contain critical information, such as:
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Turnaround time
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Hit or discrepancy ratios
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Cost management & analysis
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Information by location
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Searches & verifications usage
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And more
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Can your company integrate with our applicant tracking software?
Yes. We can seamlessly integrate our background screening solutions with your existing system or other exclusive software applications. If you have an Applicant Tracking System or other system you’d like us to integrate with, we can help you design a customized solution.
We are also integrated with Human Resource solutions.
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Why do we need a candidate’s Social Security Number?
A Social Security Number is required in order to improve the reliability of a background report.
The Social Security Number assists in:
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Validating that the Social Security Number is real, still active, and issued after the provided date of birth.
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Identifying relevant past addresses and additional alias names that are associated with the individual. If additional names and addresses are found, they are used to determine where criminal background checks should be performed and under what names they should be searched.
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Matching background check information to a given individual, depending on the source.
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What privacy and security safeguards do you use?
We understand the evolving concern for data privacy and security. That’s why we employ strict information handling and technology practices. Rest assured that all information stored at Verified Credentials is contained in highly secure databases and is handled only by authorized and well-trained staff.
Verified Credentials takes charge to help protect users and information across our platforms. We have an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that aligns with NIST 800-53 security controls. The standard of our ISMS is equivalent to HITRUST and ISO 27001 measures. In other words, our system is set up to assist in protecting you.
We have a variety of measures to help make sure access is secure:
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We encrypt your personal information in transit and at rest in our systems to help keep it safe and secure.
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Our privacy protection standards are certified by TRUSTe, the leading internet privacy services provider.
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We mask all dates of birth and social security numbers in shared reports.
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We conduct extensive background checks on new hires and employees.
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Only authorized personnel may enter our facility, a controlled-access environment.
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What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Public Law No. 91-508, was enacted in 1970 to promote accuracy, fairness, and the privacy of personal information assembled by Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs).
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How do I place a freeze on my credit report?
Contact each of the nationwide credit reporting companies:
Equifax — 1-800-349-9960
Experian — 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872 -
Have a question that is not addressed here?
Great! We’d love to hear from you! You can contact us by one of the two following options:
Call Us:
1-800-938-6090
8 AM to 5 PM Central Standard Time: Monday – Friday, excluding major Holidays
Still have a question?
Get in touch with us! We're happy to help.