Unfortunately, we live in an age where people can’t always be relied upon for their honesty. In some cases, it may be necessary to check identification information, references and other information before building a relationship with a person. Doing a background check can be an effective way to help build trust with a new individual, and to keep your own interests safe.
For example, many parents often do a thorough background check on a potential nanny before hiring them to care for children. There are a variety of methods you can use for doing a background check, some of which require the services of a professional. Here are a few of the options you may use to do a background check on an individual.
Before You Begin
Before you begin searching for methods to use for a background check, you first need to gather information about the individual. While some services may require only a name and address, you should try to gather the following information:
- Name
- Current Address
- Past Addresses
- Employment History
- Social Security Number
- License Number
After gathering this information about the individual that you will be doing the background check on, have them sign a form that confirms that all of the information that they have given you is up-to-date and correct.
By having this information, you can make the process of acquiring a background check much easier.You may also need to acquire written consent from the person that you will be checking up on. For example, if you are doing a background check on a potential employee of your company, you would have them sign a form giving you permission to access their background information. Without this consent form, you may not be able to acquire background information about an individual.
Hiring an Agency
Since doing a background check on someone yourself can be difficult, some people opt to hire the services of a professional agency. Unfortunately, there are many fraudulent background checking agencies, which may steal or sell personal information about individuals. Be sure to thoroughly research the agency that you use, including testimonials from their past customers.
The main drawback of hiring a professional agency to do a background check is that it can be very expensive. Depending on the scope of your search, some agencies may charge thousands of dollars for their services. Be sure that you take into account the cost of a background check before hiring an agency.
Doing it Yourself
State governments often handle background checks on criminal history. As stated above, you will most likely need to provide a consent form in order to access this information. To check someone’s credit report, you will have to pay a fee to the credit agency. Also, there are several state and federal laws that designate what kinds of decisions you can make based on someone’s credit report. To check a person’s educational references, you usually only have to make a phone call requesting the information. To check someone’s driving records, you can contact the DMV in the person’s state(s) of residence. You will usually need to provide all relevant information (including the person’s license number), and the DMV may charge you for accessing this information.
