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Are There Any Free Background Check Services?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is no.
While there are some free background check options out there—typically found on free, online public records search tools or United States government websites—getting results back takes a long time, findings can be inaccurate (i.e. pulling from outdated databases), and you’ll be left piecing together many disparate data points and reports to get the complete picture.
A reasonable fee paid to a reputable background check company, like S2Verify, is the best way to get a truly thorough, accurate, and cohesive report quickly. Below are three reasons to avoid free background checks and opt for a paid background check service instead.
Limited Sources
Most free background check tools only search through records that are publicly and digitally accessible, meaning the data collected is limited. Plus, the databases they pull from are often incomplete or out-of-date.
To ensure the accuracy of results and reduce risk, a comprehensive background check company will provide access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive court records from all relevant, federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
For example, we offer access to more than 4,100 federal, state, and local government sources with reliable results using a hybrid process that includes automated record extraction and human oversight.
No Human Verification (Compliance Threats)
Free background checks are automated with no human verification or vetting, which is why some background check sites promise instant turnaround times. However, human verification is one of the most critical steps in producing a thorough, accurate, and compliant background check.
When you pay for a professional background check service, you’ll get access to reports backed by real people––real experts that can help you navigate federal, state, and local screening regulations to stay compliant and that can help you make informed hiring decisions via fully vetted reports.
Our reporting, for instance, is backed by an adjudication team proficient in FCRA compliance with criminal justice backgrounds.
No Support
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned with background checks. Ever-evolving government regulations can make it hard to keep up, results in a report can be disputed by an applicant, and more. Free background check services don’t provide customer support, meaning you’re on your own when it comes time to deal with a screening mishap.
Reputable, paid background check services, on the other hand, reinforce their product with high-quality customer service so that employers can conduct screening without issue and make hires effectively and efficiently.
We boast an award-winning, US-based customer support team to ensure that all customers—from large enterprising organizations to small businesses—get the help they need.