Review of Free Online Background Checks

Looking for a free background check? You're not alone. Every year, millions of people search Google hoping to discover that one thorough background check that is completely free.

If you're one of those searching for the elusive 100% free criminal background check, you can stop now. It simply does not exist. Hundreds of sites advertise free background searches, but they won't deliver any information besides a name, one or two basic identifiers and data that a simple Google search would provide. For "full" instant criminal background checks, you'll usually be asked to subscribe to the site or pay a one-time fee.

When people do decide to pay for these instant criminal background checks, they usually expect the results to be accurate. After all, the searches are just pulling data from a central public records database right? Wrong. While the National Crime Information Center is available for law enforcement officers, there's never been a complete public records database available to the private sector.

So where do online background screening companies get the information for their "free" background checks? They usually end up searching free databases provided by state and local authorities. The problem with these databases is that they are often incomplete, infrequently maintained and inaccurate. Even worse, court clerks in many areas of the country do not post any criminal records online.

When instant background checks do find criminal records, the records are often for a person who has similar identifiers to the individual being investigated. For example, try doing an instant criminal search for a person named "John Jones" in your state. Would you be confident that any of the records that come up actually belongs to the one "John Jones" you're investigating?

Before reporting a criminal record, professional background screeners try to match several identifiers including name, date of birth and Social Security number, to make sure the record is for the right person. If the actual court files lack some of these identifiers, the background screener may call district attorneys, probation officers and jails to find matching identification. This service could never be provided by an instant background check.

Many individuals and companies who rely on free instant background checks would be shocked to learn how inaccurate and incomplete they are. The Wall Street Journal recently did a review of several of the most popular "free" background check services including Intelius, InfoRegistry, US Search and NetDetective. The test subject was a middle-aged woman with no criminal history. Even though this should have been a simple search, every single instant background check returned results filled with mistakes. The Intelius check even turned up three false civil judgments for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

These background checks were not only inaccurate, they were also expensive. They ranged in price from $30 for a 1-year subscription to $50 for 1-month access. Plus, like most "free" online background checks, they tried to get users to enroll in a number of extra services that would bill their credit cards each month.

While instant background checks may have their place, only human-run searches will consistently produce complete and accurate results. The process of browsing a county's computer records or visiting a courthouse may be time consuming, but it is also necessary for employers who want to avoid negligent hiring lawsuits.

Corporate Screening is dedicated to providing thorough background checks. Learn more about their alternatives to "free" instant background checks.