FAQ's

Read some of our frequently asked questions on background checks and record searches. If your question is not answered here feel free to contact us.

Q: What are my payment options?

A: Your account can be setup to pay by credit card each time you order a search, or we offer a monthly or bi-monthly invoicing option. With our online payment option, you will always be able to view your invoice and pay it online at any time.

Q: What is a Florida Level I and II Background Check?

A: There are currently two types of background screenings conducted as required by Chapter 435, F.S.

* Level I background screening consists of a search of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) database for the criminal history of an individual.

* Level II background screening consists of a search of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) databases for any criminal information at the state and national levels on an individual.

Click Here For the Florida Statute 435 Employment Screening

Q: How do I get my company I-9 Compliant?

A: Verifying your employees' legal status is clearly necessary. However, the time, energy, and paperwork involved in verifying your new employee's I-9 (Immigration Status) forms can be overwhelming. InfoCheckUSA offers an Immigration Status solution that will economically streamline the verification process and get your new employees into your workplace all the faster.

Here's How Immigration Status Verification Works:

• Your company gives InfoCheckUSA written authorization to perform Immigration Status Verifications on its' behalf
• Our experienced researchers will verify your potential employees through the Department of Homeland Security.
• You will receive accurate, cost-effective results within 24-48 hours.

Q: What information is in the Nationwide Criminal Index?
A: The Nationwide Criminal Index is a compilation of available state criminal information, Not all states participate in the Criminal Index, and not all criminal records are in the database, However, it is the fastest and most powerful tool available to employers to quickly and consistently screen potential employees. For more information and exactly which sates and what information is in the Nationwide Criminal Index.

Q: Why aren't all criminal records available in the Nationwide Criminal Index?
A: Contrary to popular belief there is no "Master Criminal Database", Reports suggest the even the FBI's NCIC Criminal database that can only be accessed by law enforcement only contains about 60% of all available criminal records, Criminal records are more like a patch work quilt, with each county in a state contributing their piece, not all counties have the time or technology to report all of their information to the state database, creating holes in the quilt, and not all states have the time, technology, money, or desire to allow the public access to criminal information. This is why no database is 100 % accurate, for the most accurate search we recommend combining the Statewide or Nationwide Criminal Index search with a "Hands On" County Criminal Search.

Q: What is a "Hands On" County Criminal Search?
A: It is said that "All Criminal Justice Starts at the County Level". For the most accurate and up to date criminal information available you must look at the county level. A "Hands On" search is where we obtain the information directly from the court, this is the only way to obtain 100% of all available information, information such as dismissed cases, active warrants, or petite offenses may never make it to a Statewide database, and many counties do not submit any information the their Statewide repositories.

Q: Which search is better the County Criminal Search or the Nationwide Criminal Index?
A: The information in the County Criminal Search in more accurate but the Scope of the search is geographically limited The Nationwide Criminal Index is a very powerful tool that can give you a "Thumb-Nail" of a geographical area and huge amount of data, They are both great tools, each with strengths and weaknesses, we recommend doing the Nationwide as a first step in the hiring process, the following it up with a more diligent search of County Criminal Records in the counties that the applicant has held residence in over that past 7 years.

Q: I know that someone has been arrested in the past. Will this report show that?

A: Arrest records will not be provided. The only criminal record information provided will be related to criminal convictions. If a person was arrested and then released without being convicted, this information will not be reflected in our reports. Depending on the county courthouse, arrest records may occasionally be returned if the case is still ongoing or awaiting trial. Since a person is innocent until proven guilty, arrest records should never be used to make a hiring decision. Only criminal convictions should be used in making decisions.

Q: Will I be charged for a search that comes back with “No Records Found”?

A: Yes. A confirmation of where the search was conducted will be sent back to you along with the search information used in performing your search, and the fact that “no records were found”. We have to charge our customers for the search regardless of whether or not records are found, because we incur costs every time we run a search.

Q: How far back does the data from InfoCheckUSA go?

A: Before you perform a search you can view a full description of what that search covers, including how far back the data for that search goes.

**For Example: Florida criminal record searches go back 60 years (correctional data only, court information goes back 7 years as described in Florida Criminal Record Search Description).

Q: How far back does your criminal record searches go? Can I use records beyond 7 years to make hiring decisions?

A: All criminal record searches will go back at least 7 years. InfoCheckUSA can provide criminal record information beyond 7 years via special request for an additional fee of $2.00 per year. Each courthouse varies how long they maintain criminal records on file.

The Federal FCRA guidelines allow you to make hiring decisions on criminal conviction information going beyond 7 years. However, State FCRA laws in CA, KS, MD, MA, MT, NH, NM, and NV restrict employers to only using the last 7 years of criminal record information for making hiring decisions.

Q: “I know this person has a criminal record, why did your search come up with no records found”?

A: When your search results do not show a criminal record that you expected to find, we have come up with the top reasons that explain why you may think or feel a person has a criminal record but no records where found.

Q: I want to do a background check on myself, what should I request?
A: privacyrights.org recommends "When you know you are going to be on the job market, take the following steps to reduce the chances that you and/or the potential employer will be "surprised" by information found in the background check process:
-Order a copy of your credit report.
-Check court records.
-Check DMV records."
We also recommend doing a Statewide or Nationwide Search. We offer this service as a package to individuals at a special price.
 

Q: What is an "Employment Credit Report"
A: An "employment report" includes information about credit-payment history and other credit habits from which current or potential employers might draw conclusions from. An employment report provides everything a standard credit report would provide. However it doesn't include a credit score or date of birth. Nor does it place an "inquiry" on your credit file that may be seen by a company looking to issue you credit. Having too many credit inquiries tends to lower your credit score.

Q: Are your services free?
A: InfoCheckUSA is a for profit organization incorporated in the state of Florida, we offer pre-employment screening services for companies nationwide for a reasonable cost. We also can provide our services to individuals for the same price, Our services are "Hassle Free" but are in no way "Free". If you have been denied employment as a result of a background check conducted by InfoCheckUSA at the request of your prospective employer you are entitled to a copy of your consumer report under the FCRA. Please call us during normal business hours to handle this request.

Q: How is a Search Conducted?

A: All of our search products access our extensive network of third party public and private databases. Once you enter the search criteria, our experts comb through these databases in search of the person you are seeking. The more accurate the search criteria you provide, the higher the likelihood that we will find the individual. We then provide a report to you with our findings.

Q: What are public records?

A: Our network of databases contains information from the following three categories:  

• Public records are records maintained by the government, such as court records.
• Publicly Available Records are records generally made available to the public, for example, phone books.
• Private Records are records, which private companies create and maintain such as marketing lists. They are
not freely available to the general public.

Q: Will someone know if I did a search on them?

A: 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.

Q: What information do i need to run a search?

A: You can run a search with as little information as a person's first name. However, the more information you provide the greater the likelihood that we find the person you are seeking. First name, last name, last known address, state, date of birth, and approximate age are all very useful and will increase your chances of success.

Q: Are your services completely confidential?

A: Yes. We do not sell, trade or, otherwise transfer the personal information that visitors provide during the registration and order process anywhere outside the company.

Q: Why should I search for County criminal records if I can search the State Criminal Records Repository?

A: Unfortunately, the state repositories are databases that rely upon the dependability and completeness of the various agencies that report information to the repository. It has been our experience that the information is less complete than the actual court records.

Q: Do I need to fax you the release my applicant signed?

A: Generally speaking, no. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that your applicants must express written permission for you to access any of their information, and it is necessary that you keep this signed document for review. Occasionally, we may request copies of the signed release forms for audit purposes.

Q: How does employment screening reduce negligent hiring lawsuits?

A: By screening your perspective employees, you can decide if the applicant is not only suitable for the position in question, but also whether or not they will be reliable and productive additions to your workforce.