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Instant Checkmate
Criminal-record and social-profile search option.
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National Background Check Service
Compare national screening claims with FBI personal-record review and employment-report requirements before choosing a background-check service.
Identify the product behind a national background-check offer
| Product or requirement | What to establish before ordering |
|---|---|
| Your FBI Identity History Summary | The FBI personal-summary service uses current fingerprints, not a name-only lookup. Its listed fee is $18; fingerprint capture or channeler services can have separate costs. |
| Commercial multi-jurisdiction report | Ask the provider to identify its actual jurisdictions, record sources, search dates and exclusions. The word national is not itself a coverage specification. |
| Employer-ordered screening report | Choose a service and workflow suited to employment consumer reports, including authorization, report access and disputes. The FTC/EEOC employer guidance explains the relevant federal steps. |
| Proof of one court outcome | Ask whether the recipient needs a copy of the court’s disposition or judgment. A broad search report may not provide the required authenticated document. |
Ask these questions before comparing service prices
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Coverage and freshness
Which courts, repositories or other sources will actually be checked, and as of what date? Ask what happens when a source is unavailable or a jurisdiction is not covered.
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Identity resolution
How are similar names, aliases and conflicting birth dates handled? Establish whether a possible match will be checked against the underlying source before being attributed to the subject.
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Final cost and output
Does the quote include county follow-up, identity verification and the document the recipient requires? Ask whether extra searches are optional charges or necessary to complete the stated scope.
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Correction route
Who receives an accuracy dispute, how can the underlying source be identified, and how is a corrected result delivered? Keep these answers with the order, not just the headline price.
Build the employment-report steps into the workflow
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01
Before requesting a third-party employment report
The federal guidance calls for a stand-alone written disclosure and written permission. Review applicable state and local requirements too.
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Before adverse action based on the report
Provide the report relied upon and the required summary of FCRA rights, allowing the person an opportunity to review the information.
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After adverse action
Give the required notice, including the reporting company’s contact information, its lack of responsibility for the employment decision, and dispute/free-report rights. Apply employment standards without unlawful discrimination.
For a personal FBI request, plan around fingerprint submission
The FBI FAQ allows electronic submission with participating Post Office fingerprint collection or a mailed current fingerprint card, and also identifies approved channelers. It does not offer expedited processing. Confirm the recipient’s required product before paying a private service to accelerate a process the FBI itself does not expedite.
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