Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of services we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Background Check Services.

Ratings

Ease of Use

Since many visitors to these types of sites are first time users and others may use them often, the service needs to be easy to use every time. Visitors should be able to find links, menus and help pages quickly.

Searches Available

A valuable and flexible service provides reports that are useful to many applications. For example, a good service offers not only criminal and personal background checks but also business history and license report options as well.

Report Information

Available reports should contain relevant information and be presented in an organized, easy to read format.

Help/Support

Customer support should offer a variety of contact methods, including telephone and email support. Other supports may range from help menus to FAQs pages.

Features

FREE Background Check

The site conducts background checks at no cost, however, most require a fee to view the reports, if available.

No Hit - No Fee Guarantee

The service does not charge a fee, if they do not find any records relating to the subject.

Receive Report Back

The amount of time you can expect to wait to receive a report back. Some are instant, some take hours and if you involve a specialist, it could take longer.

Criminal Information

Sex Offenses

Service offers a search for records related to criminal sex offenses.

State Criminal Check

This check will search a specified state for criminal records.

Nationwide Criminal Check

This check searches national databases for criminal activity that a person may have committed in other states.

Case Numbers

The report may contain case numbers related to criminal records.

Sentence Dates

Related to any criminal records that may have been reported.

Pleas

A plea is an allegation offered in pleading a case or a defendant's answer to the declaration made by the plaintiff in a civil action.

Fines

The report will contain any fines that have been levied related to criminal records.

Felony

Felonies are often referred to as "high crimes" as described in the U.S. Constitution, and usually require time spent in jail or prison.

Misdemeanor

A lesser crime, compared to a felony, punishable by fine and/or county jail time for up to one year. Some examples include petty theft, disturbing the peace, various traffic violations simple assault or battery and drunk driving without injury to others.

Offense Description

A report that offers this type of information not only lists crimes, but also offers a brief description.

Background Information

Bankruptcies

A search that looks for this type of information will search bankruptcy court records for Chapter 7, Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 filings; most services will post the type of filings of which they can search.

Bankruptcy occurs when a debtor approaches the court and says that they do not have the assets to pay their creditors. Chapter 7 is filed if a debtor is trying to get complete relief, Chapter 11 is filed when a business wants to have time to reorganize and refinance in attempt to place them in a better position to pay debt and Chapter 13 is filed to try to get a manageable repayment plan.

Tax Liens

This report will convey whether the person has (or had), a lien placed on their property in an attempt by the state or federal government to collect a tax debt.

Legal Judgments

The word "decree" is often used interchangeably with judgment; basically, this is the final decision of the court.

Lawsuits

This report will relate any legal actions the subject has been involved in, not necessarily criminal, but other types of suits against a person or entity.

Small Claims

Small claims court, is a lesser municipal or other local court that can be utilized to solve small financial or personal matters. A report that relates this data will let you know if the subject has been involved with this court regardless of the ‘side’ taken.

Address History (20+ Years)

This type of search has the ability to look back through 20 years or more of address history for the subject.

Alias Names

An alias is a name used that is different from the given name, also referred to as a.k.a. (also known as.) A search that has this ability may also be able to find maiden or married names as well as altered names, like Tom instead of Thomas.

Relatives & Roommates

This type of search will look for documented roommates such as dorm mates or will look at other occupants of the same address as the subject. This report may also list immediate family members.

Neighbors

This search option will look at property, phone or other records to find the neighbors that live(d) around the subjects reported address.

Death Records

This service has the ability to search for official death information as usually reported through the Social Security Administration.

FAA Certifications

This report will relate if the subject has ever been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Professional Licenses

Any professional licenses such as medical, accounting, law etc. will show up on the report.

Property Ownership

If a person owns or has owned any real property such as land, home etc. this information will be reported.

Corporate Affiliations

This search option is a valuable tool that can be used to uncover an individual's business affiliations and ownership. With this data, you can explore possible conflicts of interest by looking for a business manager or executive's involvement with other entities.

Airplanes and Boats

This option will report if the person owns any airplanes or watercraft.

UCC Financing Statements

UCC is an acronym for Uniform Commercial Code, used in all states except Louisiana. A UCC statement is a formal document lenders submit to the state to protect financial interest, particularly in relation to debt owed to the lender. This a good tool to find out how many lenders have filed debt owed in regards to a particular subject.

Public Record Information

Name & Address

Search will look for current name and address information.

Phone Number

Search has the ability to find listed phone numbers; some can look for cell numbers as well.

Birth Date

Subject’s birth date may be reported.

Marriage Records

Search has the ability to look through marriage records. Note that you have to look through a national directory to find information from other states.

Divorce Records

This search option can report divorces filed in a particular state.

Age

The current age of the person may be displayed on the report.

Average Income

If tax records are available, then an average income can be calculated and included in the report.

Drivers License

If the person has a valid drivers license, this information may be included in the report.

Driving History - Accidents

The subject’s driving history including information such as traffic violations and accidents may be reported.

SSN Verification

If you know a persons social security number it can be verified with this report.

Employment History

A person’s employment history will be included in this report, some services have the ability to contact past employers directly.

Political Party Affiliation

If available, this type of report will include political party declarations.

Media Information

Search has the ability to search through local and/or national media for information pertaining to the subject.

Other Type of Services

Expert Assisted Searches

The service has staff on hand or other resources such as private investigators, which for a fee, can assist with searches.

Online Dating or Girlfriend/Boyfriend Check

This service has the ability to perform background/ personal checks on dates met online.

Credit History

A credit history report relates financial information that may include loan and payment information as well as judgment or other legal actions.

International Background Check

The service provides an international background check by checking international databases for criminal records.

FBI - Terrorist Search

If there is any information in the FBI databases releasable to the public regarding this person – this information will be included in a report.

Surveillance Services

For a fee, the service provides resources for surveillance, such as referrals to private investigators in your area or surveillance equipment that can be purchased.

Satellite Photos

Some services provide satellite images of a particular property or area.

Pre-Employment Self-Screen

Through this service, you can run a check on yourself to see what kind of information a potential employer may be able to access.

Physician - Dentist

Search has the ability to access public information regarding medical professionals such as their degrees and licenses.

Note: this service may or may not be able to find malpractice information, a separate lawsuit or legal search may be required to find this type of information.

Lawyer Background Check

This report option explores your attorney’s background and history.

Childcare Provider/Nanny Background Check

This service will check the background of your nanny for possible criminal records.

Contractor

Through this search, you can check contractor’s business history and professional licenses.

Pastor/Minister Background Check

Some services can check the criminal/personal history of pastors or ministers.

Financial Advisor Background Check

This service can look into the financial background of an advisor.

Accountant Background Check

This service can report back criminal activity relating to an accountant.

Company Manager/Board Member Background Check

Prior to hiring a new manager or board members, employers can use this service to investigate the history of potential applicants.

Business Background Check

This type of check reports information regarding a specific company’s business relations.

Business Finder/Yellow Pages

This service can help you find a specific organization that you did business with over the Internet.

Corporate Records

This search relates which state (or states) the company is registered to do business within. It may also report if the company's license as active/inactive.

Real Estate Records

A search that explores existing records of a particular piece of property.

Concealed Weapons Search

This service can report whether a person has a concealed weapons permit.

Relatives/Ancestors Search

This search option looks through genealogy databases for information relating to a particular person.

Pre-paid Legal Services

Before securing the services of a pre-paid legal firm, this option will check the background of the firm for licenses and other relevant information.

Help/Support

Phone Support

Service site should offer a telephone contact number. The phone support should offer convenient business hours and be toll-fee. A fax number is also convenient.

eMail

A good service provide an easy-to-find email address to use for inquiries.

FAQ

FAQs (frequently asked questions) are often posted on websites to help users find answers to commonly asked questions.

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