Ease of Use:  

When it comes to ease of use, few sites can beat Intelius, but there are a couple things that detract from its rating in this category.  While the layout on the main page is easy to the eyes, it's sometimes difficult to navigate through to get what you want.  Plus, there are several different searches listed under the "All Products & Services" category that wouldn't know existed unless you found yourself on that page.  When you're going to make an order, the process involved to actually order the report you want is confusing.  

An odd thing occurs when you click on the different tabs in some of the pages.  Sometimes it keeps you on the same page, and sometimes it sends you to a different page.  The transition from page-to-page is jarring, but it's understandable from the prospective of wanting to link all the pages together.  However, these are nothing more than minor errors that explain why Intelius just barely missed out on the top spot.

Don't read the previous two paragraphs and think Intelius has a website that's difficult to use, because that's far from the case.  Their website is one of the most well-designed, easy-to-use websites out there.  You won't have a hard time finding what you need if you use Intelius.

Searches Available:  

Intelius offers several types of services, but they're mostly run-of-the-mill material that's included in typical background check reports.

The crucial information you need to know about a person is available with Intelius. What they’re able to give you is the backbone of the background check university. At its core, basic background checks make up the foundation of what other sites are trying to do. Their competitors can try to do more, but if they don’t focus on the classic background check, they will never be on the same plateau as Intelius.

Purchased reports are viewable on your computer screen immediately after your purchase by clicking the show my report button, or emailed, if you opt for the email add-on option. Unfortunately, Intelius does not offer the ability to search international records.

Intelius does offer club memberships, which may give discounts to the members; they also offer a phone number that you can call to inquire about volume discounts.

Report Information:  

The information contained in the reports is only as good and detailed as the number of different databases searched. However, note that none of the service providers reviewed has any control over the accuracy of the databases searched. Based on Intelius' sample reports, they seem to offer a generous amount of information.

On one search we conducted, a woman and her ex-husband's second wife came up as the same person, but the inaccuracies are likely due to incorrect public record and not the service. Background searches are as good as the databases that back them up. Not every database is perfect; therefore, not every background check report generated from said databases is going to be perfect.

Thankfully, the amount of bad reports Intelius gives you are few and far between. You can be confident that you will find the right information if you use Intelius. If not, their customer service can help you solve any problems you might be having.

Help/Support:  

The information contained in the reports is only as good and detailed as the number of different databases searched. However, note that none of the service providers reviewed has any control over the accuracy of the databases searched. Based on Intelius' sample reports, they seem to offer a generous amount of information.

On one search we conducted, a woman and her ex-husband's second wife came up as the same person, but the inaccuracies are likely due to incorrect public record and not the service. Background searches are as good as the databases that back them up. Not every database is perfect; therefore, not every background check report generated from said databases is going to be perfect.

Thankfully, the amount of bad reports Intelius gives you are few and far between. You can be confident that you will find the right information if you use Intelius. If not, their customer service can help you solve any problems you might be having.

Intelius offers several support options, but most of it is for registered members. If you are not a registered member, you only have access to their FAQ and help page. You have to give them your credit information and log in to the site to become a registered member, and use its services or contact customer support.

To some, their requirements to access the additional support options might seem risky to the consumer, but you must understand the benefits involved with being a member. You have to become a member before you can receive a report. There’s no reason for you to need customer support if you’re not a member.

Our interactions with Intelius customer service have produced nothing but good results. They were friendly to us, and answered all of our questions in an understandable fashion. The amount of time we had to wait on the phone was a definite detriment though, but their quality of service well made up for it.