The 9 Best Background Check Services
Who Is the Best Background Check Provider?
What is the best background check service? Is your new girlfriend as trustworthy as she seems? Does your neighbor have a criminal record? These are just a few of the types of questions that motivate people to want to run a background check.
Background checks have been a regular part of life for many years, letting people to get a better idea of those individuals they interact with. Colleges and universities search social media profiles and work history before awarding scholarships or even granting admission to applicants. Families looking to adopt or be foster parents are checked to make sure there is no history of abuse or neglect.
Thursday, January 28th
2021 Background Check Service Reviews
Truthfinder
Comprehensive, easy-to-use, and affordably priced: these are the hallmarks of Truthfinder's background checks. You'll be impressed by the depth of information available through this service, as well as the perks of membership that include protection against identity theft. Truthfinder is our top choice for the best background checks.
Instant Checkmate
Instant Checkmate offers one of the most thorough background check services on the market, including social media history and more. An A+ rating as an accredited business with the BBB and more positive comments than most other services in our review put Instant Checkmate towards the top of our list.
People Finders
PeopleFinders is probably the most affordable of the comprehensive background check services in our review. The search process is fast, and the results we found were very accurate. PeopleFinders is a reputable service for your background check needs.
Been Verified
Been Verified definitely accesses deep information, especially from social media and other online sources. They are also one of the few sites to offer a smartphone app for mobile access to their search capabilities. Customers should be aware that Been Verified has a less-than-flawless reputation when it comes to billing practices and monitor their accounts accordingly.
US Search
As one of two background check services operated by PeopleConnect, US Search offers basic information such as names, addresses, and aliases. Their pricing structure is somewhat confusing, and you may find yourself buying expensive add-ons to get the details you need.
Intelius
Intelius has a long history in the world of background check services, and they also hold an "A" rating with the Better Business Bureau. But their pricing is confusing, and the experience of using the Intelius website leaves definite room for improvement.
Gov Registry
Although Gov Registry has been in the background check business for more than a decade, their site may not have been updated for several years. And, when customers go to purchase a monthly membership, the order page actually takes them to the Info Tracer site - another service in our review which also had less-than-positive results.
Verispy
Verispy promises "comprehensive background check services". Do they deliver? Customer complaints about searches resulting in no records found and a less-than-helpful website would say no. You'll find better-priced, more thorough results by getting a background check from a higher-ranked service.
Info Tracer
Info Tracer looks great on the surface: A+ rating as an accredited business with the BBB and an easy-to-use website. Unfortunately, many customers who have paid for reports have wound up with nothing; records that show up on an initial search mysteriously come up as "no records found" after the customer has paid.
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Warning: You may not use these services or the information they provide to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.
Much of this information is also available to you through services offering background checks. Maiden names and aliases, cities of residence, even criminal and legal history are just a few of the types of information people can find when using these services.
You should be aware that, no matter which service you use, the results rendered are only as accurate as the public records databases which they use. The accuracy of this information is one of the factors that differentates the background check providers.
As you decide which background check service best meets your needs, keep in mind the following criteria:
- Price. What will it cost to access a single report? Is there a free or low-cost trial available? How much does it cost to access unlimited reports for one month?
- Depth of Information. What kinds of records will you be able to see? Is it information that you could easily find yourself, or will you get access to details that are hard for the average person to find? Does the service also examine social media accounts, or just basic public records?
- Reputation. Have other customers been able to find what they need while using the service? Does the business have a solid rating with the BBB?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best background check services available today. We hope these reviews help you find what - and who - you're searching for!
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