The Popularity of Background Checks Employers are doing it. Daters are doing it. Even the government is doing it. So what is the “it” we’re referring to here? Background checks. With 69 percent of all employers admitting they now conduct background checks on all employees, and the top three online dating websites making background checks a requirement for using their service, the popularity of conducting such searches continues to grow. Even the government is considering tighter background checks for the purchase of firearms as part of a broader package on gun safety. Not even social media is exempt from the long-reaching arm of the background check. While a person can make their social media accounts private, and be cautious of what they post about themselves, what they cannot control is what other people post about them. Embarrassing photos from last summer’s pool party – where you were holding a beer in each hand as you belly-flopped into the pool – easily can surface on someone else’s website or social media account. So even if you think you’re being discreet, there is always the chance that someone else is not. We already know that conducting background checks is becoming popular in the public and private sectors. But what kind of information frequently is sought out during a background check? Basic Background Check. These kinds of background checks are comprehensive and thorough, revealing such information as a person’s date of birth, any marriages/divorces and even if they’ve ever claimed bankruptcy. It also can include a criminal history, which details any criminal convictions. Criminal Background Check. Sometimes an employer or private person isn’t interested in learning about every place someone has lived in their lifetime – or whether they’ve been married four times in 15 years. Sometimes, the only information that is being sought is a criminal conviction history, which can be obtained through a criminal background check. These checks can be conducted through a number of third-party agencies, which charge from $15 to $40 for their services. Any criminal convictions, including jail time served, will be included in the report. Credit Report Check. Second only in popularity to a criminal background check, 21 percent of employers are now conducting credit report checks on potential employees. Unlike a background check – which can be conducted without a person’s knowledge or consent – employers and others are required by law to seek an individual’s permission prior to conducting a credit report check. While some agencies will insist they can conduct thorough background checks with only a person’s name, reputable agencies also will require a valid social security number as well. Using a social security number, in conjunction with a person’s full name (first, middle and last), helps eliminate the margin of error in confusing two people with a similar name. As with credit reports, it is important to understand that sometimes background checks contain inaccurate and misleading information. This can be incredibly frustrating for someone who may be confused with another person of a similar name who has committed a crime. Just as ordering an annual credit report to check for errors is a good idea; it is advisable to occasionally conduct a background check on yourself for the same purposes. http://www.topconsumerreviews.com/background-checks/