QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS.

WHY SHOULD I CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK?

As an employer or entity that uses volunteers you have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment and or a safe place for children.  Conducting a comprehensive screening on a potential candidate eliminates the hiring of an applicant with a violent history or falsified past.  Accufax provides access to criminal court records in all United States counties, state repositories where available as well as national records and international records.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATIONWIDE, STATEWIDE, AND COUNTY REPORTS?

A nationwide criminal report contains over 500 million records in most of the U.S.  The records are updated monthly to ensure accuracy, however, if clients need up to the minute information on an applicant, a countywide search can provide the most accurate information.  A statewide criminal check offers a more cost effective approach to the screening process.  In some instances, statewide repositories update their information daily but it may take weeks for the information to appear in a particular index.  Therefore, a countywide search must be performed to ensure accuracy.  The use of a countywide search enables court researchers to perform a "Hands on Search" of the court index dockets.  A countywide criminal search includes a seven-year background search for misdemeanor and felony records.  This method is the most preferred for investigating a person's criminal history and should be conducted  in conjunction with a statewide search for best results.

IS THERE A MEMBERSHIP FEE? HOW DO I PAY?

No membership fee just a one time set-up fee of 50.00 if credit reports are requested we must charge a site inspection fee of 150.00 to comply with the credit bureau standards. Other options available for individual landlords. You are invoiced for the searches requested, and payment is due upon receipt.  We invoice once per month.  For those that wish to pay with a credit card, Accufax accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

WHY SHOULDN'T I USE AN INSTANT BACKGROUND CHECK?

We do not recommend the use of ‘instant’ searches because there is no single source that contains comprehensive information about a person’s criminal history.  In addition, this type of search is based on name and/or date of birth of an applicant and if any information is transposed in the search process, valuable information will be missed.   On the back end, if your applicant has a common name you will find that an instant search may provide an overwhelming amount of information and you will be left with the responsibility to disseminate the information and evaluate it on your own. Instant searches are less expensive because they are simply a means of tapping into a single data base. There is no hands-on research involved in this process and there is no source that can encompass all criminal information that is available through various counties throughout the United States. Instant Searches are incomplete and unreliable, and Accufax does not advocate this method of screening.

I'VE MISSPELLED A PERSON'S NAME WHEN SUBMITTING A REPORT. CAN I RESUBMIT?

You will be charged for all searches you submitted, but we do have the ability to amend reports that are in process and would only charge you for the cost that has thus far been incurred if you notified us prior to completion. If you submit duplicate and separate requests for the same applicant you would be charged accordingly.  

WHAT IS THE FCRA?

The FCRA is the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, which is the governing act applicable to background searches. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) stipulates that certain forms and procedures be followed in order to preserve the rights and privacy of applicants. Violations of this act may create substantial legal ramifications.

WHY DO I NEED THE APPLICANT'S PERMISSION TO CONDUCT A CHECK ON THEM?

It's the law.  The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act governs background searches, and violations of this act can have serious legal ramifications. In this situation, the FCRA was designed to protect the individual consumer and his/her privacy.

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