F.A.Q.- Frequently Asked Questions

No. You pay only for the criminal searches performed by SimpleScreening.com. There is no membership fee for the employment screening and criminal background searches. Tenant screening is a one time fee of $19.95 however you receive your first report free.

If you would like information on additional payment options, or large quantity search discounts, please contact a customer service representative at 866-535-6767 and we will be happy to assist you with your request.

SimpleScreening.com has made the set up process fast and simple. Just complete the short registration form to gain access to instant background checks 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

You will be charged for all searches you submitted. Service fee is not refundable.

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.

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.

The FCRA governs all background searches, not just credit reports. The Act defines permissible purposes, how the information is handled, what procedures and documentation must be followed, and even defines the procedures for when an applicant is denied a job based on the results. There is a great deal more to know about the FCRA, and we recommend all HR personnel be aware of the impact this act has on your employment decisions.

Payment is made by credit card at time of order placement. SimpleScreening.com accepts the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

The answer here is simple. As an employer you have a responsibility to your employee's to provide them with a safe working environment. Conducting a comprehensive screening on a potential candidate eliminates the hiring of an applicant with a violent history or falsified past. SimpleScreening.com provides access to criminal court records in all United States counties, state repositories where available as well as national records.

A nationwide criminal report contains over 60 million records in 39 states plus a 35 state registered sex offender database. 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. A countywide search must be performed to assure accuracy.

The use of a countywide search enables court researchers to perform a "Hand 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. It is best to perform this search in conjunction with a statewide search for best results.

If you know or have reason to believe that an applicant has committed a crime in a specific county, you will want to perform an on-site county search. These records are actually filled in that court and are checked by a qualified court records researcher.

If it is known that a person has committed an offense in a particular state but not sure where, or if the subject has moved regularly throughout the state, it will be best to perform an instant criminal search. This will cover a much wider area, and turn up the best results.

SimpleScreening.com suggests that any results returned by the instant criminal searches be followed up with an on-site county search in the county in which the offense occurred. This will ensure the most accurate and verifiable results.

A tenant screening report is a report made by a tenant screening service. Tenant screening services gather information on tenants and sell this information to landlords. The reports are used by landlords to help them decide if they want to rent to you.

A typical report will have information about your credit history. It will show if you have good credit or if you have unpaid bills or judgments against you. It usually includes information on any evictions filed against you. Evictions can be reported for seven years. A report can also have statements from past landlords about what kind of tenant you were. Some reports will also list any criminal charges filed against you.