FAQ
If you don’t run Background Checks on a regular basis, you might have some questions about them. We’re here to help. Please try to find answers to your questions below, and if you don’t see your question answered here, either call us at 800-322-2850 to ask your question or contact us online here.

Background Check and Screening FAQ
Why Are Pre-Employment Background Screenings Essential For My Business?
When you hire a new employee, you are hiring a stranger into your business. They represent your company, interact with your customers and work alongside your employees. Businesses that don’t properly vet their new hires are putting themselves at risk.
Why Do Small Businesses Need To Run Pre-Employment Background Screenings?
Small businesses have as much liability for employees as large businesses and could have more to lose hiring a bad applicant. Hiring a person with a criminal past who puts co-workers in danger or maybe steals from the company could force a small business to close. Background Runner’s packages are geared for smaller businesses who want to mitigate the risk of hiring new employees.
Do Background Checks Give Any Insight Into What Type Of Employee The Candidate Will Be?
A background check can’t tell you how hard a candidate will work but it can give you an idea of their character and if you can trust them. With Education, Employment and Reference checks, it can also let you know what level of work you can expect from them.
Do You Offer Large Businesses That Run Many Background Screenings Any Type of Discount?
Depending on the amount of screens you require on a monthly basis we have customized package pricing to meet your needs.
How Many Years Back Are Criminal Records Reported?
The length of time criminal records can be reported in a Criminal Background Check is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the state laws where your business is located. County-level searches can vary by the jurisdiction and how long they are required to retain and disclose the records. Most counties will respond with a 7 year history.
What Is The Turnaround Time For Pre-Employment Background Checks?
Time may vary depending on the county as there are over 3,000 counties in the USA. We can typically fulfill your request on the same-day your applicant completes the required forms and returns them to us.
What Is The Turnaround Time For A DMV Report?
The turnaround time may vary depending on the state the report is requested for. We can typically fulfill your request for a DMV Report on the same-day your applicant completes the required forms and returns them to us.
What Is The Turnaround Time For Drug Tests?
We can provide Drug Test results within 2-3 days after specimen collection.
Should I Order A Statewide Criminal Records Search Instead Of A County?
The court systems vary from state to state and county to county. Our system is intuitive enough to know what the most efficient, cost-effective way to conduct your Criminal Records Search is. Once you log in to our system, you will see all the details for the state(s) you select.
My Applicant Has Criminal Records But They Don’t Show On The Report I Received. Why Is This?
We always strive to get you the most complete and accurate Background Checks available. Still, there may be some items that do not show up. Here’s why:
- The criminal records in question may have been sealed or expunged.
- Due to current federal laws, criminal records older than 7 years are not reportable.
- The records are recent and the conviction hasn’t been released to the public record.
- The information we received from you to run our Background Checks may contain invalid or incorrect information, including: name misspellings, incorrect date of birth, incorrect social security number.
- The fault may not be in the information we received, but instead may be with the courts. When the subject was processed, he or she may have given incorrect information, or the court clerk may have entered the information incorrectly.
If you ever believe that one of our reports is incomplete or inaccurate, please contact us and we will investigate further.
What Forms Or Disclosures Does The Job Applicant Need to Sign In Order For Background Runner To Process My Order?
Once you become a client and log into our system, we will provide you with the appropriate forms for your specific request(s). They are all available and fillable online.
Does My Job Applicant Need To Complete A Signed Release?
Yes. Each applicant needs to complete and sign a release in order to be in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These forms will be provided to you as part of our service.
Why Should I Check My Job Applicant’s Credit Report?
Responsibility is a key to any position at any job. A credit report is one of the best ways to learn about someone’s level of responsibility. This is even more important if they are going to be in a position where they are handling the company’s financial information, assets or funds.
Is It Easy To Add A Credit Check To My Pre-Employment Screenings?
A credit report uses the same information as other Employment and Identity Background Checks, which makes adding it to a Pre-Employment Screening very easy. All it takes is checking an additional box or two and you’re done.
What Can I Learn From A Pre-Employment Credit Check?
The principal reason for running a Pre-Employment Credit Check is to learn about the applicant’s level of responsibility and ability to manage and handle money. But there is much more to learn from a Credit Check than that. You can also learn from a Credit Check…
- Whether the applicant’s name and Social Security Number match, which helps with Identity Verification
- An applicant’s full name and list of aliases used
- List of prior addresses
- Types of credit received and how it was used
- Previous employment history (in some cases)
- Derogatory credit information, such as collections, charge-offs, bankruptcies and more.
All of this helps you to learn more about your potential employee.
Who Provides Background Runner’s Credit Information?
Our Employment Credit Reports are delivered by one of the three major credit bureaus. Data is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and is compliant with applicable state, federal and local laws so you know the information you receive is reliable.
How Can Background Runner Ensure The Background Checks Are Checking The Right Person?
We use enhanced matching logic that helps us ensure the reports you receive on your inquiry are for the right person. Computers can only do so much and they can’t always make sense of that data. If a situation arises where data needs to be reviewed, our employees are specialists in reviewing each set of results to maintain the highest quality results.
Will Background Runner’s Credit Check Affect My Candidate’s Credit Rating?
Our Pre-Employment Background Check process is candidate-friendly. If a Credit Check is run as part of an Employment Check, then the check shows up as a “soft inquiry,” which has no effect on the candidate’s credit rating.
What Does The Candidate Need To Do So I Can Run A Pre-Employment Credit Check?
We will send the job candidate a screening invitation via email asking them to provide answers to identity verification questions. Once the applicant successfully completes this series of questions, the search is started and result reports are sent directly to you and your applicant. You will have the information you need about their credit history to make a well-informed hiring decision.
How Do I Run My First Background Check With Background Runner?
Click here to get started and you can run your first Background Check right away.
Are There Any Sign-Up Fees To Get Started?
No. We do not charge Sign-Up fees.
Still Have Questions About Running Background Checks and Screenings at Background Runner?
Do you still have questions after reading our Background Check and Screening FAQ? We’re happy to answer them for you. Call us right now at 800-322-2850 and we will do our best to answer your questions right away. If it is after hours, use our Contact Form and we will reply as soon as we are able.