Employers

PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZED EMPLOYERS

PFC helps employers to avoid making costly hiring mistakes. We provide nationwide pre-employment screening services for all types of employees, from licensed professionals to factory workers. We also provide background screening services to corporate staffing agencies.

PFC combines an old-fashioned concern for quality with cutting edge technology to provide comprehensive and accurate background checks. There are significant differences between PFC’s background checks and those offered online by many background screening companies.

The PFC Difference

  • Information quality is what sets PFC apart from many pre-employment background screening companies. We have our own network of professional court researchers who we dispatch to courthouses throughout the U.S. In addition, we subscribe directly to many state databases, and we also utilize premium commercial databases for our background checks. We pay more for our information than the cut-rate services offered online because we do not compromise when it comes to information quality. In April 2012, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) published a scathing criticism of the level of inaccuracies and lack of accountability of the background screening industry.
    ( http://www.nclc.org/issues/broken-records.html ). According to the report:

With the explosive growth of this industry, it is essential that the “Wild West” of employment screening be reined in so that consumers are not guilty until proven innocent. Currently, lack of accountability and incentives to cut corners to save money mean that consumers pay for inaccurate information with their jobs and, thus, their families’ livelihood.

While consumers pay for inaccurate information, companies also pay by wasting time and losing qualified applicants who have falsely been accused of having a criminal record.

  • We perform the data entry and our reports are hand-prepared. The background checks generated by many of the large online firms are essentially untouched by human hands. Much of the data is gathered robotically via web-scraping technology. Once the client enters the data, there is no quality review or analysis to determine whether the information identified is valid. Consequently, there are frequently false positives and false negatives.
  • Our reports clearly define what was checked, where the records were searched, over what period of time, and the results are described in plain English.
  • Our clients are able to call us and speak to a knowledgeable staff member whenever there is a question about a background check.
  • We place a high priority on protecting the privacy of employment applicants. Therefore, we do not utilize vendors that send the personal identifying information of applicants offshore for processing. (See PFC’s Privacy Policy)
  • Our credentials in the background screening industry are impeccable. We are a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), a charter member of the Public Records Retrievers Network (PRRN), and a member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), and the Concerned CRA’s (CCRA).

 

Our Services

Criminal Records

Felony and misdemeanor records can be researched anywhere in the U.S. In some states, the checks must be conducted at the county level, while statewide checks are available in the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The results are usually available in two to three working days.

Civil Court Records

This type of background check provides information regarding civil litigation involving the applicant as defendant or plaintiff. Employers are particularly concerned about litigation involving former employers and temporary restraining orders.

US District Court Litigation

US district court records can be researched for criminal or civil litigation in all 50 states..

DMV Records

DMV reports can be obtained in every state, with the exception of Alaska, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. Generally, violations remain on the DMV report for three years, although convictions for serious offenses are reported for 5 years or more, depending on the state. Of critical importance, as DMV reports can point to substance abuse problems.

Social Security Number Verification

The Social Security Number Verification is not a check of the Social Security Administration's databases, but a search of credit bureau and public records databases to determine what name or names are associated with the usage of a particular Social Security number. A comprehensive address history is also included. Furthermore, this search provides information regarding when and where the Social Security number was issued. This search can be extremely useful in determining whether the applicant's number is valid, and where civil and criminal records checks should be conducted. In addition, this search provides fact-based data that enables employers to determine whether or not the application and resume correlate to the address history. If there are discrepancies noted, this is certainly a red flag..

National Wants and Warrants

A nationwide search for any open, extraditable warrants pertaining to the subject.

National Criminal File

This check provides a search of multiple criminal record sources, including some state and county criminal repositories, a proprietary database of felonies/misdemeanors, and prison parole/release records. While this check provides access to millions of criminal records, it is not a true nationwide search. This search is available only in conjunction with a state or county criminal check, and is not available as a stand-alone product as it does not meet the standard of a premium information source. PFC does not report any criminal records retrieved from this database without first verifying the information..

National Sex Offender Registry

This is a national search of the U.S. Justice Department’s Sex Offender Registry. All 50 states are included.

Civil Protective Orders

CPOs are often filed in domestic abuse situations, usually by the female partner. They may also be filed by and against former employers or other individuals, such as neighbors or co-workers. A CPO is filed in court when the victim has been injured, threatened, made to feel fearful, or even urged not to testify in a court case. If threats are made against the victim's family, the CPO may be extended to include family members.

Educational Verification

Confirmation of dates of attendance and degree attainment.

Professional License Verification

This check includes verification of license status and any disciplinary actions on file.

Bankruptcies, Tax Liens, and Judgments

This check consists of a statewide search of online liens and judgments and a nationwide search for bankruptcies.

Workers’ Compensation

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Workers’ Compensation checks are only available after a job offer has been made.

Patriot Act Search

This is a search of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and includes the following:
  • Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
  • Bank of England Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions
  • Bureau of Industry and Security
  • OSFI Terrorism Financing
  • DTC Debarred parties
  • European Union Consolidated List
  • FBI Hijack Suspects
  • FBI Most Wanted
  • FBI Most Wanted Terrorists
  • FBI Seeking Information
  • FBI Top Ten Most Wanted
  • Interpol Most Wanted
  • United Nations Consolidated List
  • Terrorist Exclusion List
  • Unauthorized Banks
  • MAS
  • Non-cooperative Countries and Territories
  • Non-proliferation
  • OFAC Sanctions Programs and Countries
  • OFAC's Specially Designated Nations & Blocked Persons
  • Politically Exposed Persons
  • Primary Money Laundering Concern (PMLC)
  • World Bank Debarred Parties

 

Legal Issues for Pre-employment Background Checks

Regardless of the type of search being conducted, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) imposes limitations on the information that can be included in a background check and the types of disclosures that must be made to applicants and employees. FCRA is applicable regardless of whether or not a credit report is included in the background check. In addition, state laws impose their own limitations on employment and pre-employment background checks. PFC’s background checks are compliant with FCRA and all applicable state laws. For information regarding FCRA and some of the relevant laws please click here.