Randisi & Associates

Pre-Employment Screening Specialists

RANDISI & ASSOCIATES, INC.

410-494-0232
Contact Us
  • Home
  • Services
    • Background Investigations
    • Drug & Alcohol Testing
      • Urine Specimen
      • Oral Fluid Testing
    • QuickApp and QuickApp Pro
  • About Us
    • Why Randisi Associates, Inc.?
    • Testimonials
    • Testimonials in Chesapeake Human Resources
    • Privacy Policy
    • Consumers
  • Resources
    • Marijuana in the Workplace
    • Employment Screening & Drug Testing
    • Negligent Referrals?
    • Interview with Larry Wilner
    • Drug Testing Seminars
  • Partners
  • News
    • Background Checks
    • Business Success
    • Drug Testing
    • Personnel Management
    • Employment News
  • Request A Quote
  • Contact Us
  • Client Login
    • CRL Order Form
  • Payment
You are here: Home / Background Checks / How does your background investigation firm perform criminal conviction searches?

How does your background investigation firm perform criminal conviction searches?

December 3, 2015 By Randisi Site Manager

Male Professional Choosing to be ethical instead of using shortcutsWhy is it important to know how your background investigation firm performs criminal conviction searches? There is a right way to do the background investigation and a short-cut way to do the background investigation. Shortcuts can result in fines and penalties and lots of legal trouble.

First some background on the process. Most firms cannot access the FBI’s fingerprint database. So without the fingerprint record it is necessary for their background investigation firm to use crucial identifiers to search public records. Crucial identifiers are consumer “full” name, former or aliases, date of birth and addresses (residential and employment).

So what did the background investigation companies do wrong? The CFPB, click here for the full article, found that the background investigation companies violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by, among other things, failing to employ reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of the information contained in reports provided to consumers’ potential employers. Specifically, the CFPB found that the companies violated the law by:

1. Failing to take basic steps to assure accuracy:

The CFPB found that the companies failed to use basic procedures for matching public records information to the correct consumer. For example, the Bureau found that there was no requirement to provide consumers’ middle names. The Bureau also found that there was no audit process to adequately test the accuracy of the reports provided. As a result, the companies provided prospective employers with inaccurate reports that included criminal records attached to the wrong consumers, dismissed and expunged records, and misdemeanors reported as felony convictions. These inaccuracies could have resulted in the denial of employment, missed economic opportunity, and reputational harm to otherwise qualified applicants.

2. Including impermissible information in consumer reports: The CFPB also found that the companies unlawfully included certain information in consumer reports they provided to prospective employers. Specifically, the CFPB found that non-reportable civil suit and civil judgment information older than seven years was illegally included in its reports.

What is the damage done? The serious inaccuracies reported by the background investigation companies potentially affected consumers’ eligibility for employment and caused reputational harm. The CFPB is ordering the companies to correct their practices, provide $10.5 million in relief to harmed consumers, and pay a $2.5 million civil penalty.

We deliver background investigation results with the utmost attention to attempting to deliver as accurate a report on a consumer as is possible. In an earlier post, we wrote about the steps many consumer reporting agencies take when delivering background investigation reports from a database. We don’t do shortcuts. It sometimes takes a bit longer to deliver results. But, in the end it is well worthwhile.

 

Filed Under: Background Checks

Testimonials

Video testimonial from Rebecca Yarrison Miller's Minuteman Press Owings … Read More>>

Latest News

  • Do Your Customers Trust You?
  • Tips for Employer Social Media Screening
  • How to Document Workplace Impairment
  • 5 Reasons You Need a Customer Advisory Board
  • Medical Marijuana Users in Safety Sensitive Positions

Afilliate Organizations

Tazworks Concerned CRAs NAPBS

Request A Quote

How can we Randisi and Associates assist your organization with background checks, drug testing and pre-employment screening?


CLICK HERE to Request a Quote or Consultation

Contact Us

Phone: 410.494.0232
Fax: 410.296.6131

1810 – J York Road PNB # 185
Lutherville, MD 21093

Contact Us


CLICK HERE FOR OUR PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright 2020 Randisi & Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site by SPARKS!

We use cookies to make sure you get the best experience on our website. You can learn more by viewing our Privacy Statement.AcceptPrivacy Policy