EraseMugshots

Have you ever wondered, “How much does Instant Checkmate cost?” If so, our guide to the subscription fees can help you make smarter decisions about using this popular background check service.

Instant Checkmate is one of the best background check services available. The company has been around since 2010 when it was founded in San Diego as a tool for adults to learn more about possible matches found on dating apps before they meet in person.

Since its founding, Instant Checkmate has expanded to offer various people-search and background check services using accurate information collected from different public records. It claims to have processed more than 1.4 billion searches.

Read on to learn more about how much the background check service costs in this Instant Checkmate review.

How Much Does Instant Checkmate Cost?

Instant Checkmate offers personal reports and phone reports that aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information on background check search subjects.

The personal reports include a “basic people research” feature that costs $35.12 per month for a subscription with unlimited searches. Customers also have the option of a 3-month plan for $28.09 per month, or $84.27 total.

Standard membership provides benefits, including unlimited person and location reports and premium report monitoring.

The company’s phone reports service includes reverse phone lookup for $5.99 monthly, and benefits include unlimited phone reports.

Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer a free background check. So, if you prefer not to pay a fee, you must perform your due diligence in looking into a person’s criminal history or background. Alternatively, you could try similar services that offer a free background check.

What Information Does Instant Checkmate’s Service Plans Include?

Person reports include the following information:

• Birthdates
• Phone Numbers
• Current and previous addresses
• Email lookup
• Employment and education histories
• Photos
• Social Media Profiles
• Businesses owned
• Assets
• Traffic and criminal records
• Court Records

Phone reports include the following information:

• Name and address
• Address histories
• Photos
• Social media accounts
• Possible associates

Instant Checkmate Membership Add-Ons

Members also have the option to avail of add-ons that add considerable value to the plans for modest fees. For example, they could get downloadable report files for a one-time fee of $3.99. This provides downloadable PDF reports that can be viewed anytime, shared with others, and printed.

Instant Checkmate also offers dark web monitoring services for an additional $1.99 per month. This service helps protect sensitive information and safeguard against identity theft by detecting passwords, personal and financial credentials, and other data on the dark web.

Instant Checkmate members interested in these add-on services are encouraged to contact the company’s customer care department Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST.

More on Instant Checkmate Cost and Services

As mentioned, Instant Checkmate offers a one-month unlimited standard reports package for $35.12. Users also have the option to sign up for a three-month plan for $84.27, which works out to $28.09 per month.

Unlike other search services, Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer a single report or search service. However, trial periods are occasionally offered for only $1.

Instant Checkmate allows users to search for someone by name, city, or state. The company also offers reverse phone lookup, which is helpful for searchers who have only a phone number to go by.

It is important to note that Instant Checkmate collects data only from public records. Consequently, you won’t receive any information that is unavailable anywhere else.

Premium reports are pretty thorough, drawing data from various sources. Results can include vehicles, properties, assets, address histories, bankruptcies, marriages, and relations.

Furthermore, Instant Checkmate provides information on sex offender registrations, firearms licenses, arrests, and traffic and criminal records.

Remember that Instant Checkmate is not an FCRA-compliant service, which means it isn’t considered a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This means that background check searches conducted on the site cannot legally be used to field prospective employees or for tenant screening.

Instant Checkmate’s User Interface

Instant Checkmate’s site has an attractive, slick design. The colors are subdued and beautiful, with the impression of a professional and reliable service.

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate’s user interface leaves much to be desired. Despite the website’s simplicity and elegance, navigation isn’t as straightforward as you hope.

The first step of running a search seems easy enough. Users must first type in any information they know about their search subject in the site’s search bar, which is located right on the homepage.

This is where things begin to get more tedious and complicated. After typing in the initial search information, users will be presented with annoying pop-ups requesting more details about the search subject.

This is understandably a necessary part of the process, as it involves providing the gender of the search subject and known relatives. Even so, it does seem to add unnecessary steps to the search process and could have just as quickly been done during the initial stage.

This stage of refining the search is followed by a notice indicating that the results may include graphic content. The only way to proceed is to check a box signifying your acknowledgment.

Worse still, various other notices pop up throughout the rest of the search before the results are presented. One can’t help but get the feeling that this long-drawn-out process is intended to convince users of the thoroughness of the search instead of improving the quality.

We counted about five pop-ups before the results were revealed. The warnings about possible graphic details also have a distinctly hyped-up and sensationalistic tone, which we felt was completely unnecessary.

There are also even more annoyances. Users are also required to provide their name and email address before they can proceed to the results. There is also a notice that searchers must agree to receive emails from the service. The reason for this isn’t apparent to us, as the results can be viewed online.

At this point, we were finally able to get the Instant Checkmate report. The data was generally accurate, although we’ve received reports about errors in some information, particularly concerning addresses.

Instant Checkmate provides details on criminal records, accompanied by a “likelihood” score. This suggests that some results may not always be accurate, especially regarding arrest records, criminal records, and mailing addresses.

The Instant Checkmate App

Instant Checkmate is available via a mobile app only for Android devices. Considering the massive popularity of iOS devices, this restriction is a bit of a mystery.

Customer Reviews of Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate reviews and customer feedback seem primarily positive, with a few negative reviews here and there. In the Instant Checkmate review on Google Play Store, most users gave the background check services high marks, resulting in a 4.3 out of 5-star rating.

Users of Instant Checkmate’s website like the service’s ease of use for personal research and generally accurate individual reports. Nevertheless, complaints about the tedious search process and the many pop-ups exist. Some users have also reported issues with logging in and the insufficient depth of information on some searches.

Instant Checkmate’s Customer Support

Instant Checkmate’s customer support service from a reputable people search website is as good as expected. Users can reach the company’s customer support team by phone and email from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday.

The customer support representative we talked to was beneficial and knowledgeable. In about ten minutes, they walked us through the steps of navigating the site and answered questions we had about the subscription plan and search processes.

If you have trouble signing up for a subscription plan or getting results, the site offers an online help center with informative tutorial videos. You will also find answers to some of the most common questions regarding the service.

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer live chat support via an official channel. However, the phone and email support were sufficient for our needs.

Removing Information From Instant Checkmate

During the preparation of this Instant Checkmate review, we discovered that some of our reviewer’s personal information was available via the service. Subsequently, we tried to determine how easy it was for a person to remove unwanted information such as a criminal record or phone number.

Surprisingly, the process proved to be remarkably easy. Unlike Instant Checkmate alternatives that conceal this option deep in the site or on the checkout page, Instant Checkmate provides the link to do so right on the homepage. After submitting an opt-out request, we found the information was gone in two days.

How Secure is Instant Checkmate?

Instant Checkmate’s security is pretty airtight, with the site secured by the reputable firm Norton Symantec. Payment data and personal information are protected with 256-bit encryption, providing some measure of security against prying eyes. An SSL-encrypted connection further safeguards the connection.

Of course, all the information Instant Checkmate provides is readily available from public records. This means that there is relatively little concern about data privacy issues and the like. Even so, it’s always good to know that all activities on the site are protected to some degree.

Final Verdict: Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate is a hugely popular background check service for many good reasons. Searches are mostly fast and accurate, although the process is hindered somewhat by the many unnecessary pop-ups that get in the way.

However, once the results are returned, the service begins to live up to its reputation. Users are presented with a huge range of data, much more than what other search services provide. And while there may be some address errors and other details, the site’s background check service information is generally pretty thorough and accurate.

The bottom line: Instant Checkmate is generally an excellent site that could be improved by streamlining its search process. Overall, we recommend Instant Checkmate to those looking for a reliable and reasonably priced information search service.

FAQ

Is Instant Checkmate Free?

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer free background checks or a free trial period. There are trial offers on Instant Checkmate searches from time to time, which are available for only $1. The Instant Checkmate cost is substantially less than that of similar background check services.

Where Does Instant Checkmate Source Its Data From?

Instant Checkmate obtains data from various federal, state, and county databases. Information may also be obtained from social media platforms.

What Payment Methods Does Instant Checkmate Accept?

Instant Checkmate accepts Visa and MasterCard credit cards. You could also send payments from your PayPal account.

Can Instant Checkmate’s Search Service be Used to Conduct Background Checks?

Instant Checkmate’s people search service can be used to conduct background checks. Users typically use it to run searches on potential dates, neighbors, acquaintances, family members, a long-lost friend, and even themselves.

When is Using Instant Checkmate Inadvisable?

Instant Checkmate isn’t considered a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA or Fair Credit Reporting Act. Because the site doesn’t provide consumer reports, it isn’t the best tool for screening prospective tenants or hiring employees.

You also can’t use Instant Checkmate to determine eligibility for insurance, consumer credit, healthcare, and housing benefits. These applications generally require FCRA compliance.

How are Instant Checkmate’s Reports Delivered?

Instant Checkmate provides online reports on an easy-to-navigate page. Users can also download a full report in PDF format by paying for an add-on service. This add-on service is one way that the Instant Checkmate cost can exceed similar services.

Contact Erase Mugshots

Nowadays, it’s important to protect one’s records online from being abused or falling into the wrong hands. This process can be challenging since it requires professional data removal from the deepest and darkest parts of the internet. If your personal details are on the web, careful monitoring for threats to your reputation is also often required.

Call 866-601-6803 to learn more about how to remove negative content online. If you need help protecting your privacy online, contact us now.

Our guide to the Intelius cost breakdown will help you determine if this is the right background check service for your needs. 

Reverse phone lookup or other background check services have risen in popularity. With its background check service, businesses like Intelius give you unlimited searches and other details under the fair credit reporting act and consumer reporting agency limitations.

If you’re curious to learn more about the price of Intelius, this article is for you. Background check services can range from a few dollars to a lot.

This is why unlimited searches are important. This Intelius review gives you an in-depth explanation of its reverse phone lookup, photo lookup, and other background check service features.

Let’s start by learning more about Intelius as a whole.

Intelius Review: What It Is and What It’s About

Intelius is an American company that provides people search, background check, and public record services. Founded in 2003, Intelius is one of the most comprehensive people search platforms in the world.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Intelius has collected data from more than 2 billion records to create the largest and most accurate searchable database of people-related information in the United States.

Intelius is an excellent resource for people interested in researching the past of themselves, their friends and family, and even their employers. It also provides helpful tools that can potentially help protect someone against potential identity theft by providing detailed and accurate background checks.

Using Intelius, you can find information on someone’s current address, phone number, and age. You can also look up detailed background checks on an individual, including criminal records and financial information. Intelius allows you to search via a person’s name, the city where they live, and even the type of information you want to find.

Intelius also claims to have access to over 850 million public records, including records, bankruptcy filings, addresses, phone numbers, and more. Intelius also provides helpful features like search alerts. For example, you can subscribe to Intelius’s search alert feature to be notified of when additional relevant search records have become available for a person you are researching.

The search alert feature comes in handy for employers conducting background checks on potential employees as well as for private individuals concerned about protecting their identity.

Intelius is an excellent tool for conducting detailed background checks and identity protection. With its huge database of records, Intelius can provide accurate information in a quick, organized, and secure manner.

Intelius Review: Prices for Each Service

Reverse phone lookup and other background check service features are among the few features that Intelius offers.

If you’re wondering why isn’t Intelius free, this is because it offers multiple searchers like a nationwide background check including age, date of birth, and other data from government records and phone directories. The Intelius cost covers background checking services and other data-centric search tools.

Intelius background check reviews involve looking past the regular search engine to compile accurate reports from multiple searches on the deep web.

There are negative Intelius reviews because there is no Intelius free trial for it to provide consumer reports. Intelius offers a wide range of data through its premium, and basic people search.

Learn more about the service’s pricing structure and how to get unlimited number results by searching for unknown phone numbers of potential contacts or even an online date.

Even by paying basic Intelius fees, you can get unlimited standard reports.

Is Intelius safe? Yes. The Intelius premier plus account settings let you get unlimited reports or a single search report to help you double-check records or screening employees with a more affordable 6 or 7-day trial without spending for the Intelius premier plus.

Here are the Intelius pricing options.

Reverse Phone Lookup

Costs $0.95, then $34.95 after your 6-day trial.

Your membership renews every 30 days unless you cancel them.

Member Benefits

• Unlimited Phone Reports
• Unlimited Person Reports
• Unlimited Address Reports

Phone Reports May Include

• Owner’s name
• Photos
• Owner’s address
• Social Media Profiles

• Address History
• Related Persons
• And More

People Search

Costs $24.86 per month or $21.13 for two months.

Member Benefits

• Unlimited Person Reports
• Unlimited Address Reports

Person Reports May Include

• Email Addresses
• Address History
• Employment History
• Educational History

• Related Persons
• Business Ownership
• Assets
• Criminal Records
• Traffic Records
• Court Records
• And More

Address Lookup

Costs $0.95 for a 7-day trial, then $29.78 per month.

Member Benefits

• Unlimited Address Reports
• Unlimited Person Reports

Address Reports May Include

• Residents
• Neighbors
• Location Details
• Ownership History

• Property Value
• Evictions
• Neighborhood Demographics
• Nearby entertainment, restaurants, etc.
• Crime Stats
• Nearby Sex Offenders

What Details Can You Find When You Do A Background Check?

A background check is a common practice for many potential employers, landlords, and other organizations looking to gain information on an individual’s history, including their public records, phone number details, social media accounts, criminal record search data, age, date of birth, and former and current address.

Intelius offers checks that can reveal a comprehensive report through a broad range of details, from a person’s education history and employment history to any criminal records and even personal financial habits. The Intelius reviews show that you can do reverse address lookup or phone number searches and find accurate reports.

The better business bureau limits extensive database access and ensures your Intelius account doesn’t offer sensitive consumer credit data. If you want to limit what the Intelius homepage shows, you need to opt for your data to be removed manually.

Typically, the details collected in a background check will provide information about an individual’s former and current addresses, professional licenses held, past or present legal entanglements, motor vehicle records, drug testing records, and credit reports.

Educational public records can provide employers and landlords with a more detailed look, revealing the applicant’s college and university transcripts, areas of study, degrees, and any certifications they hold. Intelius reviews show that you can access employment public records, reverse address lookup, and other phone number details and people search data.

These can reveal an applicant’s employment history over a certain period of time, as well as their current or previous employers’ opinions on their performance and likelihood of future success. Employers may also access an applicant’s references and verify their identity as part of this process.

One of the most concerning bits of information a background check can uncover is a person’s criminal record. Criminal checks comb through various sources, from federal and state databases to police and records. By law, employers must obtain the applicant’s written permission before conducting a criminal background check.

Finally, checks often include a search for financial information such as bankruptcies, liens, judgments, and collection accounts past simple search engine platforms. This can reveal if an individual is having difficulty managing debt or if they are likely to make late payments on rent or any other financial obligations.

A background check from one of the leading background check service providers can provide potential landlords, employers, and other organizations a holistic view of an individual’s past and current status. Intelius reviews show you can do a reverse address lookup to learn more about potential employees.

While some of this information can be publicly accessible, it is important to remember that employers and other entities must adhere to certain privacy laws and respect the applicant’s right to know how their information is being collected and used.

Reasons Why People Do A Background Check

The internet has made doing checks easier than ever before. You can now find information about an individual or a company with a few clicks of your mouse. A background check is useful to employers, lenders, and other organizations to uncover a person’s history.

Here we look at five of the primary reasons people do a background check:

1. Pre-employment Screening

The primary reason companies do a people search check is to verify the identity and work history of potential employees. With the rise of identity theft and fraud becoming more prevalent, it is essential to ensure the person applying for a job is who they say they are. A background check is a cost-effective way to ensure the candidate has the qualifications they claim to have.

2. Criminal History

A background check can reveal the history and past offenses applicants commit. Most employers want to ensure their employees don’t have a criminal record which could lead to further trouble. Employers want to protect their company from potential liabilities, or harm employees may bring.

3. Education Verification

Applicants must prove they have the required education for the position in many industries. A background check can uncover if someone has falsified their educational qualifications or has omitted information.

4. Employment Reference Checks

Employers may choose to conduct reference checks on potential employees to ensure they are a suitable fit. It can also reveal any complaints or red flags that have been made against their previous employment.

5. Financial Viability

Some employers may also carry out a financial check of their potential employees. This can check their credit score, confirm past debt, uncover discrepancies in wages and other benefits, and other items related to their financial history.

Is Intelius Legit?

Intelius Premier is one of the most popular background check companies that allow people to search for information about other populations. It has gained traction with numerous people looking to learn more about the people around them, either for safety reasons or for conducting deeper checks on a person. Of course, the premier service is another Intelius cost to take into account.

The company has both brick and mortar presence with offices in multiple countries around the world and also an online platform for customers to carry out their search activities. Intelius has a dedicated team of professionals that work round the clock to provide customers with the best services and ensure their privacy and security.

Intelius Premier takes all the necessary steps to ensure its customers’ data is kept safe and secure. They have numerous security protocols, such as data encryption, two-factor authentication, and secure server infrastructure. Intelius conducts its searches with the help of its staff and also with a huge database of public records through criminal record search help.

They use data from sources such as court records, driver’s license records, birth records, and more. Intelius premier also uses multiple partnerships with other organizations, like direct marketing research and public access information. Intelius also uses data feeds from county, state, and federal government agencies to ensure that the details provided are accurate and updated.

You can contact their customer support to learn more about ‘Intelius reputable’ search systems. If you’re wondering, “is Intelius accurate?” the company keeps an up-to-date database of lost contact and location history, among other missing information, including unknown numbers or social media networks.

10 Ways To Protect Your Data

In this digital age, personal data is becoming more and more accessible, leaving all of us open to exploitation by malicious individuals and organizations. Having our information used without our consent is a major concern, as it can lead to direct financial losses, identity theft, and other more serious implications. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect yourself from such a fate.

Here are the ten most important ways to protect yourself from using your information without consent:

1. Be aware of phishing scams.

Phishing scams are among the most common ways malicious individuals will attempt to obtain your personal information. Be sure to be aware of the types of scams out there, so you can be prepared if you ever encounter one.

2. Monitor your accounts.

Regularly checking your personal accounts (bank, credit cards, investment, etc.) will allow you to quickly identify any suspicious activity that may have taken place or any unauthorized transactions that have been made.

3. Limit the amount of personal information you share online.

You should only share information that is absolutely necessary, especially on social media platforms. Remember, any data you make public can easily be taken and used without your consent.

4. Install anti-malware software.

This software will go a long way in keeping your computers secure and protect you from malicious software that can steal your information.

5. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

Using passwords that are difficult to guess and two-factor authentication, wherever possible, will help ensure that only you can access your personal accounts.

6. Use encryption.

Encrypting important documents and data will protect said documents from being easily accessed by unauthorized parties.

7. Shred your documents.

If you’re getting rid of sensitive documents, it’s best to shred them before disposing of them. This will ensure that the information can’t be easily retrieved. 8. Be mindful of online activities. Be careful not to click suspicious links, and be aware of what sites you visit and what information you input.

9. Invest in a secure paper shredder.

Buying a secure paper shredder (one that shreds paper into tiny pieces) is a great way to make sure that any documents that need to be disposed of won’t be of any use to an unauthorized person.

10. Always opt out of public directories.

If you can opt out of public directories, do it. This will ensure that your information isn’t available to anyone who comes across it. You can contact customer support to remove your online data from free reports or fine print.

Contact Erase Mugshots

In this day and age, it’s important to protect one’s records online from being abused or from falling into the wrong hands. This process can be challenging since it requires professional data removal from the deepest and darkest parts of the internet. If your personal details are on the web, careful monitoring for threats to your reputation is often required as well.

Learn more about how to remove negative content online by calling 866-601-6803 . If you need help protecting your privacy online, contact us now.

Looking for the best one time background check service? We’ve put together a list of the very best based on criteria such as:

• Information quantity and quality
• Features
• Value
• Customer support
• Legal transparency

We also go into more detail about how we selected these background checker services and reviewed them extensively to help you make the right choice. We even include some tips on how to find the best background checking service and plenty of other relevant information.

Read on to learn more about the top one time background check companies in our extensive guide!

The Top 10 One Time Background Check Companies

Here are our top ten best background check services and a short description of their strengths:

1. Intelius – Top choice for one-time background checks
2. InfoTracer – The best pick for accuracy
3. Verispy – The best free background check firm
4. GoodHire – Ideal for pre-employment checks
5. TruthFinder – Includes a dark web scan
6. Instant Checkmate – Top choice for criminal background searches
7. USSearch.com – Best for tenant screening
8. BeenVerified – Best background search app for mobile
9. PeopleFinders – Excellent choice for dating checks
10. PeopleLooker – Ideal for personal background checks

This selection is based on several stringent criteria, as mentioned above. Read on to learn more about why these services beat out the competition.

Reviews of the Top One Time Background Check Companies

Here’s a closer look at our ten best background check services:

1. Intelius

Best background check service overall

Intelius is easily our top pick for the best background check firm around. Accurate, reliable, and affordable, it is an especially good background checker for conducting personal research.

Intelius provides an extensive range of data in its results. Reports include everything from personal information and social media profiles to relationships and relatives, address history, phone numbers, and even criminal records.

Keep an eye out for deals on the company’s Premier Plus plan. It is usually priced at $29.95, but it occasionally goes for $14.95.

You could also conduct a one time people search and a reverse phone lookup for $0.95. Statewide criminal records are considerably more expensive at $19.95.

2. InfoTracer

Best for: Accuracy

InfoTracer is our top pick for accuracy. It is also one of the cheapest one time background check services around, which is always a plus.

For the price of just under $4, you get a 7-day unlimited pass that includes unlimited reports. This background checker site even has a deep web search feature which is ideally suited for finding out if your identity has been compromised.

A one time report will cost you $19.95, which is the same cost as its monthly subscription. But you could also try out the background check company for five days, which will only cost you $2.95.

3. Verispy

Best for: Free background checks

Verispy is our go-to choice for accurate data and fair pricing. It also doesn’t renew your subscription automatically, which is a plus. Extensive search options and a highly intuitive interface make it a good background check company for one time searches, especially for first-time users.

Verispy also generates accurate and detailed information much more quickly than other services, which is helpful if you need detailed reports fast.

A one time report will cost you $19.95, but you can get a one-week pass for only $24.95 with unlimited background reports. You could also spring for the 30-day pass, which costs only $29.95 with unlimited searches.

4. GoodHire

Best for: Pre-employment verification

Employers who need to conduct background checks on prospective applicants’ employment history and criminal history should definitely check out GoodHire. Apart from being the best background check site for employment verification, education verification, drug screening, and credit checks, it is also one of the very few that are FCRA approved.

GoodHire offers a pretty extensive range of search types. You can find everything from credit histories to civil court backgrounds, social media, education and employment history, and even drug, sex offense, and criminal records.

What GoodHire doesn’t have is a free trial period or money-back guarantee. You can perform a basic check for $29.99 or run a more detailed check for $54.99. A premium check will cost you $79.99.

5. TruthFinder

Best for: Dark web scans

In terms of features, TruthFinder comes in at the very top of the list. It offers a comprehensive range of features and even dark web monitoring and reverse phone lookup feature.

The easy to use interface makes it remarkably easy to unearth personal and social media information, family members, address history, property records, and even criminal record and civil judgment histories.

Amazingly, TruthFinder is very easy to use, relying on only a few search parameters to give you the information you’re looking for from criminal records, court registers, and other sources. The results are also consistently accurate, which should be expected from a reputable background checker.

A monthly membership with TruthFinder costs $30. You could also sign up for a 3-month plan at $26 per month. Both plans offer unlimited reports.

6. Instant Checkmate

Best for: Criminal background searches

Instant Checkmate has gotten an A+ rating from the BBB, a sign of its accuracy and reliability for a criminal background check. Instant Checkmate offers a wide range of public information search features, with many different search parameters to delve into someone’s criminal history or financial records.

Instant Checkmate allows you to do a thorough background check on search subjects simply by typing their names. You can also perform email and social media searches, check phone numbers and family members, look up criminal records and even sex offenses.

Although Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer free background checks, you can try out the service for five days for only a dollar. You can also perform a one time search for $19.99 or sign up for a monthly subscription for $22.86.

7. USSearch.com

Best for: Tenant screening

US Search is another background check service that offers an extensive range of features. The site provides multiple search options, and results are more accurate and reliable than most background check services.

US Search is especially suitable for tenant screening and performing criminal and property searches. Criminal reports are detailed and data-rich yet laid out remarkably well.

The site doesn’t offer a free trial period, and one time background searches are a bit expensive at $39.95. But you can go for the much more affordable basic people search for only $2.45.

8. BeenVerified

Best for: Mobile searches

BeenVerified is the best background check service for mobile devices. The app is well laid-out and extremely easy to use, allowing for a surprisingly wide range of search types.

Highlights include a username search and a vehicle lookup option, both of which provide consistently accurate results. But the service also allows you to find an extensive range of other data by typing in names, addresses, phone numbers, and social media details.

You can use BeenVerified to perform a one time background check, but you will have to pay for a membership plan to see the results. A one-month membership costs $26.89, while a three-month membership costs $52.44, which comes out to $17.48 per month.

9. PeopleFinders

Best for: Dating checks

For dating checks, few services compare to PeopleFinders. Of course, you can use it for many other types of searches as well, and you always get detailed results.

PeopleFinders gathers information from more than 43 billion public records and over 6,000 data sources. Its extensive network of data sources ensures accurate and verifiable results every time.

You can perform one time background checks with PeopleFinders via their affordable trial periods. A trial of the standard plan costs only $0.95, while the premium plan trial costs $3.95. You could also sign up for a monthly membership for $24.95 per month (standard) and $29.95 per month (premium).

10. PeopleLooker

Best for: Personal background checks

PeopleLooker is possibly the easiest background check service around. The site is extremely well laid-out, and it’s clear that a lot of effort went into ensuring a smooth and streamlined user experience.

All the essential search features for doing your own background checks are available, and search results are periodically updated with the latest information from civil records. Processing times can be a bit long, but the comprehensiveness of the background report makes it worth the wait

PeopleLooker doesn’t offer a free one time background check. But you can try out the service for five days for only a dollar. Monthly membership costs $22.86, while a three-month membership costs $18.28 per month.

How We Selected the Best One Time Background Check Sites

Here’s how we settled on the background check services in this rundown:

We first did an extensive search on the internet for background checking websites and services. We then did a quick but thorough look at some review sites to see which ones consistently ranked.

This was no small feat. There are literally hundreds of background check services out there, and most seem to offer pretty much the same features and functionality. Nevertheless, a few stood out against the rest and consistently topped the lists.

Our next step was to sign up for accounts with twenty or so of the best background check services. This was the hard part. We tested each one thoroughly to see if they delivered on their promises. Some did and ended up in our top ten list; others fell short.

We also went back and read more detailed reviews to see if customer experiences supported our findings. Those that consistently received favorable reviews were among our top picks as well. These were eventually shortlisted and made our top ten list.

Throughout our tests, we were always mindful of weighing the value of a particular service from an end-users standpoint. Although we took note of the technical and legal aspects of each service, we were firmly focused on how each would be helpful to the user.

Ultimately, we made our selection based on the following criteria:

• Information accuracy
• User-friendliness
• Value for money
• Customer service quality

What to Look for in One-Time Background Check Sites

Most background check sites offer very similar services, so it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs. And considering that many charge a fee even for trial periods, it is essential to know what to look for when doing preliminary research.

Consider the following when choosing a background check site:

Accuracy

Accurate data is the bare minimum a background check site should provide. After all, what good is a search service if the background report is incomplete, inaccurate, or collected from out-of-date public records? Thankfully, all the services reviewed here have excellent reputations for accuracy.

Search Options

A good background check service will allow you to search for a person based on different criteria. Most sites allow you to type in a person’s name to generate a comprehensive background check report.

But what if all you have is a phone number, address, or social media profile? The best sites offer multiple search types of phone records, court records, medical records, social media accounts, and other public records.

Speed

The speed at which a site returns reports can be crucial. In some cases, you may need to perform background screening or credit checks on a potential employee or tenant quickly, which means you can’t afford to wait for hours to get background check reports. The best sites give you results in just a few minutes.

Cost

Background checking services vary considerably in terms of cost. Some charge only a few cents for a trial period or forego the trial fee altogether. Monthly rates can vary from $5 to $11 a month, which could be an important consideration if you have to perform regular searches.

Legality

The legality of background reports is a touchy subject, so we’re going to delve into it in more detail.

Background checks for a criminal record might seem like a standard part of screening a tenant or interviewing a prospective employee. But there are times when running a check on a person’s criminal history or arrest records is inappropriate and even illegal.

The main issue when you run a background check is running afoul of a federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

FCRA essentially governs the collection, dissemination, and usage of consumer data. It is intended to ensure fairness and accuracy in matters involving specific persons. FCRA ensures that any data gathered when you run a background check won’t adversely affect a person’s ability to obtain the following:

• Employment
• Medical services
• Consumer credit
• Insurance and banking services
• Housing

FCRA and Pre-Employment Background Checks

Knowledge of the FCRA is especially critical when running pre-employment background checks. The law states that prospective employees can’t be denied a position in a particular firm based on information discovered via an online background check service of social media accounts or other data sources.

Misinformation isn’t the only issue. Anyone subject to a background check has the right to refute any findings and conduct their own investigation to clear their name. But they shouldn’t have to do that when applying for a job, getting insurance, or renting an apartment.

FCRA essentially protects prospective employees from being penalized for information that may not be accurate or relevant anymore. If they have already settled their debts, for example, court records shouldn’t be used as a basis to be rejected for a company position.

Furthermore, the FCRA doesn’t consider background check sites as Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRA). Consequently, most can’t be used to determine an individual’s eligibility for employment, insurance, credit, or tenancy.

Legal Use of Background Checks

Background check services can be used for legitimate purposes. But doing so should always consider fairness and conformance with federal law, particularly the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

How can you ensure the legality of background checks you conduct on someone? Firstly, only rely on information that you get from a consumer reporting agency or an FCRA-complaint background check service.

Using either of these services ensures that you don’t utilize irrelevant or unlawful information that would be detrimental to the search subject. These include:

• Misdemeanor criminal records from seven or more years ago
• Bankruptcy records from ten or more years ago
• Unpaid tax liens from seven or more years ago
• Account collections from seven or more years ago
• Inaccurate and wrongful accusations

The second way to ensure the legality of a background check is to always get permission before running a background check. Doing so will help you avoid a potentially costly lawsuit.

It is also advisable to present the search subject with a disclosure signifying adverse action. These should explain the planned action, along with a statement of FCRA compliance.

The disclosure should be accompanied by an adverse action notice. This notice should include the background check service’s company name, address, and phone number.

Finally, consider sending the subject a notice for dispute. This provides them the opportunity to clarify possible errors and issues with the report. For example, they could prove they were acquitted of a particular charge or clear up multiple reports involving a single case.

Conclusion

Background check services can be very valuable and helpful resources for identity verification. They can be used by employers, landlords, insurance investigators, law enforcement personnel, professional background screeners, and anyone looking for background information, contact details, or arrest records of a particular person.

One-time background check services are especially useful for those that need to conduct background searches only occasionally. They are more cost-effective than monthly site subscriptions, and the comprehensive report can be just as effective.

Any of the services reviewed here should help you find the results you are looking for. Whether you want background information on yourself or someone else, education history, previous addresses, contact details, or criminal records of a prospective tenant, employee, or even a date, these services should be helpful for your research.

Contact EraseMugshots Today

If you’ve performed a background check on yourself — or are worried a prospective employer, financial services group, or individual will find your personal details during a background check — we can help.

If you need help erasing your sensitive and personal information online, it’s time to take action. Contact us now and learn more about how to remove your information online with our proven background check service.  We also provide a cutting-edge reputation monitoring service to help you stay abreast of emerging threats in the digital environment.

Learn more about how to remove harmful content online by calling 866-601-6803 . If you need help protecting your privacy online, contact us now.