How to Complete a Free Online Background Check
Have you ever decided to check out your own background online? If not, then you should. And since you can now also do a free online background check, there really is no reason why you shouldn’t do it anymore. Take a look at some reasons why doing this is so important.
Why You Should Complete a Free Online Background Check
It is very possible that there is incorrect information about you online or on your credit report. While this may seem like no big deal, it could actually cause big problems for if you apply for a house, job, or loan. Thankfully, errors on your background files can be corrected.
Additionally, you should consider completing free checks on other people. For instance, if you are going on a date with someone you met on Tinder or if you are considering a new roommate, you should check them out. Unfortunately, the world is a dangerous place.
How to Complete a Free Background Check
You will be happy to know that it is easy and can be free to complete a background check. However, if you are an employer or a landlord, or if you want to complete a check for insurance, medical, or credit reasons, then you must go through official channels, being a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA). This has been regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which maintains data protection and offers dispute resolution as well.
If, however, you simply want to check out yourself, a potential roommate, a new neighbor, or that hot date, then you can use any service you like. There are many online background check businesses online offering a professional service. However, you do have to watch out for scammers. Professional services usually cost a little bit of money and you should dismiss anyone who is too cheap or too expensive.
Of course, there are also plenty of ways to not spend any money at all. Some of the information you are looking for is readily available through public records. If you are happy to search in a limited geographical location and only for those records, you don’t often have to pay anything. Or, if you have the time, you can do it yourself. You can enter someone’s name in Google, Facebook, Twitter, and the National Sex Offender Public Website and get lots of important information.
Indeed, a Google search is a really good idea. Start by entering your own name to see what comes up, because that is one of the ways you will be checked out as well. If there are any mistakes, you will quickly and easily be able to pick them up and get them resolved.
Credit reports are a little bit more complicated. You can get a copy of your own credit report for free once a year from the main credit agencies, being Experience, Equifax, and Trans Union. However, you cannot request a credit report in someone’s else’s name. If you feel comfortable doing so, however, you can simply ask them to request their credit report and show you.
