For many years, both the police and background check services have been providing information to landlords and employers about the different people who apply with them. But what exactly is a background check and under what scenario are you likely to face one? What type of information about you and your past are likely to come up during this type of check?
While a criminal background check is what comes to many people’s minds when they hear the phrase “background check”, there are other elements that are equally important when it comes to investigating your past for residential or employment needs, especially since the majority of people don’t actually have a criminal record to check up on. Past employment records are an important element of employment screening for many companies, as your track record at previous jobs is perhaps the strongest indication of the type of performance you would deliver to your new bosses if they choose to hire you. If you are looking to rent an apartment or home, a credit worthiness check will often be done by to prospective landlord. Although not as essential for pre employment background checks, it is extremely important for landlords to know that new tenants will be able to and actually will pay their rent on time.
Because a background check can reveal some very sensitive information about a person, there are laws that have been put in place that are intended to protect your privacy. Perhaps one of the most notable laws is the Fair Credit Reporting Act, also known as the FCRA. This regulates consumer information, controlling what data can be used for a national background check, how this sensitive information is kept secure, what consumers are notified about, and how they can access their information.
