FAQs

Product Information

  • What is the National SSN/Address Locator?

    To determine a candidate’s residential address history, Accurate Background utilizes what is called a National SSN/Address Locator. The information provided by this service is collected from a nationwide proprietary database and includes information from more than 400 sources. These sources may include credit bureaus, US Postal Change of Addresses, property records, telephone directories, magazine subscriptions, and a myriad of other types of public and consumer data sources. Due to the broad scope of data sources providing this information, any additional information contained in this report that is not listed in your name is not necessarily an indication of fraudulent use or identity theft. The only information used by Accurate Background from the National SSN/Address Locator is used to confirm the candidate’s name as well as independently determine any address history that corresponds with that name. If there is any address history provided that is listed under a different name we will disregard those addresses.

  • If my candidate is concerned about the information provided on the National SSN/Address Locator who should they contact?

    If your candidate has concerns about their credit or identity, we recommend they contact the following three (3) Credit Agencies to request a copy of their record.

    • Equifax: 888.766.0008
    • Experian: 888.397.3742
    • TransUnion: 800.680.7289

  • Can I move forward without a Social Security number (SSN)?

    No, the SSN is necessary in obtaining an independent determination of where the applicant has lived in the past. It can also be required by some universities and employers when obtaining verification of credentials.

  • Why would I need to search past aliases, maiden names?

    It is a common misconception that court records are searched using a person’s Social Security number. In fact, court records are first searched by a person’s name and then, in most cases, confirmed by the applicant’s date of birth – a SSN is frequently not even listed on court records. For this reason, it is imperative to search any past aliases and/or maiden names your applicant has used in a seven year period to determine if any court cases where filed under a past name. The same can be true for education and employment verifications. Some schools and employers still verify a person’s employment or education using the person’s name, not their SSN.

    The past aliases and maiden names are provided on the National SSN/Address Locator service allowing you an independent determination of a person’s address history and previous name history.

  • Why can’t I get misdemeanor criminal history in some areas?

    Accurate Background understands that criminal classifications and charge severity varies from state-to-state and county-to-county. For this reason, we look for both felony and misdemeanor cases when conducting a background check. There are only a few counties in the United States where access to misdemeanor information is restricted. In those counties, we are only able to access felony information. For a list of counties where misdemeanor information is not available, please contact our Customer Service team at 800.216.8024.

  • Do I need the person’s date of birth to run the background check?

    Yes, your applicant’s date of birth is needed to run a background check. Accurate Background must have this information as a second identifier for criminal searches as most criminal cases are filed using a person’s name and date of birth. By providing us with the date of birth, we are able to match corresponding court files to your applicant and their date of birth. Without it, there is a possibility court cases not belonging to your applicant will be erroneously reported.

    For background screening purposes, the collection of a date of birth is legally permissible and collection is completed when the applicant provides their written authorization for the background check.

  • Why do some counties take longer than others for criminal and civil information?

    There are a few reasons why some counties might take longer than others:

    Natural Disasters
    In the unfortunate event of a natural disaster, court records can be delayed in the impacted areas due to damage and/or destruction. When this happens, we are in continuous contact with the courthouse in an effort to resolve the delays and get an update on when records will be accessible again.

    Court Clerk Processing
    In most counties in the United States, our experienced network of court researchers can enter the courthouse and look for court records on their own however; this is not the case in all counties. A small number of county courthouses require court record research to be conducted by the court clerk. In these instances, we are at the mercy of the court clerk to get us the court record information.

    Court Holidays
    There are numerous court holidays throughout the year which can cause a slight delay in court record results. All federal holidays are the same for all federal courts. At the county courthouse level the court holidays vary widely based on the state and, in some cases, the county.

    Regardless of the reason for the delay, your request will be updated regularly to include specific information regarding the delay as well as the date we expect to receive the results (if available).

  • What is Risk Reduction Technology™?

    Accurate Background’s Risk Reduction Technology™ is a fully automated, proprietary loss prevention tool developed to promote consistency in your hiring decisions. Designed with comprehensive business intelligence, this technology systematically adjudicates each background search based on Federal, State and local regulations as well as your organization’s policies and guidelines. Based on the hiring guidelines used by your organization, the background search results are given a “Meets” or “Doesn’t Meet Requirements” recommendation.

  • What is “Adjudication”? What does “Meets Requirements” and “Doesn’t Meet Requirements mean?

    “Adjudication” is the process of reviewing the background check results once the background check is completed and providing a “Meets Requirements” or “Doesn’t Meet Requirements” hiring recommendation. Adjudication standards help ensure compliance with State and Federal laws regarding employment background screening as well as ensure adherence to your organization’s hiring guidelines.

    • Meets Requirements - The background search has been completed and the candidate meets all hiring guidelines.
    • Doesn’t Meet Requirements - The background search has been completed and the candidate does not meet hiring guidelines.

    Please note: The language used for the hiring recommendation (i.e. Meets Requirements or Doesn’t Meet Requirements) can be changes based on your organization’s needs.

  • How do I know if a Candidate is a Meets or Doesn’t Meet Requirements?

    There are two places where a candidate’s Adjudication status can be seen.

    • An e-mail notification which states whether a candidate Meets or Doesn’t Meet Requirements is sent to the Requestor if your account is set up for this email notification.
    • Adjudication status will appear on the Requester’s summary page under the “Review Result” column.


  • What is the employment verification process?

    Accurate Background will verify information provided by the candidate regarding their past and/or current employers. Information verified includes dates of employment, position held, salary, and eligibility for rehire.

  • What is the education verification process?

    Accurate Background recommends verification of the candidate’s highest level of education. Information verified includes dates of attendance, degree/major, and graduation confirmation.

  • Is an onsite inspection required to utilize the Credit Report service?

    Yes, an onsite inspection will need to be completed before your organization can have access to Credit Reports. The onsite inspections can typically be scheduled and completed within an average of 5 business days and the cost for the inspection is $100.

  • How do we obtain new Fed-Ex Air Bills and the proper Chain of Custody Forms?

    Our Drug Testing Team provides the necessary shipping supplies and proper Chain of Custody Forms to your organization.

  • Who should our candidates contact if they need assistance locating a collection site?

    Your candidate should contact our Drug Testing department at 800.784.3911. The hours of operation for live customer support are Monday through Friday from 6 am to 6pm PST.

  • Does the candidate need to contact the collection site prior to testing?

    Though operating hours and days for collection sites are provided in a formatted list, these items can change without notice. It is highly recommended that the candidate call the collection site beforehand to verify hours and to determine if an appointment is necessary.

  • What is the timeframe allowed for a candidate to submit to a drug test?

    The candidate should submit to a drug test within 24- 48 hours, depending on the type of drug test and company regulations. If result is not received from the lab within 5-7 business days, the drug test component is closed. The final status is No Specimen Submitted.

  • The background file indicates the Drug Test was cancelled, due to “No Specimen Submitted” – but my candidate assures me they tested – what do I do?

    The candidate should be contacted and the following information collected and relayed to the Accurate Background Drug Testing team:

    • Test Date
    • Collection Site (include facility name and complete address)
    • Chain of Custody Form Number

  • Can the drug test status be updated or reopened if the result is received after the fact?

    Yes. The drug testing status can be updated if the background screening package is still pending. If the package is closed or completed, your organization will be consulted on how you would like to proceed.

  • What does it mean if the Drug Test component has been pending for more than 4 days, but isn’t cancelled?

    This could indicate further testing is required due to a result of Quantity Not Sufficient, Invalid Sample, a Retest Required or the result is with the Medical Review Officer (MRO).

    The best course of action is to follow up with Client Services at 800.216.8024.

  • Is it possible to adjudicate on Drug Test results through Accurate’s Risk Reduction Technology™?

    Adjudication criteria based on Drug Testing results can be wrapped into your Adjudication Grid. Please speak with your Sales Representative or Account Manager.

    If a package is reopened to update a Drug Test result and your organization utilizes Accurate’s Risk Reduction Technology™, the adjudication will have to be reset as well.

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