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The TRU Report is our company e-newsletter, with the express purpose of educating, entertaining, and informing our our valued Clients of the latest in TruView and the background screening and investigative industry.
Do you have an investigator’s license?
We do! TruView is a State-Licensed Private Investigator in multiple states and jurisdictions. TruView and its partners performs investigations in all 50 U.S. states, and internationally. Please contact us for more information on our licensing and investigative capabilities in your area.
Can you dedicate an analyst to my account?
Yes! TruView uses a Team Approach to service each background screening and investigative account. That means we assign, at minimum, an experienced Operations Supervisor or Team Leader and a Research Analyst and Backup Research Analyst to each Client account. Each screening is performed from start to finish by a dedicated member of our team. When you call TruView, you will always reach a professional who is tracking your account and your individual needs, and who is able to meet your requests.
Are your analysts certified?
Yes. All TruView Research Analysts are certified by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The Certification Program ensures that our Research Analysts have core understanding of how the law applies to their responsibilities, including the duties of consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) under FCRA; the basic rights and duties of end users and consumers; consumer litigation and regulatory enforcement actions; and principal state law variants of FCRA.
Our Research Analysts are required to complete and pass a three-week, proprietary TruView training program, as well as ongoing in-service training, in screening methodologies and legal compliance. TruView managers hold Basic and Advanced FCRA certifications under NAPBS.
Where are TruView’s background screening and reporting services performed?
TruView’s background screening services and reporting are performed in the United States. TruView does not outsource verifications or data to overseas call centers. Our employees, data, and customer service operations are U.S.-based. Day-to-day questions, concerns, and requests are handled in personalized fashion by our integral TruView team, with fully staffed offices in New York and California. With a nationwide network of local investigators/court runners, TruView performs expedient court/document searches in any local jurisdiction in the U.S. TruView uses resources external to the United States only for international searches.
Can I use the so-called “national criminal database” or "multi-jurisdiction search" as a standalone, exclusive search for criminal records?
You can… but we don’t recommend it! Simply put, they are unreliable. There are no true national criminal databases; rather, those so-named are compiled by third parties from various sources, and they may not provide a complete assessment of an individual’s criminal record due to geographical gaps, infrequent updates, time gaps, and, in general, a lack of accuracy and completeness. Some states do not make county court/conviction records available to national criminal database compilers; only convictions that resulted in sentences to a state correctional facility are reported. Therefore, a “national criminal database search” should be used only as an investigative supplement to an official, statewide database or a county-level court search. TruView searches a multi-jurisdictional database compiled from state and county criminal record databases (including applicable regulatory sites and records directly from court and state sources), to supplement on-site criminal and civil court document searches; this is only way to achieve the most up-to-date, accurate, and legal criminal history screen.
Is there a difference between a Social Security Number “Trace” and a Social Security Number “Verification”? Which do I need?
Trustworthy, professional background screening firms perform comprehensive background screenings that make use of a wide range of search methodologies to develop accurate and detailed information regarding an individual. While an SSN Trace is always the first step in any background screening, it should be combined with additional search processes to ascertain critical information about an applicant and to ensure that the potential employer is in compliance with U.S. employment law.
Many employers erroneously think that running a simple Social Security Number (SSN) Trace is all that’s needed to confirm an applicant’s right to work under United States law. This is far from the truth. Falling prey to this myth can lead a business to hire someone who is ineligible to work in the U.S., potentially exposing the business to civil and criminal penalties. An SSN Trace (or SSN “Validation”) simply generates a report listing any addresses, as well as any aliases, linked to the specific SSN provided by the applicant.
An SSN Trace does not confirm whether a specific SSN belongs to the applicant. Nor does an SSN Trace fulfill legal requirements for eligibility to work verification, which is usually performed after an applicant has been hired. Unfortunately, there is a robust trade in false identifies. Individuals who don’t have the right to work in the U.S. or have unfavorable backgrounds can often obtain SSNs that belong to other people.
An SSN Trace alone is usually insufficient to reveal if the SSN belongs to the applicant, unless it returns either no information or information that is completely different from other background information provided by the applicant. Either result is an immediate red flag, requiring additional communication with the applicant.
While SSN Traces do not verify employment eligibility, they are a vital part of background screening and can reveal critical data, such as locations where an applicant has resided that differ from what he or she has provided, and verify the validity of the SSN. A background screening firm can then search the criminal and civil courts in those jurisdictions for any action naming the applicant, potentially uncovering issues relevant to the hiring decision.
To help determine if an applicant-provided SSN is not tied to that individual, a background screener can conduct a Consent-Based SSN Verification (CBSV). During a CBSV verification, information linked to an SSN in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records is compared to information provided by the applicant—such as date of birth, current address, name, and so forth—to determine if the information matches. A signed form of consent from the applicant is required and can be requested at any time during the hiring process. However, a CBSV only confirms that the applicant-provided information is consistent with what the government has on file for the SSN; it does not confirm employment eligibility.
Online right-to-work verifications are conducted using E-Verify, an electronic system maintained by the federal government. Under the E-Verify system, information from the SSA and Department of Homeland Security is compared to information provided by the applicant on Form I-9. E-Verify simply confirms that the individual has the right to work in the U.S. All employers must complete Form I-9 for each new hire, but E-Verify checks are voluntary for most U.S. firms; E-Verify checks are required for certain government contractors and for businesses in some states. E-Verify checks are performed after an offer of employment has been extended but before the new employee has been working for three business days.
In what states do you conduct motor vehicle records checks? Are there any state requirements for special handling and processing?
TruView performs MVR screens in all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Certain states have special handling and process requirements—additional process forms—for applicants. We keep a checklist of these additional requirements for ease of use by our Clients.
What happens when an applicant disputes a result?
Applicants may request the full results of their completed background check at any point after its completion. If an applicant requests a report, we promptly respond on TruView letterhead with a brief acknowledgement of the request, and a full copy of the report. The letter also includes TruView’s toll-free customer service hotline.
Because TruView practices rigorous quality control procedures, we have a very low dispute incident rate. In the event an applicant disputes a report’s accuracy, we re-run the background check, taking additional steps to match identifiers, and verify any or all disputed elements. No formal inquiries or reports are required for an applicant to file such a dispute. Applicants can call our toll-free customer service hotline to dispute a result or ask questions about the screening process and subsequent reporting. TruView maintains direct contact with the applicant throughout the process and accepts evidence from the applicant supporting his or her claim. To maintain transparency, a “Disputes” section of the TruView platform allows Clients to monitor ongoing applicant disputes. In the rare event that screening inaccuracies occur by fault of TruView, we credit the cost of the screen, plus any associated fees.
Additionally, as a value-added service, members of the TruView team assist applicants to correct erroneously reported information. For example, while TruView cannot directly amend the contents of a disputed consumer credit report, we are pleased to provide applicants with all necessary contact information and required steps for correction with the appropriate agency.
Do you train Clients to use your platform?
Yes. TruView trains the Client and authorized users in our easy-to-use, completely accessible, and intuitive platform. Trainings are in-person (time permitting) or via webinar, based on Client needs and preferences. Our team is available when needed for re-training, or to train new authorized users. Typically, our Client onboarding training programs are one to two hours via WebEx but, as we tailor the program to your specific needs (including based on the number of users), the program could be as long as four hours or in-person.
Do you use a Cloud-based platform?
Yes. TruView’s Cloud-based platform is a complete, state-of-the-art background screening system that provides for secure electronic information transfer between TruView and its authorized Client users. Clients can log onto their secure account page through the TruView portal from anywhere, using any web browser, for fast, secure access to ordering and retrieving reports, 24 hours a day. The technology provides complete Client control over the access rights/level of each user in your organization. The system is secure—only those with permission to order or retrieve reports or invoices can do so.
Can TruView integrate with my Applicant Tracking System?
Yes. TruView’s background screening platform is built to interface with and support standard HR-XML or JSON data-interchange formats and numerous other commonly used coding languages. This enables efficient and effective integration with nearly any applicant tracking and background check management systems (ATS and BCMS). We support the WC3 standard for Web services, ensuring the optimum secure communication between systems.
Do you perform international background screens?
Yes! TruView can perform background screens in over 195 countries. International screens are performed through a combination of on-staff experts (our employees conduct most international verifications in English speaking countries) and our large network of carefully vetted, trusted third-party consultants throughout the world. TruView consultants are certified and carefully vetted for accuracy, language capabilities, and record on turnaround times; we also require that our consultant partners be members of NAPBS and/or a recognized international association of private investigators.
TruView performs a full range of international searches, including verification of personal information, corporate filings, property ownership, civil litigation, criminal records, bankruptcy records, regulatory/professional licensing resources, employment verification, education verification, and government watch lists. More in-depth investigative services, such as discreet source inquiries into negative reputation information/allegations, are also available. International screens are handled on a case-by-case basis and discussed with the client before they are begun.
All international search results are returned with the official name of court/agency searched and local contact information for secondary verification. TruView is current in all international laws —as well as political developments—that impact international searches. We maintain a country-by-country index that contains specific details on record availability, local privacy issues/laws, requirements for information access (e.g., name in native script, signed releases, need for address history, etc.), estimated turnaround times, and pricing.
Do you use temporary or subcontracted investigators?
No! All TruView investigators are employees who operate under the TruView Private Investigator licenses. Our investigators are carefully selected, experienced, qualified, and trained, and they operate under the direct supervision and management of TruView’s staff Operations Supervisors, Account Managers, and Director of Investigations. We have no “1099” investigators; we don’t use subcontractors or independent contractors.
Does TruView perform litigation support investigations? Do your investigators testify in court?
Yes, and yes. TruView performs the full complement of litigation support services, with the background and expertise to support law firms and government agencies in civil and criminal investigations. We work closely with government agencies to deliver evidence that will stand up in court. Our investigators testify at administrative hearings and civil and criminal courts.