When running a background check on someone, we can’t emphasize the accuracy of the report more. How to find an accurate background service? What to avoid when you want accurate background checks?

Accurate Background Checks – 5 Don’ts

1. Don’t trust newly-established websites
   – Only trust the reputable ones, such as BeenVerified.
2. Don’t aim for pre-employment check
   – The education background information is very likely missing.
3. Don’t buy it before reading customer reviews
   – Let customers help customers.
4. Don’t rush into decisions without analysis
   – Services can differ a lot in their database.
5. Don’t subscribe without a trial membership
   – No people search service can be 100% accurate. Refunding can be extremely hard in some cases.

1. Don’t trust newly-established websites

Go with the “old” ones. They have survived the test of time.

An older business does not necessarily mean it’s better, but in the background check business, it’s definitely the case.

This usually means they have a larger data source. The reason why it still prevails, regardless of the fierce competition today, is that it served the customers well by providing accurate background checks.

A new background check service, on the contrary, relies greatly on advertising and meeting different needs of customers, such as how to catch a cheater.

So next time you find a fancy people search website, but it’s relatively new, it’s usually not worth taking the risk of paying for incorrect information.

2. Don’t aim for pre-employment check

You will be disappointed. It’s very likely that a people search service, even a reputable one, finds you nothing or inaccurate information from education to work experience to certifications and awards.

To avoid making a poorly-informed hiring decision, it’s recommended to resort to a more professional service or agency to run a thorough background check.

3. Don’t buy it before reading customer reviews

In a world filled with decisions, reviews offer simple, relevant guidance. Reading reviews helps us make the best possible decision in a short time.

If you’re pressed for time, then take a quick look at the rating. To save your time, we’ve put together the ratings and reviews of the most popular background check services below:

• Peoplefinders: 4.8 on ConsumerAffairs Rating (No enough reviews)
• BeenVerified: 4.4 on ConsumerAffairs Rating (Best Choice)
• Intelius: 3.7 on ConsumerAffairs Rating
• Spokeo: 3.1 on ConsumerAffairs Rating

4. Don’t rush into decisions without analysis

Before using an expensive background check tool, try doing a background search using BeenVerified.

When I compared it with Spokeo, for example, I found it gave me a much more detailed and accurate report on the person I searched for.

What’s missing on the Spokeo report is the Work & Associates, Bankruptcies, Education, etc. The court records on Spokeo is a paid feature, which means you have to unlock it even when you’re already a premium member.

5. Don’t subscribe without a trial membership

Most background search services offer special trial membership plans. Spend up to $1 and you will have access to its premium features for 7 days at most.

However, some services offer trial membership randomly. Therefore, it’s possible that you won’t be able to see any special offer sometimes.

If that’s the case, you can clear the cache of your browser, and try again. Grab it when you can.

Although there’s a “Money-Back Guarantee” if you’re not satisfied with the result, contacting the support team for a refund might be lengthy.

There you have it – 5 things to avoid when you’re trying to run an accurate background check. If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to leave them in the Comments section below.