The social security number is the most unambiguous means of identifying an individual. Chances of a successful search are greatly reduced without it. We recommend that you have an open, honest and frank discussion with your potential partner. Explain your desire to conduct a background check, ask for the social security number and offer him or her an opportunity to do the same on you. If your partner hestitates, that may be one of the most revealing indicators of the need for caution.

No records could be found or your information does not match the name and address of my subject. What does this mean?

A "no records" search on a subject whose social security number is known suggests the individual has gone to great lengths to maintain their personal privacy. In today's computerized society, this is a very difficult goal to achieve. Successful cloaking of one's identity requires a concerted, ongoing and intentional effort ... something that should arouse suspicion.

If social security number you provided does not match subject's name and address, there may be several other explanations. These include a misspelled or mistaken subject's name or you have reported an incorrect address. If the subject has recently moved, it is possible the change has not yet been reflected in the public record. Although these findings may be attributed to honest errors, one possibility is that the subject has intentionally misrepresented their identity or address information. In all events, you should proceed with caution until the matter is resolved to your satisfaction.

Will a record of marriage or divorce proceedings be reflected in my report?

Depending on the state, marriage or divorce proceedings may appear in a "basic" report. But in most cases, you will need to run a "comprehensive" report that includes a search of court records. Some courts may not enter these proceedings in their computer systems. Findings may be further limited in that only records covering the prior seven years in the county court of current residence are included. Our reports do list additional names associated with the subject's address so it may be possible to infer a state of marriage based on matching last names. However, these could represent blood relatives, such as a mother or daughter, living at the same location so you should refrain from jumping to any conclusions.

Will my report include credit history information?

No. In accordance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit history is non-public information and may only be disclosed with the signed consent of the subject.

My report appears to correspond with everything I know about my subject and no criminal or civil court records were found. Does this represent a "clean bill of health"?

Absolutely not! The absence of conflicting or untoward information should never be construed as a guarantee of a person's character or integrity. Data entry errors or omissions in public records, database file corruption, variations in jurisdictional scope or periods of coverage and a host of other factors can result in missing facts or potentially misleading conclusions. It is further possible that a subject engaged in criminal behavior has never been caught. Our reports should only be considered an economical first step screening tool to identify a need for further reflection, consideration or action.