Dirty
little secrets background investigation vendors really don't want
you to know
Do you know where applicants
personal identification ends up?
Are you being overcharged for your criminal record
checks?
Proprietary Databases
Vendors don't want you to know they get you to do their work for
them.
Customer Service: A lost art in the background investigation
industry
Do you know where applicants personal identification
ends up?
Most
vendors do not want you to know that your background investigations
are not conducted at their offices in the United States. There is a
growing trend in the background investigation industry to reduce
costs by outsourcing processes overseas. In this scenario, it is
likely that the individual conducting your employment verification
has little if any knowledge of your organization's priorities, has
little interaction with your recruiters and does not develop
rapport with your department. More importantly, outsourcing
processes overseas involves forwarding not only the applicant's
personal identification, but also the applicant's entire life
history far beyond the scope of United States privacy laws.
Outsourcing background investigations overseas has caused
significant cases of mass identity theft. We believe that a
background investigation is too important to outsource overseas.
All work is conducted from TABB INC.'s Chester, NJ office. We do
not outsource any processes overseas.
Are
you being overcharged for your criminal record
checks?
One
secret background vendors really do not want you to know is
that the client is often billed inappropriately for names and
jurisdictions that are not associated with your applicant.
The trace database search is tool used in the background
investigation process to check the applicant's identity and
automate the criminal record search process. The trace
database is compiled from raw data and it is notorious for
containing names and addresses of other individuals who have
no relationship to your applicant. Vendors automate the
criminal record check process using information contained in
the trace and run criminal record checks using names in
jurisdictions that do not belong to your applicant. As a
result, clients are incorrectly charged for criminal checks
that should not have been conducted, a process that adds
additional costs to the client
unnecessarily.
Proprietary
Databases
It is
of the utmost importance to insure that criminal record
research is conducted only through primary sources, the state
agency authorized for this purpose or the county court. There
is a serious problem in the background investigation
industry. Too many vendors conduct criminal checks using
proprietary databases rather than conducting criminal record
research through a primary source such as the State Police.
Proprietary database searches are incomplete and inaccurate
and do not meet due diligence
obligations.
Proprietary databases are compiled from
publicly available information such as correctional or sex
offender records that are available on the Internet into a
researchable database that is sold by a vendor to employers.
Instant database searches are inexpensive and the results are
returned immediately; however, there is a major problem with
this type of search. These checks are not actual criminal
record checks since they do not search primary sources and
lead to a false sense of security. You can quite easily hire
an applicant who unknowingly has a criminal record that was
missed by a proprietary database search. Proprietary
databases often do not have a date of birth or social
security number for a defendant leading to results that
falsely attribute a crime to an applicant. The proper method
of conducting a statewide criminal record check is through a
primary source. This would be the state agency specifically
authorized for pre-employment purposes or, in states where a
statewide search is not available, a search of county court
records in jurisdictions where the applicant has lived.
Proprietary database research is so problematic that a recent
revision to the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires specific
procedures and safeguards to protect applicants. Numerous
lawsuits have resulted from the improper use of proprietary
databases.
Why
do background vendors use proprietary databases rather than
conduct research through a primary source? Background
investigations have become a commodity due to the false
belief that all background investigations and all criminal
checks are the same. When this occurs, only cost is a
deciding factor and not value, which could not be further
from the truth. Vendors use proprietary databases because it
is in their best interest, not the benefit of the client.
Unfortunately, vendors fail to educate the client regarding
the pros and cons of each aspect of the background
investigation process. Primary source criminal record checks
must be conducted manually through internal processes of the
vendor rather than automatically through an on-line database.
Primary source criminal checks also incur additional expense
due to mandatory fees charged by states. Proprietary database
research costs less than a primary source criminal check and
allows a vendor to compete on bids based on lower costs.
However, in many cases, proprietary database research is a
waste of money and they are
dangerous.
Conducting a thorough criminal record
search is a priority. The potential for a negligent hiring
lawsuit and negative publicity generated from an incident
warrants a background investigation program that includes
conducting the proper criminal record research. TABB INC.
only conducts criminal record research through primary
sources; we do not use proprietary databases research, as
this type of research does not meet our standards and should
not meet yours. Our criminal record research assures the
client that every possible step has been taken to provide a
safe and secure environment for your
facilities.
Vendors don't want you to know they get you to do their work for
them.
The
purpose of outsourcing your Human Resource functions is to
save time and money. When you outsource your background
investigation process, the goal is to free recruiters and
support staff to do what they do best, recruit. Yet many
background vendors require recruiters to waste valuable time
entering information contained on the employment application.
The secret vendors don't want you to know is that they are
getting you, the client, to do their work for them. Rather
than saving you time and money, the reverse is actually
happening. This is not exactly the reason to
outsource.
Customer Service: A lost art in the background investigation
industry
Are
you having trouble discussing specific handling for a
background investigation or the results? Do you email your
questions and receive an email response? True customer
service involves personal contact. At TABB INC. the Account
Manager is the client's direct link to our services and
assigns work to our researchers. Your Account Manager is
responsible for answering client questions, including any
special handling required for a specific case. They are also
responsible for timely service and the overall quality of the
report. We find this system of assigning an Account Manager
who can concentrate on changing requirements and any special
account management a client may require is extremely
beneficial to our clients. By minimizing the expenditure of
the client's time in the process, recruiters have more time
to devote to their other duties. Under the guidance and
direction of the Account Manager, a select number of TABB
INC. researchers specifically trained to understand the
client's requirements are assigned to conduct background
investigations according to the client's requirements. As
standard procedure, TABB INC. develops a program for each
customer based on the client's requirements and concerns
after we review and discuss available services with the
client. The client evaluates the benefits of the various
products we offer and determines if the product fits into the
overall background investigation
plan.
Another area where our services offer a
vast improvement over those provided by other vendors is
customer service and accountability. The entire background
investigation on each applicant including criminal checks,
education, employment, references, professional licensure,
etc. is assigned to one researcher. An employment application
is not broken up by areas to be researched, which would
result in several people working on different aspects of the
employment application. With TABB INC., if a recruiter or
hiring manager has a question or special handling is
required; one call to our researcher is all it will take to
discuss an applicant. Your recruiters interact with our
researchers and a rapport develops. As a result, each client
has a unique background program and the ability to tailor a
specific background investigation for any position or
applicant.
We at
TABB INC. believe that our system of dedicated Account
Managers and Research Specialists, who are responsible for
the entire background investigation, set our company apart
from other
vendors.
Benchmark.
You
should review your background investigation program
periodically to insure your process meets due diligence
requirements and compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting
Act. Often, a background investigation program has been in
place for many years without review. The same background
investigation is conducted year after year because that is
the way it has always been done. In the current financial
environment, everyone has a lot their plate. Take a few
moments and take a good look at your background investigation
program. Review what you are currently doing and what you
would like to accomplish. Compare your program with best
practices and get new ideas and a second opinion from other
vendors. Find out what goes on in the background
investigation industry that you don't know
about.
Please
visit our Free Trial Report Page
here
