Tag Archive for: background checks

Can I Ever Run a Background Check Without Permission?

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The reasons to run a background check—and contexts in which you could need a background report are numerous: You may need a report ASAP. You may be running a check outside a formal hiring process. You may need a large number of reports completed at once.

Under a time constraint and without the strict rules of a hiring process, you might wonder whether it’s necessary to get the subject’s permission to run a screening. Technically, if you have someone’s full name, you could run a background check on them without their knowledge. However, that doesn’t mean you should. Ethically—and often legally—you should always obtain permission before screening anyone.

So the short answer is no, you can’t run a background check without permission. Screening ethics aren’t quite that simple though. Background checks in personal and professional settings have different expectations. Let’s dive into the rules, expectations and potential consequences of running background checks in different contexts so you can decide what makes the most sense for you.

Background checks in larger organizations.

If you are a landlord or an employer that hires frequently, you likely run background checks on your applicants to help you decide who to hire or rent to. In organizations with a full HR department, things are a bit different. You have employment policies and all the disclosure and authorization forms you need to properly run a pre-employment background check. But there are legal obligations for organizations that perform a lot of screenings that require consistent care, and you shouldn’t go it alone.

The information you gather from consumer reports has a direct impact on someone’s future, so you must abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA protects applicants with specific rights through the entire background check process. The law requires you to get their approval to run a consumer report—and they have the right to dispute that information.

No organization or landlord should ever disregard the FCRA. Those who do can end up in serious legal trouble like image-damaging class action lawsuits. A screening partner like One Source can help guide you through the FCRA with ease and make screening a simple and clear process. Often, credit reporting agencies (CRA) will provide you with an FCRA disclosure and authorization form as well as a sample policies and procedures to help you start. You don’t want to start off on the wrong foot by running a background check without permission. 

Background checks on a smaller scale.

Not everyone who runs a background check hires frequently or has an HR department. Smaller organizations that handle professional hiring may only need to run one or two background checks. Or you may be an individual wanting to run a report on just yourself. 

Even if you don’t hire frequently, that does not mean you shouldn’t inform those that you intend to screen. You should still have an employment policy in place and treat each new hire for similar positions equally. If you decide to utilize a CRA for this type of background check, then you will need to follow the FCRA requirements.

One Source can help with screenings on a smaller scale with our specializations in screenings for contractors and contingent works. If you want someone to do work on your office or rental home, you can screen them under the permissible purpose of site access. While you could look up the contractor online for reviews of their work, you can get a professional report on their background by utilizing a CRA. In order to do that, you must inform them of your intent to screen. Once again, you must not run a background check without permission.

At One Source, we help you see how the FCRA and screening ethics fit into your background check needs. Contact our Client Relations team today to see what screening options are best for you.

The State of the Screening Industry During the Pandemic

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While the current COVID-19 crisis and efforts to contain it have brought several industries to a halt, some businesses find themselves urgently in need of more team members. The healthcare and supply chain industries are working nonstop to fulfill the demands of sick and social-distancing populations. The screening industry has become more important than ever to these industries that are experiencing a spike in demand.

The industries with high demand have to hire new workers quickly. However, that doesn’t mean proper hiring protocols can be pushed aside.  Different security risks have arisen from having an entirely remote staff.

Background checks and monitoring are still necessary—even as the landscape of hiring changes. One Source is still here to serve your screening needs, and we’ll be totally transparent about ways COVID-19 has impacted the screening industry.

One Source Background Check’s COVID-19 protocols.

We created processes to keep our operations as normal as possible while prioritizing our team’s safety when we realized social distancing and stay-at-home orders were on the horizon for our clients.

Certain office closures around the country and the world will cause delays as we gather information for your reports. Some aspects of background checks that may be delayed across the entire screening industry include:

  • Court Records. We can process record requests in about 90 percent of U.S. counties at the moment. Many courts have ways to access records electronically. We will experience some delay for county courts that don’t have electronic records and are closed due to the pandemic.
  • Drug and Alcohol Testing. Some clinics in the U.S. are not open to those without respiratory symptoms. Some clinics are entirely closed. However, only 8 percent of the clinics in One Source’s network are currently closed. Double check with your local clinics to make sure they’re available for testing.
  • Education and Employment Verification. It may take longer to process verification requests due to some schools and organizations being closed right now.
  • International Criminal Records. Closures worldwide can slow processes and delay record requests.

Despite potential delays, we will still provide your reports on time and clearly mark if any parts are incomplete. You can see our entire COVID-19 process at the link at the top of our homepage.

Considerations for your own screening process.

You may be considering loosening some of your screening processes so you can hire faster if your demand for employees has increased. However, consider how the changes will affect your business down the road before you change your procedures.

For example, a business could choose to temporarily suspend criminal record checks to expedite hiring—a choice with potential negligent hiring and civil rights legal consequences.

Hiring without screening opens the door to negligent hiring charges. And if that business decides to reinstate criminal record checks, future hires could claim that criminal screenings were never necessary to the business and are a form of discrimination.

While we’re all taking this pandemic day by day, businesses do still need to plan ahead and consider the future of their workforce. Background checks play a big role in building a strong, consistent team and they shouldn’t be reduced for temporary circumstances.

To learn more about One Source’s COVID-19 response and how we can help your organization through,  Contact the One Source Client Relations 

Answering All of Your Fair Credit Reporting Act and Adverse Action FAQs

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The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guides the background check process for employers and offers privileges and rights to the candidates who undergo screenings. Following the FCRA is essential for any hiring team, especially when it comes to adverse action, which is the process of removing an applicant from consideration due to screening report results.

Complex and important aspects of the background check process, both the FCRA and adverse action can raise plenty of questions for employers. One Source’s team can guide you through the FCRA and answer any questions about adverse action. Below we have discussed some frequently asked questions.

How long do I have to wait to remove an applicant from consideration after I notify them of my intent to take adverse action?

Once you decide to take adverse action against an applicant, you must notify them of your decision and the specific parts of their report led to your choice. You must then put any further actions on hold to give the applicant the opportunity to dispute their report. Generally, you must wait five business days before sending a final notice. The waiting period can vary by state, though, so be sure to check with your background check agency.

What if a candidate declines to consent to a background check?

If screenings are one of your company’s requirements for employment, then refusal to participate in a screening would disqualify them. However, the FCRA does not apply to applicants who don’t want to be screened. By refusing a background check, they waive their FCRA rights. Therefore you can remove them from consideration without taking adverse action.

Do I have to follow adverse action with contractors and volunteers?

Yes. Contingent employees and volunteers are protected by the FCRA, so you must follow FCRA guidelines in order to remove them from your recruitment process. There are several functions to which FCRA applies, including contractors, and volunteers. 

What if the information we are basing adverse action on is vague?

Sometimes, a criminal record won’t provide much context to a charge, so you’ll have to take adverse action without a full understanding of how an applicant got a criminal record. That’s why it’s required to wait several business days before you can finalize adverse action. You leave space for an applicant to provide details about their charges or dispute their accuracy. Plus, this gives you time to consult your screening firm. They will help you decipher what the codes on a criminal record mean and explain how the record translates into actual crimes. You can then make a better judgement about whether or not to keep the applicant in consideration.

With the help of an expert screening partner like One Source, your team can navigate the FCRA with ease. Contact the One Source Client Relations team today to see how we can help you manage your hiring process.

How to Maximize Your Investment in Quality Background Checks

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Nearly every organization hiring or recruiting volunteers utilizes background checks in some way. Applicants and employers alike often see screening as another box to check as they work toward a hiring decision. 

While the ubiquity of background checks is a great sign, many organizations don’t realize their screening process has untapped potential. Background checks drive success when done right and lead to serious difficulties when done insufficiently. 

That’s why background checks should be viewed as an investment in the future of your organization. Thorough, accurate background screenings can help you hire the best candidates with confidence—building your team with people you can trust.

Here we’ll talk about how making the most of your investment in background checks strengthens your company and how you can avoid the hidden costs of inadequate screenings.

Tailor background checks to each job description.

Background checks are an investment in your organization’s growth, so it’s worth it to put thought into how each candidate is screened. Each job description is different with varying expectations—one-size-fits-all screening just isn’t efficient for finding the best candidates.

Go through each department in your organization and determine their screening needs. Some departments may need team members to have clear driving records, while some may need certifications of specific degrees. You can then work with your background check agency to tailor screening protocols to each job opening. At One Source, we offer driving record checks, education verification and more to meet the specific needs of each of your teams. 

By putting careful thought into what each screening includes, you use your resources efficiently and cover all your bases while finding the best candidates.

Work with a screening partner.

Background check agencies offer expertise and assistance you can’t find anywhere else. If your company runs a lot of background checks, you can maximize your time and resources by hiring an agency to help you.

When you work with a partner like One Source, you get background check experts working with you to create a tailored screening policy. You’ll also get reports delivered in a clear layout that makes important information clear. To take tedious tasks like sifting through reports off your hiring team’s plate and make the most of the dollars you put toward background checks, find a screening partner.

Avoid the consequences of inadequate screening.

Organizations invest in high-quality background screenings to ensure they make positive hiring choices for the future. By finding a reputable screening partner and planning an efficient hiring process, you greatly decrease the chance of making a poor hiring choice. Hires who don’t contribute to your organization’s mission increase turnover and hinder your goals. 

The costs of a bad hire outweigh the costs of a well-planned hiring process. Your investment in screenings will ripple across your whole organization and reflect in your dedicated team. To learn more about how quality background checks can help your company, contact One Source’s Client Relations team.

How a Background Check Company Can Enhance Your Hiring Process

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When you need to add another employee to your organization, it creates a lot of work and plenty to consider. You have to write the perfect job description to attract the best candidates, list the job in the right places, filter through resumes and cover letters, schedule interviews and so much more. You have to invest a lot of time and effort to find the best candidate, which can change your organization for the better. But you don’t have to do it alone. The vast majority of organizations include some form of background check for employment. This can be simple and worthwhile by partnering with a background check agency. Background check companies like One Source enhance your hiring process for and make it safer for your clients. See how background check services can streamline your hiring and help you find the ideal candidate.

Get help standardizing your screening policies.

Whether or not you enlist a background check company to help you, your organization must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This act gives several rights to candidates throughout the background check process—including the right to dispute the contents of their background report. If you choose to remove a candidate from consideration because of information in their report, the FCRA mandates you inform the candidate of how you came to your decision through using the Adverse Action process.

A background check agency helps you navigate the FCRA and build a compliant hiring policy that treats all applicants fairly. You don’t have to worry about becoming an FCRA expert because your screening agency has all the knowledge you need.

Screen applicants quicker.

Filtering through and accessing multiple sources on your own can be tedious and confusing. Identifying compliant and verified data can be time consuming and  bogs down the hiring process.

Background screening companies like One Source provide clear, easy-to-navigate dashboards that cut right to the info that matters. You don’t have to spend extra time digging through documents to determine an applicant’s history—all relevant information will be clearly presented. With One Source, you’ll also have access to expert customer service for any questions about a candidate’s report and how to interpret it.

Guarantee quality background checks.

Professional background check providers have developed methods for curating the most accurate and comprehensive reports. One Source offers the TotalCheck service. This includes local, state and federal criminal records; an applicant history check; a sex offender registry check; and a global watchlist report. Additionally, We can also add several other checks, like drug tests and driving history reports, as needed.

A professional screening agency makes certain all of your background checks are accurate and compliant with FCRA. If you perform background checks yourself or use quick online reports, you can’t be sure you’re getting correct information—let alone quality information.

One Source is a dedicated background check partner. We care about you and want enhance your hiring process every step of the way. Learn more about our TotalCheck screening process and how we make hiring simple by contacting our Client Relations team today.

Should Social Media Checks Be Included in Screenings?

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Social media offers an accessible, easy-to-navigate database to see someone’s interests, education, employment and personality. These days, it feels almost natural to peruse someone’s social media for an update on their life if you haven’t heard from them in a while. While social media is useful for connecting with those we know personally, the ethics of using it to evaluate potential employees can be murky.

A job candidate’s social media accounts can provide the clearest picture of their true behaviors and personality—and social media screenings can absolutely have a place in the hiring process. However, that screening should not be as simple as letting your hiring manager quickly scroll through a candidate’s profile(s). Social media screenings must be integrated into your hiring process carefully, and we’re here to answer any questions and help you formulate the right policy for your company.

In what situations does social media screening make sense?

Not every job description would necessitate a social media search—for the majority of jobs a pre-employment background check will be sufficient. However, if you’re looking to hire a public relations manager, social media strategist or any other consumer-facing position, taking a peek at their profile(s) would make sense.

Essentially, you don’t need to look into a candidate’s social media if it is not related to the job they applied for. While social media allows for a candid look into the lives of others, it is not always an accurate depiction of their true self. Screen social media profiles only if your team deems it ethical for the vacant position.

Who should conduct my social media screenings?

You hire background check agencies because they can access records that would be difficult for you to find. But with social media, the internet is right in front of you and it isn’t hard to find your candidate’s profiles. However, just because it’s easy for your hiring team to access social media doesn’t mean they should be the ones conducting the screenings.

For compliance reasons, it would be a good idea to outsource your social media screening. Another agency can provide you with an overview of a candidate’s social media that only contains information you can legally consider in your employment decision. If your team comes across personal information like religious beliefs or sexual orientation on a candidate’s profiles, you can claim that information didn’t play into your decisions but you can’t prove it. To avoid any potential discrimination accusations, it might be best to have your background check agency look at social media.

Can I take adverse action based on a candidate’s social media posts?

The short answer is yes. But as with everything about social media, it’s more complex than that. Your organization should already have set guidelines about what would move you to reject an applicant. If a candidate posted something that falls within those guidelines, you may then remove them from consideration and explain why you made that choice.

You can’t take adverse action just because you disagree with something an applicant said online. That could get you into a world of compliance troubles. Treat a social media screening like any other screening and you’ll be able to make compliant decisions.

To learn more about how One Source can help you find the best background check solutions for your organization, contact our Client Relations Team.

One Source Resource Review: January–March 2020

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At One Source, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive, transparent and useful background check education and resources. We are screening industry experts, and we believe everyone should have access to a review of One Source’s resources to determine their security needs.

We will continue to curate blog posts and include them in this review of our website’s resources. We’ll categorize the blogs by topic and we hope these review posts will make it easier to find the information you need and utilize our knowledge when you need it. With that said, let’s dive into the One Source Resource Review.

General Background Check Information

5 Things You May Not Know About Background Checks

Ever wonder how background check agencies pull together a comprehensive criminal record? Or how to create a truly effective screening process? This blog delves into all the little details and questions you might have about the complicated world of pre-employment screening.

Employers’ Crash Course: The Fair Credit Reporting Act

Designed to protect the rights and information of job applicants, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) carries immense influence. When followed properly, the FCRA can help you make informed hiring choices while protecting your candidates. If the FCRA is broken, however, it has the power to bring plenty of legal troubles to an organization. Stay aware of the FCRA’s guidelines with our handy guide.

How to manage 5 background check red flags

If you’re looking for a job right now, it’s totally understandable how the screening process could be confusing. Every different business may respond differently to the same background report. To stay prepared for any potential question about your background, it helps to understand how most organizations process screenings and what sticks out to them.

A guide to screening contractors and contingent workers

Contractors work on a temporary basis, so it can be unclear whether they should be screened like full-time employees. Contracting agencies do run background checks on individuals before they can join the agency, but it’s still impossible to know if those checks match your organization’s screening standards. In this blog, we discuss some rules about screening contractors and contingent workers to ensure you can hire provisional help with confidence.

Employers and Hiring Departments

9 Websites Your HR Team Needs to Bookmark

These nine websites for your HR team provide excellent resources to get quick updates on their field. Some analyze HR news, some break down ethical hiring practices and others have unique thought leadership to move your team forward. So, bookmark your favorites and help your team stay sharp!

3 Background Check Budgeting Tips

Even organizations that don’t typically set aside funds for screenings can make a habit of budgeting for compliant background checks. In this blog, we discuss how the cost of making an uninformed hiring choice can exceed the cost of screening an excellent hiring choice. Our background check budgeting tips will help you build a hiring budget that prioritizes screenings so your organization can keep security and quality hiring at the top of your mind.

Eight Key Considerations for Hiring a Background Check Agency

Not all background checks are created equal—and really, a background check is only as good as the company that provides it. However, you can minimize your organization’s risk by working with the right screening company for your particular business or industry. So, keep these eight questions in mind as you choose a screening agency to hire.

3 Ways Background Checks Improve Your Hiring Process

Want the best chance at making the best hire? Pre-employment background checks are the key to a successful, sustainable hiring process that will identify the ideal candidates for your organization’s future. And the pros of background checks go beyond hiring too—read on to discover three unique ways screenings could help your business.

What to Do Before You Run an Employee Background Check

Established companies and new businesses alike manage workplace safety and avoid risk to stay secure. Background checks are an excellent way to maintain that security. However, developing an effective screening system to run an employee background check is sometimes easier said than done. Regardless of where your organization is in its development, this blog can help you reflect on and hone your background screening practices.

How can I expedite my background check process?

One Source completes most background checks in 48 hours or less. You can count on us to do our part to keep your hiring process on track, but there are other variables that can be tougher to control. With these tips, you can effectively manage every part of the screening process so you can stay in your timelines.

5 vital insights from (pre) employment background checks

One Source’s team helps you decipher comprehensive reports, but there are a few indicators you can look for right away on any report. Therefore, you can immediately get a high-level understanding of an applicant’s history with five vital insights from our (pre) employment background checks.

Volunteer Organizations

Three essential background check tips for nonprofits

Often, nonprofits complete day-to-day work and fulfill their mission through the dedication of volunteers. When volunteers are so essential to your organization, they should be screened just like any paid employee would. You can make sure the people volunteering for you are representing your mission well by background checking them—and we can show you how to make the most of your screenings.

4 questions to ask about your volunteer background check policy

Before your organization starts recruiting volunteers, ask yourself how background checks fit into your recruitment process. You can ensure security for your organization and build a reliable volunteer base all while ethically screening your applicants. Find the best volunteers by considering these four questions about your volunteer background check policy.

That was just a review of One Source’s resources to determine their security needs. So, if you have any questions about background screening or how One Source can assist you, contact our Client Relations team.

5 Vital Insights From (Pre) Employment Background Checks

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Background checks and references are some of the only insights employers have into who their applicants are. You can learn a lot about an applicant’s attitude and personality from an interview, but a background check offers an unfiltered report providing a clearer picture of an applicant’s past.

Screening reports contain a lot of information, so it can be tricky to determine what actually matters. One Source’s team helps you decipher reports, but there are a few indicators you can look for right away on any report. You can immediately get a high-level understanding of an applicant’s history with these 5 vital insights from (pre) employment background checks.

Employment Verification

An applicant’s resume will show you where they’ve gained experience over the years, but there’s no way to verify the authenticity of their resume without references. An employment verification will clearly show your applicant’s work history so you can be certain of their qualifications. You can establish right away whether their experience truly matches what you’re looking for.

Criminal Records

Every organization has different guidelines about hiring people with criminal records—be sure to make your expectations clear and stick to them. While not all screening agencies offer state and federal criminal checks, One Source’s TotalCheck packages screen county, state and federal court records plus sex offender registries and global watchlists. In a report, you’ll see an applicant’s full criminal record so you can easily determine whether their convictions are acceptable within your policies.

Education Background

Some positions require formal education or training, and you need to prove that your applicants meet the requirements. One Source can report what degrees an applicant earned, when they graduated, their GPA and whether the degree came from a degree mill. Degree mills are websites where people can buy degrees rather than complete coursework for them. Your candidates should have genuine degrees they studied for—a background report can tell you whether their education is valid.

Licenses and Certifications

There are hundreds of classes of professional licenses for a wide variety of industries. If your employees require any kind of professional certification, it’s up to you to ensure your team is completely licensed. A report from One Source will tell you what licenses a candidate has, when they will expire, any denied or revoked licenses and any disciplinary actions on licenses.

Driver’s History

A background report will help you determine whether a candidate is a good fit for a position that requires driving. One Source can tell you whether an applicant’s driver’s license is valid and if they’re certified to drive semi-trucks or vans. If an applicant has any tickets or driving infractions, that information will be provided as well. That was 5 vital insights from (pre) employment background checks that you can learn from. 

To start your hiring process with an experienced, helpful background screening partner, contact One Source Client Relations today.

4 Questions To Ask About Your Volunteer Background Check Policy

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Nonprofits, schools and plenty of other organizations rely on the services of volunteers to function. A strong volunteer base can be an organization’s greatest resource to help achieve its goals.

Before your organization recruits any volunteers, however, consider how background checks fit into your recruitment process. Screening volunteers ensures security for your organization and helps you build a reliable volunteer base. Find the best volunteers with these four questions to ask about your volunteer background check policy.

What screenings should we run on volunteers?

At a minimum, your organization should run a standard background check on every potential volunteer. One Source’s TotalCheck service includes checks of county, state and federal criminal records, the national sex offender registry, global watchlists and a verification of personal information.

Some volunteer positions may require screening beyond a standard background check. Take inventory of the roles and expectations for all of your volunteer positions to determine if you will need additional screening: Will volunteers need to operate a vehicle? Screen their driving record. Do your volunteers need any kind of professional training? Verify their education credentials.

Every volunteer opportunity is unique, so work with your background check agency to tailor screenings to each position’s requirements.

How often should we screen volunteers?

Dedicated, consistent volunteers are certainly an asset to any volunteer organization. However, periodically rescreening every long-term volunteer safeguards your organization and customers/clientele. It may seem tedious or intrusive to rescreen volunteers, but it’s the only way to ensure continued safety within your organization.

You do not have control over what your volunteers do outside your view, and the risk of misplaced trust could be detrimental to your organization. It’s always better safe than sorry, so try to rescreen your volunteers once a year.

How can we keep our volunteers’ reports secure?

Background checks can contain Personal Identifiable Information (PII), so it’s important to make sure that information is stored securely. One Source provides a secure portal for you to store, search and view completed reports.

Reports can’t be exported to your volunteer management system software, but One Source’s secure portal can work in tandem with your system to keep your volunteers’ information safe and organized.

What offenses would prohibit someone from volunteering?

Before you can decide whether to accept a potential volunteer, you need to develop consistent guidelines about how you handle volunteer rejections. Think about what infractions on a background report would be deal breakers for you. If your organization works with children, you may not be allowed to hire volunteers with any kind of criminal record. If your organization aims to help former convicts, your guidelines could be less strict.

No matter where you draw the line with volunteers’ backgrounds, just make sure your policy is relevant to the work the volunteers will do and never waver from it. Because of that, tart with those four questions to improve your volunteer background check policy. To find the best screening plan for your organization and to learn more about our offerings for nonprofits, contact One Source Client Relations.

One Source Celebrates National Consumer Protection Week

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One Source The Background Check Company is celebrating National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) March 2nd-6th, alongside government agencies and organizations nationwide. During this week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  focuses on helping individuals understand their consumer rights and protect their personal information. One Source is joining in to help employers and applicants understand what information a screening agency collects and how it’s used and secured.


What information is collected?

Two types of information is collected: Personally identifiable information and non-personally identifiable information. Personally identifiable information (PII) is just what it seems, any information that can identify you (such as your name, address, and IP address). It does not include statistical information. Based on your relationship with the screening agency, you may be asked to provide certain PII. Non-personally identifiable information (non-PII) cannot be used to trace the identity of an individual. It’s simply data that is anonymous.  Non-PII is usually collected by businesses to track and understand the digital behavior of their consumers.


Why information is collected and with whom it is shared?

Most information collected by a screening agency is for the purpose of screening an individual consumer. The background check is only done upon the request of a user who has a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to request information on that consumer. In cases of employment as a permissible purpose, the FCRA requires a user to certify to the screening agency that it has obtained the written consent of the consumer to request information before the requested screening information can be supplied.


How is the collected information used?

Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe, smooth, efficient, and customized experience. Personal information, such as date of birth and social security number, is never shared unless required to verify a record and then is only shared once the vendor has been fully vetted.

Learn about One Source’s Privacy Policy, including how information is secured and data retention here.

As a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), One Source and our clients must be aware of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Check out for more tips for Employers’ on the Fair Credit Reporting Act here. More information is also available at http://www.ftc.gov/ncpw.

To learn more, contact One Source Client Relations.