How One Contractor Can Ruin Your Company's Reputation Instantly

At a time when personal security, financial fraud, identity theft, and other crimes are bigger concerns than ever, Crimshield CEO David Pickron says it's unfortunate that so many businesses take a very relaxed approach to verifying potential employees – especially contracting companies who send installers and other personnel into customers’ private homes.

At best, most businesses require instant background checks for new hires, or ask the contracting companies they work with to do the same. If nothing shows up and the person "seems" to be normal enough, then things move forward.

Unfortunately, instant background checks are notoriously unreliable. They frequently miss important data and incidents, and convicted criminals are well aware of the best ways to beat the system and produce false or incomplete results. In other words, the systems most companies are using to screen out thieves, drug addicts, and convicted violent offenders aren't working… and that represents a ticking time bomb for a lot of companies.

Why Instant Background Checks Aren't Worth the Risk

Is the convenience and cost savings of an instant background check really worth the risk? It obviously isn't, especially when you consider that it only takes one person to ruin your company's reputation.

Think about it this way: If your business is hiring criminals, thieves, and addicts – or letting a contractor send them to customers’ homes on your behalf – then what are the odds that you'll never have an incident or problem? And, what could the resulting damage or liability to your business be when the inevitable happens?

It only takes one incident, or one person using your company's name to harm another person, for your organization to end up as front page news. From simple thefts to violent crimes, your business could be held liable for any losses, and will certainly suffer in the court of public opinion.

These risks are especially severe when you consider that the worst offenders are the ones with the most to hide. In other words, the more terrible someone's criminal history is, the greater the lengths they are likely to go to in order to "clean" a standard instant background check.

It Only Takes A Single Bad Hiring Decision to Destroy Your Company

Once a dangerous person does something they shouldn't while "on the clock," it doesn't matter how long you spent building up your company, or your career. It won't matter what sorts of good things you've done, or how the public used to think of you. Do you really want to let one person ruin your business because you aren't concerned enough to keep them out of it?

Call or email Crimshield today to learn about our convenient and affordable programs for contractors, corporations, and organizations of all sizes.

Effective Background Screening Begins With You…

What happens before you run the background check is often the most important element of the screening process. The computer system you are using cannot validate an ID or visually check to see if the individual in question is in fact, who they say they are. For example, when accepting an application for rent, it is so important to authenticate the information provided. Following are some good ideas on how to increase the accuracy of your screening results.

You should always require at least 2 forms of ID.  

Social Security Cards  When Social Security was first implemented in 1936 only those with jobs were issued numbers.  There were 30,000,000 issued the first 2 years.  When credit bureaus started in the mid 1960s  there were still only 250,000,000 people who had cards (at that time you were only issued a card when you were hired at your first job).  In the 1980s people were issued cards with-in a year of their birth.  Now we are at over 500,000,000 cards issued.  Remember that when a person dies the number is not retired (survivor benefits may be attached to a card).  So when credit bureaus were started there were half as many numbers issued as there are now.  Therefore the credit bureaus identify people by name and Social Security number ONLY.  Remember this: if you don’t see and touch the card you could create “identity theft” by entering miss-information.  Make certain the name you enter is spelled exactly like the name on the other ID material and on the application.  Down the sides of a real Social Security card there are pillars which are raised so you can feel them with your finger nails.  This is a security measure provided for you.  Never put an unverified number into a credit reporting system.  Your applicant could be using stolen ID, ID belonging to their child or ID belonging to someone who is deceased. Only you can verify if the Social Security number presented is real.

State issued photo ID (drivers’ license) Once again, take time to verify… is this the person standing in front of you?  Hair color, height, weight etc.  And is the name spelled the same as one the Social Security card and on the application?  Is the address consistent with where they say they are living?  Most important is date of birth.  This must match the application information and MUST be exactly what you give your screening company.  This is extremely vital in order to provide accurate criminal history research.  Municipalities, counties, states and even the federal government keep criminal records by name and date of birth ONLY.  If you get the wrong date of birth the criminal record can be missed.  Note that the state of Arizona requires sex offenders to have 1 year drivers’ license.  This is how they keep track of their residence information which is update yearly.

If you use a screening company that gives you a list of criminals that MAY be your applicant you need to change screening companies immediately! Find a background check company that actually employs licensed private investigators who conduct hands-on, eyes-on criminal history investigations. Only a PI can tell you for sure if your applicant has a criminal history.

Remember… Don’t enter miss information.  ONLY you can verify before you enter information.  Lack of correct data can never get you correct results. Should a crime occur as a result of neglect during the background screening process, you or your company may be liable.