From the list below choose one of our FAQs topics, then select an FAQ to read. If you have a question which is not in this section, please contact us.


Tenant Screening FAQs

How do I use your service?

After filling out minimal paperwork and we are able to perform an onsite inspection for compliance reasons you will be setup and ready to go. Please see the website for the forms to get started.

Is there a membership fee when I sign up for your service?

No. There is no set-up fee, no monthly or yearly fee. You only pay for the searches that you run per month.

What are your business hours?

We are open from 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday Eastern Standard time. Our website ordering system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week 365 days a year. If you have questions you can call the office during normal business hours.

What is an Eviction Report?

Our eviction reports contain all of the information involved in a tenant eviction case, judgment, plaintiff, suits or petitions filed and particular comments on the case, availability varies by state. This search delivers the most thorough and accurate information from the largest data collection network in the country. Eviction reports include non-monetary judgments and those not reported to the credit bureaus. Information is updated monthly.

What is the Secondary Research Database?

This search combines over 305 million records from fifty (50) states including:

  • OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control) - Persons posing threats to the interests and security of the United States
  • Interpol - National Police Forces
  • Denied Persons List - Denied from doing business with the U.S. or entry into the U.S.
  • State and County Repositories along with Department of Corrections information
  • Fugitive List - over 600 fugitives taken from FBI most wanted, DEA Fugitive List
  • Terrorist Watch List
  • Sex Offender Database

What is a Past Address History?

This search will provide a listing of addresses associated with your applicant within the last 7 years (depending on the age of the applicant), assisting landlords/property managers in finding past landlord/rental references for the occupant. The applicant's SSN is used as an identifier.

How do I pay for reports?

We currently bill on a monthly basis, your bill will be emailed to you unless you specify that you would like it mailed instead. We also take credit card payments by phone.

How long does it take to run a report?

Most of the searches that we offer are instantly returned so you will be able to see results right away. If you are ordering searches for Employment or Reference Verifications then these may take up to 3 days to complete depending on how people return phone calls.

What types of packages do you have?

We have multiple packages to assist you in your screening process. Please call our office for a complete listing.

What forms do I need the applicant to fill out?

Every applicant needs to sign a Notice & Consent Form. Give each applicant a copy of the FTC document entitled "A summary of your Rights" This form lets the applicant know their rights and what they can do if they find something wrong on their report. Both of these documents are available on our website or by calling CIC.


Pre-Employment Screening FAQs

Why should our company perform pre-employment background checks?

By conducting pre-employment background screening checks, you help protect your business from making costly hiring mistakes as well as possible claims of negligent hiring. You reduce the risk of internal theft, fraud, and violence while dramatically helping to reduce turnover. Most importantly, by pre-screening applicants, you protect your employees and customers while showing a good faith effort at due diligence.

Is CIC able to assist us with all our locations nationally and internationally?

Yes, CIC has a global network of skilled investigators allowing for research that can be conducted nationally and internationally. Our international services include criminal research, past employment and educational verifications, credit information and other research. The type of information returned may vary from country to country and certain fees may apply. Contact CIC to get a more detailed listing of all available services.

Is it essential that I have my applicants sign a release before conducting a background check for employment purposes?

It is absolutely essential that you have permission from an applicant before delving into their personal history. Whether you are doing the checking yourself or outsource it to a third party, you must have permission first. When a vendor helps you with the screening, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires a release that is a separate stand-alone document, not part of the application itself. Note: even if you are not ordering a credit report as part of the screening, this rule still applies. CIC provides clients with a compliant release as part of their services.

Our business has never ordered background checks on applicants before now; can we run them on current employees or is it exclusive to new applicants?

While the law allows for you to run searches on current employees, the choice to do so will be up to the individual organization. Some businesses decide to "grandfather" in current employees, while others determine that it's better to start with a clean slate and screen all new and existing employees. There are some great techniques to use that will foster good relationships with your staff. Contact CIC to learn more; but before implementing any new policies and procedures, reach out to your labor attorney as he or she will be able to help you avoid certain other pitfalls.

What type of information is found out when contacting an applicantís past employers?

Many companies mistakenly believe that employers can release nothing about a past employee other than name, rank and serial number. This is false. The Employer Immunity Law protects employers when they share factual information regarding a person's past employment. CIC researchers are trained to get the most thorough information available from employers including dates of employment, title, salary, attendance and discipline records, work ethic as well as job responsibilities and achievements. Some employers will stubbornly release only limited information, but you can be sure the CIC will do all in their power to gain as much insight from past employers as possible.

Where does CIC get Secondary Research Database (SRD) information?

Our SRD is a database search consisting of over 305 million records from 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and Guam. These records have been pulled from various state courts, state correctional institutions, county and state databases. This is the largest, most complete proprietary database currently available to the non-law enforcement community. With our expertise, we will guide you toward the proper use of database results to keep in compliance with applicable laws.

Is there a national criminal search through the FBI?

Yes, there is. However, this search is through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and is not available to the public. The database is restricted to employers who have specific governmental authorization. CIC is not a provider of this search but offers alternative sources to give you a complete, thorough and accurate screening report.

How do I sign up with CIC?

Signing up is easy. Either click on the "Pre-Employment Screening" tab and fill out the "Pre-Employment Set-up Form" on our website or call us at 800-573-2201. Simple as that. We'll take care of the rest.

Note: We do not charge any set-up fees or monthly fees to use our screening services.

How do I place an order?

Our system is available 24/7 from any computer with internet access. Simply log in with your secure username and password to access your personal Applicant List. From here you can select to order a new screening report or add to an existing one. Researchers will be automatically notified to begin work on your request. For complete step by step instructions please contact CIC at 419-874-2201.

What if I get locked out of the system or forget my password?

For security reasons, you will be given 3 tries to login with your password before the system will lock you out of your account. We can easily reset it for you though, so just give us a call if that happens. We'll also be able to look up forgotten passwords, too.

How many users can our company have and what are the fees?

CIC is aware of the need for involvement of multiple people in the hiring process and with this in mind, set up a system that will allow for unlimited users. We do not charge licensing or user fees, so you are able to have all your key people involved the way you need them to be without the worry of extra cost. Each user will be assigned a unique username and password and will only be able to access their specific work. A master account can be established to allow access to all user activity and reports.

What is a Past Address History?

This valuable tool will give you insight into the whereabouts of your applicant within the last seven (7) years. You may see addresses back 20 or more years, or depending on the age of the applicant, you may only see more recent ones. The Social Security Administration will also report if the SSN is valid and what year and state it was issued in. Previously used names will also be reported giving you further information to help in appropriately screening your applicant. Because address histories may contain variables, it's always best to contact CIC for help in reviewing the report and using it to help you choose the most appropriate counties to search for criminal records in.

I need a specific screening package I don't see. Can someone help me?

CIC has put together 12 packages based on searches most frequently used by our clients. They cover everything from the most basic levels of screening, to in-depth, comprehensive background checks. If you need a package tailored to a specific job position within your organization just give us a call and we'll work with you to create what you need.

What can I expect with regards to turnaround times?

Many of the searches included in a screening report are instantly returned and available for your review. The Past Address History, Driving History, Secondary Research Database and Credit reports are all instantaneous. Other searches such as the Federal Criminal, and Sanctions reports will be completed most often in the same day. For searches such as the County Criminal and Civil searches where we will be sending researchers directly into the courthouse, it can take about 24-72 hours. Obviously, there are variables (possible records needing further research; waiting on clerks for results; outlying courts, federal holidays, etc.) which can cause some delays, but we will always be in contact with you so you know exactly where the report stands and when to expect completion.

How will I know when a report is complete?

The system will automatically generate an email to you including a link to access your report when it is complete. You will be prompted to enter your username and password before being able to view the report. You may also log in to the system at any time to view the progress of the report as every entry we make is available to you in real time.

I'm under a large time constraint; can I just order the Secondary Research Database so I can have instant criminal results?

No. Unfortunately there is no comprehensive database anywhere in the world that will give you all criminal record information. Many Counties throughout the US do not report to databases and those that do, often do not update the information often enough, or accurately enough to be compliant with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Because of these reasons as well as the wide range of discrepancies, false positives, false negatives, and outdated information, the FCRA has mandated users of database reports to follow certain procedures. For employers, you must only use the information as a "lead generator," a tool for pointing you in the direction of possible criminal records you might otherwise not have found. Once a "hit" is seen on the database, employers must hold off on making any decisions until a verification of the records can be performed on-site at the appropriate court. Only then can you use the information adversely in an employment decision. CIC will alert you by multiple means to any records that need to be verified in an effort to keep you in compliance with these federal laws.

My applicant just called me saying he received a letter from CIC about his report. What is he talking about?

Due to the federal law discussed in question 8, CIC has its own set of mandates to follow. When a database search returns criminal record information associated with your applicant's name, CIC will notify them by mail that public record information was sent to you, the prospective employer. This is NOT an adverse action letter; please do not mistake it as such. You are still responsible for following the adverse action procedure set forth in the FCRA, if applicable. This letter is only sent as a protection to the applicant to protect their rights under the FCRA.

I'm not sure about the process of taking Adverse Action. Can you help?

When an employer uses a third party for any piece of their applicant screening, the Fair Credit Reporting Act has laid out specific mandates when taking adverse action. First, if the background screening report plays even the slightest role in your decision to not hire or promote an applicant, you must sent the applicant a "pre-adverse action notice" along with a copy of the report and the FTC document entitled "A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act." The law says to wait a "reasonable" period of time, (industry standard is 5 days), to allow the applicant to review his report and dispute any inaccuracies. After that time you may send an "adverse action notice" which explains to the applicant that they are no longer being considered for the position. Should an applicant call CIC to dispute records found, CIC will initiate a re-investigation and contact you immediately. As a client you have access to more detailed information on this topic in your training guide. If you need another copy, please call our office.


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Contact CIC

Corporate Intelligence Consultants

P.O. Box 444
Perrysburg, Ohio 43552
800.573.2201 | 419.874.2201
419.874.5591 (fax)

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