Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with backgroundcheck

Will My Dept Sink Me With A Prospective Employer?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:46:00 -0800

Will a prospective employer not hire me when they find out I'm repaying money to the IRS? I'm in the running for a job I very much want, and in the course of my research on the company discovered that they run routine credit and background checks on prospective employees.

I have minimal outstanding credit card debt and no collection agency reports on outstanding bills. My concern is this: although I've filed my taxes every year, due to a drop in my income, I didn't have enough money to pay what I owed for tax year 2008.

Since I'm currently a freelancer, it was a substantial amount ($4000). I worked out a payment plan with the IRS immediately, and the debt is being deducted bit by bit from my bank account every month, but I assume that it will show up on a credit check.

However, I don't want to give any reason for my prospective employers to not hire me. Would this give them pause? Should I try to find a way to clear the debt immediately, say, by asking a family member for a loan to pay the IRS?

I also would appreciate any information on when these checks are usually conducted. For example, are they conducted during the interview process, or after they make a tentative offer subject to the results of these checks? I haven't signed any authorizations to make these checks, but I'm not sure if they need my permission to do them.

Thanks for your help.

Language in a background check release form – what’s reasonable, and what is… less so?

bmarkey — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:30:05 -0800

Language in a background check release form – what’s reasonable, and what is… less so? I work in healthcare. My employer of the last nine years does an annual background check of our criminal records. This year, the CEO has chosen to use a company that will check records nationwide (rather than just here in Washington state). The release form they’re asking us to sign includes the following language:

“(I, the undersigned)… authorize any duly authorized agent of (background-check company) to obtain, whether the records are public or private, and including those which may be deemed to be privileged or confidential in nature and I release all persons from liability on account of such disclosures.”

The CEO has released a memo stating that they’re only looking for criminal records, and that the language included is standard in release forms. I don’t doubt our company’s intent, but I also feel as if I’d be leaving myself open to whatever fishing expedition into my past the background-check company decided to undertake themselves. I have nothing to hide, but I don’t care to sign off on a fishing license, either.

I know that you are not a lawyer; if you are a lawyer, I know that you are not my lawyer. Having said that: am I just being paranoid, or is that a reasonable point of contention? Is this really common language in such release forms?

Resume screwup--now what?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:32:32 -0800

So I recently managed to score a job interview and offer with a company that offers very nice benefits and pay better than I've seen before. The problem is this: I realized yesterday or so that my resume stated that I graduated with honors when in fact I did not. I would never exaggerate something like that when the fact is that the job doesn't even require a college degree, only a diploma/GED. My college GPA was actually 3.47 and I have transcripts handy should I need to prove it.

This is by no means a spectacular job, but it's the best I've ever had up until now and would mean a lot as far as having health coverage for the first time in years, having good vacation time, etc.

The inclusion of this information was pure (and yes, incredibly stupid) human error--I was working from multiple templates when crafting my resume, trying to make it as optimal as possible. I know that the company is doing a background check which is a condition of my hiring, and I have no idea how to, or even if I should, bring this up to the very kind HR representative who I've been working with.

I'm scared. This is the first chance I've had for a reasonable job with a company of any stature (previous employment was as an RA in college, retail after college, and some work with a nonprofit agency) and I don't know if this will be an issue or not. I didn't intentionally lie about this but to try to correct it now might bring attention to the fact that I let something so ridiculous get by me when I'm claiming to have a good attention to detail (I normally do).

The interviewer did mention the honors thing in our interview but I was so stressed and spooked about it that I let it slide at the time (this was probably a mistake, I know).

Is there any good way to resolve this? Should I even try? Have I blown it completely and is it best just to keep looking and move on? Will the background check even be that extensive or will they just confirm my graduation?

I've been tearing my hair out for what feels like forever and I won't know about the background check until at least later this week. There was also a drug test but I have no worries on that front.

Any and all advice appreciated. Thanks, MeFi.

Need help tracking down my parents info.

cusr0002 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:22:23 -0800

I want to join the US Navy as an officer...but have run into a few barriers. I need help! I'm putting my package together for the Navy OCS program and overall I feel that I am a strong candidate and paint a good picture of myself for the selection board. However I've run into a slight problem:

Part of the application process entails a background check. I've got nothing to hide but it asks for my parents immigrant status. My father is a naturalized citizen and my mother is a permanent resident alien. I need to know their registration numbers, courts, counties, and dates of registry.

The problem here is that I'm estranged from both parents and have not had contact with them in over ten years.

Are there any background check services that can gather this info for me? I would appreciate any answers that don't involve the "tough love" and "man up" route (which is what my recruiter basically told me). For personal reasons, I do not want to open old wounds and would like to consider all possible avenues to obtain this information.

Again, any help will be appreciated.

Are college degrees public or private record?

ilovehistory — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:21:57 -0800

Are college diplomas public record? Are transcripts the only method of proof of college work completed? Don't some web sites have a listing of names of the graduates of that year? I've had employers ask me to bring them the physical degree and also other schools ask for transcripts. But, if I want to find proof of somebody's college education, where could I find it without those things or somebody find that one me?

Legit landlord or identity thief?

Asymptote — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:33:11 -0800

What personal info does my future landlord need from me to make sure I'm legit? How do I make sure he's legit? This is my first time renting an apartment. Before I sign the lease, the landlord wants (among other info) my social security number and a copy of my driver's license. He says he wants these to run my credit history and do a background check on me. Because my parents will be cosigners on the lease, he wants the same information from them.

Is this reasonable? Or am I just setting myself up for identity theft?

Furthermore, how should I go about checking him out? Is getting his background check and credit history a good idea?

Background:
The landlord lives in NY and the apartment is in CT. I have not yet met him in person, but we've talked over the phone. I've seen the apartment and met with the current residents, who say the landlord is great. I've done some preliminary web searches to check up on him, and he's almost certainly who he says he is.

Do background searches include police reports filed?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:32:33 -0800

Can "criminal background searches" bring up any sort of police report? I had to file a police report as the victim of a crime a while back. Today I was searching for my own first and last name on Google, and I got results listing my name, town, and zip code for various criminal background search services. When I click the links, they just want me to sign up to do a background search. Does this mean that anyone who pays for a background check on me (future employers? dates?) will see the police report I filed? If so, why, when I was the victim of a crime and not a criminal?

Ex-con, future nurse?

Sublimity — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:49:27 -0800

What are the parameters for a criminal background check for nurses? I have a friend who's embarking on a career change in his mid-forties, going to community college, trying to get out of the trades and blue-collar work into something better-paying.

He's aiming for something like engineering, but I suspect that may be beyond his math ability, and from what little I know about the field it might be pretty hard to break into it as a novice when you're pushing 50.

I think he might be better suited to something like nursing. This may also be a more attractive career choice because demand for nurses is great and there are multiple levels of entry, including some after just two years of schooling.

I'd suggest it, but I know he had some trouble with the law back in his late teens/early 20s, and I'm not sure if having a record will bar him entry to the field. He's been on the straight and narrow for years, as far as I know.

So before I put my foot in my mouth: I know nurses need to have background checks. Can anyone tell me what the parameters are? Does having done jail time bar one permanently, or are there shades of gray?

My mind says fraud, but that can't be right.

Phire — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:16:58 -0800

Legally, what would you call refusal to adhere to city/government by-laws to fingerprint or background check volunteer workers? I imagine it's a fairly serious crime. Location in Canada preferably, but US examples welcome. If an organization is required by city/provincial/whatever law to screen their volunteers/workers via background checks or fingerprinting, and the employer actually refuses to follow through on this during the hiring process and allows unscreened volunteers to work anyway, what would this be called, and what would the consequence be if reported/caught?

Where can I find speaking opps for my client?

josher71 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:43:07 -0800

I have a client and I'm trying to find speaking opportunities for them. They would like to speak to people that hire for private equity firms, hedge funds, and C-level execs in general. My client conducts investigations for things such as being sued by former employers, resume fraud, lawsuits, bad regulatory history and so on.

I want to ask the hive mind if there are any online resources I could look at that might point me in the right direction of finding conferences or seminars where the importance of through background check on potential executive hires would be a germane topic.

They are extremely entertaining and have oodles of war stories so I'm not worried about that. I'm just not sure where to find the appropriate venue for them. Does anyone have any pointers or ideas?

I feel weird about this employment background check form they want me to sign...

onepapertiger — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:14:17 -0800

Employment Background Check question: Is it a good idea to provide this release? I recently received a job offer and received a ton of documents, one of which is a waiver for the company to conduct a background check on me. It says that I authorize all my former employers to release information about me and that I release all parties involved from any and all liability for any and all damage that may result from providing such information.

At the company I was previously at, I filed a complaint against my manager before I resigned. I have paid two employment checking agencies to conduct interviews of him to see if he says anything defamatory about me or lies about my job performance. With the first one, conducted a month after I left the company, he didn't say anything negative, but with the most recent one I had conducted, a week ago, he refused to answer any questions beyond the verification of my employment.

My question is this: Will the company that offered me a job learn that I filed a complaint against my former manager? Or is this standard and they just verify employment?

How to hire a reputable, effective PI in DC Metro area (VA)?

beezy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:54:26 -0800

How to hire a reputable, effective PI in DC Metro area (VA)? For those who haven't been following along, my family has a stalker. The good news is that the police are being cooperative both with added general protection, and the state feels that it's time to prosecute. We have an alarm system, concerned neighbors, and a variety of other support systems.

However, now that we're on the criminal prosecution front, we're thinking it would be good to know where this guys lives, what he drives, and what he's doing now that he's been fired. We know he has lots of addresses, one of which is near us.

Many of you have rec'd hiring a pi, but do I need to know to get a good one who won't rip me off? I did a little googling and found out that

- he needs a license
- he should be mostly a researcher
- former police are good
- this shouldn't be a extraordinarily hard request

Is there a professional organization for this kind of thing? How much should I pay? Where can I find a good one (as noted, the websites all look ridiculous)? What attributes/training/affiliations indicate high quality work? [they just don't cover this on Angie's List]

thanks again, hive mind!

My dire background!

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:50:15 -0800

I'm applying for jobs that require a local law enforcement background check, and I suspect that it's turning up information that's [really] detrimental to being hired! What kind of information could they be finding? How could I find out what's on my background check? Finally, is there any way to delicately address these issues in job applications/cover letters without digging myself into a hole? I'm primarily worried about mental health records. Is it possible for them to access records from my college's student health services? Will they be able to find out what prescriptions I take? Or that I've been going to the county mental health services for years (which doesn't quite look as innocuous as seeing a private therapist, though they both provide the same services--it's a matter of what I'm able to afford).

Additionally I've smoked plenty of pot in my past, and also been involved in typical teenage hijinks (breaking into abandoned buildings, shoplifting, etc), but have never been caught at either. I surely have bad credit, and my first bout with college yielded a lousy transcript (though for what it's worth, this time around I have excellent grades and recommendations.

I'm not looking to be told I'm entering the wrong line of work (it's a field I'm passionate about); I'm hoping for find out more about my background check, and get some practical advice re: damage control.

Corporate vs. Personal Background Check

maxwelton — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:08:53 -0800

If I do my work through my corporate entity, should I expect to submit to a personal background check? Corporate Background Check: I do my design work through my corporate entity. Twice in the past two years (awhile ago on a job I turned down because of this requirement, and on a current potential job) I've been asked to submit info for a background check.

I've always replied that you're welcome to check out the corporation using its tax ID, as that's who you're contracting with, but no check using my SSN. (I have no idea if you can even do a "background check" on a corporation.)

I don't mind walking away from jobs that don't accept this condition, but I'm just curious if I'm "in the right." I might add I have nothing to hide, but my clients have no need to know what my personal Visa balance is or who I send my mortgage payments to.

This has only happened when Very Large Corporate Entity, Inc. is the client.

Background check shows false info?

anthropomorphic — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:36:12 -0800

New employer has done a background check - returns addresses I've never lived at? All the info I have from the company at the moment is that the address has shown up on my social security number. I've checked my free credit report and I don't see anything out of the ordinary. What's going on? What do I do about it?

Law from both sides of the bench

craven_morhead — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:05:44 -0800

Law student background check question (disturbing the peace, etc.) I just finished my first year of law school, and am working for a judge for the summer. This past weekend I was cited for indecent exposure (even though I was wearing shorts; once the cops detained us everyone threw on clothes while they waited so the cops just cited everyone; when I protested the reply was "deal with it in court") and disturbing the peace while participating in Naked Bike Day. I (somewhat foolishly, I suppose) reasoned to myself that since I wasn't exposing myself I wouldn't be cited. Silly me.

Since I can prove that I was wearing clothes the whole time, I'm not terribly worried about the exposure charge sticking. Likewise, I don't think they have much of a case on disturbing the peace, but it could be arguable.

On to the heart of the matter: how should I handle all of this? As of now, my plan is to make them drop the exposure charges. Should I pay the $100+ filing fee to have the record sealed? Furthermore, should I accept a deferred judgment/prosecution on the disturbing the peace, or make them go to trial?

Finally, how will employers look on this? One career path I've been considering is working as a federal prosecutor.

Getting into Japan with a criminal record

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:11:16 -0800

So I have a small issue with my criminal record and obtaining a Japanese student visa. I'm not sure if anyone will really be able to answer this question, but I will ask anyway.

I will be heading to Japan this fall as a graduate researcher, which requires me to apply for a student visa to stay in the country for two or more years. As part of the visa application process, I must fill out a form called "Application for Certificate of Eligibility."

It is a particularly bureaucratic document that requests all the standard names, addresses and personal history one would expect to provide during a visa application. This includes a small portion that asks, "Do you have any criminal record (if yes please explain)" and then provides a very, very tiny blank line for explanation.

I do in fact have a criminal record, though it was all acquired before the age of 21. No drug charges, nor violent crimes. A few theft and vandalism misdemeanors is all, but it's still more of a record than I'd like to have when applying for a visa to live in a foreign country.

I want to be honest on my application, but I also have a huge interest in my graduate school, which put me through an incredibly trying application process, and I don't want to forfeit my dreams and goals because I can't get a visa (I've already made it through the most demanding part of the grad. school ordeal, I just want my visa!). So I'm considering simply bubbling in the "No" instead of the "Yes."

This seems like a horrible idea--except there's one catch--I've done this before. The last time I lived in Japan I also required a student visa, and that time I lied, bubbling in "No," when prompted on my criminal background. It may have been a bad idea, but my certificate was approved, no problem, and I had a visa in days. I'm tempted to do the same thing this time around, but I'm strongly compelled to be honest, as lying on any part of the application is a disqualification.

So here's the questions, in order of importance: how much does a criminal record hurt my chances of getting a student visa in Japan? If I should choose to circle "Yes," how should I explain this, and what will the people evaluating my application be looking for in that tiny blank? What could i possibly write in that space that would explain multiple juvenile misdemeanors? Should I tell my university about the problem? Any other suggestions on how to deal with this?

I'm currently working on expunging these things from my record, but it's time consuming and expensive.

Please keep any comments relating to the morality of lying on a visa application to yourself. Also, comments along the lines of "you should have thought about this when you were breaking the law," aren't necessary, as we all make mistakes and I've had plenty of time to think about mine.

Should I be worried about this background investigation?

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 09:00:28 -0800

I'm looking for advice from people who have undergone or conducted a police background investigation, relating to references, credit history, and legal intoxicants. I'm currently applying for a job as a police dispatcher, and the background check has me a little spooked. I don't feel like I have much to hide, but there are some factors that could weigh negatively against me:

My contract at my most recent employer was not renewed. The reasons were primarily budgetary, but there were some personality conflicts and misunderstandings that may have led to my being chosen for the chopping block. All but one person there would likely give me a positive recommendation, but I don't know what that one person would say -- probably a mixed review. And although he wasn't my direct supervisor, he is the boss.

I'm not on good terms with my mother, for various reasons, and haven't spoken to her in a while. I don't know what she'd say about me if they contacted her; she can be a bit vindictive.

My credit isn't great. I made some mistakes a while back, and have two fairly serious delinquencies on my record. It's been clean for the past couple of years, however, and over the past year I've taken out an auto loan and some low-limit credit cards and have paid them on time consistently.

My only illegal drug use was a couple puffs of hash in college, in 1996. It's my understanding that that alone isn't enough to disqualify me. However, last year I experimented once with Salvia Divinorum, which is a hallucinogen. Salvia isn't illegal, and can be purchased over the counter at head shops or over the internet. I got mild closed-eye visuals and a slight feeling of motion from it, but nothing else, and haven't done it since (though I still have some left). I don't know whether or not I should mention that I tried it -- there is a question on the personal history form about "any other dangerous drugs," which seems a bit vague and subjective. I'm inclined to mention it just to be safe -- after all, I didn't break the law by doing this, and I will likely have to take a polygraph during the application process. But I don't know how that will be seen by investigators.

Are any of those factors likely to raise a red flag in investigators' eyes? Should I try to spin any of these, or explain them in the "additional information" section of the personal history form? Just how nervous should I be right now?

Will Gorbachev's legacy hurt my friend?

loosemouth — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 04:07:50 -0800

A friend with an old degree from a university in Ukraine is undergoing a background check related to a great job offer. Due to the breakdown of the Soviet Union and the fact that her alma mater has undergone multiple name changes over the years, she wonders how/if anyone could actually confirm her degree. She gave them copies of her diploma and a link to the university's current web site. Assuming her new employer is using a third party for the background check, what will happen if they just can't confirm her degree? Will they at least call her and ask for more information? The degree is totally legit and she has tons of experience in her area of endeavor. The salary figure has already been negotiated. This is her last hurdle.

Homeschooling info and related background check needed.

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:22:49 -0800

Home schooling info and related background check needed. My 11 year old daughter has been having trouble with social anxiety. As a result, my ex-wife, with whom our daughter lives, has once again (third time) pulled her from school without discussing the issue with me. This time she has made arrangments for a woman she knows to homeshool our daughter along with her own children. I know many people who have successfully been homeschooled and have successfully homeschooled their children. I am a little reticent about the idea considering the last time my ex did this she tried to homeschool our duaghter herself. That was useless; our daughter ended up being her own teacher when she was at her mother's house.

Can you give advice on what questions I should be asking, things I should know and variables I should consider.

Also, I have decided that I need to run a background check on our daughter's new teacher. What do I need to do this? I have the woman's name, phone number, address and social security number. Can you recommend a reputable service to do this? The services that I've found so far via internet search seem a little dodgy to say the least.

Q Clearance

answergrape — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 18:00:49 -0800

I'm up for an internship at an NNSA-sponsored national lab. The position requires a "Q" clearance. I'm starting to get all paranoid about every little thing I've ever done wrong, of course. Can anyone tell me what types of things would prevent one from obtaining a "Q" clearance?