Q: How common are pre-employment background checks?
A: The convergence of the post-9/11 security concerns and the online data revolution expanded access to reliable background checks beyond large corporations. Today, nearly 80% of all employers, big and small, perform some form of pre-employment background check on job applicants.
Pre-employment background checks must be conducted carefully and in compliance with privacy laws and regulations. This information, such as bankruptcies, workers' compensation claims and some criminal records data, are a matter of public record, while things like a credit history check require an applicant's written consent, per the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Q: What is Tenant Screening?
A: BackCheck’s Tenant Screening service is designed to help rental property managers, individual landlords and rental applicants complete their background checks in the fastest, most efficient and secure way possible. As a landlord, protect your investment and protect your family. Make informed decisions with the help of BackCheck’s Tenant Screening service. As a tenant, BackCheck’s Tenant Screening offers you the opportunity to give your landlord peace of mind through providing them with up-to-date background information.
Q: What will the report look like?
Q: How are results delivered?
A: Upon completion of all the services ordered, the tenant will receive their Tenant Screening information by email. Tenants will be able to download their forgery-proof results at www.backcheck.net/verify/tenant, using the unique serial number provided on the report. Tenants can then forward the information on to their prospective landlords so that they can download a copy of the report and verify the authenticity of the document.
Q: As a tenant, who else can I share my BackCheck Tenant Screening report with?
A: Each Tenant-Screening report contains a unique “I’ve been BackChecked” serial number which can be verified at www.backcheck.net/verify/tenant. With this serial number you can tell a prospective employer, landlord, volunteer organization or other groups that you have been BackChecked. You can even advertise your "I've been BackChecked" serial number on your LinkedIn profile or your resume.
As a tenant applicant you will also have a myBackCheck.com account that lets you share your criminal record check results with any organization where you volunteer or work – thousands of organizations are registered on myBackCheck.com to receive results if you choose to share with them.
Q: What does each service entail?
A: Credit Bureau Inquiry:A Credit Bureau Inquiry consists of an inquiry by BackCheck to TransUnion on an individual’s credit record. A credit record contains items like individuals’ credit cards, loans, and lines of credit balances, as well as their payment records for such items. The check does not affect the individual’s credit score. (A “soft-inquiry” is conducted.) Landlords can use this information to help them determine the rental applicant’s ability to pay rent.
Criminal Record Check: Criminal Record Checks can help landlords protect themselves, their tenants and their property from theft and violence. BackCheck works with numerous police departments across Canada to obtain a name and date of birth based verification from the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Records. These searches may provide an indication of the existence of criminal convictions for which a pardon has not been granted. Any information discovered will be as the record exists on the date of search.
Please note: Specific details of a criminal record conviction cannot be released without fingerprint verification. The existence of a Criminal Record will result in a “Not Clear” determination, however, should you disclose previous offences in the course of completing the check, they will appear on the online result and be determined “Confirmed” or “Not Confirmed” by police.
Q: How can I trust that your service is secure?
A. We have a VeriSign Inc. website certificate using their industry-standard "secure socket layer" (SSL) technology. This SSL security encrypts our users' sensitive information as it is typed, transmitted and received. Our data is stored offsite in a secure data centre where it is backed up and protected. BackCheck and myBackCheck.com comply with all federal and provincial privacy laws, with full details available at our website's Privacy Policy . All BackCheck and myBackCheck.com employees undergo extensive personal screening and are bound by confidentiality agreements.
Note: It is the landlord’s responsibility to comply with their provincial regulatory bodies and tenancy acts pertaining to the collection of tenant background information. Please contact your provincial rental board office for more details if you are unsure.
Q: How long does it take to receive results?
A. Once each service form is completed online and your identification has been verified at Canada Post, an electronic copy of the report can be expected within 2-3 business days. (Note, the turn around time is dependant on the types of services being ordered.)
Q: Does the tenant-screening report expire?
A.Tenant Screening results are valid as of the date they were conducted. Results are provided with a date of issue rather than an expiration date. It is up to the requesting landlord/organization to determine their own threshold for how long a check will be considered "valid". If it is determined that it has been too long since the completion of your check, you may be requested to provide a new one.
Q: Why do I need to print and complete ID Verification forms?
A. ID Verification is a necessary step to ensure the service is being completed on the individual consenting to the check. MyBackCheck.com provides you with physical ID verification options along with detailed instructions. Once IDs has been verified and the forms have been received, your check will be processed.
Q: How does ID verification with Canada Post work?
A.
1. After providing online consent, ID verification is completed at a local Canada Post retail outlet.
2. Canada Post witnesses the consent, scans ID, and sends it instantly to BackCheck.
3. BackCheck conducts the Criminal Record Check and delivers results securely to a password-protected account.
Learn more about BackCheck's partnership with Canada Post.
Q: I am a tenant and am being asked to cover the cost of my check. What payment methods are available to me?
A. Payment can be made securely online using Visa or Mastercard.
