Credit bureau databases are used to obtain information about the subject's residential address history. By inputting the subject's SSN, the credit bureau returns all names and addresses, which have been reportedly associated with the SSN for the past 7 years. The investigation often identifies names, aliases and addresses not provided by the subject. This information can then be used when researching criminal records.
A credit history not only reveals how an individual practices judgment and views obligation, it is indicative of overall stability. A credit history can be used
to objectively determine a subject's level of responsibility to financial requirements and identify excessive debt patterns and trends. A credit history will reveal
previous employments, tradelines, histories of tradelines, collections, public record filings and previous inquiries into a subject's credit for the last seven years.
Data Quest fully complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and will only obtain credit reports for permissible purposes. The type of credit report obtained by Data
Quest is designed by employment purposes, so it does not reveal either a date of birth or a credit score.
The investigator strategically determines the county to search after running the subject's SSN through credit bureau databases and determining the subject's
whereabouts for the last seven years. Data Quest conducts in-person, on-site, real-time criminal records checks at the local county District, Municipal and Superior
courthouses. The scope of each search covers felony & misdemeanor criminal actions, pending or disposed, with research conducted at both the Superior and District
Courthouses. In some cases, investigators may recommend that records be researched in more than one county to ensure a thorough criminal check.
Data Quest can conduct statewide criminal record checks in states that allow public access. Information includes felony & misdemeanor records on any case, pending or
disposed, involving the subject. Note: Few state repositories are accurate and up to date. Except where the repository is updated daily, state repository searches
should be used in conjunction, not replace, county criminal searches.
The National Criminal Database Search is a comprehensive database search that provides same day access to the largest criminal database available with millions of
offense records. Records from states are indexed from state correctional institutions, sexual offender and violent offender lists, the Office of Foreign Asset Control
(OFAC) and some state and county court records.
The agency is able to carry out a search of U.S. Federal courts for convictions or crimes that occurred on federal property and convictions of federal laws such as
tax evasion, mail fraud, drug trafficking, immigration law violations and postal offenses. Records provide a criminal history, including the date of disposition and
parole or release from imprisonment. The nationwide search excludes Alaska, Guam, Idaho, New Mexico and Northern Marina Islands.
Search of state and federal district prison records, which are updated 48 hours after inmates are paroled. The search reveals if the subject has served time in
prison for a felony conviction, providing their release date, any current warrant information for parole violations, and sometimes a picture I.D. This statewide
search may be conducted in addition to county criminal searches for due diligence where statewide information is not available from a state repository or the
National Criminal Database Search.
A statewide or nationwide database search under the subject's name, which identifies any county and state tax liens or judgments involving the subject.
Search of U.S. Federal District courts for civil cases involving alleged violations of federal statutes or constitutional rights. Cases include those brought by
individuals, companies or governmental entities seeking monetary damages, an injunction, and/or another remedy provided by law. Case information will include the
party name, case title, the court in which the case is located, case number, filing date, nature of suit and closing date. The nationwide search excludes Alaska,
Guam, Idaho, New Mexico and Northern Marina Islands.
Through investigative means, Data Quest will identify, contact and interview individuals not provided by the subject yet who are familiar with the subject in some
capacity (e.g., neighbor, landlord, former employer, former classmate, etc.). Through the interview, the investigator is able to obtain important character
information about the subject.
This service verifies the educational information supplied by the subject and includes complete enrollment period, highest degree attained, major and minor fields of
study and the date the degree was awarded.
This service verifies the subject's employment history, typically for the past five years or three most recent employers, and can include employment period,
title/position, reason for departure, eligibility for re-hire, salary history, etc. The investigation also seeks to obtain character/work performance references from
former supervisors and/or co-workers not listed on the subject's resume and/or application. Initially, investigators do not contact present employers unless the
client specifically gives authorization. Any contact with present employers will be conducted with complete sensitivity, with the assumption that the subject has not
informed the present employer that he/she is applying for a job elsewhere. Once an employment offer has been extended and accepted, the present employer will be
contacted and employment verification results will be submitted in a supplemental report.
Data Quest investigators check with former employers to obtain information whether the applicant:
- Took a drug test
- Failed any drug test
- Refused any drug test
Data Quest will forward a written request to the Department of Defense's Record Maintenance Facility to obtain an official copy of the applicant's DD214 form.
This service will verify the subject's current driver's license status and provide all citations, license revocations, auto insurance cancellations and cited
accidents. Motor vehicle information also exposes important character issues because it reveals suspended licenses, failures to appear in court, arrest warrants and
drug & alcohol related driving offenses. Records are checked in the state that the subject currently resides. However, it is recommended that the prior state's
driving history be checked if the current state of residence is less than 30 days. When hiring for a driving position, failure to check driving records may result
in negligent hiring litigation. This same risk exists if a position requires driving for company errands. Whether in a personal or company vehicle, an organization
can be held liable for automobile accidents. The Department of Transportation recommends that driving records be validated every six months to ensure that no
violations have occurred during employment that may place the organization at risk.
Searches the Federal, Medicare, Medicaid Sanctions Lists of individuals, parties, or entities prohibited from participating in governmental programs based on the
authority contained in Sections 1128 and 1156 of the Social Security Act. Also includes GSA (General Services Administration) sanctions list check.
Data Quest investigators conduct professional license and certification verifications. The reports reveal the validity of a subject's professional licenses, date of
issue, renewal and expiration dates, current status and any disciplinary action.
Sexual offender registry searches are statewide searches of registered sex offender databases. Per Megan's Law, sexual offenders are required to register their
current address with local law enforcement officials when they move. Where available, Data Quest investigators will search established state registries and report
any known convicted sex offenders and/or violent predators. The report may identify the individual by name and date of birth, race, height, weight, physical markings
(scars, tattoos), descriptions of crime(s) committed and incarcerated location.
The Social Security Number trace checks the validity of a subject's SSN. If the number is valid, the trace will identify the year and state in which the number was
issued. The SSN trace will alert you if the number has not been issued, has been filed with a death claim or if it was used with any fraudulent activity. The trace
also identifies AKA's and provides up to three (3) past addresses, which help in determining which counties should be checked for criminal records.
A Social Security Number validation reveals if a SSN is a match to the subject's name, gender and date of birth with the Social Security Administration's database
system.
Search of the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury. The list contains names of foreign nationals (individuals and entities)
that the U.S. government currently has sanctions against; whose property may be blocked; who is restricted from exporting by the U.S. Department of Commerce; and whom
no U.S. person may have dealings with. Individuals on the list include known terrorists and international drug traffickers.
This service provides the subject's worker's compensation history in the state of residence or employment and reports the accident date(s), accident type(s), type(s)
of injury, amount of settlement(s), and work return date(s).
Worker's compensation records are classified under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which became effective for companies with 15 or more employees in 1994.
The law states that an employer may not inquire about an individual's workers' compensation history at the pre-offer stage. To comply with this act, Data Quest
conducts the search after a conditional job offer has been made and obtains this type of information for the purpose of making certain that the subject is not
assigned a job function which could aggravate a previous injury.