Do You Really Trust Your Screening Company? Are You Liable When a Bad Hire Commits a Crime in While Representing Your Company?

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Unfortunately, the quality of screening companies has deteriorated significantly over the last two decades. While the internet is a wonderful tool, it has reduced the background check industry to little more than a database search. You may be surprised to learn that in the United States, almost anybody can subscribe to a 38 State database and themselves a “National Screening Company.” This is a great business opportunity that requires no experience, no education and in most cases no integrity. Creating a simple website allows them to collect $20 - $50 every time someone uses this automated system. Can you say Cha-Ching!

So how do you protect customers from home service providers and repair staff, even when they are independent contractors? How do you know the information on the criminal background check you ordered is accurate? Here’s the key: If the screening company you are using is not obtaining actual disposition (conviction) records on employees from the federal, state and county courts, and doing it themselves “hands-on” with licensed private investigators, the information simply cannot be trusted.
It only takes one lawsuit from negligent hiring, and the company who hired the service provider will likely get hit for damages.  Additionally, the screening company will likely get sued, if they did not meet the negligence standards for research in obtaining relevant, accurate, timely, real-time information directly from the courts.  An instant database search does not constitute a background check and is not sufficient to avoid liability.  Changes occur within the courts on a day-to-day basis. Court clerks update information as events take place in the court. Investigators MUST look at court records on a daily basis for every screening applicant.

Here are a couple of little-know facts: Service provider companies who do not screen their employees average approximately one convicted criminal in every four employees. Companies using an instant database screening service still average one criminal for every six employees. Don’t trust your future to statistics like these!

Remember there are a million attorneys in the United States looking for a job.  If you hire the wrong criminal background investigation company, it’s only a matter of time before you end up in a major legal battle that could destroy your finances and your reputation. Hire an investigative screening company that gets it right the first time.

About The Author: J. Denton (Denny) Dobbins is Nationally and Internationally recognized as the world’s leader in Premises Liability Protection and has been featured across North America sharing the stage with Political Leaders, Police Celebrities, Administrators and Business Leaders.  Since 1978, Denny has been involved with the detection and deterrence of Criminal Activity in properties and employment of all types.