With the increasing popularity of various methods that we use to meet people online, for example, things like social media or dating websites, doing a background check can at times feel like a task of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, it’s not always immediately apparent how one would do a background search on someone and that can make it a complicated process. There are a couple of methods that you can use for such an endeavor, and they are by no stretch of the imagination equal. Today we’re going to look into a couple of common methods and explain how they work and why.

How is it Possible to do a Personal Background Check?

There are many laws in place that make public information more accessible to the citizens of the United States. A big one that is spoken of a lot is the Freedom of Information Act, which is a landmark piece of legislation that began the push for transparency in government. FOIA is a federal law, but many states have adopted their own government transparency laws since it was passed. These laws are what make these kinds of background checks possible, as government transparency makes it every citizen’s right to access public information.

Going Directly Through the Government

Many people may think that using government portals would be a great way to go about finding this information, but unfortunately, this is a misconception in most cases. Unless you know exactly where you need to look and that happens to be a well-funded county you’re gonna find some big issues. Firstly, none of these databases are connected so if you have a lot of places to look or don’t know exactly where you need to look you have to check each website, county by county. Also, not every county has the funding to keep these databases up to date and easily accessible. Counties that have low funding and manpower tend to spend their resources on more critical tasks that help with public safety.

Online Background Check Services for Accurate Information

While government portals do leave something to be desired, many companies have popped up over the years to pick up the slack. These online background check companies access public records from all around the country and pass them onto their users instantly. This method is highly effective no matter the reason you need a background check, and especially useful if you have a lot of places you need to check or don’t know every county you need to look in. To put it plainly, these services save you time and help you feel confident that you’re getting the most information available

Background Checks in the Modern Day.

Many, many factors have contributed to the vast amount of public information available for anyone to find. In many cases, this information can save you from terrible dates at best, and your life at worst. Fortunately, things like criminal records, warrant information, arrest records, and much, much more are available online if you know where to look. For many people, choosing an online background check service is a no brainer. It’s easy, quick, and contains the most accurate information available. This industry is likely here to stay, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves as more and more public records laws are passed.

***SpyFly provides consumers affordable, immediate access to public record information. Federal laws prohibit businesses from using SpyFly’s service to make decisions about employment, insurance, consumer credit, tenant screening, or for any other purpose subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq.***