Backgrounds Online's Knowledge Bank

Know the right circumstances in which you are obligated to provide a copy of the background check to a requesting applicant or employee.

Should an applicant, who has passed their background check, request a copy of it from their employer, the employer can either give them a copy or refer them to Backgrounds Online. Upon receiving proper identification and a written request, Backgrounds Online will mail a copy of the report to the applicant free of charge.

If an employer decides not to hire an applicant based in whole or in part of the background check performed, then it must give the applicant the pre-adverse action letter, along with a summary of the person’s rights under the FCRA and a copy of the report. This is because under the FCRA an employer must give an applicant a copy of the results and allow a reasonable time for that person to contest the results should they wish to do so. Backgrounds Online considers a reasonable amount of time to be five to seven working days.

Backgrounds Online understands that some employers may not feel comfortable giving results of background checks to their applicants and we are more than happy to assist in doing that.