Backgrounds Online's Knowledge Bank

An applicant’s signature on the signed release of information is your key to opening the door to a successful background screening experience.

Having applicants sign the release of information is one of the most important parts of conducting a background check. This form gives permission for the employer to conduct the background check. Legally, no type of background check can be conducted for pre-employment screening until the applicant signs the release of information.

Backgrounds Online provides a customized release form for each of its clients to have their applicants sign. At times, some clients have developed their own release of information, which is perfectly acceptable to use as long as they remain in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The release provided by Backgrounds Online for applicants to sign covers everything that is offered on the website, so that the employer is legally covered to run any of our searches. If using their own release of information, clients are encouraged to make sure that it includes permission to run the searches being conducted.

Once an employer has an applicant sign the release of information, they will then have most, if not all, of the information necessary to conduct the background check. The majority of time, the employer can keep the release on file; however, Backgrounds Online may need it either for part of the background check or for auditing purposes, in which case it can be faxed.