How Much is a Background Check for Employment?

Pre-employment screenings have become one of the most common applications of private investigator background checks. When most companies are recruiting, they'll get in touch with a private investigator at some point to look into the candidates who make the short list.

Although this is already standard practice for large companies, a small business may not know where to start as far as private investigator background checks are concerned. Cost is usually their main concern with some business opting to skip over private detective background checks because they believe it will add an unnecessary cost. However, the cost may actually be within reach.

Employment background checks are investigations into the past of an individual who is being considered for a certain position within the company. Private detectives are usually the ones charged with performing these investigations. These checks are carried out to ensure that the individuals in question are the best people for the job and that there are no events in their past that could serve as a potential risk to the company hiring them.

Typically, the employer will first get in touch with a private investigator and provide them with the details of the person whose background is being checked. The private investigator will need the name of the person along with their contact information. After getting this information, the private investigator will get in touch with the person to get their consent; this is necessary for certain background checks e.g. performing credit checks.

Once the private investigator has this information, they will be able to start reviewing the requesting and reviewing the person's records from different parties e.g. DBS, Home Office, past employers etc. Once the private investigator has gathered the necessary information they will report back to the employer in the most appropriate manner.

These can include:

• Reference checks
• Employment history checks
• Credit checks
• Criminal background check
• Medical records check
• Identity check etc.

There is no proper way to know exactly how much private investigators charge for pre-employment background checks in other countries. In this regard, the UK is well ahead of other countries who don't review employees as thoroughly. It's only in countries such as the US where employment background checks carried out by private investigators have become standard.

In the US, the private detective costs are a bit lower than they are in the UK. However, this also depends on certain factors e.g. whether the background check is statewide or nationwide. The wider the coverage, the higher the private investigator costs.