Accurate descriptions of every screening product and service we provide, so you know exactly what you're getting.
Signet Screening is committed to transparency. The following descriptions explain exactly what each of our services includes, how information is obtained, and what you can expect to receive in your reports.
This is a tool used to identify names and addresses that are associated with the Social Security Number provided. The information is compiled from credit and other public and private information sources. Address history is searched back 7–10 years. The SSN Trace will show if the SSN is valid, the year it was issued, what state the SSN was issued in, addresses where the applicant has lived or might be living now, alias names, and date of birth associated with that SSN.
Signet will search for 10 years for felonies and misdemeanors. Information is obtained through in-person searches at the court or by electronic access. Information will include offense, filing date, disposition, disposition date, and sentencing information. We report back to 10 years on convictions, but only report back to 7 years for dismissed, non-convictions.
This is a database search. The records come from state repositories, state correctional facilities, county records, and other additional resources. The availability of records varies from state to state and can go back unlimited years. This is not a true nationwide search for all criminal records, but it is a good supplemental search to our county criminal records search. Any information discovered in a database search is automatically confirmed at the county level.
This search is available in most states and comes directly from the state's official criminal record repository. Information is compiled from the counties within that state. The repository typically includes felony and misdemeanor information from all or most counties; however, be aware that the information may be incomplete if a county fails to provide information to the state repository. Pending and recent charges can also be missing in some cases. Statewide searches are valuable as a supplement to our county criminal records search.
Federal district courts are searched for any criminal charges that fall under federal jurisdiction (PACER). These types of crimes include violations of federal law or those crimes that occur on federal property. Examples include tax evasion, treason, drug trafficking, mail or wire fraud, and immigration law violations. All districts nationwide are available.
Signet Screening can conduct court records searches, employment verification, and education confirmation in many countries throughout the world. Availability, turnaround time, and cost vary significantly based on the country. For specific information regarding international searches, please contact our office.
Criminal records are available in most countries. Turnaround time may range from a few days to a few weeks. Local, regional, and/or national courts may be accessed for information. Due to privacy laws in other countries, a copy of the applicant's signed release or other information may be required.
This search is available in all states and includes a national database search of registered sex offenders (National Sex Offender Public Website or NSOPW). The search reveals individuals that are currently registered as sex offenders; the originating offense may be included depending on the state. To obtain information about the originating case, we suggest conducting a county criminal records search where the original conviction occurred.
Driving records are strongly recommended whenever you have an employee who drives on company time, whether in a company or personal vehicle. Most states include a minimum of 3 years history, although some may include more. Reports typically include the license status, history of violations (including DUI/DWI) and accidents, and license expiration date. Driving records are also useful for general verification purposes, such as confirmation of a subject's name, AKA, or date of birth.
Instant results are available from almost every state. Records from Canada and some U.S. territories are also available. For employers who need to review employee driving records on an annual or periodic basis, Signet Screening offers the ability to submit driving record batch requests. Results are typically returned within 24 hours.
The verification of an applicant's employment history can provide invaluable insight into the type of person you are considering hiring and help eliminate any unexplained gaps in employment. Standard questions for employment verification typically include job title and dates of employment. This can be obtained through the employer directly, or in some instances through third-party verifiers such as The Work Number, UConfirm, Thomas & Company, etc.
When performing verifications, our policy prohibits contacting a consumer's current employer directly unless authorized by the client and/or consumer. Three attempts are made to contact the employer via phone, email, or fax. Signet will reach out after that to inquire if it can be closed out or if other information can be provided. Additional fees may be charged by third-party service providers and will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Most applicants are eager to supply college or continuing education information. This information may be misrepresented to receive more favorable consideration. The highest degree earned or last institution attended is most commonly verified. However, we will gladly confirm all degrees earned and all institutions attended at a client's request.
Most colleges and universities are searched through the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the institution directly if they are not on the list of participating schools. High School Diploma verification is also available, as is GED completion. Standard questions verified include: Dates Claimed, Degree Claimed, Degree Date, and Major Claimed.
If through our validation procedures we discover the institution or accrediting body is not recognized, we will note this in the report. Three attempts are made to contact the institution via phone, email, or fax. Additional fees may be charged by third-party service providers.
Employers commonly use credit reports for situations where employees may have access to cash, equipment, or other people's property. The TransUnion employment credit report includes name, current and previous addresses, SSN, phone, current and previous employers, and aliases. The credit file includes certain public records such as bankruptcy records and tax liens, along with a credit summary. This credit report is designed for employment purposes — it does not place an inquiry on the applicant's report and no credit worthiness score is included. Clients who order employment credit reports online can view results instantly.
This product searches a database of adverse actions against individuals in the healthcare industry. The search includes the OIG (LEIE), GSA (EPLS), and FDA exclusion lists, along with over 800 other sources including federal and state agencies.
Many positions require an individual to hold a professional license or certification. Based on the information provided by the candidate, we will confirm the legitimacy of their credentials. Results typically include license type, issuing authority, and dates of validity. For certain license types, disciplinary history may also be included.
Personal and professional references can provide helpful insight into a person's work ethic and character. References receive a structured online questionnaire to complete at their convenience. Reports typically include information regarding how long and in what capacity the reference has known the individual, as well as questions about their reliability, trustworthiness, and whether the reference would recommend the person for hire. Questions can be customized, are sent via email, and are returned electronically in our system.
Traditional background checks do not cover online activity. Our social media screening provides a compliant, focused look at publicly available online content. This is performed using technology that filters out information related to protected classes (e.g., race, religion) to help prevent hiring bias. We focus on identifying content related to illegal activity, hate speech, professionalism concerns, and aggression. This service helps ensure the candidate aligns with your company's values and mitigates risk associated with inappropriate public behavior.
We offer various drug screening types including pre-employment, DOT drug screen, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, random drug testing, breath alcohol, and physicals. There are thousands of drug screening options and we can customize a drug test based on your needs.
We're happy to explain any of our products in more detail.