Employers looking to verify a candidate's background sometimes turn to public search websites — platforms that sell access to publicly available information for a monthly subscription fee. On the surface they look similar to a professional background check. They are not. Using them for hiring or rental decisions is not only unreliable — it creates legal exposure that a proper background check would eliminate.
What Is a Public Search Website?
Public search platforms are designed for individual, personal use. They aggregate publicly available data — past addresses, social media profiles, possible relatives, and in some cases incomplete criminal information — and present it in a consumer-friendly format. These sites sell subscriptions to individuals curious about people in their lives.
Critically, these platforms are not consumer reporting agencies. They are not subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act for employment purposes, they do not verify the accuracy of the information they provide, and they explicitly disclaim liability for errors. At least one major platform has faced litigation over claims that it deceived users about the accuracy of its background reports.
What Is a Consumer Reporting Agency?
A Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) is a business that collects and furnishes consumer information — including criminal records, employment history, credit data, and more — for permissible purposes defined by the FCRA. Those purposes include employment decisions and tenant screening.
CRAs operate under strict legal obligations: they must maintain accuracy, provide dispute processes, obtain proper authorization, and ensure their clients have a legitimate permissible purpose before running any report. Research Services is a PBSA-accredited CRA — independently audited for compliance with these standards.
Side by Side: Public Search vs. Consumer Reporting Agency
- Not regulated by FCRA for employment use
- Data accuracy not guaranteed
- No dispute or correction process
- No authorization from the subject required
- Designed for individual subscribers, not employers
- Using for hiring decisions creates legal liability
- FCRA-regulated and compliant
- Verified, court-sourced information
- Legally required dispute and correction process
- Candidate authorization required before any search
- Built specifically for employers and landlords
- Protects employers from discrimination claims
When Should You Use a Public Search Site?
Public search platforms have legitimate uses — they're appropriate when an individual wants to look up publicly available information for personal reasons. A parent researching someone their child met online, or a person curious about a new neighbor, is the intended user. There's nothing wrong with that use case.
The problem arises when employers use these tools as a substitute for a proper background check. The data is unreliable, the coverage is incomplete, and the legal framework that protects both employers and applicants simply doesn't apply.
When Should You Use a Consumer Reporting Agency?
Any time you're making a hiring or rental decision based on background information, you need a CRA. That includes:
- Criminal background checks — statewide, county, and federal
- Driver history reports
- Employment verification
- Education verification
- Credit reports
- International background searches
Why Research Services
Our Connecticut criminal records database extends back over 35 years — further than most screening companies offer. We search with additional identifiers including Social Security number, driver's license, home address, and state police ID number, which means fewer missed records and fewer false matches.
Use the Right Tool for Employment Decisions
Research Services provides FCRA-compliant background checks built specifically for employers — accurate, court-sourced, and legally defensible.