Obtaining a background check is not as hard (or expensive) as you might think. Many records are openly available to the public at the county courthouse. These will only cover criminal records (not business records, relatives, or past addresses). Charges that have been expunged will also be excluded from the results. This can be a free way to get some very basic information on a person. All that is required is the name, and possibly a date of birth to avoid confusion with someone who has the same name. Sex offender registries are also open to the public and are in fact actively promoted in the community due to the potential dangers that sex offenders pose.
If you can spend a little more money, a cheap background check can yield some more information. Many background checks on the low end of the price spectrum simply compile information from existing databases and public records. Technically, one could just visit these sources independently and get the same results, but this would be extremely time-consuming. In addition, a background check conducted by a licensed firm will include results from several states (tip: make sure your background check is "nationwide," not just "multi-state"). Some background checks in this price range will turn up past addresses and some immediate relatives.
For those who require background information from many countries, the options are unfortunately limited. A few background check services will include some results from other countries, but these are usually limited to English-speaking countries with similar legal systems such as Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. It may be possible to contact the proper authorities in a specific country and obtain a government background check, although many developing countries will not have this service available. INTERPOL notices are the only other recourse. These are arrest warrants for criminals from around the world. Only those who have committed the most severe crimes will be listed, and the completeness of the data leaves much to be desired.
If you have some more money to spend, more comprehensive background checks are available. These will gather information from public records as well as certain private sources. They will also include the previously mentioned international background check information. This is the type of background check typically utilized by government employers to weed out potentially troublesome applicants. Expensive background checks such as these may even include information such as previous employment and military service. This is the most in-depth background check possible.
Whatever your budget may be, there exists a background check to fill your need. Whether you have no money or a considerable sum, a background check is there to meet your needs. A nominal amount of time spent researching your options will reveal a great deal of information about background check services available today. Don't let the perceived cost deter you; they can be had on any budget. Even for no money at all, you can obtain quite a bit of information. Click here to read more.