Q: Who is PeopleFacts?A: Founded in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Trak-1 is a full service background screening company with corporate offices in Houston, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2000 Trak-1 developed and launched automated, internet-based background verification systems and is emerging as a national leader in background checks, especially in the following industries:
- Multi-Family Housing (Tenant Screening)
- Human Resources (Pre-employment Screening)
- Non Profit Volunteer Screening
A: The church or non-profit agrees to pay a one time set up fee of $29.99. As an alternative, an Annual Conference can contract to pay a one time set up fee of $6,000 for all churches in the Conference. Beyond that, fees are based on usage only. Individual products are priced competitively and are not cost-prohibitive. The per screen price ranges between $9 for the basic Multi-State package to $33 per customized screen.
A: If you are a United Methodist Insurance member, the carrier states an insured is to utilize a background check system for individuals who have access to minors, to determine if the individual has been convicted of a past sexual abuse claim. If an insured hires an individual with prior convictions and did not complete a background check, the insured runs the risk of denied coverage.
Background checks are to be completed on all current employees and volunteers with access to minors, as well as any new hires and volunteers going forward. Once the initial background check has been completed, they should then be completed on a regular basis to ensure an individual was not convicted during the course of employment where the employer was not made aware.
If you are a non-United Methodist Insurance member, please review your policy to determine what your carrier required in reference to background checks.
A: Trak-1’s customer friendly internet interface allows customers to log on with a unique user name and password to request a background check and receive the results—in many cases instantaneously!
A: Trak-1 diligently works to update our records as fast as the public data records are updated. Typically most public data bases are updated monthly, some are update quarterly. We seek to make the lag time between their updates, and our updates, as seamless as possible.
A: The most common background checks are processed instantaneously. Other searches such as county criminal, those listed as manual searches, education and reference verifications can take up to 5 business days to complete. Results are returned via the Trak-1 interface.
A: In order to best protect your employees, the people your ministries serve, and your resources, United Methodist Insurance recommends that you run a background check on all new or existing employees and volunteers at least every two years at the person’s anniversary date.
Recently a public school bus driver was pulled over while transporting children for erratic driving. During questioning, it was discovered that the driver’s license was suspended a few years prior. Had the school district run an MVR report annually this driver would not have been transporting children without a driver’s license.
Screening new and existing employees and volunteers at least every two years may help mitigate liability even if one of them commits a criminal act.
A: Because criminal records are public information employers are allowed access to such information. Trak-1 simply makes this information accessible in a cost effective manner. Credit and other Fair Credit Reporting Act information is not public record and requires a consent form be signed by the person on whom a background check is being run. Because of the ever changing compliance requirements, Trak-1 requires the employer obtain a consent form from every applicant on which a background screen is run. During customer orientation, we provide a sample consent form for employer use. In addition most standard employment applications include a consent form which the prospective employee signs when completing an application. The customer will not be asked to fax the consent form over to Trak-1, however, a yearly audit is run by Trak-1, so consent forms will need to be kept on-site for a recommended 90 days before disposal.
A: Records remain available for client access for 90 days. After that time, records are stored in archived files only accessible to Trak-1 verifiers. These records are obtainable indefinitely if needed.
A: You agree to keep all documentation signed by the applicant for at least seven (7) years or for as long as signor is an employee or volunteer.
- Approximately 85% of companies use fax based background screening – ours is web-based.
- The Sexual Offender Search is always included in every Multi-State Criminal Search.
- All Trak-1 criminal searches also include the O.F.A.C. search. It searches for information regarding terrorists and narcotics traffickers.
- Trak-1’s goal is to provide a live person to answer any questions when running a background check.
- Since we are a web-based system, instant checks can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- All information traced by Trak-1 is located on one single report, rather than being on multiple reports from multiple companies.
- A user can look back on all reports that have been run, and can keep accurate records on account usage.
A: "We are not allowed to give legal advice, however, most courts frown on anything after 3 years - but again make sure that anything you share cannot be construed as legal advice. United Methodist Insurance recomends checks to be run at least every two years.
A: Criminal records are stored by name and date of birth. It is possible that an incorrect criminal record could be pulled for an alternate person who happens to have the same birth date and name as the employee being checked. When this happens, we currently refer to it as a false positive. Running a social trace, along with the criminal check, decreases the opportunity for a false positive. The social trace will verify the correct Social Security Number and the date of birth, which limits contradictory information.
A: Most screening companies run Non-Fair Credit Reporting Act compliant Social Traces as the data is cheaper. However, that data is often unfiltered, unreliable and often unrelated to the applicant. A Fair Credit Reporting Act compliant trace has its information verified through a Credit Reporting Agency rather than accessing unverifiable data available on the internet. Companies should always strive to remain Fair Credit Reporting Act compliant as this reduces the risk for negligent hire cases. Trak-1 encourages Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance and the majority of our customers choose Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance over non-compliance.