Frequently Asked Questions

What startup fees are associated with setting up a new account?
A one-time setup fee will be charged to your account. The setup fee is normally $175.00. Promotional offers may apply in some instances, waiving some of these fees. ScreenNow accepts all Credit cards EXCEPT Discover.

How quickly can I start ordering if I fill out the online application today?
Credit Card customers - 7 to 10 business days to setup.
Invoice customers - 7 to 10 business days to setup.

I can't access the New User Application and some of the other links on your website - what could be wrong?
ScreenNow must maintain a high level of security because sensitive information is transferred via the web. ScreenNow® is compatible with both Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6+ and Netscape® Communicator 7+. If you need to update your browser version, please follow the links below:
Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/Top10.asp
Netscape - http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp

I want to use your service - what's the setup procedure?
Please click on the "Sign Up Now" button and fill out our New User Application. After clicking on the "submit" button at the bottom of the page, you should see a confirmation pop-up window (don't close your browser until you see this). Once the form has been successfully submitted, ScreenNow will review your application and send you a confirmation e-mail when your company has been approved. The e-mail will contain your account number and password - your account is now activated for use.

How quickly can I retrieve results after submitting an order?
Within a few minutes: ChoicePoint National Criminal File, ChoicePoint State Criminal Database Search, Motor Vehicle Records, Credit History Checks, Social Security Verifications, Identity Verifications.
24 hour turnaround: State Sexual Offender Search
1-3 business days: Education Verification, Employment Verification, County and Federal Courthouse Search, Reference Check, Professional Licensure Verification, Workers Comp. Check

Do I have to purchase reports in a package?
Customers have two options: they can order individual products from our "A la carte" menu, or they can select a package.

Which package is best for me?
ScreenNow members have 3 packages to choose from:

• Entry-level - this package is appropriate when hiring candidates with limited experience, credentials and have limited authority on the job.
• Mid-level - this package is appropriate for positions that have some authority and moderate work experience / credentials are required.
• Management - this search is appropriate for positions with financial and/or decision making authority, and a high level of experience / credentials required.

Does ScreenNow have examples of FCRA Consent forms and Adverse Action forms for their customers?
Yes - Once a Screennow member logs into our secure site with their Account number and Password, they can find these forms under the "Helpful Links" section.

What types of Criminal Searches does ScreenNow offer?
ChoicePoint National Criminal File
State Sexual Offender Search
ChoicePoint State Criminal Database Search
County Courthouse Search
Federal Courthouse Search

Does a Federal Courthouse Search offer criminal records from all 50 states?
No - there are 93 Federal District courts in the U.S. and each courthouse is ONLY responsible for storing criminal records on cases filed in their district.

My company is fairly large, and I have managers in different office locations using ScreenNow. Can one account have multiple users?
Yes, you can add multiple users to an account. You can also setup the account so that some of the users can only "submit" requests, some can only view the results, and others can have "super user" access to all of the controls. Call customer service for details.

I am interested in using your service - who can I call for more information?
Thank you for your interest!
Please call ScreenNow New Sales at 1-800-853-2414 .

How do you receive State Background checks "instantly"?
Information is transferred electronically. Some states allow ScreenNow to electronically search through their criminal databases. The database is owned and maintained by that particular state, not by ScreenNow.

Should I be aware of any Federal regulations that apply to screening applicants in an employment setting?
An employer must obtain the written consent of an applicant before using the ScreenNow service. These are mandatory guidelines addressed by the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act), which is a Federal policy.

If a person is refused employment due to bad background report, what guidelines/ rules apply?
FCRA guidelines apply - that information is available to all Screennow members.

Do you provide a nationwide screening for criminal background checks?
Yes, we have a ChoicePoint National Criminal File Search that pulls data from various state repositories and also contains ChoicePoint proprietary information.

Our hiring is seasonal - I have a large amount of candidates to screen at one time. Do you have batch processing?
ScreenNow will handle batch requests for customers that have over 100 individuals to screen at one time. Pricing discounts may also apply. Please call New Sales at 1-800-853-2414 for details.