GIS Background Check

General Information Solutions (GIS)

General Information Solutions (GIS) is a background-screening and hiring-services company founded in 1966. In current times, GIS is one of the foremost companies in this field. GIS helps companies reduce risk and hire the best employees through its advanced technology and services. GIS is headquartered in Chapin, South Carolina, USA. GIS offers a number of services, including:

• Background Check. GIS can check your criminal record, education, employment history, and more.
• Candidate Search. GIS helps you find qualified candidates for your open positions.
• Drug Testing. GIS can conduct drug testing to ensure that your employees are drug-free.
• Aptitude Testing. GIS can conduct tests to measure the skills and abilities of your employees.

GIS uses advanced technology for ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of its services. The company is high-professional, known for its services. GIS is a member of the National Association for Background Screening (NAPBS) and the Association of Search Professionals (ASP).

GIS is one of the most trusted companies that may help you to reduce risks, hire better people, and improve your business. Some of the key features of GIS are:

• Experience. GIS has been in the industry of background checks for over 50 years.
• Reputation. GIS is quite well-known in its industry.
• Technology. GIS uses state-of-the-art technology, which helps ensure the accuracy and productivity of its services.
• Services. GIS offers many services, which can help in reducing risk, in hiring better people, and in elevating your business.

How Does GIS Conduct Background Checks?

There are many things that one needs to know when it comes to how General Information Solutions (GIS) conducts background checks. Here’s an overview of how most background checks are carried out:

Authorization and Information Gathering

   – You, as the client, typically give consent for the background check by filling out a written consent form.

   – GIS can gather certain information about you, including your name, Social Security number (with your permission and following legal requirements), and past addresses.

Multi-Source Verification

   – GIS uses a number of sources to verify information and uncover relevant details about your background. These sources may include:

   – Public Records Databases: This includes searching through federal, state, and local records for criminal records (arrests, convictions, warrants), as well as civil court records (bankruptcies, judgments), and other publicly available information.

   – Previous Employers: If a previously working history is of interest, consent may be requested to contact previous employers in order to confirm employment dates, job titles, as well as salary history.

   – Educational Institutions: More than likely, with your permission, they will verify educational background information in contacting schools you attended in order to corroborate the degree earned and the enrollment dates.

   – Professional Licenses: This would be based on the type of background check, as determined by what the client has requested.

Analysis and Report Compilation

   – Once all the information is collected, GIS analysts will review and analyze it so as to ensure that it is accurate and provides relevance to the specific purpose of the background check (e.g., pre-employment screening would see the focus more on employment history).

   – Once that information has been reviewed, a comprehensive report will be put together, pulling together the details of the information found. This report will more than likely include the following information:

   – Any criminal history information that comes up.

   – Details from employment verification (where applicable).

   – Details from education verification (where applicable).

Delivery and Compliance

   – The final report of the completed background check will be delivered to the person or entity that has authorized GIS to do the research.

   – All along, GIS maintains the requirement set forth under Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guidelines with respect to consumer privacy and rights.

Additional Considerations

   – Different information sources and verification methods can be applied by GIS, depending on the type of background check being carried out and the regulations of the relevant location.

   – Customized searches are also possible, where GIS will modify information collection based on the specific needs of the client.

In that way, you should be able to understand what GIS is doing in the background check process so that it can be useful for you.

How Long Does a Background Check from GIS Take?

The estimated processing time for a background check performed by General Information Solutions (GIS) can vary depending on the underlying factors as follows:

• Complexity of the Check. A minimal screening of criminal records will most likely be completed faster than any other services that include deep employment and education verification, usually require communicating with previous employers or schools.

• Data Availability. Availability of data from various sources will take more time. Information may be delayed if the employer or educational institution takes longer to respond.

• Location and Regulations. The specific laws within each state or country can determine the quickness to obtain the required information.

It is important to note that these are estimations, and sometimes, the background check from GIS may extend beyond the predicted period.

Here are some tips for managing your expectations:

• Ask about the turnaround time initially. Request the background check, and query the estimated completion time.

• Provide correct data. Supply all information in a correct manner during authorization so that you don’t delay the background check due to incorrect inputs.

• Communication. If the result of the background check is taking too long to come up with, contact the GIS team.

What Information Does GIS Include in Background Checks?

The information provided in a background check report from General Information Solutions (GIS) can differ, depending on the type of check that is being performed and the specific requirements of the client requesting it. However, here are some general information categories you may encounter:

Core Information:

• Identity Verification. This section will verify all basic identity details, such as your name, aliases (if any), Social Security number (if in accordance with laws), and date of birth.

• Address History. This section most likely lists your recent residential addresses, giving an indication of your residential patterns.

Detailed Information (Depending on Check Type):

• Criminal Records. If found through search, information of convictions, arrests, or warrants will be included. The details given will depend on state and federal regulations on record availability.

• Employment Verification. If done for pre-employment screening, this part could include details on your past employment positions, whether through verification of employment dates, job titles, or salary history. Contact with such entities requires giving permission.

• Education Verification (Optional). Similar to employment verification, information or details with regards to your educational background could be verified if the check requires the same. This could include confirmation of educational degrees earned, schools attended, and enrollment dates (if permission is allowed).

Not Included:

• Financial Information. Information such as credit scores, bank history, or outstanding debts would not be part of the general background check report. Credit check regulations allow for this.

• Medical Records. Information on your health status or medical records is excluded by privacy regulations.

• Subjective Opinions. The report would not contain subjective opinions or character references for you. It covers only factual information sourced from various sources.

Additional Considerations:

• Customization. The type of information checked can be amended according to what the client requires. For instance, an employer in the finance sector may have more emphasis on employment verification, while a daycare center might give more emphasis to criminal history related to child safety.

• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Compliance. Throughout the process, GIS is adherent to FCRA guidelines pertaining to consumer privacy and rights. This ensures that the information reported is accurate and impartial.

Your Rights Regarding Background Checks from General Information Solutions (GIS)

Your Rights Regarding Background Checks from General Information Solutions (GIS)

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides you with certain rights when it comes to background checks that are carried out on you by General Information Solutions (GIS), particularly the employment ones or credit applications or specific kinds of insurance. Here’s a rundown of your main rights:

Obtain Your Report: Under the FCRA, you can find out whether GIS is operating within your rights to find out information about you and request a background check report by the company. This report will enable you to review information that they’ve provided or checked against another source and identify whether there are errors.

Dispute Errors: Under the FCRA, you have the right to dispute any inaccuracies you find in your GIS background check report. If you detect any misinformation, you are entitled to challenge GIS about it.

Fairness and Accuracy: The FCRA promotes fairness and accuracy in background check reports. This means that GIS cannot include outdated information or irrelevant details that would make you look bad in the eyes of an employer.

Companies usually use General Information Solutions (GIS) background checks for two major purposes

1. Pre-Employment Screening

– Pre-employment screening is most likely the commonest function for which companies may use GIS background checks. The motive would be to check up on the suitability and qualifications of the candidate to see if they would be a good fit in the company. A background check can help them verify information that the candidate provided and uncover any red flags that might affect job performance or company safety.

Here’s how GIS background checks can be beneficial for pre-employment screening:

– Verification of Information: GIS can verify that the information the candidate provides is correct and that they have indeed completed the education and employment they state.

– Criminal History: A background check may disclose any criminal convictions or arrests relevant to the position, as long as there is a legitimate business reason for it, regarding the job and local regulations.

– Assessing Risk: In such a case, GIS might determine potential risks in the candidate before considering him for hire. For instance, a financial institution might be more cautious about hiring someone who has had a history of fraud.

2. Other Risk Management Needs

While pre-employment screening is at the top of the list of uses, some firms may leverage GIS for other types of risk management:

– Landlord Screening: Tenants might also use GIS to verify the identity of their potential landlord and his or her rental history, and potentially their criminal history, before signing a lease. This helps evaluate potential risks related to the tenant, such as the likelihood of property damage or non-payment of rent.

– Financial Services (Optional): In some cases, banks and other financial institutions may use GIS to evaluate risk before issuing loans or offering lines of credit (depending on regulations). This could include verifying income history or employment details through GIS background checks. It’s important to note that credit checks are run differently and are subject to stricter regulations.

Can Errors Occur in Background Checks from General Information Solutions (GIS)

Yes, Errors Can Occur in Background Checks from General Information Solutions (GIS). From General Information Solutions (GIS), no matter how rigorous they are in their background checks, errors will pop up from a number of possible reasons. Here is the breakdown of how they might arise:

• Mistaken Identity: Misidentification may arise where information is mistakenly attached to your report, either through a coincidence of names, Social Security numbers, or birth dates. This can happen if records are not properly updated to reflect these discrepancies, such as the misidentification of records with the same name and other common mistakes.

• Outdated Information: Records used for their reports could also prove incorrect, reflecting errors in public records or data sources. An example is an arrest record that, though not a conviction, gets wrongly reported.

• Human Error: During the data collection or reporting process, human errors can pop up due to typos, errors in transferring data from one source to the next, or mistakes made when presenting data in a report.

Examples of Errors

• Report of arrest that did not translate to a conviction.

• Rapport of false employment dates or job titles.

• Falsified information of former addresses.

Consequences

Errors made in the GIS report can have serious consequences, including:

• Job Denial: A mistake in the report may lead to a qualified candidate being rejected from the job.

• Rejection for Housing: Errors may also create difficulties in finding housing, especially where there are false accusations or rental history reports.

• Leays to Delayed Processes: Errors, even if they are eventually corrected, can cause delays in approval for jobs or housing.

Taking Corrective Action

• Examine Your Report Thoroughly. Your prospective GIS background check report must be examined carefully to ensure everything is right.

• Challenge the Errors. When you realize an error, challenge it with GIS. While the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ensures that you can dispute errors made by GIS and request that they investigate, a dispute doesn’t necessitate filing a lawsuit.

• Background of Evidence Supporting the Dispute. During the dispute process, provide any supporting evidence to back up your claims. This may include proof of employment dates, court documents, or rental agreements.

It should be understood that you want to show lawsuits against General Information Solutions (GIS) in order to present the potential effects of inaccurate background checks. However, there are several reasons why specific lawsuits may not be the best approach:

• Privacy Concerns. Lawsuits usually entail sensitive personal information about the plaintiff and the defendant. It is important to consider the privacy of those involved.

• Confidentiality Agreements. Some cases between the parties in a lawsuit may provide for confidentiality agreements, with restrictive clauses on publication.

• Opt for Solution rather than Lawsuits. Your real aim would be to inform people about their rights and help them address the accuracy issue for their background checks. Speaking about lawsuits can generate fear or anxiety among people.

Know Your Rights Under FCRA. Get Help with Background Check Mistakes. Free Consultation.