Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we offer Canadian criminal records by Province. Additionally, as part of our international products, we offer education and employment verifications from Canada. In general, these take longer for results to be transmitted back to you. If you do not have access to Perform A Search —> IntelliSearch Global from the menu bar on your account, please contact Client Services which may be reached by phone at: (888) 946-8355 or (216) 450-5300 or via e-mail at customerservice@intellicorp.net.

Felonies and misdemeanors vary by state. The Offense Level field is typically located on the record. "M" represents "Misdemeanor" and "F" represents "Felony." Other common offense levels include "U" for "Unknown" if not provided by the source and "T" for "Traffic."

A single county search looks for records held solely at the county level. Not conducting single county searches increases the chances of missing information on an applicant and exposes businesses and organizations to many types of risk that could be costly. Additionally, database searches do not contain all criminal record information for every individual across the country, and it is imperative to check each identified source to obtain a comprehensive picture of an applicant. IntelliCorp’s background check process automatically incorporates all single county recommendations where a subject has lived (either within the last seven or throughout their address history, depending on your package), based on a Social Security number trace. As a result, should subject information be identified that is not covered in our database (Criminal SuperSearch) any single county recommendations will be completed. This helps to ensure we have the most recent and accurate information on the subject prior to sending a report back to you. The report provides criminal records held at the county level. Reports generally include felony and/or misdemeanor records, and contain all case information that is available, including defendant information (defendant name, DOB, and address); case information (case number, filed date, disposition, disposition date, and sentence); and criminal charge information (statute section, offense description, and charge disposition). The industry standard for a single county criminal record search is 7 years, although older information may be returned if available from the record source.

Civil law is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals and/or organizations in which compensation may be awarded. Alternately, a criminal offense is a violation of the law that is punishable by a fine and/or a jail sentence.

The Federal Criminal Search provides a detailed report on criminal cases prosecuted at the federal district court level. All federal criminal record searches are name match only, entering a full middle name, or alternately, a middle initial is essential to processing this search correctly. The Statewide Criminal Search provides online access to public criminal records from each state. Search results generally include felony, misdemeanor, and/or traffic case information. Each state's case information will also vary upon years of coverage.

Each state has different laws that govern the charge level that is applied to a crime. However, in general, a felony is considered a more serious criminal offense than a misdemeanor.

Sources for the Criminal SuperSearch include state, county, and municipal court level information that may include felony and misdemeanor records, Department of Corrections data, and state sex offender registries. Data is aggregated from across the nation and coverage varies by state and county.

Your User ID can be set to receive email notification when a report is complete. From the menu bar, go to Your Account —> Your Profile and choose Email Notification for the Results Notification.

Credit Reports are regulated at both the federal and state level. Access to this information is controlled by the credit bureau and requires a separate agreement with them. IntelliCorp will assist in the application process and provide notification of the outcome. For clients who have completed the application process and have been granted access for an appropriate purpose, IntelliCorp will provide a direct link to the credit bureau and return credit reports same day. The credit data can be provided as a component along with any other products ordered in a comprehensive report or as a standalone report.

For clients who need to process multiple subjects at one time, we offer a Self-Service Batching alternative. The batching process has been designed to allow you to upload your subject information via a provided template, correct onscreen any errors or missing data, receive an estimated cost for the batch, and submit the batch to be processed. You may contact batch@intellicorp.net to set up batching or you call (877)387-0124.

As required by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), any organization requesting a background check on a consumer for any purpose outlined in the FCRA must obtain a signed Authorization Form from the applicant. Purposes covered by the FCRA include, but are not limited to the following: Employment Screening (includes Independent Contractors); Volunteer Screening; Underwriting Insurance; Tenant Screening and Membership Screening. The disclosure must be a separate document from the application and maintained in a secure location for a minimum of five years. IntelliCorp may require a copy of this document at any time during this time period. Please refer to the FCRA to review guidelines regarding signed authorizations. Some products may require additional permissions, agreements or signed authorizations, such as Credit Reports, Consent Based SSN, or Motor Vehicle Reports.

We offer international products in 250+ countries worldwide. You can order education verifications, employment verifications, and criminal searches as part of your criminal background check or tenant screen. please contact Client Services for a list of countries and products for availability. The list includes the turnaround time and price. For additional order information, your IntelliCorp Sales Representative will be happy to assist you.  

The Social Security Number Verification product reports the applicant's name related to the provided SSN as reported by the Social Security Administration and the three credit bureaus. Address histories associated with the SSN are addresses an applicant has used since the subject began establishing credit. 

IntelliCorp understands your sense of urgency to make decisions regarding employees and volunteers. Our standard turnaround time is 3-5 business days. However, turnaround times for background checks can vary greatly depending on a number of factors that are beyond our control. Reasons for search delays can include:

• County court closures, holidays, policies, furloughs, budget constraints 
• County court staffing issues and outdated record keeping methods 
• Clerk controlled county court records 
• Education and employment verification sources (slow response time, policies) 
• Weather delays, natural disasters 
• Inaccurate/incomplete subject information or additional identifiers needed 
• Common names/multiple records for the same subject

While IntelliCorp’s goal is to return the results back to you as quickly as possible, we do not sacrifice our commitment to quality. We verify at the source of the data to bring you additional value and increased assurance when making hiring and recruiting decisions.

Once you have a signed Authorization Form from the individual, you will need the following information: Last Name; First name; Middle Name (preferable) or Initial; Social Security Number; Date of Birth; and your subject’s e-mail address (required), physical address (optional). Additional information may be useful and/or required for some states (for example, the Kentucky Criminal search requires a last known address and Puerto Rico requires mother's maiden name).

Batch processing allows you to upload a large number of searches simultaneously rather than entering them manually via the web. This is especially useful for seasonal employment, special hiring events, and monitoring active employees annually. You may contact batch@intellicorp.net to set up batching or you may call (877) 387-0124.

IntelliCorp can accept search requests and deliver results via the website, XGS Integration, batching and custom portals. For further details and to discuss account options, please contact your Sales Representative. 

Typically within 24-48 hours, the main contact on the account will receive an automated e-mail with a User ID and password. At this time, your account is activated and as long as you have completed the required training, it is ready to use. Visit our Training Catalog to register for a live training session. Motor Vehicle Reports and Credit Reports may take longer as additional compliance and/or application forms are required. IntelliCorp's Client Services Department at (888) 946-8355 or (216) 450-5300 can assist with any questions on access to these two products or via e-mail at customerservice@intellicorp.net. There is also instant chat available by clicking on the Chat Online icon. You can instantly chat with a Client Services agent. This feature is available between 8:00am and 6:00pm Eastern Time.

Complimentary training is available for all new and existing clients. Visit our Training Catalog to register for a live training session or contact our Training Department at (877) 387-0124 or training@intellicorp.net You may visit Help —> Learning Center on the menu bar for self-paced training manuals and e-learning modules. Our live online Training Sessions will provide you with your FCRA compliance requirements as well as how to perform a search and an overview of your account.

As a value added service to new and existing clients, we provide complimentary training live sessions for all users on your account. Sessions are offered daily and popular courses include:
• Basic User – FCRA compliance basics and using your IntelliCorp account Training
• FCRA Training – detailed compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 
• Report Analysis & Best Practices – how to best use reports and best practices 
• MVR Training - conducting motor vehicle reports (MVRs)
• Credit Reports .- how to read and understand credit reports 
• Online FCRA Training Module – covers basic FCRA requirements and will satisfy the annual training requirement with successful completion, Basic User Training is a recommended requisite.

Visit our Training Catalog to register for a live training session.

Our on-boarding process includes a requisite that all new clients attend an online self-directed compliance module or one of our live training sessions.
• The online module will present your FCRA compliance requirements, followed by a brief quiz. You will need to achieve 80% or better on the quiz for this to qualify as your required training. 
• In the live Basic User Training webinar, we familiarize you with the features associated with your account, how to perform searches, view results and provide an FCRA overview. This training meets the training requisite. 
• The live FCRA Training webinar is an in-depth look at the FCRA and your responsibilities. This training meets the training requisite. With federal and state laws impacting the use of background checks, it is vitally important that your organization implements a compliant screening program. 

All trainings are complimentary and you are welcome to attend any session at any time. Visit our Training Catalog to register for a live training session.

Contact Client Services to update this information. Client Services can be reached by phone at: (888) 946-8355 or (216) 450-5300 or via e-mail at customerservice@intellicorp.net. There is also chat available by clicking on the Chat Online (upper right) icon. You can chat with a Client Services agent. This feature is available between 8:00am and 6:00pm Eastern time.

Log into the IntelliCorp website and from the menu bar, go to Your Account —> Your Profile, and click the Change Your Password link. Your new password must contain at least eight characters with a minimum of one number and one upper-case letter.

Go to the IntelliCorp website. Locate and select the "Register Now" button below the login section. Enter the required information via the step by step instructions. For any questions during the registration process, contact the IntelliCorp Sales Department at (800) 539-3717 Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time or via e-mail at sales@intellicorp.net.

For security reasons, please forward the change request on company letterhead via e-mail to customerservice@intellicorp.net. You can also update company information via the Chat Online (upper right) icon which ties directly to your account and is available between 8:00am and 6:00pm Eastern time.

Access and use of these reports is highly regulated by federal law as well as some state laws. Access to this information must be secure according to these regulations and we are required to be able to identify each user who accesses the information. User access is restricted to authorized users with their originally assigned User IDs only. You are responsible for any activity associated with your User ID and for compliance with applicable regulations related to reports obtained with your User ID. Therefore never share or loan your login credentials; not only does it violate federal law, but also our Service Agreement. We reserve the right and have the responsibility to disable users who misuse User IDs.

Yes, this option can be changed through the self service area. Log in to your account, on the menu bar, go to Your Account —> Manage Account —> Manage Payments.

Yes, a total of 3 billing e-mail addresses can be set up on your IntelliCorp account. One email address is set at registration and two (2) additional email addresses can be sent to customerservice@intellicorp.net to be added to your account.

Invoices are e-mailed to the billing contact the first week of each month. Alternately, invoices may be accessed from the IntelliCorp website. Log in to your account, on the menu bar go to Your Account —> Manage Account —> Invoice History. Not all users have invoice access; your Admin User can assign this permission or with the written permission of one of their Admin Users Client Services can set this feature up for you. Client Services can be reached by phone at: (888) 946-8355 or (216) 450-5300 or via e-mail at customerservice@intellicorp.net.

Log in to your account, on the menu bar go to Your Account —> Manage Account —> Invoice History —> View Detail. Not all users have invoice access; your Admin User can assign this permission or with the written permission of one of their Admin Users Client Services can set this feature up for you. Client Services can be reached by phone at: (888) 946-8355 or (216) 450-5300 or via e-mail at customerservice@intellicorp.net.

IntelliCorp invoices clients on a monthly basis. Invoices are created within the first three business days of each month and emailed to a client’s billing email address (Invoices are not mailed due to privacy issues). The invoice will arrive via e-mail to the billing e-mail address provided during the registration process. To update your billing information, the main contact on your account should send an e-mail to Client Services at customerservice@intellicorp.net. Depending on account settings, you may also be able to download a printable invoice from the website.

You will receive a Past Due Notice for open balances and credits on your account typically during the second week of each month. After 60 days past due, your account will automatically go into Restricted Status. You will be able to log in and review search results, but will be unable to perform new searches until your account is paid up-to-date. To have access restored, you can pay your invoice online with a credit card by logging in to your account. On the menu bar go to Your Account —> Manage Account —> Pay Your Invoice or contact Client Services (888) 946-8355 or (216) 450-5300, or via e-mail at customerservice@intellicorp.net.

Payments are Due Upon Receipt of invoices. Options for payment are monthly invoicing, pay by credit card upon receipt of invoice, or recurring monthly credit card payment.

Court fees are mandatory pass through fees that are assessed by the court directly. The fees, when applicable, vary by county and state.