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background checks questions and answers - definition of a name and address history search

Written by Michael Klazema | Mar 12, 2011 5:00:00 AM

Which is the most basic definition of a name and address history search?

  1. A service that verifies the current name and address of the subject
  2. A service that uses various sources to determine recent names and addresses of the subject
  3. A service that follows the subject for 5 days straight to see if he sleeps somewhere other than his provided address or answers to any names other than his own

Everyone have their answer? Then let’s go over the quiz. Hopefully none of you chose C (that’s known as stalking, folks) but I expect that many of you may have chosen A. While much closer, that’s still not the correct answer.  Instead, the most basic definition of a name and address history search is a service that uses various sources to determine recent names and addresses of the subject.

At backgroundchecks.com, we conduct a Name and Address History Search by running an individual’s Social Security Number against a national database that includes information provided by the credit header, as well as hundreds of other sources, such as public records, phone records, etc.  This report details all available names and addresses associated with the SSN. This information is then used to develop possible names and addresses not provided by the applicant.  Additional searches can then be conducted on these names and addresses.  Note that there can be discrepancies in name and address history information. If a data source mistyped a social security number, information about someone else can show up in a name and address history. This is why you should only use name and address history to lead you to other information about a person.

The benefit? Rather than just running a search on the places they claim to have lived you have the option to run a search on all places they’ve lived. Rather than just running a search on the names provided by the applicant you have the option to run a search on their aliases.  With the results of the Name and Address History search, you can conduct a more targeted county criminal history search or you can gather more data from the US OneSEARCH.

Simply put: the Name and Address History Search gives you a broader field of information to mine to keep your clients, your employees and your business safe.