Background Check "Hot Topics" Clarifies Issues

August 10, 2006

The following topics have been identified as the “hot button issues” for the background check initiative. Please review each issue which should answer many of your unit’s questions. If you would like more information about the background check initiative or the background check process, please feel free to contact the National Background Check Office by e-mail at backgroundchecks@usa.redcross.org or by phone (800) 507-3960 Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET).

• Security. Employees and volunteers have expressed concerns over the safety and security of the vendor’s website. Please be assured that the Red Cross chose the mandatory vendor in part because of its reputation for maintaining a high-level of security. Pre-Employ.com, the parent company of mybackgroundcheck.com, has been in business for 12 years in California with not one complaint filed against it with the Better Business Bureau. Each individual enters their own confidential information onto the website, and only unit administrators and NBCO staff with password-protected access to the website can view the results. Background check results are not returned in a format that be easily forwarded via email. Furthermore, social security numbers are encrypted immediately, so that no one—including unit administrators or the NBCO staff—can view them.
• No Credit Checks!! Although the standard consent form on the vendor’s website mentions credit checks, the Red Cross mandatory minimum background check includes only a social security number verification and a search of the National Criminal File for the past seven years (from the date of disposition, release from prison, or release from probation or parole, whichever occurs last). Please be assured that a credit check is not part of the minimum standard. Please speak to your unit administrator if you have any concerns.
• Additional Unit Administrators. Each unit may assign access to more than one person as a unit administrator by following the simple steps explained on the Unit User Guide tutorial on the mybackgroundcheck.com website or on CrossNet. All units who already requested additional administrators have now received passwords and log-ins from the vendor. Because the site contains confidential information, we urge you to choose your unit administrators with care. If you have any further questions, please contact the vendor at (800) 503-2364 or the National Background Check Office at (800) 507-3960.
• Social Security Number Verifications. Verifying all employees’ and volunteers’ social security numbers is a mandatory part of this initiative as it is the only broad and reliable method to verify the identity of an individual submitting a background check request.. We understand the concerns surrounding the issue of identity theft but, as described above, we chose the vendor because of its safety and security procedures. Upon entering on the vendor’s secure website, the social security number is encrypted, making it impossible for anyone—including unit administrators and NBCO—to view or copy the number. In addition, each individual enters his or her own social security number on to the website, eliminating the need for a paper copy that can be easily mislaid or stolen.
• Social Security Number “Hits.” An adverse result will occur whenever the social security number entered by the individual does not 1) match the individual’s name or 2) is not valid or 3) cannot be found in the system. It is urgent that you enter your name and social security number accurately or an adverse result will occur. In order to clear up an error in the entering of your social security number, please call the vendor at (800) 503-2364.
• Progress! To date, more than 630 unit administrators have set up accounts and thousands of employees, volunteers, and applicants have completed background checks. We have a long way to go, but this initial tally is encouraging!

Date/Time Last Modified
10/18/2006 10:36:04 AM