Court Access Fees on the RISE... Why?Court access fees are on the rise.  What does that mean to the screening industry and the clients that we serve?In years past we would see updates to court access fees maybe every quarter or every six months. In the last year we are seeing updated court access fees every month and the additional fees to access court records are starting to stack up.By my calculations court access fees billed to clients at my background screening company went up by more than 15% in 2024. This is a pretty big increase. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST TO HEAR MORE...Connect with Tim Santonihttps://www.TimSantoni.comContact Santoni Backgroundshttps://www.santonibackgrounds.com

Los Angeles County - Dates of Birth Removed?The Los Angeles County Superior court has announced that partial dates of birth will be removed from the public kiosks and from the court website.What does this mean?  How does it impact you? The Los Angeles County Superior Court announced on February 20th that as of the close of business on Friday, February 23rd that partial dates of birth will no longer be available via KIOSKS or ONLINE.If you read this release carefully you will notice that the partial dates of birth will be removed from the court website and the publicly available KIOSKS. It doesn’t say that they dates of birth wont’ be available with clerk assisted searches.So, what does this mean? What is the true impact to background screeners, employers, and landlords?Connect with TIM SANTONIConnect with SANTONI BACKGROUNDS

PBSA is celebrating 20 years. They are are a force in supporting and enhancing the background screening industry worldwide.PBSA 2023 (Texas)LOCATION:Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Grapevine, Texas)WHEN:Sunday, September 10th through Tuesday September 12th On this episode of Background Screening Tips and Tech, Tim Santoni provides some insights into the show.It's not too late to register for PBSA 2023. Here is a link.https://thepbsa.org/events/2023-annual-conference/See you in Dallas!

Kevin Bachman InterviewKevin was a key executive at Employment Screen IQ, which was acquired by Sterling. He consultants with industry professionals and works with end users, CRAs and data furnishers.He is the The CRA Doctor. He is active with PBSA and has served on the BSCC committee.Kevin and his partner Jason Morris now run IQubed advisors.On this episode we talk about... How to build the VALUE of your CRA Business.PBSA Accreditation and the benefits from the compliance/legal side. We also discuss benefits from a sales, marketing and training perspective.Kevin talks about non-traditional companies that are accredited.Connect with Kevin

Tech StackThe 7 Apps/Tech/Software you need to run a better a business.1.     Office 365 or Google Apps (email)2.     Accounting Software w/Payment Processing (QuickBooks or XERO3.     DocuSign or Panda Doc4.     Cloud Storage:  DropBox, OneDrive, Google Drive5.     CRM – Salesforce, Zoho, ?6.     Email Marketing (MailChimp, ConvertKit, Constant Contact)7.     Team Messaging Platform (Teams, Slack)

SSN Trace... Show it or Hide it?On this episode Tim Santoni discusses the history of the SSN Trace. What it's good for. What it's not good for.The legal/compliance arguments for including the SSN trace in the report and why it might be better to run it and hide it from the report.A few options to consider.OPTION 1 -Run the SSN Trace and include all of the results in the report with no review.OPTION 2 - Run the SSN Trace and remove misspelled names, obvious errors and addresses that do not belong to the applicant.OPTION 3 - Run the SSN trace BUT do NOT provide the data on the final report.OPTION 4 - Don’t run the SSN Trace at all.Connect with Tim on LinkedIn

Derek Hinton - CRA Zoom- InterviewOn this episode of Background Screening Tips & Tech, Tim Santoni interviews Derek Hinton of CRA Zoom.They discuss Derek's history in the screening industry, the PBSA Accreditation process and why it is valuable for background screening companies to complete have it.  They also dive into the services that CRA Zoom offers.Stick around until the end to learn about Derek's Human Trafficking Compliance Package.CRAZoomDerek HintonTim Santoni

Background Screening Packages... so many optionsAt a bare minimum the social security number trace and national criminal database search are the typical starting point for most screening packages.  The national criminal database has obvious flaws, but this search also covers high level government watch lists and sex offender registries, so it is something that employers are comfortable with as a foundation for their background report.So, once you have the SSN trace and national criminal covered the next question becomes the county criminal searches.  There are a few flavors of this search LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE TO LEARN MORE.Connect with Tim on LinkedIn:

Social Media Screening... current trendsStatistics- many employers are using Social Media to screen applicants, but the big question is are they doing it themselves or are they using an FCRA compliant screening partner.The current available sites being searched by the AI and Technology Solutions available cover PUBLIC profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & TikTok.Trends- as price comes down and lawsuits arise employers will see the value in using a partner for social media backgrounds.Compliance- HR professionals get uneasy when they look at new searches and assessment of those searches in hiring decisions due to the massive amount of litigation in the HR/Compliance/Hiring space.Suggestions- if you are going to do it, do it right and avoid potential risk.The trusted partners in the social media screening space.Social Intelligence (now owned by FAMA)Ferretly

CRA Help DeskThe CRA Help Desk is a great tool offered by BRB Publications.  The CRA Help Desk offers state & FCRA compliance and reporting guidelines when it comes to reporting of criminal records.If you are a researchers handling compliance and adjudication this tool is a must have.The HR Help Desk is an 'add-on' option for Background Screeners that want to offer similar resources to their clients. Things like the 7-year states, Ban The Box guidance, EEOC Guidelines and much more. The full version that includes the CRA Help Desk and the HR Help Desk runs about $200.00 per year.BRBPublications.comBRB also offers MVR Decoder & PRRN (Public Record Retriever Network)

On this episode of Background Screening Tips & Tech we review the CourtSmart Product from Equifax.With the recent changes forcing redaction of PII by courts in California this product is a great solution.Tim Santoni discusses how the solutions came to be, the pro's, the con's and dip into a bit of compliance.For more information on the CourtSmart product CLICK HEREThis episode is brought to you by Santoni Backgrounds.

California Legislative ALERTCalifornia again proves to be a challenging state for background screening industry as evident from the most recent legislative session. We are still early in the legislative calendar for 2023 but information I want to share is CRITICAL because employers and background screeners need to be prepared to engage and take action.CA SB 647– Is a bill to restore access to full dates of birth in California. You might recall that last year this BILL made it through both houses before BEING vetoed by Governor Newsom. This year efforts are again being made to restore access.  CA SB 460– a bill effectively banning TENANT screening unless you have a legal requirement to conduct a background check for tenancy. It mirrors recent actions by Alameda County and cities of Oakland and Berkley. While this bill was recently dropped from the 2023 legislative calendar, it is expected to be reintroduced in 2024 so efforts defeat the bill and work alongside our allies is necessary.CA SB 809– a bill effectively banning employment screening unless there is a legal requirement to background check for employment purposes. This bill remains active and PBSA has information to suggest that it is undergoing amendments. This is bill is will be discussed in a committee hearing on April 11th. The expectation is that this bill continues forward it will pass out of committee because the author of the bill is also the chair of the committee where its first hearing will take place.Contact directly with any questions. https://www.timsantoni.com

The PBSA 2022 annual conference was held at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, ColoradoOn this episode of the PODCAST I share some insights, favorite sessions, event recap and much more.

PBSA 2022 'The Preview Show"PBSA Annual Conference (LINK)On this PODCAST Tim Santoni highlights the tracks for the PBSA Annual Conference in 2022.Legal ComplianceBusinessInternationalDrug TestingTenant ScreeningTim also points out the sessions and speakers that he will be focused on at the show.IQubed Advisors (Jason Morris, Kevin Bachman & Nick Fishman)Pam Devata, Seyfarth Shaw LLPScott Paler, DewittLeah Braukman, Arnall Golden Gregory, LLPBruce Berg, Berg Consulting GroupThe conference will be he held at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver, Colorado from September 13th -15th.

Tim Santoni interview Gary DeWitt, President of Epic Concepts.Gary is a veteran of the background screening industry (30+ years). He has owned a Background Screening Company (Vericorp) and he now runs Epic Concepts which is a software platform used by Background Screeners (CRAs) and data furnishers/providers.Gary continues to be excited about the Background Screening industry and the suite of "EZy" products (EZy Check, EZ APP, EZy ATS, EZy v-interview) developed and optimized within the Epic Concepts system are something he is proud of.  Connect with Gary on LinkedInContact Epic Concepts

Kirill Klokov, the CEO & Co-Founder of TRUV joins Tim Santoni on the podcast.Kirill shares his story from an immigrant needing to get a loan without a credit history and how that impacted the quoted rate.  Kirill got his MBA at Standford and has worked at SIDEKICK, CARTA, TRUST WATE & EZHOME.  Kirill launched TRUV in lated 2021.TRUV is a technology that background screeners (CRAs) and mortgage companies use to verify employment.  The TRUV solution allows applicants to authenticate directly to the Payroll providers and platforms used by their former employers to securely pull back information needed to verify employment.TRUV unlocks the power of CONSUMER-PERMISSIONED DATA to avoid the expensive alternatives like The Work Number.  Also, because TRUV gets SOURCE information there is little no concern about an applicant providing names and contact information of employers that are friends, family or relatives.  In short the accuracy of verifications when using TRUV is extremely high.The TRUV solution also allows for verifications be completed in minutes instead of days.The other benefits of using the TRUV solution are as follows;Current employment can be verified discreetlyVerifications that are not completed due to The Work Number price increases are being done which help background screeners do more comprehensive background checksSpeedCost Savings ($50+ in some cases)Integrations (Tazworks, Accio, etc.)White labelingCustomized notifications/settingsLearn more about TRUVConnect with Kirill on LinkedIn

Tom PilkingtonROLE: Strategic Customer Success Executive at MeridianLinkTom has vast experience and knowledge of the background screening industry.1) Industry experience & current role at Tazworks/MeridianLink2) Tom shares insights into the transition of Tazworks being acquired by MeridianLink and what that means to Tazworks clients3) What's new at Tazworks? New advancements in the products, tools, analytics and resources4) Industry trends5) Highlights why partnering with a software platform as opposed to building your own is beneficialConnect with Tom on LinkedIn

James Tunkey of I-OnAsia joins the podcast.We discuss these topics.1) What is top risk factor that comes with not screening international employees?  Risk Factors Defined  Who does I-OnAsia work with in uncovering RISK FACTORS?  What are the problems with PROPER background screening & investigations (INTL)?  Problems with most investigation & screening practices2) Best practices on Supply chain vetting.  What issues can arise when companies are NOT thoroughly vetting suppliers/distributors/partners/consultants?3)When you get the call because a company is in trouble what proactive things could most of the companies have do as it related to employees and contractors to mitigate the exposure?  How much more does it cost the company after the fact?4) What are the KEY risk concerns for publicly traded companies?Connect with James on LinkedIn

On this episode I talk about the issues that the social security number trace / person search / address history can cause as part of a background screening report.Generally speaking the SSN trace is bad data. The true source of the data cannot be confirmed and it cannot be verified.The legal guidance suggests that the SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TRACE should no longer be part of a background screening report (client facing report or consumer facing report).It should be used by background screeners to develop address history and potential alias names.

The Tazworks / MeridianLink user forum was held in Huntington Beach, CA. This podcast is a recap of the event.