February 28th, 2025 | Sterling

When Should You Run a Background Check on Yourself?

If you’ve recently applied for a job, you may remember having undergone a background check as part of the hiring process. However, did you know that you can request your own criminal record check at any time? Third-party background screening services, like myBackCheck.com, enable you to order a criminal record check online and receive the results without leaving your home.

But what are the reasons you may want to run a background check on yourself, and are there any other considerations you should take into account before you get started?

Why should you run a background check on yourself?

Running a background check on yourself can be done for any number of reasons. If you are looking to work as a volunteer, you may be asked by your organization to first provide a background check report, especially if you will be working with children or other vulnerable persons. Some employers may also request a copy of your background check to keep on file, which you may have to renew at regular intervals.

If you’re looking to rent an apartment, it’s not unusual for landlords to ask you to provide a criminal record check to help protect their other tenants and their property. It’s worth noting that a personal criminal record check will not provide you with credit information or affect your credit score.

There are advantages to getting your own criminal record check, even if no one has requested it. In Canada, the criminal record search is based on a person’s name, sex, date of birth, and place of birth. In some rare cases, an individual without any criminal history may share the same information as someone with a criminal record, triggering a false positive result. If only a minor detail is different, such as the date of birth being 1967 instead of 1976, the check can be deemed “inconclusive.” In both cases, the individual would need to go to the police for fingerprinting in order to clear up the discrepancy.

While the self-serve background check can’t provide a definitive answer in these cases, it can make you aware of the problem, allowing you to avoid the delays and complications that could arise if you were to wait until the last minute. Otherwise, if you’re not sure whether you have a criminal record or not, completing a check can provide you with peace of mind.

Should you complete your background check through a third-party provider?

You may wonder about the advantages of completing your own background check through a third-party service provider like Sterling Backcheck, instead of going directly to the police. Since criminal record checks by third-party companies involve a name-based search, there are a few scenarios in which going to the police for a fingerprinting check is advised; for example, if you have no criminal record but share a name with someone who has one. In the vast majority of cases, however, there are considerable benefits to completing a check through a private service provider, including:

• Quicker turnaround time: The RCMP’s certified criminal record check typically takes from three business days (if there is no record) to 120 business days (if a record is found or manual processing is required), plus mailing time, while self-serve background checks are generally completed within one business day.
• Convenience: Checks completed through the police require you to show up in person at the police station for fingerprinting, while self-serve background checks can typically be completed at home using electronic ID verification and a user-friendly online interface.
• Live support: Third-party providers have customer service and privacy specialists whom you can contact if you need assistance with the background check process or have questions about the result.
• Shareable results: Third-party providers can provide you with an online background check report that can be shared with multiple organizations.
• Secure data handling: Trustworthy screening providers, like Sterling Backcheck, will store your personal data securely online, instead of providing you with paper documents that can be stolen or lost.
• Forgery protection: Police services provide a printed report that can be altered or faked, while online reports from screening companies are forgery-proof and can be authenticated.

It’s a common misconception that criminal record checks completed through the police are more accurate or contain more information than checks completed through a background check company. In fact, the name-based criminal record checks completed by third-party providers involve a search in the same database that is used by the police, the RCMP’s National Repository of Criminal Records, and provide access to the same criminal record data.

How can you go about getting your own background check?

You’ve decided to get a personal background check, but you’re not sure how to get started. Your first step should involve researching third-party screening companies to make sure you find a legitimate provider. Services offered at an unusually low price, promising instant results or guaranteeing that no record will be found should be viewed with scepticism; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A trustworthy background check provider should make you aware of your rights and prioritize accuracy and compliance.

Once you’ve found a trustworthy provider, you’ll then need to create an account, enter your personal data and provide your consent. In Canada, if you have a criminal record, before the check can take place you’ll need to disclose the details of your criminal convictions, including the offence and the date and place you were convicted. You will also need to verify your identity in order to make sure the check is completed on the right person. The identity verification process can generally be completed online using electronic or biometric identity verification tools.

Once you’ve completed the online process, your information will be sent to the police, who will run a search of your identifying information. If no record is found, a record will be created with a “Clear” result. If you have a criminal record and disclosed your convictions accurately, you will get a “Not Clear – Confirmed” result, confirming the details you’ve provided. A “Not Clear – Incomplete” result will be provided if you have a criminal record which you did not accurately disclose. In that case, you would either need to request another check or go to the police for fingerprinting.

Click here to learn more about Canadian Criminal Record Checks.

Criminal record check results never officially expire, but you may still want to renew your personal background check every five years or so, just to make sure your report stays current. If you applied for a criminal record suspension and were approved, you’ll also want to request a new background check to reflect the change, since your old report will continue to display your convictions, even if they were suspended.

What are your rights?

Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal data and criminal record information. These could include the right to access your personal information and to ask for it to be shared, modified, or deleted.

Trustworthy background check providers like Sterling Backcheck will inform you of your rights and ask for your consent before completing a background check on you. Your background check provider should also assist you with privacy support in case you have questions or concerns about the way your data is handled, or if you want to dispute the result of your check.

A personal criminal record check completed through a third-party company is a great way for you to take your background history into your own hands. Look for a trustworthy background screening partner, like Sterling Backcheck, who will provide you with quick and cost-effective reports, protect your personal data, and defend your interests.

To learn more about personal background checks or order your own check, visit our website.

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