Importance of NAPBS Accreditation: Can You Afford Not to Protect Yourself?

Scanning today’s headlines, it can seem that employers are seeing yellow lights that flash contradictory warnings. We are all aware of demands to protect the public, including in the workplace and housing, from potential violence, fraud, or incompetence that might endanger the vulnerable in care settings. At the same time, we hear rising demands to “open up” hiring and housing to a host of new claimants.

Although to some extent, these are indeed conflicting demands, we are confident that they can be reconciled. At the same time, employers, rental agents, and others who must make decisions about applicants can significantly and systematically reduce both their risk of mistakes and their liability when occasionally the unavoidable occurs.

The effective response to both pressures are decisions that are both compliant with federal, state, and local law and also clearly perceived as fair: that is, data-based, unbiased, and clearly the outcome of due diligence. “Diligence” is in our name, after all, so over our decades in business, we have learned the idea that such diligence requires when it comes to the spectrum of background checking services. Our conviction is that genuine due diligence in the field of professional background checks must pass at least three tests:

NAPBS Accreditation

The first such test is regularly monitored adherence to clearly defined, transparently articulated, national professional standards. That means to us, at TruDiligence, accreditation by our profession’s standard-setting body, the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS). Let us be clear about this. Screening organizations are not required to belong to NAPBS, to subject themselves through the accreditation process. But, when they do, as we have, they are subject to a searching third-party audit of their standards, practices, personnel, compliance with relevant laws and regulars, and much else. What is more, that accreditation must be renewed every five years, with the same probing review.

Fair Credit Practices Act Compliance

The second test is compliance with 1970 FCPA legislation defines reports produced by professional background screening companies as “consumer reports” that are subject to all standards of consumer protection mandated by the Act. Such compliance is required for NAPBS accreditation. However, our firm routinely monitors its own full compliance with the letter and spirit of the Act’s protection standards.

Third Test

The third test is a commitment to customer service that takes full responsibility for three things. First, educating every client is entailed in professional background checking and defining with the clients the firm’s individual requirements. Second, providing our full report in a timely fashion to ensure its greatest value in decision making. Thirdly, ensuring that the client understands the meaning and implications of the report. Then, delivering timely, complete, and friendly follow-up to catalyze the fullest potential of the information provided.

Learn More About NAPBS Accreditation

Our experience since we began, in 1993, gives us confidence that if we pass these three tests. Indeed, we have passed national accreditation, full legal compliance, and exemplary customer service. We have “gone the distance” in protecting our customers from both the risks of flawed decisions and vulnerability on issues of fairness or bias.

Let’s talk more about your specific needs for qualify background checks and how TruDiligence can help. Not all background checks and background check companies are the same.