Intelius background check service review

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Intelius is a well-respected platform, known for its extensive collection of over 20 billion public records. While some reviews mention inaccuracies and incomplete data, Intelius excels in providing detailed information about individuals' educational achievements. One standout feature of the platform is Intelius Connections, which enables users to explore connections beyond a person's immediate circle.

Additionally, Intelius offers various subscription tiers, allowing users to select plans based on the type of lookups they require. The platform has received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau and is recognized as a trusted organization by the Internet Society Online Trust Alliance. Users have the option to request their own data and can also request the removal of their records from the platform if desired.

The website is user-friendly, with all the necessary tools readily available. However, since its relaunch in 2019, there have been some complaints regarding the quality of reports, with concerns about missing details. Despite these issues, Intelius remains one of the top background check services available on the market.

Intelius: Performing a search

You’ll need to sign up for a paid account to access records through Intelius. Unfortunately, doing so is perhaps one of the most confusing aspects of Intelius.

There is the “skip wait now” button that will lead you to the section where you can choose to pay for the People Search membership and choose either a monthly or bi-monthly payment. Other than that, you can access different plans by visiting the pricing section of the website and choosing which plan you want from there. This is not as intuitive as clicking on sign-up button and choosing everything from that section, as is standard on most sites selling services.

Once you sign up and agree to some fine print, a search based on federal, state, and county data begins. During the process, you might be asked questions to narrow the probe along the way. Then, near the end of the search process, you’re given one final opportunity to narrow the search further by adding other information such as first, middle, or last name, city, state, and age.

Intelius will finally provide a list of people who might match your criteria on the first results page. Listed are their name, age, and locations where they might have lived. Then, tap the “Open Report” button for additional information.

As a final step, you’ll need to check a box stating you won’t use the information to “make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.” That’s the 50-year-old U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act that was initially developed to help individuals resolve inaccuracies in their credit reports.

However, in 1996, the act’s scope was expanded to include additional reports about consumers, such as employment background checks. As a result, FCRA Compliance is mandatory for any employer using a third party to conduct background checks.

Intelius: plans and pricing

Intelius provides various pricing options, offering customization to meet your needs. The People Search membership plan costs $25.11 per month (as of February 2025) for monthly payments, while bi-monthly payments reduce the price to $21.34. This plan includes everything necessary for a comprehensive background check.

If the monthly fee is too high for your budget, Intelius offers a five-day trial of the Reverse Phone Lookup with the People Search membership plan for just $0.95. After the trial, the service will cost $35.30 monthly and provides unlimited phone, person, and address reports.

Additionally, an Address Lookup with People Search membership plan includes a seven-day trial for the same $0.95. After the trial, this plan costs $34.95 monthly and offers unlimited addresses and personal reports.

Intelius charges an additional $3.99 per report for detailed downloadable report files. The company also offers Intelius Identity Protection services for an extra $9.95 monthly.

So that you know, search results will not be available until you provide Intelius with your credit/debit card or PayPal information and complete a purchase.

Intelius: the results you get and other goodies

Naturally, the results you receive on someone will differ, depending on what Intelius finds. When found, the report can include address records, public records, images, criminal and traffic records, public social profiles, assets, licenses, and more. If you're looking for a lot of data about someone, there is perhaps nothing better than Intelius.

Additionally, I'd also give Intelius high marks for making it easy to contact customer service. There's a phone number and email readily available on the site. This one-two punch is missing with many of Intelius' competitors.

As noted above, though, it takes a long time to access a report. With this in mind, Intelius has introduced a fast pass feature. By choosing this option on the front page, you can get past the payment page before you search. It's a slightly quicker process and one I'm thrilled that Intelius offers. And without directly saying so, going this route shows Intelius giving a little more transparency, since you see the price upfront.

Intelius: canceling the service and some negatives

Unfortunately, Intelius' confusing pricing extends further than what was mentioned above. It also offers smaller packages, such as reverse phone searches and address lookups. These are priced below $1, which sounds good until you read the fine print. These options come with limited trials that automatically upgrade to full membership once the trial ends.

Yes, Intelius addresses this before you make a purchase. However, the upgraded price is mentioned in even tinier print, at best. So be sure to cancel your membership BEFORE the trial ends so you aren't charged the full fee.

Additionally, although it didn't happen during my research, some Intelius users online have claimed the firm charged them even after canceling the service. Some others have also mentioned being overcharged. Neither of these events should occur with a reputable company; hopefully, Intelius has addressed these concerns since those comments.

Intelius: support and customer care

Intelius offers a “Customer Support” section which takes you to a source of knowledge and articles that may help you, a type of an FAQ section.

However, any more serious issue needs to be addressed directly with Intelius support. Staff members are on hand during the working hours of 7 AM to 5 PM PT, Monday to Friday, so your query should be dealt with quickly. Unfortunately, there are no weekend hours. You can call or email support; other options such as chat, a support portal, or a forum aren't available.

Intelius: the competition

A downside to the Intelius search service is that you can’t use the product to perform employment background checks. If that’s the reason that you’re looking for a background check service in the first place, consider using People Trail instead. Unlike Intelius, People Trail is an accredited employment screening service.

Another downside of Intelius is that the service requires a monthly membership, and paying for a one-time background search is impossible. A competitor service worth considering that does employ a straightforward pricing scheme is Sterling, which is great for those that need only a one-off or occasional search. This subscription model makes Intelius better suited to those requiring multiple searches per month.

Intelius: final verdict

Intelius is an intriguing platform that offers various services, particularly background checks. However, there are several areas where enhancements could significantly improve user experience. Reviews about Intelius have been mixed; while some users report satisfactory experiences, others raise valid concerns regarding the accuracy and consistency of the data provided. Some users are concerned about accuracy. Our own experience with Intelius was largely positive. We found the interface user-friendly and the report generation process efficient. Nonetheless, we recognize that the concerns regarding data accuracy cannot be easily dismissed. Prospective users must be aware that while Intelius can provide valuable insights, the reliability of the information retrieved may vary.

Regarding credibility, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a favorable view of Intelius, which lends some reassurance to users considering their services. The BBB rating signifies that the platform has tried to address customer concerns and maintain a standard of fairness.

Ultimately, while you may find the reports from Intelius useful, particularly for personal inquiries or preliminary background checks, it’s advisable to approach the findings critically. For comprehensive and legally binding background checks, seeking additional verification from official sources might be prudent. Overall, we believe that with some improvements in data accuracy and user support, Intelius has the potential to become a leading platform in its category.

We've also highlighted the best employee background check services.