Sterling background check service review

Sterling conducts background checks to help businesses verify the identities of prospective employees. These checks can reveal problematic incidents from an applicant's past that might jeopardize the company culture moving forward. Sterling is a well-established company, having been founded in 1975. They serve over 40,000 clients and conduct more than 75 million background checks annually.

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In this Sterling review, we will evaluate whether it offers one of the best employee background check services available today. We will analyze every aspect of Sterling’s offerings, including pricing, functionality, and features. Lastly, we will compare Sterling to its competitors to help you determine if it is the right choice for your organization.

Sterling: plans and pricing

Unfortunately, Sterling does not publicly disclose their background check pricing, which can be a bit frustrating for those looking to budget for these essential services. The cost of background checks can vary significantly based on several key factors that need to be considered:

1. Types of Checks Required: The kind of background checks you need will largely influence the price. Options may include criminal history screenings, employment verification, education verification, credit checks, and more specialized investigations. Each type of check has its own pricing structure, so understanding your specific requirements will help in estimating costs.

2. Volume of Checks: The number of background checks you plan to conduct is another critical factor. Sterling may offer tiered pricing or discounts for larger volumes, which can significantly reduce the per-check cost. If you're looking for a high volume of background checks, asking about these potential savings is worthwhile.

3. Customizations and Additional Services: If you have specific requirements or need custom services—such as international checks, enhanced criminal searches, or tailored reporting options—these can also affect the overall pricing. Customizations often come with additional fees, so clarifying these needs upfront is wise.

The best course of action is to contact Sterling directly to obtain a precise and tailored quote that reflects your unique background check needs. You can easily do this through their website or by calling their customer service team. This personalized approach will allow you to discuss your requirements in detail, ensuring you receive the most accurate pricing information.

While browsing comparison websites for background check pricing might be tempting, remember that their information may only provide a general overview and not specifically reflect Sterling's pricing structure. Each provider has its own unique pricing model influenced by their service offerings and market strategy.

When considering background check providers, it’s essential to remember that cost is just one piece of the puzzle. Factors such as accuracy of the checks, turnaround times and compliance with local and federal regulations are critical to ensuring you receive reliable and lawful information. Balancing these aspects with your budget will help you choose the right service provider for your needs.

Sterling: how it works

Sterling offers background check services to businesses, assisting them in vetting potential employees. The process typically begins when an employer requests specific background checks based on the position and industry. Sterling then collects information from various sources, which may include criminal databases, court records, educational institutions, and previous employers. They verify this information to ensure its accuracy and to comply with relevant regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

After gathering the data, Sterling compiles it into a report, which is delivered to the employer. The employer uses this report to make informed hiring decisions. Throughout the entire process, Sterling strives to provide accurate and timely information while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to legal guidelines. Additionally, they offer various integrations with HR systems to streamline the background check process for employers.

Sterling: features and services

Sterling provides a wide array of background check services specifically designed to address the diverse needs of employers in various industries. Their comprehensive offerings include thorough criminal background checks conducted at local, state, and federal levels. This service encompasses an extensive examination of county court records, state repositories, and national criminal databases, ensuring that employers receive a complete view of a candidate’s criminal history.

In addition to criminal checks, Sterling offers employment verification services that confirm a candidate's past employment history, including job titles, the duration of employment, and the reason for leaving. This ensures that employers can trust the accuracy of the information presented by job applicants.

Education verification is another crucial aspect of Sterling’s services. This allows employers to validate candidates' academic credentials by confirming degrees, diplomas, and attendance records from educational institutions. This is particularly important for positions that require specific qualifications.

Sterling also strongly emphasizes identity verification, ensuring potential employees provide accurate information. They conduct checks against terrorist watchlists and sanction lists to assist organizations in complying with federal regulations and enhancing overall security.

Sterling offers targeted background checks for specialized industries, including drug screening for safety-sensitive positions, healthcare sanction checks to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, and transportation-specific background checks for roles requiring high responsibility and safety awareness.

Beyond these core services, Sterling provides various compliance tools and resources to help employers navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding background checks. These resources help organizations adhere to essential regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), reducing the risk of non-compliance.

Furthermore, Sterling’s ongoing monitoring services inform employers of any significant changes in an employee’s background after being hired. This proactive approach allows organizations to take timely action if any issues arise.

Finally, Sterling integrates its background check services with human resources (HR) and applicant tracking systems to streamline the hiring process. This integration facilitates a more efficient recruitment workflow, allowing employers to make informed hiring decisions quickly and effectively.

Sterling: support and customer care

Sterling offers extensive customer support 24 hours a day through a toll-free phone number that covers all American, European, and Asian business time zones, including Pacific Time and Eastern Time for clients in the United States. Clients can also reach support via direct email, which is helpful for asynchronous communication. Additionally, a support portal is available to initiate support requests.

However, those seeking advanced support options like live chat, video tutorials, or a user forum will not find these features available.

Sterling’s customer support teams are trained in specific industries like healthcare, retail, and government. Therefore, when you first speak with a Sterling customer support representative, they are already familiar with your industry’s particular background check requirements.

On the other hand, candidates do not have the same positive experience as business clients when seeking help. They can only submit inquiries through an onsite form, and many candidates often criticize Sterling on review sites for delays in processing documents, poor communication, and last-minute deadlines.

The competition

In contrast with competitor GoodHire, Sterling’s method of conducting background checks seems outdated. Sterling delivers the results of the background check at the close of the process. GoodHire integrates checks into your team’s workflow via your Applicant Tracking System platform, so you can see exactly what stage of the process is ongoing and receive notifications with each update.

Certn is one of Sterling’s leading competitors. Rather than conducting background searches and presenting them to your hiring manager, Certn enables hiring departments to conduct independent background checks using its software. Despite the convenience of inhouse software, outsourcing background checks can be beneficial from a legal standpoint, as it diminishes responsibility in case of civil suits.

Final verdict

Sterling is a highly regarded background check service that specializes in evaluating the character and credentials of potential hires. By conducting comprehensive examinations of candidates' legal and employment histories, Sterling provides valuable insights into their trustworthiness and reliability.

The background checks offered by Sterling are meticulously designed to meet varying demands based on the role being filled. Positions that involve handling sensitive data — such as financial information or personal records — as well as roles that require working with vulnerable individuals, like children or the elderly, necessitate more extensive evaluations. Additionally, positions that involve managing valuable assets may also prompt a deeper dive into a candidate's history. Sterling's thorough approach helps organizations make informed hiring decisions while safeguarding their interests.

Outsourcing background checks to Sterling not only streamlines the process for businesses but also plays a critical role in mitigating potential liabilities. In the event of civil suits related to the hiring process, having a reputable service conduct these checks can provide essential documentation and evidence of due diligence, thus protecting the organization.

We specifically recommend Sterling for small businesses that need to ensure the integrity of their employees. In a competitive landscape, safeguarding company assets and maintaining a positive workplace culture are paramount. Sterling's services can help small organizations build a trustworthy workforce, fostering a secure environment for both employees and clients. With their user-friendly mechanisms and responsive customer support, Sterling ensures that the background check process is efficient and reliable.

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