What do you know about the people who provide services to you and your family? It’s no longer enough to assume that someone who owns a business or has a degree can be trusted with your personal information or property. Before starting a professional relationship, you need to know that the person you are working with is trustworthy. The easiest way to do this is by performing a background check on the individual or business that you are researching.
Background checks are a valuable tool that can be utilized by anyone to ensure the people you do business with in your personal and professional life are reliable. A quick check into the background of a person you plan to hire for a service can save you and your family from being exposed to people who’ve previously misused their positions. Here are seven people you should always do background checks on.
- Nannies
Anyone who will be alone with your children and in your home should receive a background check. Even if you use an agency, you should perform your own background screening before hiring a nanny. As an added security measure, consider adding a Nanny Cam to your home as well. This will allow you to see what’s going on and how well the nanny is caring for your children. - Financial Advisor
Those people who will be managing your financial accounts should be researched thoroughly. You might also want to run a credit check to gauge whether someone is facing current financial difficulties. Too many people have lost their life’s savings due to unscrupulous actions by their financial or investment advisors. - Lawyer
Never assume that someone who studied the law is above breaking it. Many attorneys have used client’s personal information for their own gain. Make sure your lawyers also have the credentials they claim to have. Also search for any past transgressions involving their clients. This will help add another layer of security to your financial information. - Doctor
Unfortunately, a framed doctorate on the wall doesn’t tell you much about the person you’re trusting to care for you or your family. Check all doctor’s backgrounds for any suspicious behavior that could put your family at risk. If you’re heading into an expensive or extensive surgery, you may also want to speak with former patients. This is the person you are entrusting your life, as well as your family’s lives to. Make sure this person is honest and trustworthy. - Housekeeper
If you have a housekeeper, make sure he or she is only cleaning your home and is not cleaning out your bank accounts. This person will have full access to your home. This means any personal information that is around maybe in jeopardy. It is a wise decision to perform a background screening on each individual as well as the company that may provide your housekeeping services. As an added layer of security, you may also want to use security cameras in your home. This will help you to see what is happening in your home while you are away. - Accountant/Tax professional
Billions of dollars in tax refunds are stolen each year in the U.S., often by the very person that was trusted to file the tax return. Before handing over your social security number, date of birth and bank account information to file your tax return, make sure the person you are giving it to can be trusted. Remember these people will have all of your financial information. - Service Contractors
Anyone you hire to perform a service at your home or business should be properly researched. Especially those who will have access to your property or are performing a high-priced services. Homeowners have lost thousands of dollars to contractors that never finish jobs after they’ve been paid for the work. By checking their backgrounds, and checking references on these people, you will have a much better chance of having a nice job completed on time.
While it’s a nice notion to openly put trust in others, the world that we live in comes with risks. In order to help save yourself from the pain and anguish of being taken advantage of, consider using a background check service to research new professionals that you need in your life. It will give you peace of mind, while possibly saving you the expense and stress of working with someone who can’t be trusted.
Written by April Adams
