How Long Should Background Checks Take?

Posted: March 28, 2022

In the current fast-paced hiring market, the last thing hiring managers want to encounter is slow background checks that can result in hiring delays, losing out on great candidates, and making a poor first impression.

Our front-line team members have been hearing multiple complaints from clients of other CRAs that they are waiting up to one month to complete criminal background checks. These delays understandably result in some very frustrated customers who are asking, “How long should a background check really take?” The short answer is these reports shouldn’t be taking even a close to a month to complete! Info Cubic can turn them around in anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

The length of time it takes to complete a background check will depend on the specific types of searches being conducted, along with the source’s location. For example, a criminal search in one state may be faster or slower than another, employment and education verifications turnaround times vary based on the size of the organization, and database driven products can be extremely quick, if not instant.

If there are background check delays, they are usually the result of court closures, weather-related issues, or unresponsiveness from the applicant’s past employers or academic institutions. International background checks also generally take longer than typical checks in the United States. The omission of DOB information in certain states and counties have also been causing recent delays.

What is Info Cubic’s turnaround time for background checks?

• On average, Info Cubic can provide a completed consumer background report in 24-72 hours for domestic reports. Our average turnaround time is 26.36 hours. 
• We can turn around searches using our US Criminal Record Locator (USCRL), a proprietary database check that searches over 800+ million records nationwide, in just a few hours.
• Our average turnaround time for drug tests is currently around 36 hours.

To see just how quickly Info Cubic can turn around background checks, you can view our monthly averages. Info Cubic’s Quality Management System has stringent standards in place for every aspect of our company, from turnaround times to data accuracy, to client retention. These rigorous standards are continually measured, audited, and improved upon to ensure we deliver the fastest turnaround times and best customer service possible.

What can you do to prevent background check delays?

While delays from your background check company are obviously out of your hands, there are a few things employers can do to help prevent background check delays, including working closely with their candidates to ensure they have completed the required release consent forms. Candidates can expedite the process by making sure their submitted information is accurate. As a last resort, consider changing your provider to a company with a faster turnaround time. We promise that this will improve your hiring process and reduce headaches!

Let us show you the Info Cubic difference with our fast turnaround times, high accuracy rates and second-to-none customer service. Give us a call at 1-888-925-0922 to learn how we can take your background checks from meh to amazing!