Do's & Don'ts - Permitted and Prohibited Uses

BeenVerified offers easy and affordable access to public record information. However, laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulate how you can use the information you obtain from BeenVerified.

Below are a few examples of some of the ways you can and can't use public record information from BeenVerified. Using BeenVerified information in the ways marked as "Don't" below violates both our Terms & Conditions and the law, and can lead to possible criminal penalties. We take this very seriously, and reserve the right to terminate user accounts and/or report violators to law enforcement as appropriate.

Don't

Employment screening

Employers can't use BeenVerified to conduct background checks of employees and applicants. BeenVerified may not be used to evaluate a person for employment, reassignment, promotion, or retention.

Do

Look yourself up

It is not silly, it is important. You should know what is in your public record.

Don't

Hiring of household workers

Including, but not limited to, nannies and domestic workers. You must follow the same procedure for running a background check that employers hiring an applicant must follow.

Do

Check out your new neighbors

If you've just moved or have just had new neighbors next door, find out more about your new community.

Don't

Considering someone looking to be an adoptive parent or pet-owner

You are not permitted to use our services to evaluate someone as a candidate to adopt a pet, service animal, human or any other item under consideration for entrusting in someone's care or custodianship.

Don't

Check educational qualifications

Including, but not limited to, a person's qualifications for an educational program or scholarship.

Do

Find old friends and family

BeenVerified loves hearing stories about how people use public records to reconnect with people, whether it's friends from an old neighborhood, distant relatives or a long lost love!

Don't

Vetting someone in connection with a charity or non-profit

Eligibility or fitness of someone to participate in, be considered for, admitted to, or to be a beneficiary or recipient (or otherwise entitle someone to gain from), any non-profit, grant or charitable program or activity

Do

Verify Online Buyers and Sellers

Before you bid, make sure that person on the online auction site is who he says he is.

Don't

Stalk, Spy or Contact People Against Their Wishes

Use BeenVerified responsibly and respect peoples' right to privacy. If they don't want to be contacted, you should respect their wishes.

Don't

Steal an Identity

Identity theft is a serious offense with serious consequences. Don't do it!

Do

Roommate worthy?

Check out potential friends before you decide to live with them

Don't

Tenant Screening

Including, but not limited to, leasing a residential or commercial space. By law, you must use a Consumer Reporting Agency to conduct a background check on potential tenants.

Do

Scope Out Your Online Date

Met a new crush online? Check 'em out! Use our social profiles information to learn more about any upcoming dates you have planned.

Don't

Credit, Insurance or Mortgages

You might be committing a crime if you use BeenVerified for assessing the risk of existing credit obligations of an individual or determining eligibility for issuing credit or insurance.

Don't

Business Transactions Initiated by an Individual Customer

Reviewing a personal customer account to determine whether the person continues to meet the terms of the account.

Do

Find out who's calling you

Not sure who is behind that unknown number that keeps calling? Run a reverse phone search.

Do

Find Someone's Current Address

Address book in need of updating? Clean it up and make sure those invitations and greeting cards get to the right person.

If you still are not sure whether your use of BeenVerified is OK, we encourage you to review our complete Terms & Conditions, which provide the final say on how you can use information from BeenVerified, or to Contact Us. If you wish to use information for a purpose that is not allowed by BeenVerified, please visit the website of a Consumer Reporting Agency.

About Us   BeenVerified Reviews   BeenVerified vs. Competition   Do's and Don'ts   Our Data   FCRA   Contact Us Our Mobile Apps   Android App   iOS App Press Pricing FAQ   Billing   Refund Policy   Opt Out   Privacy   Terms and Conditions   Common Questions   Is BeenVerified Legit?   Is BeenVerified Free? People Lookup Reverse Phone Reverse Address Email Lookup ID Monitor Popular Topics Current Offers Careers