Background Check Services for Employers
Background Check Services for Employers
Founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association. Proprietary researcher network. Trusted since 1979.
Most background check companies pull data from the same national wholesalers. DDS doesn’t. We built our own network of trained researchers and data analysts — the people who actually verify the records, jurisdiction by jurisdiction — because the difference between a report you can hire on and one you can’t comes down to accuracy at the source.
PBSA Accredited
Founding Member, NAPBS / PBSA
Operating Since 1979
100+ Countries Covered
Live Human Support
A pre-employment background check is a hiring safeguard, a compliance requirement, and — when it’s done right — a business advantage. Done poorly, it’s the source of FCRA disputes, bad hires, and reputational risk. After 47 years operating in this category, we’ll tell you the unfashionable truth: most of what separates a useful background check from a useless one happens at the data layer, not the software layer. That’s why DDS owns its research network instead of renting one.
What Is a Pre-Employment Background Check?
A pre-employment background check is a structured verification of a job candidate’s identity, work history, criminal record, and other declared credentials, performed before or shortly after a conditional offer is extended. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), any background check conducted by a third-party Consumer Reporting Agency for employment purposes must follow specific rules around candidate consent, dispute handling, and adverse action notification.
In practice, a useful pre-employment background check answers three questions:
1. Is this person who they say they are? Identity verification — Social Security trace, address history, alias check.
2. Have they done what they say they’ve done? Employment verification, education verification, license verification.
3. Is there public-record information an employer is permitted to consider that would inform the hiring decision? Criminal records, driving records, sanctions/watchlist hits.
The right background check package depends on the role, the industry, the jurisdiction, and the employer’s risk profile. There is no single “standard” background check that fits every hire — which is why every DDS engagement begins with a free consultation to build a screening menu that actually matches what you’re hiring for.
Our Full Background Check Service Menu
DDS performs the full range of pre-employment record searches and verifications. Most clients combine these into a customized package after a free consultation. Click any service for details, jurisdictional coverage, and turnaround information.
Criminal Records Check
County, state, federal, and national criminal record searches.
Federal Criminal Searches
Federal District Court searches across all U.S. districts.
Statewide & County Criminal
Direct-source court record searches in every jurisdiction.
National Sex Offender Registry
All-state sex offender registry search.
Terrorist Watchlist & OFAC
OFAC, SDN, and global watchlist screening.
Driving Records / MVR
Motor vehicle record searches for any U.S. state.
Civil Records Search
Civil court history for employment-relevant litigation.
Credit Bureau Reporting
FCRA-compliant employment credit reports where permitted by law.
Sanction Registries
OIG, SAM, GSA, and healthcare-specific exclusion screening.
Student Background Checks
Screening for student placements, internships, and university programs.
Identity Verification (SSN Trace)
Social Security number trace and address history verification.
How a DDS Background Check Works
Every DDS background check follows a defined workflow that combines our proprietary researcher network with the ClearStar secure delivery platform.
Step 1 — Free Consultation
A DDS specialist works with you to understand the role, the industry, the jurisdictions involved, and the risk profile. We then recommend a service menu — line items, packaged combinations, or both — built for what you actually hire for. There is no obligation and no charge for the consultation.
Step 2 — Candidate Authorization
The candidate completes an FCRA-compliant consent and disclosure form. DDS provides templates that meet federal and state-specific disclosure requirements.
Step 3 — Research & Verification
This is where DDS differs from most providers. Rather than pulling data from a national information wholesaler, our proprietary network of trained researchers and data analysts sources records directly. Court records, employment verifications, education verifications — handled by people who know the jurisdiction and the institution, not an aggregator.
Step 4 — Quality Review
Every report flagged with reportable information is reviewed by a DDS quality team before it’s released, including verification that any adverse data is current, accurate, and reportable under FCRA.
Step 5 — Delivery
Completed reports are delivered through the secure ClearStar platform with a built-in audit trail. Reports containing reportable adverse information are automatically packaged with pre-adverse and adverse action letter templates for your review.
Step 6 — Dispute Handling
If a candidate disputes any information in the report, DDS handles the consumer dispute process internally as part of our protocol — within the FCRA-mandated timeframe, with full documentation provided to both the employer and the candidate.
85% of all records, verifications, and drug testing services are completed within 24 hours.
Industries We've Served Since 1979
DDS has performed background checks for employers across nearly every regulated and at-risk industry. Beginning in 1979, our earliest clients included Wall Street firms, real estate management companies, retail organizations, private police forces, and transportation operators — many of whom remain DDS clients today.
Financial Services & Wall Street
FINRA, SEC, and AML-aware screening.
Healthcare & Healthcare Staffing
OIG/SAM exclusion screening, license verification, NPDB integration.
Real Estate & Property Management
Property manager, leasing agent, and on-site staff screening.
Logistics & Transportation
DOT compliance, MVR, clearinghouse-integrated screening.
Franchise Networks
Multi-location screening coordination across franchise operations.
Youth-Serving Organizations
Coach, instructor, and volunteer screening for organizations working with minors.
Compliance Built In: FCRA, EEOC, and State Law
Every DDS background check is conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and applicable EEOC guidance. State and local laws — including ban-the-box ordinances, salary history bans, marijuana-related employment restrictions, and California ICRAA requirements — are factored into the screening menu we recommend.
DDS was a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS, now PBSA) and participated on the steering committees that established the original industry compliance framework. The current PBSA accreditation, FCRA dispute protocols, and adverse action workflows we operate under are the same standards we helped write.
What that means operationally for you:
– FCRA-compliant disclosures and authorizations provided to every candidate.
– Pre-adverse and adverse action letters automatically attached to any report flagged with reportable information — ready for your review and use.
– Consumer disputes handled internally by the DDS team, not outsourced or pushed back to you.
– Adverse information vetted for currency and reportability before any record reaches your hiring decision.
Why Employers Choose DDS
There are dozens of background screening providers in the U.S. market. Most pull from the same handful of data wholesalers. Five things separate DDS:
1. We’ve been doing this since 1979.
DDS pioneered employment due diligence before software and aggregator databases existed. We learned how to verify records the right way before there was a wrong way to take.
2. We own our research network.
Most background check companies are resellers of national information wholesalers. DDS operates a proprietary network of trained researchers and data analysts sourcing records directly from courts, employers, and institutions. The data that ends up in your report came from a person who knows what to verify and how — not from an aggregator’s stale database.
3. We answer the phone.
When you call DDS during business hours, a person answers. When you have a question on a report, a person responds — usually the same day. The phrase clients use most often when they switch to DDS is “I didn’t realize how much I missed talking to a human.”
4. 94% client retention — sustained for more than 20 years.
The only clients DDS loses are companies that go out of business. Retention isn’t a number we calculated for a marketing page. It’s a number that’s been holding for two decades because the service holds up.
5. Best-value pricing, regardless of volume.
DDS does not give volume discounts. We don’t believe a 10-person company should pay more per background check than a 10,000-person company for the same service. We offer a single best-value price per line item and per package, available to every client. No discrimination by size.
Ready to see if DDS is the right fit?
A 20-minute free consultation is the fastest way to find out. No obligation, no pressure, and you’ll talk to a person.
How DDS Pricing Works
DDS offers both line-item pricing (pay per service used) and package pricing (pre-bundled combinations that reduce the per-service cost). Both options are available from a single menu, so you can mix and match: pay a package rate for the common services, plus line items for any additional checks specific to a role.
A few things to know:
– No volume discounts. Our per-check rate is the same whether you run 5 background checks a year or 5,000. We believe in fair pricing, not pricing tiered against client size.
– No setup fees, no monthly minimums for standard accounts. Free consultation, free protocol recommendation, free program implementation.
– Custom menus. Pricing is finalized after the free consultation, when we know which services your screening menu actually requires.
– Volume capacity confirmed. The ClearStar platform DDS operates on processes well over 1 million background checks annually — sufficient capacity for enterprise-scale screening programs.
International Coverage: 100+ Countries
DDS conducts international background checks in over 100 countries. Available record types vary by country and by current government or institutional access rules, which change frequently. The most commonly requested international searches include:
– International criminal record checks
– International education verification
– International employment verification
– International identity and residency verification
– Global sanctions and watchlist screening (OFAC, EU, UK, UN consolidated lists)
If you’re hiring across borders, we’ll review the candidate’s residency history during the consultation and tell you exactly what’s verifiable in each country today.
ATS and HRIS Integration
DDS currently operates an active integration with iCIMS, and the ClearStar platform supports standard background screening API patterns. Additional ATS, HRIS, and onboarding integrations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis when client volume and workflow justify the work. If you operate on a system you’d like to integrate with, raise it during the consultation.
What Clients Say
Deborah Margl
Vice President of Operations
Alpha has been a user of DDS since we were formed in 2017. Our team previously used DDS for many years prior to 2017 under another organization.
Jennifer
RedPeak
“I cannot say enough positive things when it comes to customer service and working with DDS. We have been particularly impressed with the consistency of service and the reliability of the staff. They are fabulous!”
Holly
Pavilion Agency, Inc.
It is with great pleasure to write a recommendation for DDS and its phenomenal Team! They have always proven to be responsive, helpful, efficient, trustworthy and competent! We have been utilizing their services since 1990 and look forward to continuing our relationship for many years to come!
Natalie G.
Manager, Real Alloy
“The DDS Team is a real strategic partner to our HR and Talent Acquisition Team as it relates to strategizing, implementing and managing our compliant pre-employment due diligence program. They have also provided a very pleasant and expedited experience during their integration process with our ATS/HRS systems. We’re keeping them!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a DDS background check take?
85% of all records, verifications, and drug testing services are completed within 24 hours. Full turnaround varies based on which services are in the package — county criminal record searches and verifications dependent on third-party response (past employers, schools, licensing boards) may take longer when those institutions are slow to respond. Time-sensitive cases can be flagged during ordering for priority handling.
What does a standard DDS background check include?
Every DDS background check is customized after consultation, so there is no fixed “standard” package. A typical baseline package includes a Social Security Number trace, the National Crime Index, state and county criminal record checks for relevant jurisdictions, a National Sex Offender Registry search, and OFAC sanctions screening. Most clients add employment and education verification, MVR, and other role-specific services on top.
Is DDS FCRA-compliant?
Yes. DDS was a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (now PBSA), participated on the steering committees that established industry compliance standards, and operates under PBSA accreditation today. Every background check follows FCRA disclosure, authorization, and adverse action requirements, and consumer disputes are handled internally by the DDS team.
Does DDS handle international background checks?
Yes. DDS conducts international searches in over 100 countries. Available record types vary by country and by current government or institutional access rules.
Can DDS integrate with our ATS or HRIS?
DDS currently operates an active iCIMS integration and the underlying ClearStar platform supports additional ATS/HRIS integrations when client volume and workflow justify the integration work.
Does DDS offer volume discounts?
No. DDS offers a single best-value price for each service, available to every client regardless of volume. A 10-person company pays the same per-check rate as a 10,000-person company. Where line items are included in a packaged combination, a package discount applies, but the discount is the same for every client buying that package.
How does DDS handle pre-adverse and adverse action?
Pre-adverse and adverse action letter templates are automatically attached to any background check report that contains reportable information. Templates meet FCRA and state-specific disclosure requirements. Your team reviews and issues the letters following your internal adverse action workflow.
What if a candidate disputes information on the report?
Consumer disputes are handled internally by the DDS team as part of our service protocol. Disputes are resolved within the FCRA-mandated timeframe, with full documentation provided to both the employer and the candidate.
How much does a background check cost?
DDS offers both line-item and package pricing, finalized after a free consultation. There are no setup fees and no volume tiers — every client receives the same best-value price per service. Request a custom quote and a specialist will walk you through the pricing menu.
What makes DDS different from other background screening companies?
Two structural differences. First, DDS operates a proprietary network of trained researchers and data analysts who source records directly from courts, employers, and institutions — rather than reselling data from a national information wholesaler the way most providers do. Second, DDS has been operating continuously since 1979, was a founding member of the PBSA, and maintains 94% client retention. The combination is unusual in the category.
Does DDS provide a secure platform for accessing reports?
Yes. Completed reports are delivered through the ClearStar secure platform, which supports well over 1 million background checks annually and includes a full audit trail, role-based access controls, and integrated adverse action workflows.
Can I get a demo or talk to someone about my specific hiring program?
Yes. The fastest way to get started is to call (800) 647-7999 — a person will answer — or request a free consultation online. We’ll walk you through the system, discuss your screening menu, and provide a custom quote within one business day.
Ready to Talk?
A 20-minute consultation is the fastest way to find out if DDS is the right fit for your screening program. There’s no obligation and no charge — and you’ll talk to a person, not a chatbot.
Related Resources
About DDS
47 Years of Employment Due Diligence