Is BeenVerified Safe and Legit?

Gone are the days when you could only go to courthouses or government buildings to access public records. 

Now, you can find information about people by using the best people search websites all over the internet. One of these websites is BeenVerified.

Since it started in 2007, BeenVerified has been one of the best background check companies in the United States. 

It makes getting reports with accurate and up-to-date information easy and cheap. But is BeenVerified legit?

In this article, delve into BeenVerified and discover how it works and its legitimacy.

What is BeenVerified? How Does It Work?

BeenVerified is a New York background check company founded by Ross Cohen and Josh Levy in 2007. It's a subscription-based service that allows users to do the following:

• Run background checks on potential partners or dates
• Verify whether businesses are legitimate
• Find biological parents
• Search for lost friends or relatives
• Verify an online buyer or seller

Its features include:

• People Search
• Reverse Phone Lookup
• Reverse Email Lookup
• Reverse Address Lookup
• Username Search (tied to social media accounts/message boards)
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN Number Search)
• Unclaimed Money Search
• Property Records

Each feature requires one or several pieces of data. For instance, if you have a first and last name of a long-lost friend, you can access People Search.

You can expect results pulled from Federal, State, and County records, which the website has legal access to. 

Results can also include social media profiles, potential criminal records, phone numbers, addresses, and other information. 

Some people keep their data private for online privacy, but public records are accessible to BeenVerified. 

You won't need to do all this "heavy lifting" of information because the website does it for you. BeenVerified compiles it into one easy-to-understand report.

Is BeenVerified Legit?

BeenVerified is a legitimate service. It gets 10 million monthly visits as of 2020 and has a subscriber base topping 100 thousand. Major publications like The New York Times have also featured the site.

The site digs through data that is already available in the public domain. They are also transparent with their data services and the complete services they provide. 

It's important to remember that the data BeenVerified generates is only as accurate as the public records it pulls from.

Is BeenVerified Safe To Use?

If you are thinking about whether or not the person you are searching for will know that you're searching for them, don't worry. BeenVerified won't inform them that you are.

The website provides clear guidelines on how a user can and cannot use another person's information to avoid leaving digital footprints. 

If you want to stay anonymous, you can opt out and ask not to be included in searches. You can inform the website that you don't want your information to be sold.

You also have the option to opt out of the service if you are looking for other options that have better advantages. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• A huge database of records and information
• Search returns are detailed and comprehensive.
• Competitive pricing plans
• Offers full refunds if customers are not satisfied
• Cases of exceptional customer service

Cons

• Search results are only sometimes accurate.
• Long waiting times for search returns
• Several cases of user-canceled subscriptions not pushing through
• Many cases of poor customer service

Other Nifty Features and Apps

BeenVerified also allows you to see your previous searches. The site saves past reports you asked for. 

This way, you can return to important information if you ever forget or need it again.

The website will also update you if there is new information about a person or business. 

You can also download the BeenVerified app for both Android and iPhone.You can even use it on an Apple Watch. 

Restrictions

There are some restrictions when using BeenVerified. You cannot use it to determine a person's eligibility for the following:

• Employment
• Credit
• Insurance
• Housing
• Education
• Tenant Screening
• Any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance

Using the site for any of the aforementioned violates the law and BeenVerified's Terms and Conditions. 

Breach of these rules can lead to the termination of your account or worse, you could be reported to the authorities.

BeenVerified Customer Support

Many customers found customer service representatives of BeenVerified to have gone the extra mile. 

If you need to talk to one of them, you can call them anytime from 6 in the morning to 11:30 in the evening, Eastern Time. Email support is available when you visit the website and fill up an online contact form.

You can also get live customer support Mondays to Fridays, from 8 am to 10 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 am to 8 pm, both at Eastern Time.

Final Thoughts

We wouldn't have imagined that people search engines such as BeenVerified are part of a big business nowadays. 

Technology is advancing; this industry is one example demonstrating the technology capable of gathering billions of data into one comprehensive report.

Though it has saved individuals from scams and heartaches and reunited them with family and friends, the system isn't perfect. 

It's best to remind yourself of this to get the most out of a solid and reliable product is best.