National Crime Search Privacy Policy
LAST UPDATED: 07/18/2023
Scope of this Policy
National Crime Search, LLC (“NCS”) has created this privacy policy in order to describe how we collect, use, maintain, share and protect your personal information when you use our website, https://www.nationalcrimsearch.com (hereinafter “Website” or “Site”) in connection with our background screening services. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected when you visit our Website, except where stated otherwise. It does not apply to information collected in any other way, including information collected offline and information collected through our client portal. National Crime Search, LLC is a consumer reporting agency. It is required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. (“FCRA”) to maintain the confidentiality of all consumer information. NCS is a background screening company primarily offering the following services—Employment Screening, Tenant Screening, and Volunteer Screening. Our Website is not directed at children.Information Collection
NCS strives to limit its collection of personal information to that necessary for the offering and administration of our services. Our Site collects the following types of information when you visit:- Personally identifying information; and,
- Non-personally identifiable information.
Personally Identifiable Information/Personal Data
Personally identifying information (“PII” or “personal data”) is any information that can identify you, such as your name, address, phone number and IP address. It does not include anonymized, aggregate or statistical information. Based on your relationship with us, you may be asked to provide certain PII as described below. If certain information is requested but not mandatory, NCS will identify which information is required on the Site.- Online Questions or Request
- When you are requesting materials or information from NCS, we may collect your name, address, email address, phone number, state of residence, and other PII, as well as other information related to your request for NCS services or products.
- Background Screening Services (which may be collected through our Site or offline)
- When your employer or landlord requests a background check NCS may collect your PII both online and offline to process the request.
- Client Portal Login
- When you use the client log-in portal for background checks, drug testing, or electronic I-9 completion you will be sent to our vendors’ system and webpage where they will collect login information such as account, username and/or password in order to access your account and perform the requested services. Information provided through the Client portal will also be available to NCS
- Partner Account Registration
- When you sign up to partner with NCS we may collect your name, title, email address, and company information.
- Billing Information (which may be collected through our Site or offline)
- (which may be collected through our Site or offline). If you purchase our services you may need to provide NCS with payment and billing information, such as your credit card details and billing address.
Non-Personally Identifiable Information
When you visit our Website, we may collect and store general Internet data, such as your domain name, browser type, device, date and time of access, which of our web pages you visited, the referring Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and how long you spend on each page. This information may be collected to assist us in making improvements to our Website and to administer our Website. We do not link this information to any PII. NCS may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate these services (e.g., maintenance, analysis, audit, development). These third parties have limited access to your information and only to perform these services or tasks on our behalf.Information Use
Personally identifying information collected through our Site may be used to:- Respond to your inquiries, process requests or otherwise correspond with you regarding programs or services;
- Conduct pre-employment background checks, volunteer background checks, and tenant screening services as requested by customers of background check reports such as employers, volunteer organizations, and landlords;
- Provide you with marketing information about NCS’ services and products;
- Process billing, invoice and payment functions when you request NCS services; and
- Analyze and improve NCS’ services.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that a website can send to a user’s browser for storage on the hard drive. Cookies can make use of the Internet easier by saving and administering status, preferences, and other user information. In other words, a cookie allows a website to “remember” a user’s actions or preferences over time. For instance, when we use a cookie to identify you, you would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our Site. Cookies used by the Site do not contain your personally identifying information. NCS may use cookies to route users through the Site, customize users’ experiences on the Site, to help us send you information about our services, and to improve the Site. When you access the Site, certain non-PII is automatically logged. This information may include your operating system, screen settings, Web browser software, and referring website, if any. It is used for system improvement and administration, security, statistical analysis purposes, and other internal business purposes. The Site may use service providers for analytics purposes. These providers collect information about you anonymously and report website trends without identifying individual visitors. These service providers use their own cookies to track visitor interactions. Website owners can view a variety of reports containing aggregate information about how visitors interact with their website so they can improve their website. NCS does not control third-party cookies and their use may be governed by the privacy policies of the service providers employing these cookies. Most browsers are set to accept cookies but users can change the setting to block cookies or otherwise choose how cookies are handled. Although disabling cookies will not interfere with your ability to access the Site, users will need to accept cookies to use certain services on the Site.Google Analytics
Our Website uses third party analytics service providers such as Google Analytics to help us analyze use of our Site. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to this Site by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-onThird-Party Links and Websites
This policy applies to NCS’ Website. However, you are able to access third-party sites through our Site by, for example, clicking on hyperlinks to those third-party sites from within our Site. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of any third-party sites, and if you visit those websites, we encourage you to review their respective privacy policies. Third party links on our Site are provided for your convenience and to provide further information or serve as a resource. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). NCS exercises no control whatsoever over such other websites and web-based resources and is not responsible or liable for the availability thereof or the content, advertising, products or other materials thereon. NCS shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss incurred or suffered by any user in connection therewith. Your access and use of linked websites, including information, material, products and services therein, is solely at your own risk.Choice, Opt-Out and How We Respond to Do Not Track Signals
As a user of our Website you make the decision whether to proceed with activities that request PII, such as requesting follow-up contact regarding our services and products, receipt of email communications from us, or receipt of our newsletter(s), blog or other communications. Note however that if you do not provide the requested information, you may not be able to complete certain transactions or receive information from us. If, after subscribing to receive emails or other electronic communications from NCS you no longer wish to continue receiving such from us, you will be provided with instructions in our communications on how to opt-out of such communications, including by unsubscribing. In addition, you can also contact us through the Point of Contact information provided in this policy. NCS does not track consumers over time and across third party websites to provide targeted advertising. However, some third party sites do keep track of your browsing activities when they serve you content, which enables them to collect PII about you and also tailor what they present to you. To learn more about the choices you have regarding online tracking, please visit these sites: Some browsers have a “Do Not Track” feature that lets you tell websites and online services that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. Such browser features and industry standards are not uniform, so our Site does not respond to those signals at this time. Any consumer, upon proper identification, has the right under the FCRA to request NCS to furnish to the consumer any and all information we may have on that consumer. The consumer has the right to dispute the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the consumer’s file.Information Sharing and Disclosure
- NCS does not rent or sell personal information about you with other people or nonaffiliated companies. We may share personal information with third parties in order to provide products or services you’ve requested, when we have your permission or under the following circumstances: A) A subpoena, court order, or legal process, or governmental investigation or proceeding, or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims; B) We believe it is necessary to share information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of NCS’ terms of use, or as otherwise required by law.
- We may transfer information about you if NCS is acquired by or merged with another company.
- We reserve the right to send you certain communications relating to the NCS service, such as service announcements, administrative messages and the NCS newsletter, that are considered part of your NCS account.
- NCS does not send information outside the United States unless it is required and authorized by the customer and applicant as part of an international search or background check.
Data Retention
NCS retains personal information as needed to provide you services or product information, respond to inquiries, partner with you, or as required by contractual, statutory or other legal obligations.Confidentiality and Security
NCS takes any and all inquiries into our security policies and data security processes very seriously. NCS strives to protect personal information that we collect, maintain and disclose through the use of appropriate and reasonable administrative, physical and technical safeguards. We have security protocols and measures in place to ensure confidentiality of PII and to protect the PII we maintain about you from unauthorized access or alteration as well as unlawful disclosure. These measures include internal and external firewalls, physical security and technological security measures, as well as encryption of certain information and password protection for account information. Our security program is designed to: (1) ensure the security and confidentiality of personal information; (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of the information; and (3) protect against unauthorized access, use, alteration, or unlawful disclosure of the information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any individual. In the course of business, NCS may collect or ask that you disclose your Social Security Number. To the extent practicable, NCS protects the confidentiality of all information we collect, including Social Security Numbers. Accordingly, we prohibit the unlawful disclosure of personal information, including Social Security Numbers, and limit access to same. We dispose of such information by taking reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information. Below further describes data safeguards we use:-
- We limit access to personal information about you to employees who we believe reasonably need to come into contact with that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs.
- We have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to protect personal information about you.
- Your NCS Account Information is password-protected.
- Your NCS Account is also protected by Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) utilizing email and SMS messages to send one-time use codes to verify your identity.
- When logged in to the NCS application, all information, including your login credentials, are transmitted across a Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
- All credit card information entered into the Website is not stored on a server maintained by NCS, but rather goes to our merchant services provider.
- By utilizing a merchant service provider, NCS is able to maintain PCI compliance and does not store or retain any credit card information on our servers.
- Should you have any questions or inquiries about our merchant service provider, please call or email us to speak with someone about those policies.
- NCS does store search results data from its providers when a search is processed. That data is encrypted on a server behind a firewall in a secure data center with a local provider.
Point of Contact
If you have any questions or comments about NCS’ privacy policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: Damon Hill Chief Information Officer National Crime Search, LLC 3452 E Joyce Blvd Fayetteville, AR 72703 888-527-3282 damon@nationalcrimesearch.comChanges to this Privacy Policy
NCS may periodically update this policy. We will notify you about material changes in the way we treat personal information by sending a notice to the primary email address specified in your NCS account or by placing a notice on our Site.Privacy Notice: California Investigative Consumer Reports
This notice is provided for California residents. Under California law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1786 et seq.), an “investigative consumer report” is a consumer report containing information on a consumer’s character, general reputation, personal characteristics or mode of living. Under California law, NCS compiles “investigative consumer reports” about individuals and provides them to businesses for background screening related to employment purposes, including whether to hire, promote or retain an individual.Personal Information Disclosure: United States or Overseas
In connection with our preparation and processing of investigative consumer reports under California law, we are required to advise you that NCS may transfer personal information about you to our authorized service providers and affiliates outside the United States and its territories when conducting international background checks.Privacy Practices
NCS’ policies and procedures for preparing and processing of investigative consumer reports are designed to comply with the requirements of the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1786 et seq.) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.). NCS, for example, maintains policies and procedures designed to limit the purposes for, and circumstances under which, we furnish investigative consumer reports. NCS maintains reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. NCS provides individuals with the ability to request, upon proper identification, access to information we hold about them in our investigative consumer reporting files. NCS conducts reinvestigations of the accuracy and completeness of information at the individual’s request. NCS also has implemented administrative, physical and technical safeguards designed to protect the information that we maintain in our investigative consumer reporting files. To obtain additional information about NCS’ privacy practices and policies in the event of a compromise of your information, please contact: Damon Hill Chief Information Officer National Crime Search, LLC 3452 E Joyce Blvd Fayetteville, AR 72703 888-527-3282 damon@nationalcrimesearch.comInternational Compliance
We provide background screening services in the United States. Our services are operated and managed on servers located within the United States. On occasion NCS may be requested to provide a background check report on an individual who lived and/or worked outside the United States. In addition to the information provided elsewhere in this privacy policy, if you are a national of the European Union (EU) or the United Kingdom (UK) you have certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK GDPR which are explained further below. If you are outside the United States and using our Website, your personal data may be transferred outside of your home country to the United States to NCS or a third party service provider and will be subject to use and disclosure under the laws of the United States. It may also be accessible to law enforcement and national security authorities in the United States. For instance, when you request that we contact you, you provide personal data to us. If you do not provide mandatory personal data, such as name and email you may not be able to complete certain online transactions.Personal Data Processing Purposes
We use personal data for a number of legitimate interests, including to provide and improve our background screening services, administer our relationship with you and our business, for marketing and in order to exercise our rights and responsibilities. We may also process personal data pursuant to your consent or otherwise to comply with laws or legal obligations.EU Nationals – Your Rights
Residents in the EU are entitled to certain rights with respect to your personal data:- Right of access and data portability. The right to obtain access to your personal data, along with certain related information, and to receive that information in a commonly used format and to have it transferred to another data controller;
- Right to rectification. The right to obtain rectification of your personal data without undue delay where that personal data is inaccurate or incomplete;
- Right to erasure. The right to obtain the erasure of your personal data without undue delay in certain circumstances, such as where the personal data is no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which it was collected or processed;
- The right to obtain the restriction of the processing undertaken by us on your personal information in certain circumstances, such as where the accuracy of the personal data is contested by you, for a period enabling us to verify the accuracy of that personal data; and
- The right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of your personal data, and to object to processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes, to the extent it is related to such direct marketing.