All FAQ
Background Check FAQ
How long does a background check take?
Your background check should be ready within 3 days; however, this will depend on the type and purpose of the check, and whether further investigation is needed.
Can you do a background check on yourself?
What does a background check involve?
A background check verifies a candidate’s background by analysing different databases and sources.
Some checks may include checking previous employment, criminal records, education, credit history, driver history, social media, and more. The sources which are reviewed will depend on the objective of the background check.
What information is included in a background check?
A background check is usually run to verify specific information and confirm that a person is who they claim to be.
Background checks can include, but are not limited to, police checks, criminal record checks, identity verification, Australian work entitlement (VEVO) checks, online behavioural checks, fraud checks, identity fraud, checking criminal databases, online identity checks, reference checks, credit checks and credit score.
Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check FAQ
What is a nationally coordinated criminal history check?
A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), also known as ‘Police Check’ is a collation of police and conviction history information about an individual that has been determined releasable by Australia’s police agencies. You may need a Police Check for specific jobs or volunteer positions.
Information that may be disclosed on an applicant’s Police Check result may include:
- Court convictions, including penalties and sentences
- Court appearances
- Charges
- Findings of guilt with no conviction
- Good behaviour bonds or other Court orders
- Matters awaiting Court hearings
- Traffic offences
What is a volunteer Police Check?
A volunteer police check is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in support of a volunteer position or role.
Identifying a police check as ‘volunteer’ only determines the price billed – it will not alter the outcome of the police check result.
A volunteer police check must only be requested to us if:
- The applicant will:
- freely hold the position or perform the role on a voluntary basis and
- not be an employee or contractor and will not be entitled to a salary or any other entitlements associated with the position or role, other than payment of out of pocket expenses or
- the applicant is a student undertaking a compulsory vocational placement as a requirement of an Australian-based academic institution or training course.
What does a Police Check disclose?
An Australian police check shows Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO). These include but are not limited to:
- Any charge found proven in court.
- Details of the court that heard the charge, the date and any penalty or sentence.
- Findings of guilty by a court, even if no conviction is recorded.
- Court convictions, even if no sentence or penalty was given.
- Good behaviour bonds and similar court orders.
- Charges laid by police but not yet proven, or otherwise, in court.
- Current investigations in which the subject is a suspect.
- Children’s Court convictions and guilty findings.
- Traffic convictions and guilty findings.
- On-the-spot fines issued by police that ended up in court.
How long is a Police Check results report valid?
There is no standard timeframe for which the results of a police check are valid.
A police check is considered a ‘point in time’ check only. Therefore, the results only reflect police records on the date and time the result is released. It is up to the organisation that requires the police check to determine the timeframe acceptable for a police check result to be valid, based on their own risk assessment or operational requirements.
How to apply for Police Check
- Select the check you want. You can also bundle with other checks you may want, as VEVO check.
- Complete your purchase, and you will receive a link where you can complete online the request by verifying your identity online, and upload your documets.
- You will then receive your police check.
What Identity documents do I need to prepare for a Police Check application?
ACIC requires you to provide 3 documents from 3 categories, as below:
- ONE Commencement of ID Document
- ONE Primary Use in the Community Document
- ONE Secondary Use in the Community Documents
In all instances, the combination of identity documents must contain at minimum your full name, date of birth and a photograph.
If you have provided identity documents using a former name, such as a maiden name, you must provide evidence of the name change in addition to the four identity documents.
The nature of the documents in each of the categories is summarised below:
Commencement of ID
At least ONE (1) is required
- Birth Certificate or authorised record of birth (not an extract or birth card)
- A current Australian passport (not expired)
- Australian Citizenship Certificate
- Australian visa (You can provide either your foreign passport or VEVO print but must be supported by your foreign passport)
- ImmiCard issued by Department of Home Affairs
Primary Use in Community Document
At least ONE (1) is required
- A current Australian passport (not expired)
- A current Australian driver’s licence, learner permit or provisional licence issued by a state or territory
- ImmiCard issued by Department of Home Affairs
- Foreign passport issued by a country other than Australia with a valid visa or valid entry stamp or equivalent
- A proof of age or photo identity card which shows the name, date of birth, photo and signature of the individual (Issued by an Australian State or Territory Government in the Individual’s name and includes their photo)
- For persons under 18 years of age with no other Primary Use in Community Documents, a current student identification card (Issued by Australian secondary school, TAFE, University, Registered Training Organisation or State Government Agency)
Secondary Use in Community Document
At least ONE (1) is required
- Certificate of identity issued by DFAT
- Document of identity issued by DFAT
- United Nations Convention Travel Document Secondary issued by DFAT
- Foreign identity documents (e.g. driver licences, and documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a NAATI accredited translation)
- Medicare card
- Electoral enrolment (Proof of electoral enrolment in the Individual’s name and showing their current address provided by the Australian Electoral Commission)
- Security Guard/Crowd Control photo licence (Issued by an Australian State or Territory Government)
- Evidence of right to a government benefit (DVA or Centrelink)
- Consular photo identity card issued by DFAT
- Police Force Officer photo identity card
- Defence Force photo identity card
- Photo identity card issued by the Australian Government or a state or territory government
- Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC)
- Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC)
- Firearms licence
- Credit reference check
- Australian tertiary student photo identity document (Issued by an Australian secondary school, TAFE, University, Registered Training Organisation or State Government Agency)
- Certified academic transcript from an Australian university (Issued by an Australian secondary school, TAFE, university or Registered Training Organisation which includes the Individual’s name or former name)
- Trusted referees report
- Bank card, credit card (without recording the payment card number/s)
- Tax File Number (Issued by the Australian Taxation Office)
How long does it take to do a Police Check?
Once the police check is submitted to the ACIC
70% of all Backy Check applications are completed in real-time*. These are the police checks which result in ‘no potential matches found’ and they have ‘no disclosable court outcomes’.
30% requiring manual process and 95% of those are processed within 10 days. These are found with ‘potential matches against applicant’s details‘.
Please ensure you allow yourself adequate time to receive your police check just in case your application requires manual investigation.
*Figures may vary over the time.
When can I apply for a urgent Police Check?
An urgent priority can only be applied to checks where a delay in results may have a direct impact on the care, safety or provision of essential services within the community
Four general categories exist for urgent checks:
- specialist skills or an emergency or disaster situation;
- political reasons (including national security – for Australian Government only);
- medical reasons; or
- child-related process, including adoption and emergency placement.
Some examples include when:
- volunteers are needed to provide bushfire relief;
- support is needed for an upcoming election;
- medical specialists are required for locum work in a remote area; or
- emergency foster carers are needed.
Many types of reasons are not considered to be urgent priorities. Examples are when an individual:
- is offered employment and is due to start tomorrow;
- has an expired police clearance;
- cannot work until their check is returned; or
- has a professional registration pending a check.
What is the difference between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check and the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check provided by the ACIC through us as one of the ACIC accredited body?
What differs the Australian Federal Police (AFP) police check and the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check provided by the ACIC is the purpose you are doing the police check for.
For immigration or visa purposes, or employment with the Commonwealth Government you may want to consider the Australian Federal Police (AFP) police check.
An Australian police check (ACIC) is acceptable for all other types of employment in industries such as education, health, banking and finance, and childcare.
What is a Working With Children Check and how to obtain one?
In Australia, people who work or volunteer with children are screened for suitability through a Working With Children Check.
This type of check is separate and different to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. A Working With Children Check allows for a greater release of information to ensure the utmost safety and protection of children within the community.
Backy Check can’t provide you with any working with children check.
If you are looking to get your working with children check done please refer to the table below.
The following state and territory screening units are the only organisations allowed, under legislation, to conduct Working With Children Checks.
| State/Territory | Screening unit |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Access Canberra – Working with Vulnerable People |
| New South Wales | Office of the Children’s Guardian |
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory Government |
| Queensland | Queensland Government Department of Justice and Attorney-General – Blue Card Services |
| South Australia | Department of Human Service |
| Tasmania | Go to Department of Justice |
| Victoria | Justice and Regulation |
| Western Australia | Government of Western Australia |
VEVO Check FAQ
What is a VEVO Check?
Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO) allows visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations to check visa conditions.
Australian citizens have unlimited rights to work or study in Australia. You cannot use VEVO to confirm this. You can provide a copy of your Australian citizenship certificate or your Australian passport to prove your citizenship.
An Australian visa holder can use the VEVO system to obtain the current details and conditions of the visa.
You can use VEVO to send proof of your visa conditions to others, for example, employers, landlords or the government of a country you would like to visit.
What is an Australian Right to Work check?
An Australian Right to Work Check validates the rights of an individual to work in Australia. The Australian Right to Work Check provides you with a Visa Right to Work Check.
What VEVO check tells you?
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) allows visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations to check visa details and conditions.
VEVO tells you:
- which visa
- the expiry date
- the must not arrive after date
- the period of stay (how long you can stay)
- conditions (what you can and can't do)
How to apply for VEVO check
Go to Backy Check website at backycheck.com/background-check-services
- Select the check you want. You can also bundle with other checks you may want, as police check.
- Pay, and you will receive a link. Where you can complete online the request by verifying your identity online, and upload your documets.
- You will then receive your VEVO check.
What do I need to conduct a VEVO check?
At least the following documents
Passport or ImmiCard and ONE of the following reference numbers:
- Transaction reference number (TRN)
- Visa grant number
- Visa evidence number
Can an individual access VEVO through Backy Check
Yes. If you’re an Australian visa holder, you can access your VEVO visa details through our Australian Right to Work Check.
Our system connects with the Department of Home Affairs’s VEVO to easily and conveniently provide you with the Visa Right to Work Check.
You can also bundle this service with the Police Check, so you can seamlessly obtain both in one go. 😉
I am an Australian visa holder, why VEVO check couldn't find my visa details?
VEVO can only provide information about people who have their details available in the system.
You may not have a searchable record if you migrated to Australia before 1990 and have not since travelled out of Australia.
You may need to apply for an electronic visa record.
Some people may have an ImmiCard issued by VEVO. Government agencies can then use the ImmiCard to check their commencement of identity in Australia.
Credit Check FAQ
What is the difference between credit score and credit report?
A credit score is a numerical value which shows your creditworthiness as a single number. The credit score uses information from your credit report an turns it into a number, which is the credit score.
A credit report contains detailed information, including your credit score, personal information, current consumer credit providers, consumer credit enquiries, consumer credit accounts, consumer defaults, consumer serious credit infringements, commercial credit history, public information, personal statements, file access record.
What is a credit report?
A credit report shows your financial behaviour. It includes things like your credit history, the credit accounts you hold and your credit score. Lenders use this information to help them decide whether to give you credit. But they’re not the only ones who can benefit.
You can use your report too. Understanding your report may help you improve your credit score, which could mean access to lower rates of interest.
What comes up in the Credit Check?
Information on your Experian Credit Report has been provided from credit providers as a result of your application for credit, and publicly available information from government departments or agencies. This may mean Experian doesn’t have your latest residential address or employer listed. This is quite common. It may be the case that you have not applied for credit while residing at your new address or with your new employer, or the information hasn’t been shared with us.
The information in your Experian Credit Report may include:
| Personal information | Consumer credit accounts |
| Consumer credit enquiries | Public information |
| Consumer Serious Credit infringements | Consumer credit history |
| File access record | Consumer defaults |
| Your Experian Credit Score | Personal statements |
Why check your Credit Report?
- Identity theft. Check if someone is using your identity to ask for credit.
- Correct personal information. Check your details are stored correctly (Name, Family Name, Address, Date of Birth).
- Check your debts are stored correctly. Check your debts are listed correctly, They may be wrong or duplicated.
- Apply with confidence. Apply for your loan, or for your next job with confidence of knowing what others will be likely to know about you.
- Denied credit. You have been denied credit. Find out what information is on your credit report.
- Improve your credit reputation. Improve how lenders see your credit score.
How to apply for Credit Check?
Go to Backy Check website at backycheck.com/background-check-services
- Select the check you want. You can also bundle with other checks you may want, as police check
- Pay, and you will receive a link. Where you can complete online the request by verifying your identity online, and upload your documets.
- You will then receive your credit check.
What documents do you need to apply for your credit report?
- ONE (1) document from Group A, and
- TWO (2) document from Group B
At least ONE (1) document, from any Group, must be a PHOTOID type.
Group A
Group B
- Australian marriage certificate
- Australian Mortgage Document (current address)
- Bank or credit card statement with current address
- Centrelink card
- Credit or debit card issued by a FI in Australia
- Department of Veterans Affairs card issued by DVA
- Medicare card
- Property lease agreement
- Property rates notice
- Taxation Assessment Notice
- Utility bills (e.g. phone, electricity or gas)
How do I check if I have bad credit?
You can check your credit report and credit score through us and keep monitoring it. We use Experian as serice provider. An Experian Credit Score represents its view of how a credit provider may see the information on your Experian Credit Report. Your Experian Credit Score is a number between 0 and 1,000. The higher your score, the healthier your report is.
Your Experian Credit Score can be useful guide. It gives you an idea of how credit providers may view your Experian Credit Report and the information contained in it when assessing your application for credit. Remember, your Experian Credit Report is only a portion of what is considered in assessing your credit application.
Your credit score isn’t set in stone. Therefore, it can goes up or down. It is important to monitor it and know how it is calculated.
| Excellent | 800-1,000 | Indicates an excellent credit score and is well above the average | |
| Very good | 700-799 | Indicates a very good credit score and is above the average | |
| Good | 625-699 | Indicates a good credit score and is in the average | |
| Fair | 550-624 | Indicates a fair credit score | |
| Below average | 0-549 | Indicates a below average credit score and is likely to be considered a poor credit score by credit providers |
How is Credit Score calculated?
We use as service provider Experian. And they calculate their credit score by applying a statistical algorithm that uses past events to predict future behaviour. Each credit bureau uses a slightly different algorithm and does not disclose in detail how this is calculated.
There are however key attributes that are used to generate your credit score such as the type of credit provider who have made enquiries on your report, the type of product you have applied for, your repayment history, the credit limit of each of your credit products and number of credit enquiries, the number of credit enquiries and any negative events.
What could have a negative impact on my credit score?
There are a few things that could have a negative impact on your Experian Credit Score:
- Large number of credit applications in a short space of time
- Open accounts with debt collection agencies
- Short term credit (e.g. pay day lenders)
- Defaults
- Missed payments
- Bankruptcy actions
- Court judgements
What information is not factored into my credit score?
A credit bureau must not include on your credit report any personal information recording your:
- Political, social or religious beliefs or affiliations
- Criminal record
- Medical history or physical handicap
- Race, ethnic origins or national origins
- Sexual preference or practices
- Lifestyle, character or reputation
- Bank balances
- Dependants
Does ordering a credit report affect my credit score?
No, checking your report does not affect your credit score.
Checking your credit report regurarly it is actually a good way to ensure your information is accurate, and may help detect potential identity theft.
Requesting a credit report or check your credit score is considered a “soft enquiry”. Soft enquiries do not affect credit scores and are not visible to potential lenders that may access your credit report.
Requesting a loan or a credit card is considered a “hard enquiry”. Hard enquiries do affect credit scores. However, if you make multiple hard enquiries because you are shopping around to borrow a large amount of money, for example to buy a property, this will be considered as one hard enquiry, usually if they are made between 14 and 45 days. So, only one enquiry will affect your credit score.
How often does my Credit Score change?
Your score may change, increase or decrease, over time for several reasons including but not limited to:
| New information reported to Experian | This could be additional information from existing financial institutions and or / new financial institutions that begin supplying information to Experian. |
| Old information has dropped off your file | Experian can only hold credit information for prescribed periods of time and once that time is up, the information is automatically removed from your file. |
| The information on your file ages | The age of a piece of information may impact your score. So, you may not see any change to the data on your file but see a shift, a decrease or increase, in your score. |
| Periodically Experian will update the algorithm used to calculate credit scores | As the data reported to credit bureaus changes, we occasionally need to fine tune the algorithm to ensure it continues to be relevant. |
A score may go up or down because of new information, but this is not always the case. For instance, if you already have a very low credit score, a new default may not lower your score any further; similarly, if you already have a very high credit score, continuing to make your payments on time may not always increase your score.
How do I improve my credit score?
The higher your credit score the healthier your credit file. This is because a high score indicates you have a history of managing your credit sensibly and making repayments on time. It pays to proactively manage the health of your credit score.
When you apply for credit, the credit providers will use your credit score to help them decide whether to lend to you. Each credit provider may have a different approach depending on the information they have access to and their lending criteria. The higher your credit score, the better your chances of getting approved for credit so it’s smart to look after it.
Visit our tips section on how to improve your credit score by clicking here.
How long does it take to improve my credit score?
The length of time it takes to improve your credit score depends on a number of things such as the number of missed repayments, how recently this happened and the type of product you missed repayments on. It’s important to note that you won’t see an improvement overnight, it’s something that takes time which is why it’s really important to keep your credit score healthy.
Reference Check FAQ
How do I run a Reference Check with Backy Check?
Contact us and we will happily take you through how Backy Check can support your business with Reference Checks by integrating these checks with your existing processes.
How long does a Reference Check take?
The length of time will depend on how the check is performed and the level of check needed based on company requirements and job role.
If it is done over the phone, a single reference check should take around 15 to 25 minutes. If the reference check is automated, it can take as quick as 30 seconds for an employer to request a reference. Once we have the responses, our team usually take one day to process those and provide you with a report.
If the reference check is automated, can take 30 seconds for an employer to request a reference. And once we have the responses we can take 1 day to process those and provide the report to the employer.
What is asked in a Reference Check?
Reference checks are agreed by the hiring company and are there to confirm that candidates have been honest on their job application and with interview responses. Reference checks questions can relate to job titles, salary, employment dates etc. Some examples include:
- When the applicant worked for your company.
- Why an applicant left a company.
- Whether an applicant was often late, or missed a lot of working days.
- Whether an applicant preferred to work alone or in a team.
- What an applicant’s biggest achievement was while working for a company.
- Whether a former employer would rehire an applicant if the opportunity arose, and why.
- How an applicant handled working under pressure.
- What an applicant’s role was while working in a company.
- Whether an applicant would be a good fit in a new position and why.
Online identity check FAQ
How to check if someone is using my identity?
If you suspect someone is using your identity it is usually because you can see something like the below
- Bills which are in your bank statement and they should not be there
- You got a credit request refused
- Your credit score is low with no particular reason
- You receive mail or email that are unexpected. For example items that you didn’t purchase
- You don’t receive mails that should come, as bills or checks
To check if someone is using your identity, you can
- Order a credit report. Your credit report contains a lot of information about your credit history where you can find for example if someone opened a bank account in your name, or opened a credit line on your name, if your address information are correct and much more. Check it here.
- Check your online identity has not been used online for frauds globally through. Check it here.
If you suspect your identity has been used some of the things you can do quickly are:
- Call your bank, block your card, and tell them you suspect your identity has been stolen.
- Report it to the police. Click here
- Change your passwords, as social media profiles and bank accounts.
- Report it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ so they can create a scam alert for the community.
- Contact IDCARE , which is a free service which helps you your identity theft issue. https://www.idcare.org/
What is an online identity verification?
How can I check someone's online identity or mine?
- Select the online identity check. You can also bundle with other checks you may want, as a credit check.
- Complete your purchase, and you will receive a link where you can complete online the request.
- You will then receive your online identity check.
Security and privacy FAQ
How secure is Backy Check portal?
We continue to invest more than what our obligations are to keep your data protected. We have invested particularly in this aspect to have the top security service.
On top of our compliance obligations, our own security experience, we also follow Microsoft top recommendations on infrastructure and security, maintaining multiple layers of security for our website, portal, data storage, management, encryption technology and development best practice.
What information does Backy Check store and for how long?
We only store information required to process your checks and what we need to keep by law.
| Information type | Data collected | Disposal |
|---|---|---|
| Information we need to keep by law | Police checks application unique details, ID documents and report results. | We need to keep this by law and it will be automatically deleted once our obligation are met. For more details about the retention and our policy please visit https://backycheck.com.au/terms-and-conditions.html and https://backycheck.com.au/terms-and-conditions.html#onlineNationalPoliceHistoryChecks at point 12.15 Retention and disposal policy. |
| Information we keep for your best experience using our product | Full name, email, addresses, DOB, phones, education and employment records. | All these information we keep to give you the best experience possible if you come back and use our services again. You can require to dispose this information by writing us at support@backycheck.com.au |
| Cookies | Cookies are anonymous datasets we use to track user behavior on the website and improve user experience. A cookie is a string of letters and numbers that uniquely identify the computer you are using. This enables the website to track the pages visited. Cookies are not connected personally to you and your identity. It is a common tool used by the majority of the websites to track users behavior on the website to improve the website user experience. | Most browsers can be configured to refuse to accept cookies. You can also delete cookies from your hard drive. However, doing so may hinder your access to valuable areas of information within our site. For more information please visit our privacy policy page https://backycheck.com.au/privacy-policy.html. |
| Marketing opted-in | Some of the data may be email, phone number, full name, preferences of marketing material you have asked to receive. | We never ask you to subscribe automatically to our marketing databases to access to our services. We never automatically opt-in or check for you the opt-in button to subscribe to our marketing material. We believe in our services and we prefer having an engaged relation with our users than a forced one. We use a double opt in marketing consent. And here how it works 1 – You request to receive marketing communication. 2 – We send an email in which you are required to confirm you want to subscribe to our marketing communications by clicking a link. Only after that you are subscribed. You can always unsubscribe from our marketing databases following the instructions from our marketing materials as emails or SMS, or by writing us at support@backycheck.com.au |
What security features Backy Check has?
- Data encryption and data retention implementation.
- Security Roles and Access Controls.
- Security Policies.
- Ongoing Security Monitoring.
- Incident automatic response.
- Continuous training and compliance review.
- Continuous improvements to the software and technology upgrades.
- Latest technology used on the development of our portal.