Public Records Database – 2 Must-Have Elements

Public Records Database – 2 Must-Have Elements

The most useful tool to any good private investigator is by far his computer. The close second is our subscriptions to public records databases.  As a Private Investigator I have used almost every database out there and I have seen the good the bad and the ugly. These tools can make the difference between a few hours and a few days in your investigation. This article will explain the two major elements that every good public records database must have. This is an effort to stop anyone who reads this from getting ripped off by the companies out there selling overpriced subscriptions to very poor databases.

The most important thing to look for is by far a money back guarantee. Would you buy a pair of jeans or a new shirt without the option to return it? Most people wont and a public records database should be no different. This is also a good indication of a reputable company because they know they will be providing a product that you should be happy with.  Most of these companies know that if you are conducting a background check or you are looking for criminal records that if you keep getting a no results message you will not want to pay for their service. The companies that do not offer a guarantee often have such limited databases they you will never find any useful information. Once they have your money they don’t care about your results.

The other very important element to look for is some kind of preliminary results. Most good records databases will offer an initial search telling you what records they have available. This allows you to make a more informed decision when purchasing a subscription.  Most limited databases will not offer this because they do not want you to see that you will not get any results until after you have paid them.

The good public records databases do a lot of hard work to keep their data up to date and far reaching. There is a need to constantly update databases as new information becomes available. They also work very hard to make the search process as easy and streamlined as possible. This is where the money we pay for the service goes. When selecting a public records database keep the above mentioned elements in mind and if you find a site that does not have them, hit the back button as fast as possible.