Privacy Policy
This policy explains what USAbackground.com collects, why we collect it, who we share it with, and the choices you control.
- We never sell your personal information
- TLS encryption and PCI DSS compliance
- Privacy requests honored in every state
The short version
Here is this policy in four boxes. Every point below links to the full detail further down the page.
What we collect
Contact details, account credentials, order and billing records, and how you use this website.
Why we collect it
To deliver the screening services you order, process payments, support your account, and improve this site.
Who receives it
Vetted service providers that work on our behalf. We do not sell, rent, or trade your information.
What you control
Access, correction, deletion, marketing opt-outs, and your tracking preferences on this site.
1. Who and what this policy covers
BCS Background Screening LLC (“BCS,” “we,” “us”) operates the website at usabackground.com (the “Site”). This policy applies to visitors, prospective clients, and registered client users of this public Site. It does not apply to our secure client portal at mvp.usabackground.com. That portal carries its own privacy policy, available to registered users after sign-in.
Important: background check subjects are covered by the FCRA, not by this policy
When an employer, landlord, or other client orders a report, BCS acts as a consumer reporting agency. Consequently, the information in that report is governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and by our agreement with the client who ordered it. State privacy laws specifically exempt data that the FCRA regulates, so the rights in Section 9 below do not replace your FCRA rights. Instead, if a report was run about you, you may request a copy of your file and dispute anything inaccurate. Section 9 explains how.
2. Information we collect
We collect only what we need to run this Site and deliver the services our clients order. You can browse most of this Site anonymously. Moreover, you may decline to provide information at any time, although that may limit what you can do here.
| Category | Examples | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | Name, email address, mailing address, phone number, account username | You, when you register, order, or contact us |
| Commercial records | Services ordered, order history, invoices, support tickets | Generated as you use your account |
| Payment information | Billing name and address, card type, last four digits | You, through our PCI DSS compliant payment processor |
| Professional information | Company name, job title, business address, industry | You, when you open a business account |
| Site activity | Pages viewed, referring page, clicks, scroll depth, session recordings | Automatically, through the tools listed in Section 5 |
| Device and connection data | Browser name and version, operating system, device type, IP address, internet service provider | Automatically, when your browser requests a page |
We do not buy personal information from data brokers to build marketing lists.
3. Identifiers and sensitive data
To run a search, a client submits identifiers about the person being screened. These identifiers typically include full name, date of birth, address history, and Social Security number. We treat that data with the strictest handling rules we apply to anything:
- It travels to us over an encrypted connection, never by plain email.
- Access is limited to authorized staff who need it to complete the search.
- We use it only to perform the searches the client ordered.
- We never sell it, rent it, or trade it.
- We never use it for advertising, ad targeting, or marketing profiles.
Additionally, we share only the minimum identifiers a court, agency, or verified data source requires to return a result.
4. How we use information
We use the information described above for the following purposes:
- Deliver services. We process the searches and reports our clients order.
- Operate your account. We create logins, authenticate users, and maintain order history.
- Process payments. We bill for services and keep the records tax law requires.
- Provide support. We answer questions, resolve disputes, and troubleshoot problems.
- Improve the Site. We study aggregate usage to fix confusing pages and speed up slow ones.
- Send service messages. We email order confirmations, status updates, and account notices.
- Send marketing, if you opt in. We send company news and service updates only to subscribers.
- Protect the Site. We detect fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
- Meet legal obligations. We comply with the FCRA, state law, tax rules, and lawful requests.
Every marketing email carries an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Alternatively, you can email us and we will remove you.
5. Cookies and tracking technologies
Cookies are small files your browser stores so a site can remember you between pages and visits. We use them, along with tags and similar technologies, for the specific purposes below.
| Technology | Provider | What it does | Your control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential cookies | BCS / WordPress | Keeps you signed in, secures forms, and remembers session state | Required for the Site to work |
| Performance caching | BCS | Serves pages faster and lowers data use | Required for the Site to work |
| Google Analytics via Google Tag Manager | Google LLC | Counts visits and measures which pages perform well | Install the Google Analytics opt-out add-on |
| Microsoft Clarity | Microsoft Corporation | Builds heatmaps and session replays so we can find usability problems | See the Microsoft Privacy Statement |
| Microsoft Advertising | Microsoft Corporation | Measures how well our ads bring people to the Site | Use the Microsoft ad settings |
What session recordings do and do not capture
Microsoft Clarity masks text typed into form fields by default. As a result, identifiers, passwords, and payment details are not captured in recordings. Recordings show mouse movement, clicks, and scrolling so we can see where a page confuses people.
Turning cookies off
Every major browser lets you block or delete cookies in its settings menu. However, blocking essential cookies will stop parts of this Site from working correctly.
7. How we protect information
We apply administrative, technical, and physical safeguards suited to the sensitivity of the data.
Encryption
Data moves between you and the Site over a TLS-secured channel. Sensitive fields are encrypted and protected with digital signatures.
Payment security
Our environment is maintained in line with PCI DSS vulnerability standards, and card data is handled by a compliant processor.
Account protection
Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) is available on every user account. We strongly recommend enabling it.
Access controls
Staff receive the least access their role requires, and every account is screened and bound by confidentiality terms.
Industry standards
BCS is a member of the Professional Background Screening Association and follows its accreditation standards.
Breach notification
If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you and the authorities that the Florida Information Protection Act requires.
No website or transmission method is completely secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security, and we continually review our controls.
8. How long we keep information
We keep information only as long as the purpose that justified collecting it, or the law, requires.
| Type of record | Retention period |
|---|---|
| Completed reports in a client account | Stored indefinitely by default. Clients may set their own policy for how many years of report history is kept. |
| Account and contact records | For the life of the account, plus any period the FCRA or state law requires |
| Billing and tax records | As long as tax and accounting rules require |
| Marketing subscriptions | Until you unsubscribe, plus a suppression record so we do not email you again |
| Analytics and session data | Per the provider’s retention setting, then deleted or de-identified |
When a retention period ends, we delete the record or strip it of anything that identifies a person.
9. Your privacy rights and choices
We extend the rights below to everyone who uses this Site, whatever state you live in.
Know and access
Ask what personal information we hold about you and get a copy of it.
Correct
Ask us to fix information that is inaccurate or out of date.
Delete
Ask us to erase information we no longer need to keep by law or contract.
Take it with you
Receive your information in a portable, machine-readable format.
Opt out
Stop marketing email at any time, and tell us not to sell or share your data.
No retaliation
Exercise any right above and we will not deny you service or change your price.
How to submit a request
- Email support@usabackground.com with “Privacy Request” in the subject line.
- Call (800) 661-0278, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern.
- Write to BCS Background Screening, LLC, 1172 South Dixie Hwy #257, Coral Gables, FL 33146.
What happens next
- We verify your identity first, using information that matches our records.
- An authorized agent may act for you with your written permission.
- We confirm receipt within 10 business days and respond within 45 days.
- If a request is complex, we may extend once by 45 days and tell you why.
- If we decline, you may appeal by replying to our decision, and we will explain how to reach your state attorney general.
If your request is about a background check report
The FCRA governs those reports, so a different and stronger process applies. Under FCRA section 609, you may request a full disclosure of the file we maintain on you. Under FCRA section 611, you may dispute any item you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
We investigate disputes and respond within 30 days, and we correct or delete anything we cannot verify.
Start either request by calling (800) 661-0278 or emailing support@usabackground.com.
10. Children’s privacy
This Site serves businesses and is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through this Site. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
11. Do Not Track and opt-out signals
Browsers send Do Not Track signals in different ways, and no common standard defines what a site must do. For that reason, this Site does not respond to Do Not Track headers. We recognize the Global Privacy Control signal instead. Because we do not sell or share personal information for advertising, that signal currently has nothing to act on. Nevertheless, we will honor it if our practices ever change.
12. Third-party links
This Site links to other organizations, including courts, agencies, and industry bodies. Those sites run under their own privacy policies, which we do not control. Consequently, we encourage you to read the policy of any site you visit from here.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as our services, technology, or the law changes. When we do, we revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If a change materially affects how we handle your information, we will email registered users as well. Your continued use of the Site after we post a change means you accept the updated policy. Finally, if you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the Site.
14. How to contact us
Questions about this policy, our practices, or your information? Reach us any of these ways.
1172 South Dixie Hwy #257
Coral Gables, FL 33146
This policy describes our current practices and does not create contractual rights beyond those in your client agreement.