Criminal Background Checks · No. 08
Criminal Background Checks in New York City
Pre employment, pre marital, and pre business background investigations by licensed New York investigators. Far beyond what online services give.
Pre employment, pre marital, and pre business background investigations by licensed New York investigators. Far beyond what online services give.
There's a real difference between a $30 online background check and what a licensed investigator does. Online services run automated database queries against records that may be incomplete, outdated, or simply wrong. A licensed investigator's background check is verified, sourced, and built for situations where the answer actually matters. Pre employment for sensitive positions, pre marital due diligence on a new partner, pre business investigation of a prospective partner or acquisition target.
For positions where trust is the whole job. Bookkeeper, executive assistant, in home caregiver, financial services hire. Automated background checks miss exactly the things that matter most. Our pre employment investigations include verified court record checks, employment history verification, education and credential verification, social media analysis, and where appropriate, civil litigation history that shows up nowhere in criminal records.
More common than people might expect: due diligence on a new partner before marriage, blending families, or merging finances. Especially common for wealthy clients and clients whose partner came into their life under circumstances that don't fully add up. These cases need enormous discretion. Most clients never want the partner to know an investigation happened.
Before going into business with someone, before acquiring a company, before extending major credit. A real background investigation can identify lawsuits, judgments, bankruptcies, prior business failures, and concerning patterns that don't appear in any consumer grade report. For deal related work we coordinate with counsel and operate within their disclosure framework.
There are limits to what's legal under federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and New York state law. We follow those limits strictly. A reputable PI tells you upfront what cannot be got legally, rather than promising results that violate the law and expose you to liability.
Background checks are normally a flat fee per check, priced by how deep you need to go. From a single jurisdiction criminal search to a full nationwide profile with verifications.
The main things that move the fee:
A basic single jurisdiction check is a modest flat fee; a comprehensive nationwide or executive level check, with verifications and civil and financial records, costs more. Every case is quoted individually. The initial consultation with David is free and confidential, and you’ll get a written estimate before any work begins, with no obligation.
Straight answers to what clients ask most. If yours isn't here, call David directly for a free, confidential consultation.
Far more than a database printout: verified identity, criminal and court record research, civil litigation history, address history, business affiliations, professional licensing, and reputation work. A licensed investigator confirms the findings rather than handing you raw, unverified data.
Cheap online reports are notorious for false matches, outdated records, and mixing up people with similar names. We verify identity first and confirm records at the source, so you get accurate details you can actually rely on for a hiring, business, or personal decision.
To vet a romantic partner met online, a prospective business partner, a tenant, a caregiver, or a contractor before trusting them with money, your home, or your family. Knowing who you are dealing with prevents most problems before they start.
Yes, when done for a lawful purpose using lawful sources. Employment screening carries extra rules under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and New York law. We conduct that work in compliance, and we will tell you if a request falls outside what is permitted.
A standard report is often ready within a few business days. Deeper investigations involving court file retrieval, interviews, or out of state records take longer. We give you a timeline up front based on what you need.
A background check is usually a flat fee priced by depth. A basic single jurisdiction criminal search is a modest fee; a comprehensive nationwide or executive level check with verifications and civil and financial records costs more. We will tell you exactly what each level includes and what it costs before you order it.
New to working with an investigator? See how we work, our confidentiality standards, or why a licensed PI matters.
From the field: Licensed investigators vs online background checks · The benefits of pre-employment background checks.
New York Intelligence Agency works across all five boroughs and the surrounding metro. Understanding the population we serve. Its scale, density, and makeup. Informs how we plan surveillance, locate people, and build cases in the city.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (New York City).