September 8, 2024

BeenVerified Review

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BeenVerified is an all-in-one people search tool that provides background reports for a fee. But is it accurate? Read on to learn more.

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

Pros and Cons

  • Multiple search types
  • Large database
  • Live weekend support
  • Limited reports
  • Auto-renewal

Bottom Line

All-in-one background check with advanced features

Imagine wanting to check up on someone, whether it be a new roommate or a date you met online. BeenVerified can help you by offering a lot of information about an individual using their name, phone number, or email.

This article will explore BeenVerified's features, explain how it works, and help you decide if it's right for you.

What Is BeenVerified?

BeenVerified is a paid people search engine that offers background checks you can access in just a few clicks. It has information on around 200 million people in the US.

Fun fact: BeenVerified made a cameo appearance on an MTV show called "Catfish," where it was used to look up a certain phone number belonging to a person (who is part of the show).

It works by aggregating public data from multiple sources and presenting them in easy-to-read reports.

Many of these sources are government agencies, county clerk's offices, and civil court filings. In addition to official records, they include information provided to credit card and utility companies on warranty agreements, questionnaires, etc.

With billions of records in their network, you're likely to get more info than you initially bargained for. Running simple searches could give you additional data like bankruptcies and traffic records.

Conversely, a search on BeenVerified may also produce less information or none at all. However, you'll only know after paying for a trial or membership. So even if you get a zero result, the system will still prompt you to unlock a full report, which can be quite deceiving.

Who It's Best For

You should consider this tool if you want to:

  • Learn potential red flags about someone you met online.
  • Find current contact information for a high school friend, a former neighbor, or even an ex.
  • Run a background check on yourself before a big meeting.
  • Review the reputation of the owner of a vacation property.
  • Protect yourself against a possible scam.

Can people see if you look them up on BeenVerified?
Anyone you search on BeenVerified will not be notified. Likewise, you won't be notified if someone decides to search you. Additionally, your search history is only viewable when you log into the platform, and access to this is limited to yourself.

How do you primarily intend to use a background checking service?

Who Should Skip It?

BeenVerified shouldn't be used for tenant screening, employee hiring, and credit checking. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), only consumer reporting agencies are authorized for that purpose.[1]

In addition, you must avoid using BeenVerified for the following:

  • Vet a person in connection with a nonprofit.
  • Check educational qualifications.
  • Stalk, threaten, or doxx people.
  • Steal someone's identity.
  • Review a customer account.

Is BeenVerified Worth It?

BeenVerified is a great choice for anyone who needs easy and affordable access to public record information in a timely manner.

Additionally, leveraging its comprehensive database and multiple-search-type capabilities in one membership plan gives you more bang for your back.

Very few people search websites offer reverse vehicle identification number (VIN) lookups and unclaimed money check services. BeenVerified also has multiple customer channels, giving you extra confidence in its services.

Its user-friendly interface also makes searching a breeze. Retrieval times don't take long.

In addition, your purchase comes with a satisfaction guarantee. However, depending on the circumstances, your refund may not be issued.

How accurate is the information on BeenVerified?
Given that records are extracted from legitimate and reputable databases, you can expect a high degree of accuracy on your BeenVerified results. Nonetheless, it's still possible to get specific information that's completely wrong, or perhaps no information at all, since how often their sources update their records may differ.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Multiple search options
  • VIN check
  • Trial offer
  • Easy to use
  • Extensive database
  • Different customer channels
  • Live support on weekends
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • Report monitoring for up to 10 reports at a time
  • Free search using Names Directory

Cons:

  • Possible accuracy issues
  • Limited number of reports
  • Auto-renewal feature
  • No record confirmation

Is BeenVerified a reliable source?
BeenVerified generates fairly reliable reports since most of its data comes from legit public websites. Although it continuously strives to improve accuracy of its results, it can only work with the data provided to them, which may not be updated as frequently as it should. Thus, recent changes in address or status, for example, may not reflect right away.

Have you ever encountered inaccurate information from an online background check service?

BeenVerified's Services

BeenVerified offers various tools for people searching and obtaining information on properties and motor vehicles. Here's a list of their services:

People search
By typing in the name of any person who lives in the US, you can get a full report on their contact details and other relevant information.

Reverse phone
Unsure whether to answer an unknown caller or roll them over to your voicemail? Find out who's behind it by searching for the number's owner using a reverse phone lookup.

Email lookup
Perform a reverse email lookup to discover the name and social media profiles associated with an email address.

Address lookup
Look up the owner of a property using an address and see the people who live there.

Username search
Unmask internet trolls and avoid being catfished at online dating sites using social media handles as data points.

Unclaimed money
Also called unclaimed property, you can check if you have an uncollected tax refund, an abandoned checking account balance, or a forgotten security deposit on a utility bill.

Vehicle lookup
If you're buying or selling a used car, it's a good idea to run a VIN search to see the type of information it might reveal.

Obituaries search
Search for a name and honor the memory of loved ones by discovering cherished details, addresses, and more.

How does BeenVerified get their information?
BeenVerified collects public records through official government records such as mortgage deeds and court records, and through other sources such as magazine subscriptions, warranty cards, and utility bills. It is BeenVerified's mission to present this data to the user in one organized and digestible report.

What Information Does BeenVerified Provide?

BeenVerified can give you details and info on a person's:

  • Full name
  • Age
  • Current and past addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Photos
  • Social media profiles
  • Possible relatives
  • Possible associates
  • Criminal and traffic records
  • Bankruptcies
  • Education

Looking up an address could give you data like:

  • Details about the property, including square footage, how many rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms it has, lot size, and the year it was built.
  • Home value and sales history, including mortgage data and property tax assessments.
  • Neighborhood information, such as census figures about population, demographics, and average income, as well as the possible locations of nearby registered sex offenders.

Performing a VIN check can show details like:

  • Any involvement of the vehicle in an accident and the extent of its damage.
  • Listing in a salvage auction or a stolen vehicle report.
  • A comprehensive list of standard equipment.
  • Sales listing history, including price and images of the vehicle.
  • Current market value based on comparable vehicle sales.
  • Estimated ownership costs over the next 5 years.

A VIN check will not reveal the vehicle's owner. According to the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1993 (DPPA), it prohibits all states from sharing personal info of the vehicle's owner that comes from their motor vehicle records, with only a few exceptions.[2]

Is BeenVerified Legit?

BeenVerified is a legit background check service provider that helps you locate people and get additional information about them.

It has been around since 2007 and is part of Lifetime Value Co., a tech company that has a portfolio of brands in the background check space.

BeenVerified, in particular, boasts over 1.5 million subscribers.[3]

Is it legal to use BeenVerified?
It is legal to access BeenVerified search services for personal reasons like locating individuals or satisfying one's curiosity. That said, you should not use it to screen applicants for credit, jobs, or rental property.

How Much Does BeenVerified Cost?

A BeenVerified membership, which unlocks up to 100 full reports a month, costs $36.89 monthly.[4] It also comes with a 3-month option for $71.94 ($23.98 per month).

The monthly plan lets you search using different data inputs, such as name, phone number, email address, physical address, or social media handle. You can also perform a VIN check, obituary search, and unclaimed money search without extra charges.

Alternatively, you may get a 7-day trial offer for $1 that auto-renews to a full monthly price—unless you cancel it before it ends.

A trial may include a $5 option if you run a reverse phone or email search. However, it includes downloading PDFs of your reports during the trial period.

One thing to note is that the monthly membership fee may vary, especially if you choose a 7-day trial, which can be confusing.

For example, if you pay the trial fee ($1 or $5 after running a reverse phone lookup), you're advised that you'll be charged a membership price of $32.89 following your trial period.

It might be a good idea to pay for the free trial first to get a lower membership fee altogether.

You need to pay for your report regardless of whether your search subject has a criminal record or no record at all. BeenVerified charges you for searching publicly available information to confirm this for you once you choose to view it.

Is BeenVerified a Secure Site?

BeenVerified employs reasonable security measures to prevent data misuse, accidental leaks, and online hacks.

Their site has a verified SSL certification that maintains safe connections. This is especially important when encoding your credit card details. However, they don't say which particular encryption method they use.

In any case, it's always wise to remain vigilant and proactive to emerging threats when accessing your account.

Does BeenVerified Have an App?

App Store4.6/5 stars; 18,500+ ratings
Google Play Store3.6/5 stars; 17,900+ ratings

BeenVerified's app is available on iOS and Android phones. For iPhones, you'll need at least 14.0 iOS software. You can also download the app on your iPad, Mac, Chromebook, and Android tablet devices.

The user interface is easy to navigate, with a clear presentation of tools you can use on the go. However, some users have complained about having unresolved errors in the app. Others encounter difficulty in canceling their account, resulting in recurring charges that they end up disputing.

Is it possible to get text message transcripts from BeenVerified?
BeenVerified does not provide reports with text messages. But you can find out who owns an unknown phone number from which you're getting messages. It could also provide other relevant information.

BeenVerified Customer Reviews

Trustpilot3.3/5 stars; 2,000+ reviews
Sitejabber2.5/5 stars; 300+ reviews
ConsumerAffairs4.3/5 stars; 620+ reviews

User feedback for BeenVerified is generally positive. However, while several customers are completely satisfied with their services, others complain about not being able to get the information they expect when they run a search.

I wanted to briefly share a success story with you because your service was an integral part of how I was reconnected with my half-brother and half-sisters recently. I am 45 years old currently, and have never met my biological father since he left my mother shortly after she had me. For years, I have always wondered why and wondered where he could be living.. - Michael, 5/5 stars on ConsumerAffairs

This is the typical fraudulent company that charges $1 for one document but then starts charging almost $30 memberships hidden in small letter. It is so bad, that the very first option that it offers when calling "customer center" is to cancel the account. - Oscar, 1/5 stars on Trustpilot

There are also customers who aren't aware of the auto-renewal features. However, this downside can easily be avoided based on BeenVerified's simple cancellation procedure.

In any case, make sure to get confirmation from their customer care team for your peace of mind.

Is it hard to cancel BeenVerified?
You can cancel your BeenVerified membership easily. Simply log into your account, click Contact Us, and select Cancel My Account. Alternatively, you can send them your cancelation request by phone, email, chat, or contact form on the website by providing your 9-digit BeenVerified membership ID.

BeenVerified Customer Service

BeenVerified has dedicated customer support that's available for longer operating hours and on weekends. You can call their toll-free number at 1-844-823-2869 or chat with them from 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM (EST) every day of the week.

If you need further assistance or have additional questions, here's the rest of their contact information:

  • Fax: (212) 813-3276
  • Email: support@beenverified.com
  • Mail: MSC - 149098, P.O. Box 105168, Atlanta, GA 30348-5168

They also have a contact form and an FAQ page that covers basic info and quick instructions to maximize your use of their services.

How do I remove my information from BeenVerified?
You can delete your own details from BeenVerified online at no extra cost. But first, you need to verify if your record exists by looking up yourself here. Select your record from the list and click Proceed to Opt-Out. You must provide an email address where a verification email will be sent to complete the process.

How to Get Started With BeenVerified

Ready to give BeenVerified a whirl? Follow these three easy steps:

  1. Choose your search type.
    To begin a name search, input the person's first and last name without their middle initial. You can also provide the city and state to narrow the search results.

  2. Pay for a trial or membership plan.
    Once it's done searching, you'll need to provide your name and email address. You can pay through credit card, PayPal, and Google Pay.

  3. View your full report.
    Your results are then presented in one comprehensive report. This will include a lot of helpful information, as well as possibly surprising details about the individual.

Try running a search on yourself first. This will help you gauge the tool's capability to provide accurate information.

BeenVerified Alternatives

Given its versatility, BeenVerified is a solid people search website. However, other people search engines may be better for your needs. Two of them might be TruthFinder and Spokeo.

Here are a few things you might want to look for in background check providers:
  • Does its features match your purpose?
  • How many reports does a membership plan have?
  • Is the cost reasonable?
  • Where does it get its data?
  • How can you reach its customer support?
  • Is it easy to cancel your membership?

BeenVerified vs. TruthFinder
TruthFinder would be a better option if you don't want limits on how many searches you can make. It even offers dark web monitoring, which isn't available on BeenVerified.

For an additional fee, you can also monitor new information in as many TruthFinder reports as you want to keep them updated.

Unlike BeenVerified, TruthFinder's People Search plan only includes person and location reports. If you use a phone number as a data point, you need to subscribe to a separate Reverse Phone Lookup plan.

BeenVerified vs. Spokeo
You may choose Spokeo over BeenVerified for one-offs. This way you avoid being potentially auto-renewed to a monthly subscription when you're paying per report.

If you're happy with getting basic contact information on your searches, Spokeo's membership is much cheaper than BeenVerified's.

Bottom Line

BeenVerified is an excellent tool for running background checks on people. It's versatile and provides a wealth of information about your searches.

However, unlike other people search websites, not all the requested information is 100% accurate and updated.

You must never rely on it for official purposes like tenant screenings, employment, or credit assessments. Instead, use it ethically and responsibly.

How reliable do you find online background check services?

References

  1. ^ Federal Trade Commission. Fair Credit Reporting Act, Retrieved 06/03/2024
  2. ^ Congress.gov. H.R.3365 - Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1993, Retrieved 06/03/2024
  3. ^ BeenVerified. About BeenVerified, Retrieved 06/04/2024
  4. ^ BeenVerified. Value Plan, Retrieved 07/20/2024

Write to Penny Besana at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

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Compare:

How do you primarily intend to use a background checking service?
40% Reconnect with old friends or family
13% Background checks on employees or tenants
7% Online dating safety checks
13% Verify information about new acquaintances
27% General curiosity or other reasons
Source: CreditDonkey
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