EBI's own background screening library.

With the resources EBI has at its disposal for background screening, drug testing, and human resources management, we felt it was time to offer a consolidated location for accessing many of our best public research materials, hence EBI's background screening online library was born.

You'll also find a complete archive of our EBI Advisor, our periodic newsletter on the background screening industry located here.

You're welcome to use and quote any of these resources, in whole or part, as long as you offer complete attribution to this page and our site.

Current topic: Background Screening When Checking Up on Clients is a Good Idea Considering that over 30% of all business failures are the result of negligent hiring, and that embezzlement alone costs companies $4 billion a year, experienced recruiters know that background screening is par for the course when hiring new workers. Interestingly, a new trend can now be seen in small businesses that are starting to perform background checks on their clients. This is because companies that do business on credit often find themselves struggling to survive when their clients don't pay the bills. Small businesses or new companies without large operating funds are more likely to feel the strain when invoices go unpaid. The article "Dealing With Deadbeat Customers" on Forbes.com describes how conducting background checks on prospective customers may be a good idea. Gini Dietrich, for example, owner of public relations firm Arment Dietrich, nearly went broke "playing bank" for her clients. One client agreed to pay a $3,000 monthly retainer and landed several newspaper, magazine, and television spots--but 60 days passed, and the client didn't pay until pressure was applied by Dietrich. The client stayed with Dietrich, but didn't pay a cent for another three months. Dietrich again applied pressure, and this time the client professed to be able to pay only $500 per month--which was never paid. The case went to court, but the client never showed up. Unfortunately, situations like these are all too common, but there are things companies can do to lower the risk of nonpaying clients. One thing companies can do to protect themselves is to perform a basic background check on prospective customers. If lending money, create a credit agreement that clearly outlines the terms and provisions. A credit check is a good idea, but you may need the customer's consent since the rules vary from state to state. But it's worth looking into because a credit history can provide you with useful information about outstanding debts and late payments. Importantly, just because a customer has a bad credit history doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't do business with them. Instead, you may want to consider doing business on a cash-on-deposit basis. For big projects, require a down payment, maybe 20% to 50%, and collect the balance when the work is completed. Just remember to act quickly at the first sign of trouble by making a friendly visit or polite phone call. If the customer seems unwilling to pay, try to figure out what's really going on and how bad the situation really is--it could just be a billing error. Unfortunately, if a bill goes unpaid for 60 days, it could mean that the debtor has little intention to pay. After 90 days, consider calling a collection agency. You'll pay a fee, but it may be well worth the amount of time and expertise it takes to procure payment from a true deadbeat. Call EBI to discuss a background screening program to suit your company's needs. Our comprehensive screening programs can help ensure you're hiring qualified candidates and avoiding less desirable ones. Criminal records searches. Random drug testing. Reference checks. Everything for a comprehensive picture of your prospective employees. Call us at 800.324.7700 for details.

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