Background Checks

[KE5IUE]

I first apologize if 1. This is not the right board, and 2. I am sure this has been covered somewhere.   My question is this, where can I go, if there is a website, so that I can look at and if I decide to do the Red Cross background check. I have looked high and low, with little luck

Thank you
Stephen

[AC2Q]

Stephen,
Gird Your Loins my Friend =0)

It is an Extremely Invasive Background Check:


ARRL Concerns

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/RC-Background-Checks0610.pdf

Background Check Page

https://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/ArcVts/

KF8ZN

[KC0SHZ]

Not to dig up old wounds, but this has been extensively debated here about 3-4 months ago.  

You might try looking back through the archives of this forum to get an idea of what the threads of the discussion were about then.

From what I recall, their background check was not just criminal, but financial and social.  It seemed too invasive.  The deal breaker beyond that was that the ARC was at least rumored to be hiring outside firms to do the screening and the ARC consent form granted them the right to sell what ever information they got on you.

In my neck of the woods, the ARC is not a big player, and thus most of us don't really give a concern to this.  If what is rumored is indeed true, I would quit EMCOMM before I agreed to do that kind of a clearance.

[AA4PB]

I'd want to know who is doing the background check and who will have access to the data. They may be carrying the data around on their unsecured laptop left in the car. Someone breaks in and takes the laptop and now a criminal has all of your personal information including SSN and bank account numbers. That info should bring a pretty hefty price on the streets.

[KC2MMI]

Stephen, go to the MBC web site and locate their privacy terms. Try to read through them, they're not short or simple.

Then, if you still are interested, look at the terms for what you are giving permission to have checked, and bear in mind that you are now giving blanket permission for all of that, subject to that privacy policy.

Without going any further, I would argue that in this day and age anyone who isn't just dying to be a victim of identity theft or have their information sold willy-nilly should say "No."

I applaude the ARC for responding to the many complaints (i.e. frauds/thefts after Katrina) by doing some background checking. But the way they've done this one REALLY makes you start to wonder.

[KG4RUL]

Berkeley County South Carolina ARES has met with the American Red Cross liaison to determine what would be required.  We have mutually agreed that our County and State issued ID's, which include a criminal background check, are adequate for our members to serve as shelter communicators.  However if, as individuals, we wish to serve as ARC volunteers, we would need to meet their requirements.

Dennis KG4RUL
Berkeley County South Carolina ARES
Information Officer

[KC8VWM]

Relevant:

You want to weed out child molester's, psychopaths, thieves and violent criminals.

Non Relevant:

You want to know who has the best credit scores, mortgage terms, credit card and car payment histories.


...That's just basically how I see it.

73

[K2GW]

Actually, I went through the Red Cross background check back myself in September and it's relatively benign.  As the Red Cross has stated in it's FAQ, unless you are a paid Red Cross employee or a senior volunteer handling large sums of money, they are not asking for nor paying their contractor to do a financial check on you.

Just to prove this, I just went to their contractors site and looked at my own report.  I obviously can only access my own.

They did two checks on me.  One was for the validity of my social security number (which isn't displayed by the way).  That report simply says my record is "Clear".  The other was National Criminal File Search which also says my record is "Clear".

End of report.  If the result of either check was not clear, their contractor would have contacted me (not the Red Cross) via e-mail and give me an opportunity to correct any error.  Negative reports are NOT sent to the Red Cross; they just don't get a clear report to enter you in the Red Cross records as having passed the background checks.

I hope that clears up the reality from all of the speculative hype.

73

Gary Wilson, K2GW
SNJ SEC

[K2GW]

Just for the record, here's the confirming question and answer from the Red Cross's FAQ sheet on Background checks:

Q: The consent and release form references credit reports. Are credit checks included in the background check?

A: The American Red Cross minimum Background Check Standard does not include a credit check. The consent and release form is generic and designed to address all types of reports that could be included as part of a background check, under any circumstance. Please contact your chapter if you have questions about what types of checks you will undergo.


As I said and my own experience proves, hams don't handle any of the Red Cross's money and thus they're not paying for nor running the financial check on you.

73

Gary, K2GW

[KG4RUL]

What is not entirely clear to me is whether the background information check form requires the entry of financial data for all applicants?

If so, then that is way too much information.

If not, then this is not that intrusive.

Who has a definitive answer?

[K2GW]

>>What is not entirely clear to me is whether the background information check form requires the entry of financial data for all applicants?

It doesn't.  All the site asked me for was my name, address and SSAN.  Actually, early on they didn't even ask for SSAN.  But they were then having dificulty resolving some names on their own SSAN look-up, so they added it to improve reliability of the check.

>>If so, then that is way too much information. If not, then this is not that intrusive. Who has a definitive answer?  
 
As I have actually undergone the check and didn't have to supply any financial information, I'd say that makes it a reasonably definitive answer.   And all the Red Cross gets back at the end is simple e-mail saying that "John Doe has cleared the background check".

73

Gary, K2GW

[W0IPL]

From the ARC FAQ file:
- - - - -
The consent and release form is generic and designed to address all
types of reports that could be included as part of a background check,
under any circumstance.
- - - - -

My objectuion is that to save them having another file I must sign
a form that gives them blanket authorization to my information.
As such I decline to sign any of their forms.

Keep in mind that I cary two forms of identification that have had a
background check run, prior to issuance. If that's not good enough,
they can find another communicator.

ipl

[KC7MAW]

I know all about Clearances.  Do not sign a "Blank Check" Consent form unless you want them checking all those area's......

[WX4O]

I spent 27 years in the Army and always had highest clearances including TS Code Word, CNWDI etc. I have no criminal history. I see no reason for me to be treated
as an ex-con or terrorist. So, I'm not doing anything with the Rot Kreuz. Their loss.

[K2GW]

After we all stop being paranoid and worrying about the black helicopters as well, it also comes back to money.  Remember that every one of these background check has to be paid for by the local Red Crosss chapter to the contractor.

If you really think that your local Red Cross really wants to spend more of their own money to check your financial background or anything else beyond the minimal criminal record check national requires, I really can't help you.

As for all of anyone else's previous clearances ( I held military and SEC ones myself), that's wonderful but it doesn't solve the problem of a single document acceptable nationwide.  So if you have suggestions and funding for an alternative acceptable standarized background check for hams, let's hear it.

73

Gary, K2GW