About Inline Reference Check

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Founder Story

Formed in 1997, Inline Reference Check is the premier pre-employment screening company in Canada. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive services, quick turnaround time and commitment to customer service excellence.

Our clients choose us for delivering rapid, high-quality reports for all level of candidates: from entry-level staff, to senior executives leading multi-billon dollar public companies. Our most popular services include education verifications, criminal background checks, employment verifications, credit checks, reference checks and driver's abstract reviews. We also offer custom-tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes.

With over 20 years of experience, we have worked with companies in various industries throughout Canada and the United States. Contact us today to discuss your pre-employment screening needs. We look forward to working with you!

Inline Reference Check is the go-to provider pre-screening provider in Canada
Ready to request a background check?

Helpful Canadians here for you

Our team of interviewers, researchers, and advisors are located in Canada (mostly in Ontario) and have decades of experience to help you make the right hiring decisions. We don’t outsource our work to call centres in other countries to save money on labour, we proudly pay a living wage.

Say Hello

If you have an interesting project, an RFP, or just need some help; reach out to us. We’re available during working hours Monday-Friday.

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Do you know where your data is?

By asking your candidates to provide personal information to background checking companies, keeping their data on Canadian servers simplifies things. Background check companies must be forthright with candidates about how their data will be handled, including the chance you may send it to another jurisdiction.

Transfer Guideline:

When information is collected and processed at Inline Reference Check it is only used for the original purpose.

Comparable Level of Protection Guideline:

If Inline Reference Check needs to utilize a third party, we ask that they provide an equivalent level of data protection.

Transparency Guideline:

Inline Reference Check is transparent about our practices regarding the handling of personal information. We are open and honest with candidates if their data is sent elsewhere for processing, and will state that personal information sent to another jurisdiction may still be accessed by Canadian law enforcement, courts, or national security personnel.

PIPEDA Guideline:

Inline Reference Check adheres to the PIPEDA guidelines set out by law. Read more about PIPEDA

More Reasons to Buy Local

There has been a spotlight on the role and importance of local businesses and keeping them healthy. When you buy local, your dollar recirculates within your local community. This phenomenon is known as the multiplier effect. The multiplier effect is the amount of local economic activity stimulated by the purchase of any one item. The more a dollar circulates in a defined region, and the faster it circulates, the more income, wealth, and jobs it creates.

When you support local businesses your money recirculates in your community, creating a multiplier effect. Dollars spent locally, can in turn be re-spent locally, raising the overall level of economic activity, paying more salaries, and building the local tax base. It’s estimated that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 remains local.

Canadian small businesses have a huge impact on our national and local economies. There are more than 1 million small businesses in Canada accounting for more than 10 million jobs. On average, from 2011 to 2015, the contribution of small businesses to Canadian GDP was 40.8 percent.

Business FAQ

Do you conduct background checks outside of Canada

Yes, we work with international police services, educational institutions, and other CRAs to obtain results for international background checks. We work hard to ensure that the data sent is kept secure and we inform candidates of where their information is being sent.

Does a candidate have to give consent for a background check?

Yes, Inline Reference Check is in compliance with Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and provincial laws, which require consent when handling candidate personal information.

Which background checks should I request?

Inline Reference Check offers a great tool to help. You should seek legal assistance if you’re unsure, it’s up to your organization to make the final decision.

What candidate information do I need to request a background check on an employee or subcontractor?

You only need some basic candidate/subcontractor info:

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email Address

What types of payment does Inline Reference Check accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express

How does Inline Reference Check conduct background checks?

Inline Reference Check has relationships with police services, institutions, and governing bodies to confirm candidate claims.

How long do background checks take?

Most background checks are completed in less than 24 hours. Some checks are dependent on the responsiveness of institutions or responders.


Applicant/Candidate FAQ

Can I request a background check on myself?

No, Inline Reference Check is not for consumer requests.

What does a background check consist of?

A background check will investigate a candidate’s background based on criteria determined by their prospective or current employer. A check of a candidate’s background may include employment, education, criminal records, credit history, motor vehicle and other checks.

Will a credit check impact my credit score?

No, we conduct a “soft inquiry” which does not affect credit scores and are not visible to potential lenders that may review your credit reports. They are visible to you and will stay on your credit reports for 12 to 24 months.

How can I prepare for my background check?

The information required for your background check is dependent on the checks requested. Our recommendation is to gather:

  • Past employment information (employment dates, actual job titles, and HR/Payroll contact information.
  • Educational information including student number and copies of transcripts or diplomas for any overseas education.
  • Collect past addresses and copies of your IDs (Drivers Licence, Passport, ID card, etc.)
    • Why is my potential employer conducting a background check?

      Employers conduct background checks for 5 main reasons

      1. To confirm Job Competence

        A background check is a reliable way for employers to verify claims made by candidates during the hiring process. The appeal of overstating educational qualifications, or enhancing past employment history can be tempting for candidates.

      2. To improve Workplace Safety

        Employers are responsible for the safety of employees, customers, vendors, and visitors. To keep everyone as safe as possible, employers conduct background checks to ensure that employees are fit to perform their duties.

      3. Decreased Workplace Theft

        Most workplace theft is performed by people within the organization. A background check can help employers make informed hiring decisions regarding their workforce to reduce risk.

      4. A Honesty and Integrity Check

        A confirmed fabrication by a candidate during the onboarding process is often enough for an employer to give the hiring decision pause. Employer action can include rescinding the offer of employment or to request additional checks to ensure they are making the right decision.

      5. To Safeguard Employer Reputation

        Organizational reputation is important to employers. Background checks help safeguard employers by creating safer, more secure environments staffed by qualified and responsible employees.

Ready to request a employment verification check?
What's included in a background check?

Background checks in Canada can cover many parts of an candidate's history. Some checks are general, while others get more detailed. The goal of each check is to verify that what a candidate has claimed is actually true. These are a list of the most common checks, why they are conducted, and who these checks apply to:

Employment Verifications
What is an employment verification check: An employment verification is a way to validate someone's employment history. This is done by collecting documentation from the candidate to support the employment history, or by contact or by in partnership with international credit reporting agencies. The entire credit file is assessed and any possible flags are highlighted to inform you of any issues and the severity of those issues.
Why conduct an employment verification check? These checks act to confirm someone's employment history. It is a base-level check used to ensure that someone's work experience is accurate, and matches their claims.
Who should have an employment verification? Conduct an employment verification for any candidate that has worked in the past. If your candidate is also undergoing a reference check, then an employment verification may not be required.

Criminal Check
What is a criminal check: A criminal check involves a search into an individual's police record to identify any potential criminal findings of guilt. This is done with the information available to local and/or national police services.
Why conduct a criminal check? A criminal check should also be completed on current employees after say, 2 years to ensure they are not involved in any activities after hours.
Who should have criminal check? This is a fundamental check that should be done on every potential employee.

Credit Check
What is a credit check: A credit check involves a search into an individual's credit history to identify any potential credit issues. This is done in partnership with international credit reporting agencies. The entire credit file is assessed and any possible flags are highlighted to inform you of any issues and the severity of those issues.
Why conduct a credit check? Credit checks help to ensure that there are no known risks with trusting your company's finances or sensitive financial information with an individual.
Who should have a credit check? All positions where the candidate is applying for a finance related job, handles cash or a credit card on behalf of the organization.

Driver's Abstract Check
What is a driver's abstract check: A driver's abstract check involves a search into an individual's driving record history to identify any motor-vehicle related issues. This is done in partnership with provincial jurisdictions. You'll see all available deatils on vehicular-related violations and the details of the infraction.
Why conduct a driver's abstract check? A driver's abstract is an indication of that individual's driving history and provides assurance to you that the team member is trustworthy behind the wheel.
Who should have a driver's abstract check? A driver's abstract check should always be considered when issuing a company car, if an individual will be driving to and from a client's place of operation or transporting goods or people on behalf of the organization.

Education verification check
What is an education verification check? Education Background Checks are meant to confirm that the candidate’s educational qualifications are accurate. They confirm where the candidate went to school, the type of degree obtained, the major, and sometimes the graduation date. There are no specific legal restrictions prohibiting employers from confirming the accuracy of a candidate’s qualifications or transcripts with an educational institution.
Why conduct an education verification check? Use education verification checks to verify someone has formal education in a particular field. This is particularly useful in professional fields (law, engineering, medicine) where education is required to perform certain duties.
Who should have an education verification check? All positions requiring a formal education in a particular field. Especially those where knowledge from past experience is insufficient to demonstrate achievement in a field or area.

Exit Interviews
What is an exit interview? Exit interviews are used to hear from an employee who is moving on to a new position. In the interview process the employee is asked to provide feedback on their experience at the company, what went well and what could be improved.
Why conduct an exit interview? Exit interviews are a useful tool to help your department or business improve. The feedback that candidates provide can highlight areas of improvement or weakness. This is even more meaningful when conducted by a third party like Inline Reference Check rather than the employer because candidates will likely be more truthful.
Who should have an exit interview? Exit interviews should be conducted on any employee who has indicated they will be leaving the employer. At that time, they are in a position to share their perspective truthfully. This can often be heard more readily by a third party like Inline Reference Check.

Employment Reference Checks
What is an employment reference check? An employment reference check allows you to get feedback about a candidate from a supervisor, peer, or subordinate. Experienced interviewers in Canada connect directly those who know your candidate best. Reference checks provide detailed and organized insight into the competency, workplace productivity and behaviour of your candidate.
Why conduct an employment reference check? Conduct an employment reference check on any potential candidate to learn more about the candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and how they work. Reference checks are an excellent way to get a fuller picture of a candidate as it can be conducted at any point in the hiring process.
Who should have an employment reference check? Anyone above an entry-level position would benefit from an employment reference check as it provides an alternate perspective on that candidate’s past experience.

Rapid Reference Checks
What is a rapid reference check? A rapid reference check allows you to get feedback about a candidate from a supervisor, peer, or subordinate. Experienced interviewers in Canada connect directly those who know your candidate best. Reference checks provide detailed and organized insight into the competency, workplace productivity and behaviour of your candidate.
Why conduct a rapid reference check? Conduct a rapid reference check on any potential candidate to learn more about the candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and how they work. Reference checks are an excellent way to get a fuller picture of a candidate as it can be conducted at any point in the hiring process.
Who should have a rapid reference check? Anyone above an entry-level position would benefit from a rapid reference check as it provides an alternate perspective on that candidate’s past experience.

Resume Verification Checks
What is a resume verification check? A resume verification check ensures that the candidate’s resume is truthful and complete. This check compares the data on a candidate’s resume to the data a candidate provides in the background check process. This check identifies discrepancies between a resume and a candidate’s experience and is useful to validate a candidate’s claims.
Why conduct a resume verification check? A resume verification check is done alongside other background checks. It is typically used to confirm that the candidate has provided us with education, employment, and designation information as reflected on their resume.
Who should have a resume verification check? Conduct a resume verification on any candidate where the resume contents matter. This check must be completed alongside an employment verification, designation verification or education verification.

Social Media Background Checks
What is a social media check? A social media check screens a candidate’s public social media accounts for information beyond the bulleted columns of a resume. This information is assessed to be either positive or negative with the goal of providing additional information about the candidate’s online presence.
Why conduct a social media check? A social media check provides valuable information about how a candidate presents themselves to the online world. For employers, networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook may offer insights about a candidate’s character and personality as well as the accuracy of their qualifications.
Who should have a social media check? Social media checks are valuable for individuals who are acting as a public face for the organization. This can include Social Media Coordinator positions as well as senior roles within an organization.

Terrorist Watchlist Checks
What is a terrorist watchlist check? A terrorist watchlist check compares a candidate against a set of national and international of databases of criminal and terrorist activity. This includes individuals and organizations that are prohibited from certain activities, connected to criminal operations or may be on criminal watchlists nationally or internationally.
Why conduct a terrorist watchlist check? Terrorist watchlist checks are useful to ensure that candidates have no connection to international criminal groups or known terrorist organizations. They may also be used to identify politically exposed individuals.
Who should have a terrorist watchlist check? Terrorist watchlist checks can be conducted on any candidate, though often used on high-clearance requirements or when a candidate is working in certain financial areas.

Hire for remote work
A leader in remote background checks

Today's world poses new challenges for businesses as physical disatancing and remote working become more common. Our process has operated entirely remotely since 2010. Our staff are all located in Canada and are ready to help you safely, and quickly complete the background checks you need.

Complete your pre-hire screening today
Hiring now? We can help.

If you are still trying to complete your background checks internally you know the time, effort and difficulty that come with incomplete data, missing information and unresponsive contacts. See how we can help streamline your hiring process and reduce your hire time so you can focus on your business.

Candidates love our easy-to-use process
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The process is efficient and focus on straight point.

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Great application for filling in reference information. Excellent and simple process.

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The process was very clear and easy to follow and upload what was needed! Wonderful customer service, super helpful.

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Everything is really great, I had a great experience. Clear and it works well.