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Wednesday, July 3rd
2024 People Search Provider Reviews
Truthfinder
- "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
- In business since 2015
- Search by name and location, phone number or email address
- 100% no-hassle cancellation
Truthfinder is one of a few people search services in our evaluation that start out by warning you that you might find "shocking" information about your friends and family. That lead-in usually equates with a less-than-straightforward set of results, but we were pleased to see that Truthfinder not only found the correct individual but also didn't load it with any false reports or scandalous teasers to get us to buy a report.
Search by name, number, email
You can begin your search here either with a first and last name, city and state (if known) or through a reverse phone lookup. One little difference we spotted is that Truthfinder asks you to check a box if the records you're searching for are your own.
Wait for the clarifying questions
As your search processes, you'll be asked to answer clarifying questions - so don't navigate away from the screen. You could be requested to confirm any possible relative matches, the age range of the individual, or to enter any more detailed information you have to help narrow down the results (middle initial, city, specific age). It took about three minutes, and we were surprised to see the correct person as the fourth result in the list.
And then there are more questions
When you select a person's report to view, Truthfinder will ask a few more questions (like asking if they have ever committed a crime) and then spend even more time running reports on social media accounts. Prepare for further questions that will keep you on the page to provide input, like deciding if you want any associated family members' reports included. And there, we're back to the titillating language about the potential of being on a government watch list, getting "very graphic" sensitive information, or seeing "potentially embarrassing comments" on the report.
Takes about 20 minutes in all
All in all, it took nearly 20 minutes to get to Truthfinder's final-final report. We were satisfied that it was a good match and returned accurate information about the person we were investigating, but that timeframe is much longer than it takes on other platforms.
Costs
- $28.05 for one month of unlimited reports
- $46.56 for two months of unlimited reports
- 5-day trial for $1
- Access a single report for $29.95
Hold out for pop-up discounts
At first, Truthfinder makes it look like your only options are to pay $28.05 for one month of unlimited searches or $46.56 for two months of access (both of which renew automatically). However, as we let that page "sit" for a bit and navigated to other sites, we got a pop-up offering a "full-access trial membership" with standard reports for $1 (though the actual checkout page said it would be premium reports, not standard, and included the critical details of it being a five-day trial and that it would automatically renew at a price of $29.89/month unless canceled within that window). Waiting even longer, Truthfinder offered us access to a single report for a one-time fee of $29.95 and no membership required.
Issues with billing and record accuracy
All of those details matter, because that's where the bulk of Truthfinder's issues with users lie. While the service enjoys an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau - a good sign overall - we still found plenty of unhappy reviews from users whose reports weren't as accurate as ours. Beyond that, there seem to be issues with billing that aren't quite as "100% no hassle" as Truthfinder promises: be on the lookout for pricing differences between "standard" and "premium" reports, and be aware you may be billed at least once even after canceling your membership within the five-day $1 trial period.
Not the best or the worst
While Truthfinder isn't our favorite people search service, it still has a few positive points worth considering. The information returned tends to be fairly accurate, you get enough details in advance to make sure you've found the right person before making a payment, and you can get five days of access for just $1. This platform still has some improvements to make with respect to reliability and customer service, but it might be worth a try if you don't find what you're looking for elsewhere.
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Which People Search Platform Offers the Most Accurate Results?
There are hundreds of sites out there that promise to connect you with long-lost relatives, childhood friends, former classmates and coworkers - or to help you look into the background of someone on your radar. Most of these services utilize the same public records databases to deliver results.
So, what makes one people search platform different from the next? None of them guarantee the accuracy of their results - after all, databases can have incorrect information. But, the best services give you enough of a preview before you pay for a report that you can determine for yourself if you've found the right individual. They also may include a trial period of a few days to a week, letting you conduct multiple searches to see if you'll get what you need from their results.
Continue reading below
People Search Provider FAQ
The breadth and depth of these services vary, but you can expect to find everything from basic address and phone number information to social media accounts and even criminal convictions. Your search results will depend on the service you select.
It's true that some services use public records databases to return details you might find on your own. But, if you want the most comprehensive reports possible in the least amount of time, it's worth it to let a people search platform do the work for you.
You can typically pay for a single report, a month of access, or an ongoing membership. Single reports tend to cost around $30, a month of access for around $20, or a month-to-month subscription for around $12.
A people search can only be as specific and accurate as the search terms provided. If you search for "Jason White" in New York City, you'll probably come up with thousands of matches. But, add on a date of birth, last known address, or email address and you're more likely to narrow down the results to the right person. However, one of the biggest complaints from users of many people search platforms is that the information isn't always up-to-date.
No. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) restricts such information from being used for those purposes. It also can't be used to determine eligibility for insurance coverage or creditworthiness. Stick to searching for your high school sweetheart or your new neighbors and you'll be fine.
Searching for your own information is a great way to test out a people search service! After all, you'll know if the results returned are accurate. But, that does raise the question: do you want people to be able to find you? You may be able to ask a service to remove your information, but you'll have to dig around in the fine print to find the process required to do so. And, for information coming from public records databases (such as home sales and property tax rolls), there might not be a way to keep that private.
Yes, most of them provide the information they advertise: background checks, contact information, and so forth. For extra reassurance before you sign up for a people search service, be sure to check out their Better Business Bureau listing. There, you'll see how the BBB rates the company, any complaints that have been registered, and if there are any alerts regarding the business.
You don't have to sign a contract to use a people search platform, so just cancel your membership. Unfortunately, most services don't offer any satisfaction guarantee or refunds on fees you've already paid.
Continued from above...
Those trials typically convert to a monthly membership unless you cancel first. As you might guess, some people search providers make that cancellation more difficult than others - or they make it less likely you'll realize that you're opting into a monthly plan with your trial. Be sure to read the fine print.
Another thing to watch out for is the difference between a basic people search and a comprehensive one. What you'll get with almost every platform's initial search is just the basics of phone, address, known relatives and email addresses. More detailed information like criminal records and property ownership will almost always require an upgraded plan, either as a one-off fee for each report you want to run in-depth or as an extra monthly fee.
If you're concerned about having your own personal information available to other people conducting searches, you've got one good reason to visit every people search site, even the lowest-ranked ones: removing your own data from their records. You'll usually find that function at the bottom of the site, worded as "Opt-Out" or "Do Not Sell My Information" . Typically, you'll either enter your information and perform a basic search (no paid membership required), then click on your matching profile to request that it be removed. Finally, expect to get a confirmation email; after you've clicked on the link in it, your info should be removed within 48 hours (though, in our experience, some sites had our results gone almost immediately).
When you're trying to choose among people search providers, they all start to look the same. Confused? Don't worry! You can use these criteria to decide which one to use:
- Preliminary Results. Try searching for your own report and see how it goes. How quickly did the service return the right information (if at all)? Did you get enough details to confirm the accuracy?
- Value. All people search services come with a cost. What will you get for what you pay? Is it worth it?
- Customer Service. Can you get help if you need it? Some people search platforms include assistance with conducting searches, above and beyond the usual support for billing issues.
- Reputation. What do people say about their experience using the people search platform, besides complaining about monthly charges they missed in the sign-up process? Does the company have a good rating from the Better Business Bureau, at the very least?
To help you find out more about virtually anyone, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular people search providers available today. We're confident that this information will make it possible to track down a long-lost relative, learn more about your prospective love interest, or see what your high school classmates are up to!
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