This is a 2022 update of our Instant Checkmate review. Here, we aim to give you all you need to know about this background check and reverse phone lookup service.
Note: If you're in a hurry and don't have much time for reviews…
Over 30 different data points when gathering information about people. These include comprehensive arrest records, address history, contact information, licenses, and other relevant information.
{Do not use this service for the INVASION OF PRIVACY. Doing so is ILLEGAL. Your best option to know its legality is to consult a lawyer.}
Table of Contents
What Is Instant Checkmate?
1. Instant Checkmate Background Check
Instant Checkmate is just one of the dozens of background checkers today that promise ease of access to information like public records. What makes it unique is that it claims to consider over 30 different data points when gathering information about people. These include comprehensive arrest records, address history, contact information, licenses, and other relevant information.
On top of its regular background checker, it also offers a premium service wherein clients will have access to more data about the people they are researching. In this review, I'm going to look in-depth into the company's services. It's up to you to decide if it's the right background checking service for you.
2. Phone Instant Checkmate (Reverse Lookup)
This is their lesser-known service. And as already mentioned, it's for phone number lookups. If you have a phone number instead and you want to know its owner, then you should use this service. It's good to know who's calling for those unknown phone calls. It's even greater for catching prank callers!
The Main Features Of The Background Checker
- You can request an email report. As you already know by now, many people these days have their email addresses connected to their names, home addresses, professional networking information, social media accounts, and so on. With that said, a search for an email address can churn out a lot of important information about the owner of the address. It offers email reports as a service which means you just have to submit an email address to them, and they'll scour their database for information associated with the address.
- Unlimited reports and unlimited searches. As long as you have signed up as a member from their homepage (instantcheckmate.com), you can do as many searches and background checks as you want. Whether you signed up for a one-month or six-month membership, the unlimited searches remain the same. However, you should remember that there's a significant difference between the amount of information you generate if you sign up with the company's premium service. The service costs more, so naturally, you will be provided with more detailed reports.
- The company claims that they regularly update its database. In fact, they claim to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to keep their database accurate. Of course, this claim can't be independently corroborated unless the company publicly releases what exactly they do to update their databases. But generally speaking, it's the responsibility of companies offering background checks as a service to update their information files.
- The company offers customer service on a 24/7 basis. Although it's admirable that the company offers 24/7 customer support, you can only contact them through phone and email. They also address complaints through this channel. However, it would've been better if they offered a live chat option because this would be more suitable for the type of business they are involved in. The company also has profiles on popular social sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can use these to contact them for additional support.
How Much Does Instant Checkmate Cost?
Instant Checkmate's price is as follows.
Basically, they offer five pricing points. You must seriously consider these price points because checking backgrounds isn't something you will be doing for years. For instance, if you are checking information about people you will hire, you will need a background checker for a month at most. Anyway, below is an overview of the company's service price points.
- 1-month membership: $22.86 per month
- 3-month membership: $14.86 per month (that's a total of $44.58 for the 3-month period)
- 6-month membership: $9.86 per month (that's a total of $59.16 for the 6-month period)
- Premium reports: $19.99 per report
As you can see, the cost of the company's services is lower if you avail of the 3-month and 6-month membership options. In addition, it's worth mentioning here that if you request a PDF of the report you want, you will have to pay a one-time fee of $1.99 to cover the conversion.
Is Instant Checkmate Legit, Safe To Use, Worth It, Or Just A Scam?
In all honesty, it is a more than decent background checker, but its claim of accuracy seems a bit exaggerated. Some clients who have used the company's services have claimed that the information they get when requesting a report is not as comprehensive as expected. However, if you are looking for basic information about people like criminal records (especially useful in finding s*x offenders), and addresses, Instant Checkmate does a satisfactory job.
The Verdict
The service has its pros and cons, just like every company. The bottom line here is that the company does a satisfactory job when it comes to background checks. This is not to mention that their services are quite affordable, and you can only subscribe for a month if you don't plan on using them for an extended time. In conclusion, it is definitely worth the try!
Over 30 different data points when gathering information about people. These include comprehensive arrest records, address history, contact information, licenses, and other relevant information.