Instant Checkmate Reviews
About Instant Checkmate
Instant Checkmate is one of the leading public records search tools on the internet, providing instant access to millions of documents. Instant Checkmate’s information is generated by searching public records that include federal, state, and county databases and compiling them all into one report. Users can look up addresses, phone numbers, social media profiles, driving records, arrest records and more. Just enter a name and state to start your search.
- Unlimited reports with subscription
- Detailed reports
- Easy to use
- Use 30 data points for reports
- Not a traditional background check
- Subscriptions automatically renew
Featured Reviews
ConsumerAffairs operates independent of Instant Checkmate and does not offer background check services. Per the Instant Checkmate terms, you may not use this service or the information it provides to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require Federal Credit Reporting Act compliance. Instant Checkmate does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency.
What is Instant Checkmate?
Instant Checkmate lets you look up a person’s information by typing in their name, age and location in the search console. Instant Checkmate asks you questions about the person as it searches databases to narrow results down to the right match.
Once you have a match, you purchase a membership subscription to access the report. A subscription gives you access to unlimited reports for as long as you are enrolled.
You can look up the following information and more using Instant Checkmate:
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Age
- Location history
- Job histories
- Criminal records
- Sex offenders registration
- Arrest records
- Census data
- Social media profiles
- Bankruptcy history
Strict guidelines dictate how and why you can use a public records search service. Instant Checkmate is not a consumer reporting agency, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibits using Instant Checkmate to look up any information governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Before using Instant Checkmate, make sure you review the guidelines of what you can and can’t do with the information found on its site.
Instant Checkmate cost
Instant Checkmate offers two subscription plans. Both plans give you access to unlimited reports. The company bills one-month subscriptions every 30 days and three-month subscriptions every 90 days.
| Plan | Price per month |
|---|---|
| One-month | $35.12 |
| Three-month | $28.09 (Billed at $84.28 every three months) |
| Reverse phone lookup | $5.99 |
Membership subscriptions automatically renew every 30 or 90 days unless you cancel before the start of the next payment period. You can cancel your membership through your online account or by phone.
Instant Checkmate FAQ
Is Instant Checkmate safe?
Yes, Instant Checkmate is safe. The company has a verified Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate and uses 128-bit encryption. Instant Checkmate also runs malware checks with Norton Antivirus software daily.
Does Instant Checkmate notify the person you’re searching?
No, Instant Checkmate does not notify any search subjects.
Is Instant Checkmate legal?
Yes, it is legal to use Instant Checkmate, but it is illegal to use the service to look up any information governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), including screening someone for employment, a lease or credit eligibility. Make sure you follow the search guidelines when using Instant Checkmate.
Is Instant Checkmate free to use?
No, Instant Checkmate is not free. You must sign up for a membership. Memberships start at $35.12 a month and give you access to unlimited reports.
Is Instant Checkmate worth the price?
Yes, if you need the company’s service, it is worth the price. Even though the information on Instant Checkmate comes from public records, you would have to search through each individual federal, state and county database to find the information. Instant Checkmate compiles it all into one easy-to-read report, and all subscriptions include unlimited reports.
Is Instant Checkmate legit?
Instant Checkmate saves you time searching through numerous government databases to find the information you need. Sometimes people aren’t who they say or keep things from you that they don’t want you to know. Using Instant Checkmate helps you verify someone’s identity before meeting them in person or going into business with them, which protects you in the long run. Instant Checkmate is not a substitute for a traditional background check, however.
Instant Checkmate Reviews
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- 4,569,587 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
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- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Reviewed Nov. 7, 2024
This company engages in deceptive business practices and takes advantage of unsuspecting customers. When I purchased what was advertised as an ‘unlimited one-month’ background check service, I assumed it was a one-time purchase. There was no indication during checkout that this would turn into a subscription. In fact, my purchase confirmation email clearly stated ‘unlimited one month.’ Only in the fine print, buried where most customers wouldn’t think to look, do they reveal that this is actually a ‘membership’.
To make matters worse, they never send any emails alerting you about the upcoming renewal or notifying you once it has been processed. This lack of transparency seems intentional, allowing them to continue charging customers without their knowledge or consent. No one needs a subscription for a background check service, and it’s disappointing to see a company preying on people in this way. When I reached out to customer service to address these unauthorized charges, they refused to issue a refund, even though their practices are clearly misleading. I would strongly recommend avoiding this company if you value honesty and ethical business practices.
We appreciate your feedback regarding our membership plans and/or billing policies. Consistent with applicable laws, all material terms, including billing details and automatic renewal terms, are clearly disclosed before submitting payment information. Each user must individually check a box to confirm their agreement to these terms before any charges are applied. Our customer support team is happy to assist you with your account; however, we were unable to find an account associated with the information provided. We request all relevant information listed below to assist us in locating the account and resolving this issue for you.
1. The first and last name used on the account2. The email address registered
3. The first 6 and last 4 numbers of the card used
4. The Paypal email address or Paypal Transaction ID number
We encourage you to contact our Customer Support team at 877-564-3003 or at support@instantcheckmate.com, and we will be happy to assist you in resolving this matter collaboratively.
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Reviewed Oct. 31, 2024
The data I received from them contained inaccurate information and included data for people other than the ones I searched for. I could find more accurate information using Google searches. They charge ~$30 for 1 month, but if I wanted to download any report I would be charged more. As I was canceling the membership they offered free reports and only $16.95 a month. I read the FTC report from 2014 about their practices and the fine they had to pay. They are still using the same predatory practices in 2024. Why are they able to continue? Is there any hope of a refund? NO.
Hello, we apologize you were unhappy with some of the information in our reports. Since we rely on third-party data sources, we can only display the information that we were provided, which could potentially include incomplete or inaccurate data. We hope to continue to improve our services to make them better for you and future customers. Thank you
Reviewed Oct. 23, 2024
I just use it, took my money and blocked me 2 days later, I emailed them to cancel everything, after a long time they agreed, two days later they processed a payment out of my account, I am currently talking to my bank about the issue to take legal actions against them. And I read about how they sell your information to other parties outside the US. Also very bad service and wrong information. Simply it's a scam.
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2024
Doesn’t provide any info you can't get by doing a search on the internet. Waste of money and time. They don’t offer refunds and know this site has none of the information you are searching for. Horrible horrible.
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2024
This service is awful, it was completely inaccurate and I did not realize it was on ongoing service until I was charged for the second month. A total scam! I thought I was getting the one report. They keep charging you monthly and then you have to cancel...the information in the "background check is far from complete." I was just trying to get driving records to do an insurance update for my family. Horrible service.
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2024
I paid for a background check on someone liking for specific information that this site stated would be supplied. When I received the report almost every category was unable to locate. I knew more about the person than the site could find, even simple things such as being married, if they had a Facebook account. It was a complete waste of money.
Hello, we apologize you were unhappy with some of the information in our reports. Since we rely on third-party data sources, we can only display the information that we were provided, which could potentially include incomplete or inaccurate data. We hope to continue to improve our services to make them better for you and future customers. Thank you
Reviewed Sept. 29, 2024
Initial search indicated person was on a Government Watch List. That's just to make you concerned enough to pay for the subscription to find out. It turns out that they have no information whatsoever about the person being on a watch list. Potentially very damaging to the person being searched and a total SCAM to the person paying money for a report. Really a CRIMINAL representation. They know they are baiting people with a lie. They really should be prosecuted.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us with your feedback. While we wish we could provide all of the information to our customers for free, we do pay to access our data sources and it costs money to maintain our website. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to continuing to assist you in the future!
Reviewed Sept. 26, 2024
They quietly keep charging with you and make it impossible to cancel. How awful and shady. Awful people. I signed up originally to get see the service in action in which I got lackluster results. After that they kept charging... for months...
Thank you for taking the time to leave us with your feedback. If you feel that you have been charged in error, please call us at (800) 222-8985, or email us at support@instantcheckmate.com, so we can investigate and rectify the issue as soon as possible. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Reviewed Sept. 22, 2024
Promises to search all these unlimited avenues then comes up with a page full of "No results found". Yes, it's a scam people. But you have to pay them first before you find that out. Wish I had read these review first.
Although we are sad to see you were unhappy with your experience, we appreciate you taking the time to offer us feedback. While we wish we could provide all of the information to our customers for free, we do pay to access our data sources and it costs money to maintain our website. Please reach out to us at (800) 222-8985, or email us at support@instantcheckmate.com, if there's anything we can do to improve your experience.
Reviewed Sept. 20, 2024
Don't waste your money. I found all of the information I could before I decided to try this company. Everything they come up with was stuff I already knew, with the exception of people why MIGHT be associated with the person I was researching. When I dig a little deeper, I found those people were acquaintances from previous employment or previous owners of the house they live in. What a waste of my time and money!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us with your feedback. While we wish we could provide all of the information to our customers for free, we do pay to access our data sources and it costs money to maintain our website. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to continuing to assist you in the future!
Instant Checkmate Company Information
- Social media:
- Company Name:
- Instant Checkmate
- Company Type:
- Private
- Year Founded:
- 2010
- Address:
- 3110 Camino Del Rio N Suite 400
- City:
- San Diego
- State/Province:
- CA
- Postal Code:
- 92108
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.instantcheckmate.com
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