Intel® is the leading provider of public data whose software can help you perform background checks, find criminal records and conduct general people searches. Whether you need to conduct a background check on a potential employee or need to find an address, a background check company can come in handy. But is Intelius what it claims to be? By looking at the good and the bad, let’s see if Intelius is the right software for you.
Compare Intelius to the Best Background Check Companies
Unfortunately, Intelius didn’t make the top spot on our list, as several other background check companies came out on top. However, after digging deeper, we found that Intelius does offer some unique features to help you speed up your search or get prompt customer support.
We reviewed dozens of background check companies on the market and narrowed them down to the top five. We looked at each option to see who it’s best for, what features to consider, and how to find the best option for your needs. Want to know all the options? See all our top picks here.
Intelius: good and bad
As with all background check companies on the market today, there are good and bad features to consider. However, after extensive research, we found that many users avoided Intelius due to its seemingly deceptive practices. But before you make a decision, let’s look at both sides of the spectrum.
OK
Extensive background check capabilities: Background checks are helpful if you need to learn more about someone, and Intelius offers a fairly extensive background check capability. With Intelius background checks, you can find public information by searching for someone’s name, phone number, or address, making it easier to find the information you’re looking for, so wide. When you initiate a background check with Intelius, you can obtain a report that may include an individual’s criminal record, marital and divorce history, any lawsuits they are involved in, bankruptcy, and any liens placed on them.
Background check reports may also include other basic information, such as full name, date of birth, and address. Intelius also gives you the option to narrow your search results by location to help you find the person you’re looking for more quickly.
Fast Pass Features: If you need information urgently, Intelius may be able to help you with its unique Quick Pass feature. A fast pass allows you to skip the line and get your report directly without long waits. You also get access to unlimited searches and have dedicated customer privacy, so people you’re searching for are never alerted.
The Quick Pass feature provides Intelius users a way to receive organized reports in seconds, eliminating the usual time to find or request needed information from government agencies or personal inquiries. With over 20 billion public records currently available, Intelius Express Delivery helps you get the information you need quickly and securely while maintaining complete anonymity.
Direct Customer Support: Unlike many other background check companies, Intelius provides a direct line of communication to its customer support team. When you arrive at the Intelius website, you will see a customer support phone number in the upper right corner of the screen, and when you scroll down to the bottom, you will find a link to the Intelius Help Center email address for additional customer support.
Now, while Intelius offers a direct hotline for customer support, that doesn’t mean it’s helpful or even responsive. However, it’s still a good thing that potential customers have the option to contact the support team if needed.
bad
Inaccurate report: Although Intelius claims that customers will receive reliable and comprehensive reports, many users believe this is not true. We found numerous negative reviews stating that the information in the report was either outdated, inaccurate, or more basic than Intelius promised. For example, one user complained that they only received a current address despite paying for a full report and a full background check.
Instead of wasting time and money on false reports, many users think they can find the same information online for free.
Deceptive Pricing: Many of the negative reviews we found revolved around concerns about Intelius’ deceptive pricing practices. When you visit the site for the first time, Intelius will convince you that you will receive a report for free. While you can use its people search and reverse phone lookup service for free, it only gives you age, location, and possible family members, which is often useless for many users looking for in-depth reports. In this case, you will be charged for any additional information.
Many users believe that Intelius is deliberately hiding the fees from the public, and some commenters even say that Intelius is charging a completely different price than they originally intended to pay.
Repeat charges: While many complaints revolve around Intelius’ deceptive pricing, in general, the vast majority of negative reviews involve recurring fees and unauthorized monthly subscription fees that are difficult to opt out of. Many users flagged Intelius as an outright scam after realizing that their $1.99 report actually cost them a $30 monthly subscription without consent. According to many users, Intelius has a misleading website that does not advise users about its subscription service, and after a quick search of its website, most reviewers are right.
Intelius does not disclose pricing anywhere on its website. But one reviewer said that customer support told them that subscription information is mentioned in small print at the bottom of the receipt, which means that even if you don’t see this, you’re still technically agreeing to the service. We also found some reviewers claiming that they declined monthly subscriptions, but Intelius still withdraws funds from their accounts and hides them completely.
Unresponsive support team: We also found a lot of negative reviews about customer support as many users faced a lot of recurring charges. Many users contacted Intelius’ customer support team after a poor experience and either heard nothing or were told there was no refund. A user sent three emails to the Intelius customer support team, but the user never heard back from a representative. Another user, on the other hand, found the customer service reps to be rude and they didn’t have the option to cancel the subscription even though most memberships were unauthorized.
Some of these bad reviews date back to 2011, which is worrying for Intelius’ customer support team, and it doesn’t look good.
Intelius pricing and options
although Intel® Pricing is not disclosed on its website, and we found plenty of pricing comparisons and reviews. Here’s a quick overview of what we found:
- Intelius People Search — $3.95 per report. Include phone numbers, address history, age and date of birth, and relatives.
- Intelius People Search Plus — $9.95 per report. Include the basics, as well as social networks and email addresses.
- Intelius background check — $49.95 per report. Include criminal records, marital and divorce history, lawsuits, bankruptcy and liens.
- Intelius reverse phone lookup — $4.95 per report. Includes landlines, listed and unlisted numbers, and mobile phones. It can also include phone type, owner name and address.
- Intelius Premier — $19.95 per month. Includes unlimited searches for anyone who plans to generate background checks on a regular basis.
These pricing tiers seem to confirm many user reviews. However, in the terms of use section of Intelius, it does offer two membership program pricing options, including:
- Unlimited Report Member 1 — $42.25, renews every 60 days.
- Unlimited People Report Member 2 — $24.86, renews every 30 days.
Intelius reverse phone lookup
In addition to background checks, criminal records and people searches, Intelius also offers reverse phone lookup services. If you’re wondering about the person or business associated with the number that keeps calling you, Intelius may be able to assist with this process.
When you perform a reverse phone lookup search with Intelius, its comprehensive data engine produces a confidential and complete report. The report will typically include the owner’s name, address history, age, likely relatives, phone type and carrier, and the location associated with the number — whether it’s a mobile, landline, or business number.
Whether you’re getting multiple calls from a mysterious number or want to confirm who the caller is, Intelius Reverse Phone Lookup can help you do just that. As a quick-results service, you’ll be able to learn more about your number being constantly called, stay informed, and never miss an important call in minutes.
Based on many price comparisons and reviews, Intelius’ reverse phone lookup service starts at $4.95 per report.
Intelius reverse address lookup
Would you like to learn more about the current owner of your home without contacting a real estate agent? Using Intelius’ reverse address lookup service, you might be able to do just that.
A reverse address lookup with Intelius can give you the details you want to know about a particular address and who might live there. Just like any public records search, the Intelius reverse address lookup service extracts public information to form detailed reports on specific properties.
Finding an owner with Intelius is an easy process. All you have to do is enter the full address and the Intelius software will start scanning the thousands of currently available public records related to that location.
To view the Intelius reverse address report, you need to be a member. Once you become a member, you will be able to view available information in an easy-to-navigate online interface. Most of these reports will usually contain information about current and previous owners, as well as other general details about the property.
Intelius’ reverse address lookup service appears to be one of the more comprehensive reports you can buy, as Intelius can include many details, if any. Some of these details are:
- Location Details – Includes Street, City, Country, County, ZIP Code, Location Type, Mailing State, Congressional District, and Latitude/Longitude.
- Possible Past Residents – Include name, age and date of first and last occurrence.
- Possible neighbors – including full name, age and address.
- Ownership History – Includes current owner, floor plan, property value, assessed value over time, previous owner and deed information.
- Census information – including total number of households, average house price, population per household and income per household.
- Other information – including crime statistics, community demographics and nearby sex offenders.
You must contact the Intelius Customer Service Team for specific pricing.
How Intelius Ranks
Unfortunately, Intelius isn’t at the top of our list at all, and for good reason. Many other background check companies offer useful ways to search public records without negative reviews.
Here is a brief overview Top Background Check Companies:
- good hire – Best for most people
- checker – Best for checking gig workers
- Asulint – Best customer service
- GBP – Best for criminal record checks
- Employment rights – Best for international companies
Overall, it’s safe to say that the negative reviews surrounding it have been overwhelming, although Intelius does offer unique background checks like fast-tracking, and the option to contact customer support directly may be beneficial to some.
Intelius’ deceptive pricing practices with hidden fees and recurring charges are totally unacceptable. If you want to use Intelius, we recommend caution.
