Credit and Background Checks

Follow The Leads

Automatic Check (http://www.auto-checkusa.com): This Web site offers standard database information like credit reports and criminal histories, with a fun twist--all reports are in narrative format, just like a true-crime story.

Background Information Searches (http://www.biscx.com): Order searches on assets, worker's comp claims and more.

Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org): Find out at this Web site if the new company that wants to do business with you has had any nasty complaints filed about it, or file one yourself if you've been burned. (We're all in this together, right?)

Dun & Bradstreet (http://www.aol.telebase.com/index.htm): Find credit reports and company profiles, plus useful stuff like trademark, copyright and patent information.

The P.I. Mall (http://pimall.com): Think online shopping at its informative best. Search the State Agency Database or just look for that prom date you can't forget.

The big three of the credit report world:

• Experian (http://www.experian.com)

• Equifax Inc. (http://www.equifax.com)

• Trans Union (http://www.tuc.com)

This article was originally published in the July 1999 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Get a Clue.