Before you start
Have a few things ready - they make the difference between same-day and multi-day setup:
- Your business details - legal company name and a work email. Information Direct furnishes consumer reports under the FCRA, so accounts are tied to a business with a permissible purpose.
- An authorized signer - the person who can accept ordering and compliance terms on the company's behalf, plus their title.
- Your screening needs - the closest package fit, expected volume, and the states or jurisdictions you hire in.
- Billing contact - who receives invoices, if different from you, and your preferred payment method.
Step 1: Open the intake form
Go to informationdirect.us/signup. This is the account-request form. It takes about five minutes, and no card is required at submission because billing is confirmed after account review.
Step 2: Your details and password
Enter your name, work email, company, and an optional phone number, then set a password. Use something long and unique. This email and password become your Information Direct dashboard sign-in once your account is approved.
Step 3: Choose a package path
Pick the package closest to what you need - you are not locked in, and packages can be adjusted later. If none fit exactly, choose the custom path and tell us about your policy, states, and volume in the notes.
Step 4: Billing
By default, billing uses your details as the requester. If invoices should go to someone else - an AP contact or parent company - uncheck "same as requester" and add the billing contact details. Choose a payment preference such as invoice, ACH, credit card, or prepaid.
Step 5: Compliance acceptance
Before an account can be set up, an authorized representative accepts the ordering and compliance terms. By accepting, you confirm core obligations every employer using consumer reports takes on under federal law:
- Standalone disclosure - candidates receive a clear, standalone notice that a background check may be run.
- Applicant authorization - you obtain the candidate's written permission before screening.
- Adverse action - if a report could contribute to not hiring, you follow the FCRA's pre-adverse and adverse action steps.
- Consistent use - screening is applied consistently and lawfully for the role.
Finish by entering the signer's name, title, and date. This signature is recorded with a version stamp and timestamp for your audit trail. If anything here is unfamiliar, email moses@informationdirect.us and we will walk through it before you sign.
Step 6: Submit
When you submit, your account request is created, you receive a confirmation email, and our team is notified to begin setup. Your password is stored securely, and sensitive intake details are handled under our standard data protections.
What happens next: credentialing
Account creation is the request - credentialing is the approval. Our team verifies your business and confirms a permissible purpose for the products you requested. Employment screening is often approved quickly; credit reports or other sensitive products may get a closer look. If we need anything else, we email your primary contact.
Once you are approved, you receive a welcome email with dashboard access instructions and any fulfillment notes needed for your account. From there, see Signing in and then Creating an order to request your first check.
A note on fast-start accounts
If you need to move before full credentialing finishes, ask your account manager about a fast-start setup. We can review your timeline, release forms, and package needs while full credentialing is completed. Reports are released only after the required account approvals and fulfillment requirements are in place.