Complaints
This profile includes complaints for Instant Checkmate's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see
Customer Complaints Summary
- 214 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 58 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
If you've experienced an issue
Submit a ComplaintThe complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.
Initial Complaint
Date:10/28/2025
Type:Product IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
On Oct 27th I signed up for instant checkmate try to get a death record for my husband who passed away at least 10 yrs ago. When I got the report it said he was alive and receiving mail at multiple addresses. I contacted the company and they agreed to cancel account and they would issue a refund . When I checked my bank account they charged me twice. Called again today and the agent claims I was only charged once and it would be refunded in 3-5 days. I am a person whose income is below poverty level so need help getting the 2nd refund. Any help would be appreciated.
Business Response
Date: 10/28/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ****** ********, Complaint ID ********.
As disclosed in our Terms of Use, Instant Checkmate compiles information in its reports from a variety of third-party data providers and publicly available sources. Because this information originates from independent databases, it may not always be complete or up to date. We encourage our members to use reports as a starting point for their own research and to verify any important details independently.
Upon review, we confirmed that Mrs. ********* account was canceled and refunded in full on October 27, 2025. Two separate charges were billed $29.69 and $4.31 and both have been refunded. As discussed with our support team, refunds typically appear within 35 business days, depending on the financial institutions processing time.
We have verified that only one billing transaction was successfully processed to Mrs. ********* **** card ending in 2370. In some cases, a pending refund may temporarily appear similar to an additional charge. We recommend that she contact her bank directly for clarification on how these transactions are displayed.
If Mrs. ******** has any further questions or needs assistance, she may contact our Customer Support team at ************. Our team is available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate Customer Support TeamCustomer Answer
Date: 10/28/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved. I will wait until the refund goes thru and see if what is showing up in my account summary straightens itself out. If not I will be back in touch.
Regards,
****** ********
Initial Complaint
Date:10/22/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
**** was cancelled in ******************************************** March assumed it was resolved called again demanded reimbursement back to Jan 2025 person was rude got smart and refused full credit only credited one month. I sent copy of email were I was disputing the charges. In March didnt matter Not a good listener even after complaint he said acct would be cancelled end of month didnt apologize or be offer a credit. I had to get upset and specifically ask for credit told him to look at **** there hasnt been any activity He said that a subscription was a subscription activity or not, totally not hearing that I had cancel in ************************** still being charged up to Oct but only gave one month Will be contacting my bank if mot resolved.
Business Response
Date: 10/22/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ***** *********, Complaint ID ********.
Consistent with applicable laws, all material terms, including billing and automatic renewal details, are clearly disclosed before submitting payment. Each user must check a box agreeing to these terms before being charged. Customers also receive a confirmation email for any orders placed on the site.
After review, we confirmed Ms. ********* used our chat feature to speak with us. Prior to October 22, 2025, there was no previous communication from ********************** and we have not received any phone calls from her. We also located two previously cancelled accounts: ******************* (cancelled April 30, 2020) and ***************** (cancelled and disputed through her financial institution October 6, 2016).
On March 11, 2025, we received an email from ******************* requesting cancellation and a refund. We replied that this account was cancelled in 2020 and requested details to locate the active one, but we did not receive a response.
We have now identified the active account and processed refunds totaling $260.61: $223.38 issued today and $37.23 issued during her chat conversation. This covers all charges from March to October, as she was not billed every month. Please allow 35 business days for the refunds to reflect, depending on the financial institution. All memberships are cancelled, and no further charges will occur.
For any additional questions, please contact our Customer Support team at ************, available MondayFriday, 7:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m.7:00 p.m. ET). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportInitial Complaint
Date:10/08/2025
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Remove any and all of my personally identifiable information (PII) from your site and sister sites in perpetuity.
Business Response
Date: 10/09/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ******* *****, Complaint ID ********.
The information Instant Checkmate provides in reports is publicly available information compiled from government records, commercial data providers, and other lawful sources. While we cannot remove individual records from public databases, we do provide the ability to suppress entire background reports from appearing on our site.
Based on the information provided, we located and validated Mr. ****** request. The relevant background report has been suppressed pursuant to our Terms. This action also applies across affiliated sites within the same corporate family, including ************, ***************, and ************.
Please note, suppression removes the report from our websites but does not delete or alter the underlying public records, which may still be available at their original sources or through other third parties. Additionally, even with suppression, certain information may continue to appear on features such as registered *** offender lists, as a possible relative or associate in other individuals reports, or in phone and email search results.
For any further questions, please contact our ************************ at ************. We are available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. ET), excluding holidays.
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportInitial Complaint
Date:10/02/2025
Type:Customer Service IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Based on the available information from the consumer complaints with the Better Business Bureau and similarly to my experience, the ability to suppress the information on record does not reflect the date of birth. Often requiring a complaint with the Better Business Bureau after exhausting all other options. Submitting a request to opt-out and delete the information on record regarding my family from PeopleConnect and their service providers. At this time, there are multiple variations of my siblings name and profiles listed. Due to the unique nature of her name, her personal data has been listed using formal vs informal names,with and without her middle name and with or without spaces between her name. Please note, I have attached a pdf document specifying the details of each and every individual link, from how the names have been spelled, city location and age. Additionally, please see the attached images highlighting her information and url links in this complaint. ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ***********************************************************************************************************************
Business Response
Date: 10/03/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ***** ***, Complaint ID ********.
The information Instant Checkmate provides in reports is all publicly available information compiled from various public databases, government entities, commercial data providers, and other sources of public data. While we cannot remove specific records from a report, we do have the option to remove an entire background report from our site.
We were able to locate a background report and validate Ms. **** request based on the information provided in her complaint. We have gone ahead and suppressed the report pursuant to her request and our Terms. In addition, we have verified that the links submitted with the complaint no longer contain her siblings information.
This request to remove the background report from the Instant Checkmate website will be applied across the affiliated public-records search sites within the same corporate family, including ************, ***************, and ************.
Please note that our efforts do not affect whether the information will be available from other sources, including third-party sources of the information. Even if you suppress a background report, a name or related information may continue to appear in connection with certain features, such as registered *** offender lists, as a possible relative or associate in other individuals' reports, or in phone or email reports.
If Ms. *** has any further questions, she may contact our customer care department at ************. Our team is available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportCustomer Answer
Date: 10/03/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
Thank You
Initial Complaint
Date:10/01/2025
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
******************* PeopleConnect refuses to remove information in regards to my name from the internet. Including name, age, addresses, phone numbers, etc.
Business Response
Date: 10/01/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ***** ********, Complaint ID ********.
The information provided in Instant Checkmate reports originates from public records and other publicly available sources. While we cannot remove specific individual records from third-party databases, we do honor requests to remove an entire background report from our site.
Contrary to the customers statement, ********************** has never refused to assist with a removal request. We have not previously received any communication from Mr. ******** regarding this matter. Based on the details provided in this complaint, we located his background report and have now fully suppressed it pursuant to his request and our Terms. This suppression also applies across affiliated sites within our corporate family, including ************, ***************, and ************.
Please note that while we can suppress reports within our network, our efforts do not impact whether the same information may be available from other sources, including third-party data providers. In addition, even if a background report is suppressed, a name or other information may still appear in certain features, such as on government registries, as a possible relative or associate in other reports, or in phone or email lookups.
If Mr. ******** has additional questions, our customer care department is available at ************, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportInitial Complaint
Date:09/27/2025
Type:Product IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Instant Checkmate charged my credit card for membership/subscription services in the amount of $ ***** on 09-04-25, $ ***** on 09-04-25, and $ ***** on 09-18-25 for a total of $ *****. The company provides a background check service. I am disputing the charges because I cancelled all their services on 09-02-25. They sent emails to me confirming my cancellations on 09-02-25. This is the second time that I have tried to cancel their services. After the first time Instant Checkmate continued to charge my credit card in the amount of $ ***** every month. I want this company to refund $ ***** to me for the above referenced dates. Thank you.
Business Response
Date: 09/29/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ***** ******, Complaint ID ********.
Consistent with applicable laws, all material terms, including billing details and automatic renewal terms, are clearly disclosed before submitting payment information, and each user is required to check a box separately agreeing to those terms before being charged. Our billing terms are clearly explained on our registration page and in our Terms of Use. Customers also receive a confirmation email for any orders placed on the site.
We can confirm that the account registered under ******************* was canceled on September 2, 2025. The charge of $34.78 had already processed prior to that cancellation date, though it may have appeared later on the customers end. A refund for this charge has been issued. In addition, we located two additional active subscriptions tied to the customers information: one under ******************* (***** ******) and another under ************************ (***** ******). These accounts had not been canceled previously. Both have now been canceled, and we have issued refunds for their most recent charges. In total, we refunded $90.22 and issued a reversal for $29.63 that was still pending. No further charges will occur.
Please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department at ************ with any further questions. We are available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportCustomer Answer
Date: 09/29/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
Regards,
***** ******
Initial Complaint
Date:09/19/2025
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Requesting that PeopleConnect and their family of sites such as InstantCheckmate, TruthFinder, Intelius and Ussearch delete and remove my deceased grandfather "****** *****" information from their websites as required by the ***** Requesting that his information not be sold or shared with the public. I have copied and pasted the url link from the ************* Archive confirming he was laid to rest in April 2018 from page 16 which has been highlighted in red. Please see the attached images and url links displaying his information. **************************************************************************************************************** *****************************************************************************************************
Business Response
Date: 09/22/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ******** ***, Complaint ID ********.
The information available through Instant Checkmate is compiled from publicly available records, including government entities, commercial data providers, and other sources of public information. While we cannot remove individual records from their original sources, we are able to suppress entire background reports from our websites.
Based on the documentation provided, we located a background report for ****** *** and have processed the request to suppress this report in accordance with our Terms. This action applies across the PeopleConnect family of sites, including **************************, ***************, ************, and ************.
Please note that our suppression efforts do not impact the availability of information from other sources outside of our control. Additionally, even when a report is suppressed, certain information may still appear in specific contexts, such as possible relative or associate references in other individuals reports, or on government registries such as *** offender lists.
If you have additional questions, please contact our customer care department at ************. We are available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Holiday hours may vary.
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportCustomer Answer
Date: 09/22/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
Thank You
Initial Complaint
Date:09/15/2025
Type:Order IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Company refuses to accept request for removal of my identity from their website. They offer a form and process, but their final "Submit" button and page is purposefully broken. Thus denying EVERYONE their request.
Business Response
Date: 09/15/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by M T, Complaint ID ********.
Instant Checkmate is a public records search engine that displays publicly available information compiled from government entities, commercial data providers, and other public databases. While we cannot alter or remove individual records at the source, we do provide the option to suppress an entire background report from appearing on our site.
To request suppression, consumers may use our Suppression Tool at *****************************************************, then select ************************* and Manage My Suppression Rules. Some identifying information is required so we can accurately match the request to the correct record. Once validated, the suppression will also apply across all PeopleConnect affiliated sites, including ***************, ************, **************************, and ************.
We have not received enough information in this complaint to complete the request. The screenshot provided with the complaint shows that the record in question already appears suppressed. At times, an error message may appear if the report has already been removed from view. To verify, we kindly ask the consumer to provide us with a screenshot of their record as it appears on our site so we can investigate further and confirm the suppression.
If the consumer continues to experience issues, we recommend ensuring that no VPN is enabled, as VPNs can sometimes interfere with the process. We also encourage them to reach out directly via phone *************), email, or live chat so we can assist further. Our Customer Support team is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. ET). Holiday hours may vary.
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportInitial Complaint
Date:09/07/2025
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I tires out a couple of days@ trial, then cancelled before any subscription.They have been posting email saying they were going to bill me for subscription but I ignored as a scam email until they billed me Aug. t5 and Sept. 4 as if I had approved subscription
Business Response
Date: 09/08/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ***** ******, Complaint ID *********
Consistent with applicable laws, all material terms, including billing details and automatic renewal terms, are clearly disclosed before submitting payment information, and each user is required to check a box separately agreeing to those terms before being charged. Our billing terms are clearly outlined on our registration page and in our Terms of Use, and customers receive a confirmation email for any orders placed on the site.
After review, we were unable to locate any prior cancellation request from Mr. ******* To ensure this matter is resolved, we have canceled all memberships associated with his account and, as per our refund policy, issued a refund of $70.94 back to the payment method used to enroll. Please allow 35 business days for the credit to appear depending on the financial institution. No further charges will be incurred.
Please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department at ************ with any further questions. We are available to assist you during regular business hours, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. Holiday hours may vary.
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportInitial Complaint
Date:09/03/2025
Type:Sales and Advertising IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
The website for this company advertised a fee of $30 to sign up to use the service and then charged me $85. I immediately canceled and requested a refund and was denied. It is false advertising and bad business practice.
Business Response
Date: 09/04/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ****** *****, Complaint ID ********.
Consistent with applicable laws, all material terms, including billing details and automatic renewal terms, are clearly disclosed prior to submitting payment. Each user is required to check a box separately agreeing to these terms before completing an order. Our billing policies are also posted in our Terms of Use, and a confirmation email is automatically sent for every order placed.
At the time of sign-up, Ms. ***** selected our three-month subscription option. As stated on our pricing page **********************************************, this plan is billed upfront at the full three-month cost rather than a per-month fee.
Per Ms. ****** request, we have canceled the account. However, we are unable to issue a refund because Ms. ***** disputed the charge directly with her bank. Once a chargeback is filed, the funds are managed exclusively by the financial institution. Updates regarding the outcome will be provided to Ms. ***** directly by the bank. Generally, the dispute process takes four to five weeks.
Please note that Ms. ***** did not reach out to us prior to initiating the dispute. Had she contacted our Customer Support team directly, we would have reviewed her account and assisted her in understanding the subscription plan she selected.
We encourage any customer with questions about billing or service to contact our Customer Support team at ************. Our agents are available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate SupportCustomer Answer
Date: 09/05/2025
I disputed the charge with ****** not a bank and ****** denied my claim due to the business fought it.
the advertising is misleading and I never would have paid $85. They should clearly state the charges that will be charged instead of a one month price, they should advertise the 3 months they will be charging.
I still believe I deserve a refund. The claim with ****** was denied and has been closed. There is no 4-5 week waiting time and I did not dispute it with any bank, that is false information.
Business Response
Date: 09/25/2025
Dear **** *****,
We are writing in response to the consumer complaint filed by ****** *****, Complaint ID ********.
When signing up, customers are presented with multiple subscription options. The three-month plan selected by Ms. ***** clearly states that it is billed upfront for the full three-month term, and this acknowledgment is required before purchase is completed. A confirmation email is also sent immediately after sign-up reflecting the chosen plan and associated charges.
Ms. ***** disputed the transaction through ******. Once a charge is formally disputed, ****** manages the case directly, and we are unable to issue any additional refunds outside of their process. If she would like to pursue the matter further, she may reach out to ****** directly or, if applicable, the bank linked to her ****** account.
The membership tied to this transaction has already been canceled and deactivated, with no further charges to occur. Access to the account cannot be reinstated due to the dispute status.
If Ms. ***** has additional questions, our Customer Support team can be reached at ************, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. ET). (Holiday hours may vary.)
Sincerely,
Instant Checkmate Support
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