Me and my husband both were in the Boy Scouts. And, you had to have background checks. Also, two-deep leadership if anyone was under the age of 18 years of age. I didn't mine. It was for my protection. As well as for others.

So, I think it should be done.

Also, I saw somewhere that there are "make-believe" paranormal investigators going around to people's homes. And, robbing them. Gee, I wish I knew where I read that. Did someone else saw the same thing?

There is a local carpet cleaning company that advertises that every one of their employees is background checked and drug tested. I've seen it in marketing with other services that come into your home, as well. I would say that, in a free marketplace, doing something like this that give you a leg-up over the competition. So maybe the answer is that people can elect to do this or not and then let the free marketplace work things out. Yes. I realize that sounds extremely libertarian.

I agree wholeheartly with this. Ppl should know who is coming into their homes but I also get my hackles up with too much knowledge of ppl's personal lives. The government is becoming way too

intrusive in some places. I do understand why ppl would want to know who they're dealing with though.

I think there's more than just seeing documentation--though that would be one thing I looked for. I'd want personal references, too--from people I know--before I'd let someone into my home--esp if they were investigating without me there. Also, group affiliations, reputation, ect…

LOL Then again, I'm slightly neurotic and I might just hide spy cams everywhere and watch everything they do while they do it. /ohmy.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />

Michelle, that's one thing you wouldn't have to worry about with my group. The client is required to be on scene at all times. If they leave for some reason we either pack up or suspend the investigation till they get back.

Oh, I hope no one took me to mean them directly. /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' /> I didn't. I was thinking hypothetical stranger group.

Sounds like a good policy. On the other side of things, as a group I could see not wanting to get blamed for things--broken objects, missing things--that you didn't do. I'd like to think that most people are honest and easy to work with as an investigator, but it always just takes one… /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Out of curiosity… Any of the investigators have problems with clients?

I think this is a great idea, but it makes me wonder about all the people we let into our homes; the pool guy, exterminators,

heating and air repairmen, etc. How many of these people have background checks prior to coming into our homes?

I just watched something about this. One of the news shows had gone undercover with Kirby Vacuum dealers who, as a company, claim to do background checks on all their employees. What they found was pretty scary. Salesmen were getting high and drinking in route to their sales appointments and many had serious criminal records. When the owners of the dealerships were confronted with the tape of their salesmen getting high and drunk while driving they were asked to show proof that they had indeed done a background check….they couldn't. In most cases they had not done the background check at all.

So I wonder if just asking is really enough. /dry.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I guess you'd have to define background check. Are they counting asking "are you cool" as checking? I see it advertised a lot with cleaning/maid services around here.