SSN Trace (Social Security number Trace) is a pointer search that searches various commercially available data sources to establish a candidate’s address history. Checkr uses SSN Trace to obtain candidate address history as well as aliases to inform subsequent background searches.
SSN Trace exceptions happen if there is a material discrepancy between submitted candidate information and information that the SSN Trace returned. The SSN Trace exception handling process is designed to address these discrepancies as they happen.
SSN Trace exception types
Checkr issues 6 types of SSN Trace exceptions. Resolution paths are based on the type of data discrepancy.
|
Exception |
Reason |
Resolution |
|
Unable to Proceed |
Checkr can't proceed with the report based on the SSN provided. |
The candidate receives an email request to confirm their SSN. If the report can't proceed, it will suspend. Incomplete searches automatically cancel after 30 days. |
|
SSN Issuance Year Mismatch |
The entered SSN was issued in a year before the candidate's birth year. |
The candidate receives an email request to confirm their SSN. If the report can't proceed, it will suspend. Incomplete searches automatically cancel after 30 days. |
|
Data Mismatch |
The information returned from the SSN Trace doesn't match the candidate-provided information. |
The candidate receives an email request to confirm their SSN. If the report can't proceed, it will suspend. Incomplete searches automatically cancel after 30 days. |
|
No Data/Thin File |
No address history was returned from the SSN Trace. This situation is typically called a "thin-file" case, which is common for young or underbanked people. |
The candidate receives an email request to confirm their SSN. If no data is returned for the confirmed SSN, the report will indicate that the SSN Trace returned no data and will be marked Complete. |
|
Name Mismatch |
The candidate’s birth date matches the data from the SSN Trace, but the name doesn't. |
The candidate receives an email request to upload a photo of their government ID. If the report can't proceed, it will suspend. Incomplete searches automatically cancel after 30 days. |
|
DOB Mismatch |
The candidate’s name matches the data from the SSN Trace, but the birth date doesn't. |
The candidate receives an email request to upload a photo of their government ID. If the report can't proceed, it will suspend. Incomplete searches automatically cancel after 30 days. |
Note
In some rare cases, when candidates dispute the exception following confirmation (by claiming that the SSN submitted was correct and the SSN Trace data returned were erroneous), Checkr team members can manually override the suspension if the candidate can produce documentation, such as an SSN card, that ties the SSN to their name.
If the SSN Trace returns no birth date and there are no matches between the submitted and the returned candidate name, Checkr handles the lack of birth date as a date-of-birth mismatch, and flags a Data Mismatch exception.