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Is the issue the cost of fingerprint checks? Can't fingerprint checks be made cheaper? Isn't there a YC company that is in the background check business? Edi

Is the issue the cost of fingerprint checks? Can't fingerprint checks be made cheaper? Isn't there a YC company that is in the background check business? Edit: Ah yes, https://checkr.com/ https://checkr.com/

pdq 10y ago
An instant nationwide fingerprint background check would have a big market opportunity. Not sure why that hasn't been created yet (to my knowledge). Checkr is just a standard background check, of which Uber/Lyft already do similar checks.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  Because where such checks are required, they are usually required to be done at a state-certified location of the state of the jurisdiction imposing the requirement, with checks against specific state and federal databases.
  - laurentoget 10y ago
    As others have pointed, the UPS Stores provide fingerprinting services in many places.
BinaryIdiot 10y ago
> Is the issue the cost of fingerprint checks? Can't fingerprint checks be made cheaper? The logistics and costs are both high. Honestly I'm all for background checks but fingerprinting is completely unrealistic. There are a lot of on-demand services nowadays some of which drive you places, others go into your home. I can't imagine Uber and Lyft will be the only ones required to do fingerprinting eventually. Someone has to come up with a better way of doing this, remotely, otherwise it's simply not realistic in my opinion. > Isn't there a YC company that is in the background check business? Edit: Ah yes, https://checkr.com/ https://checkr.com/ Yeah but checkr doesn't do fingerprinting either.
- jevinskie 10y ago
  I don't see why fingerprinting has to be such a hassle. It wasn't for me. I was able to schedule, online, an appointment with my sheriff's department, get digitally fingerprinted, and background checked all within five days for under $50. Granted, the privacy aspect is the ever-present issue.
  - BinaryIdiot 10y ago
    > I was able to schedule, online, an appointment with my sheriff's department, get digitally fingerprinted, and background checked all within five days for under $50. I think you just described a good part of the hassle. Not everyone driving for Uber / Lyft have $50 to use for fingerprinting services and a similar cost, even heavily discounted, represents a significant cost to the companies if they're covering it. Then you have the whole part where, currently, anyone can pick up people and provide lots of supply for the customer demand but if they all have to wait that introduces a huge amount of friction (so less drivers). Granted this is just in the city of Austin so it's possible to handle it without great difficulty. But if this were to apply across the nation? That would be devastating for the businesses.
    - laurentoget 10y ago
      People who drive for Lyft/Uber need a newer car with insurance and registration. The cost and regulatory burden of getting a background check is not significant in comparison to a car payment.
      - BinaryIdiot 10y ago
        You need to have that regardless to drive. You're missing the big part of Uber and Lyft's model: anyone who wants extra cash can sign up and start driving people. If someone wants extra cash for a weekend then realized they need to go get fingerprinting done which could take a week then they're a missed opportunity.
  - drauh 10y ago

pdq 10y ago

An instant nationwide fingerprint background check would have a big market opportunity. Not sure why that hasn't been created yet (to my knowledge). Checkr is just a standard background check, of which Uber/Lyft already do similar checks.

dragonwriter 10y ago
Because where such checks are required, they are usually required to be done at a state-certified location of the state of the jurisdiction imposing the requirement, with checks against specific state and federal databases.
- laurentoget 10y ago
  As others have pointed, the UPS Stores provide fingerprinting services in many places.

BinaryIdiot 10y ago

> Is the issue the cost of fingerprint checks? Can't fingerprint checks be made cheaper? The logistics and costs are both high. Honestly I'm all for background checks but fingerprinting is completely unrealistic. There are a lot of on-demand services nowadays some of which drive you places, others go into your home. I can't imagine Uber and Lyft will be the only ones required to do fingerprinting eventually. Someone has to come up with a better way of doing this, remotely, otherwise it's simply not realistic in my opinion. > Isn't there a YC company that is in the background check business? Edit: Ah yes, https://checkr.com/ https://checkr.com/ Yeah but checkr doesn't do fingerprinting either.

jevinskie 10y ago
I don't see why fingerprinting has to be such a hassle. It wasn't for me. I was able to schedule, online, an appointment with my sheriff's department, get digitally fingerprinted, and background checked all within five days for under $50. Granted, the privacy aspect is the ever-present issue.
- BinaryIdiot 10y ago
  > I was able to schedule, online, an appointment with my sheriff's department, get digitally fingerprinted, and background checked all within five days for under $50. I think you just described a good part of the hassle. Not everyone driving for Uber / Lyft have $50 to use for fingerprinting services and a similar cost, even heavily discounted, represents a significant cost to the companies if they're covering it. Then you have the whole part where, currently, anyone can pick up people and provide lots of supply for the customer demand but if they all have to wait that introduces a huge amount of friction (so less drivers). Granted this is just in the city of Austin so it's possible to handle it without great difficulty. But if this were to apply across the nation? That would be devastating for the businesses.
  - laurentoget 10y ago
    People who drive for Lyft/Uber need a newer car with insurance and registration. The cost and regulatory burden of getting a background check is not significant in comparison to a car payment.
    - BinaryIdiot 10y ago
      You need to have that regardless to drive. You're missing the big part of Uber and Lyft's model: anyone who wants extra cash can sign up and start driving people. If someone wants extra cash for a weekend then realized they need to go get fingerprinting done which could take a week then they're a missed opportunity.
- drauh 10y ago