What is Respond?

Respond is a unique tool for business that is over burdened by the ever increasing demand for VOE's on current and former employees. Respond answers all those requests from perspective employers, lenders, third party verifiers and government agencies. Respond also is a tool for human resource departments for sending off separation, benefit notices and others.

What information can be released to those requesting on my current or former employees?

Respond releases the information that the employer requires either by policy or because of federal or state regulations. From the simple position, dates and duties and regulatory required information for regulated employers under FMCSA, PHMSA, USCG, FAA, and NRC. Respond also answers those requests from lenders or government agencies that need to verify wage and employment tenure.

Are the Respond services expensive?

No. For as little as 9-cents per employee it is the most cost effective solution today

How do I tell a requester to contact Respond?

That is the easy part. You have some easy options for forwarding those requests for information to us. You can set up a voice mail with our contact information. Place a link on your web page, or simply tell a caller to call Respond.

How do you ensure the request is from an actual lender, government agency or perspective employers?

Every requester has to first create an account at 2VERIFI.COM. All accounts are verified along with the requester for lender or government agency. The requester then is required to upload the proper release forms. The forms are checked for the required information and signature. Once the forms have been reviewed and approved and an email notice is sent the requester that their form is ready for pickup. The requester then logs back into Respond to retrieve the form. By such a system Respond maintains a proper record and paper trail of who requested the information, proper authenticated release forms, and the requester is the only person that can retrieve the form when we have released the form for pickup.

Why does Respond follow such a stringent format?

We work hard to exceed the requirements of FCRA, FTC, CPBS, and Safe Harbor along with other federal and state statutes such as FMCSA, PHMSA, PRIA, and DOT. This is done for the protection of our clients, requestors and the applicants.

How long does Respond maintain the paperwork?

All records and logs are archived in our Information Management System (IMS) and are available for reviewing by our clients for a period of five years. While some regulations only require a two year period a more stringent requirement under Safe Harbor (U.S. Department of Commerce) requires a five year record retention for any record that has been challenged by an applicant or the individual on which a request has been made.

Is Respond in compliance with any federal or state statutes?

Respond is required under our agreements with FMCSA, DOT, Safe Harbor, PRIA, and Department of Homeland Security to comply with all laws as they apply to the MOU on file with these agencies. What this means is, in the event, you are audited by any of those organizations, or any other, we maintain all the required document according to law and are able to show Due Diligence as the Service Agent for your organization that requests and reports have been properly received, reviewed, sent, saved and logged.

How is Respond classified under federal rules?

Respond falls under several classifications. The first being a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) under FCRA Section 603(f), Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP/FMCSA.gov) as a Industry Service Provider, Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA 14 CFR parts 121, 125 and 135), Federal Motor Carriers Safety Act (FMCSA Subpart C 391.23) Department of Transportation (DOT) Part 40.25, Safe Harbor (U.S. Department of Commerce) and various State Statutes.

If a report is requested how is the employer notified?

When an employer registers for Respond they can set their controls for report notification at the client console. If an employer wants notification they will receive an email that a report was requested, on whom and by whom.

How long does it take to turn reports around to the requestor?

Generally reports are returned within 24-hours as long as the forms presented are compliant with the various laws.

If a form is shown not to be valid are reports still released?

If a form is shown not to be compliant then the requestor must fill out an affidavit (supplied by Respond). Once the affidavit is completed and reviewed then the report is processed and requestor notified via email that their report is ready for pickup.

Does the applicant receive notice that a report has been requested on them?

Great question. While the applicant has signed and dated the various release forms that are often required under FCRA, DOT, PRIA, lending etc Respond sends and electronic notice to the applicant individual on who and when a report request was made. This is part of our due diligence and it also enables the applicant individual to contact Respond with a corresponding order number if they have questions.