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FAQ - Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions


How does iHonest perform a criminal record check?

iHonest has partnered with The Observa Agency, a third-party agency for partnerships with Canadian Police Services for conducting Name-Based Criminal Record Checks. When you submit your identification, consent form and self-declaration form (optional) to iHonest, a Canadian Police Service performs a check with the Canadian Police Information Centre and informs iHonest of the result. iHonest then publishes that on your member profile and allows you to share your profile with your prospects and clients.

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Does iHonest allow membership for people with criminal records?

Yes - iHonest does not restrict membership to anyone with a criminal record. If someone has an existing criminal record when they apply for iHonest membership, they will be required to submit a certified criminal record check through a police department, including fingerprinting. A list of criminal convictions/charges from the criminal record check, including date & place of sentence will be displayed on their iHonest member profile.

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Is iHonest similar to the Better Business Bureau?

No - iHonest does not endorse or recommend any of its members. iHonest provides 3rd-party verification of its members criminal records and association memberships & designations. iHonest also does not field complaints about our members or rate them in any form. All of the verified information on our members profiles is purely factual and does not constitute an opinion, endorsement or recommendation in any way. iHonest helps you decide who to work with by verifying unbiased factual information on its members.

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Is iHonest similar to other background check services?

No - other background check services only work for employers performing background checks on their potential new employees. iHonest was started to meet the needs of self-employed professionals who want to establish trust and credibility and be sure they're working with others who are trustworthy and transparent.

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How can I trust iHonest? Who regulates iHonest and its practices?

Criminal Record Checks are regulated by a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Police Information Centre, with individual police services regulating and performing audits. Privacy and security is of utmost concern at iHonest, for more information please see our Privacy Policy. The iHonest website is PCI-Compliant, secured and encrypted via Comodo SSL and payments are securely processed and regulated by Evalon / InternetSecure.

iHonest practices and promotes transparency in business. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

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Does iHonest check criminal records from other countries?

No, iHonest only performs a criminal record check in Canada. Immigrants working in Canada are required to submit a police check from their home country to Immigration Canada.

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I have been asked to provide copies of 2 pieces of identification. What ID is acceptable?

In order to process a request for a Name-Based Criminal Record Check with CPIC, our partner Police Services must be in receipt of two (2) pieces of identification for the individual being screened. Both pieces of ID must be clear and legible, with at least 1 piece being government-issued photo identification, and include the applicant's name, date of birth, and signature. Both pieces of Identification must show the same information.
Examples of acceptable government-issued Photo ID:

  • Driver's License (issued by Canadian province/territory or foreign Driver's License)
  • Passport
  • Provincial Identification (e.g. BCID)
  • Canadian Citizenship Card
  • Permanent Resident (PR) Card
  • Certificate of Indian Status
  • Student Identity Card from a foreign institute
  • Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC)
  • Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB) Identification Card
  • Federal, Provincial or Municipal Identification Card
  • Military Family Identification Card (MFID)

NOTE: Canadian Health Cards and Social Insurance Number (SIN) are not acceptable for identification purposes.

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What happens if a member is convicted of a criminal offense while they are a member of iHonest?

iHonest members are required to disclose any new criminal convictions on their criminal record to iHonest within 30 days of the conviction being made. Either a new, Name-Based Criminal Record Check with self-declaration or a Certified Criminal Record Check will be required at that time to verify the details of the criminal record which will be displayed on the member's iHonest.com profile. Failure to disclose the existence of new convictions to iHonest within 30 days is basis for cancellation of membership. iHonest performs a criminal record check once a year on all members and all profiles display the last date that the criminal record check results were received by iHonest.

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Are there any extra fees above the annual membership cost?

There are no extra fees for members who perform one Name-Based Criminal Record Check per membership renewal. There may be extra charges if the information you submitted was inaccurate or illegible, if you are convicted of new offences during your iHonest membership or for additional self-declarations. Members who must obtain a Certified Criminal Record Check are responsible for any fees that police services may charge.

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