Amazon Flex Background Check – What You Need To Know
If you want to be able to enjoy the flexible hours and $18/hr minimum pay of working for Amazon Flex, you are first going to have to pass the Amazon Flex background check, or I guess I should say “checks” (plural) because there are 2 of them which include a comprehensive criminal background check as well as a motor vehicle background check.
The background checks come into play after you have initially signed up to drive for Amazon Flex, been contacted for interest, filled out their survey, and been invited to download the app.
It is once you have the app that you will be able to sign in and provide you driver’s license and SSN so that they can run the two background checks.
Who Conducts The Background Checks?
As for the motor vehicle background check, I am unsure, but for the criminal background check Amazon contracts a third party service called Accurate Background to run the background checks for their employees and partners.
Once you have submitted your information through the Amazon Flex app for the background check, that info is then forwarded to Accurate Background to run the check.
If you have made a mistake and put in incorrect information, then you have to contact Accurate Background directly instead of Amazon.
You can contact them at 800-216-8024
How Long Does It Take?
Amazon tells you that it should only take 2-4 days for the background check to clear, but this is just a general time range. It could take a lot longer depending on what your background is.
If you have a clean background and have provided all the correct information, then it should clear pretty fast. But if you have a background full of offenses that Accurate Background has to look into, then it could take a lot longer. You may even be contacted by Accurate Background to about past offenses that you have had.
I have heard of it taking up to a month to be cleared from those with complicated backgrounds and many offenses.
Still Pending?
There is no way to know how far along the background check is. Once you submit your SSN and give consent for them to run the check all you can do is sit back and wait. In the Flex app it will show up as pending when the background check is still in progress.
If your check is taking longer than you think it should and you are worried about it, the only advice I can give is to contact Accurate Background at their 800-216-8024 support number.
How Far Back Does The Check Go?
For the criminal background check, Accurate Background will check your history back 7 years. This is the same as related jobs such as Uber and seems to be the industry standard.
If you have been convicted of criminal offenses in this time range you may not be qualified for the job.
Note: I have however heard cases of the background check missing offenses, so it may still be in your interest to apply since it only takes a few minutes.
The Type Of Offenses Make A Difference
Amazon nor Accurate Background give specifics as to what types of offenses and incidents they will let slide and what types will be prohibited. But the type offense does matter.
Amazon does NOT hire felons of any kind as far as I know from my research. You may be able to get an Amazon job as a felon going through certain job agencies, but this doesn’t apply to the Amazon Flex driver positions.
As for misdemeanors, you have a chance of getting hired even if they have occurred in the past 7 years. Minor motor vehicle offenses also will not ruin your chances of being hired.
How Do You Know When The Background Checks Have Cleared?
You won’t be receiving any email or anything when your background check clears. So how will you know?
Well when you open up the Amazon Flex app there will be a list of things that have to be completed before you are officially a driver. These include…
- Background Check
- Tax (info)
- Payment Information
- Videos (training)
When the background check is still being conducted, it will say “pending” next to it. And when it is competed there will be a green check mark beside it.
Will You Pass?
If you have a clean record then of course you are going to pass. But if you have offenses on your criminal record or accidents on your driving record, then you probably aren’t.
You won’t pass with any felonies in the past 7 years, and you won’t pass with certain misdemeanors. But there are minor offenses that you will be able to pass with.
The only real way to find out if you pass or not is to sign up for Amazon Flex and find out. There is no reason not to do so unless you are positive that you won’t pass. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and it doesn’t cost you anything.
What’s The Next Step After You Pass
Honestly I don’t think many people will have the problem of not being able to pass. Most will be able to with flying colors.
If you are one of those who do pass then you can immediately start to work.
The next step would be to set your availability calendar inside the app. This lets Amazon know when you are available to work and they will assign you “blocks” or shifts when they want you to deliver for them.
Note: You may get assigned a low amount of blocks or even none at all. This is because there are a lot of Flex drivers and not enough blocks available. However, you can pick up more Amazon Flex blocks and you can learn how to do that here.
Do you have anything to share about a personal experience with the Amazon Flex background check? Comments? Questions? Leave them below in the comment section and I’ll get back to you soon 🙂
