Single DUers: Would there be a market for this business idea I thought of?

[liberalhistorian]

As a 38-year-old never-married single parent I've been involved with my share of jerks and TWP's (Totally Wrong People). Some of them have really caused trouble in my life, particularly when there was a significant emotional and mental involvement on my part. Some were accomplished liars that even fooled my pretty sharp family and friends. And I've had friends and family who've dealt with the same thing, with both sexes, and, being single and involved in many singles groups, including my church's, I've heard countless horror stories about people who've married or gotten involved with TWP's who really pulled the wool over their eyes and caused a lot of trouble and problems and significant heartache and emotional wounds.

I know that if I, and the others, had known the person's true background beforehand, it would have saved a lot of trouble and prevented a lot of problems and heartache. As a paralegal who spent four years working for an employment investigation agency, I am thoroughly familiar with public records investigations, what's legally available and what isn't, etc., etc. And so I just had an idea for a business. Since you can find a tremendous amount of information about a person from public records and database searches, even including driving and some financial records, why not do background investigations on potential "significant others" for people who want to be sure they're not about to get seriously involved with someone who could drag them through hell emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially? Believe me, I've seen it happen often enough to know that even the smartest single men and women can get taken in, and I've had it happen to me.

One major possibility would be to do investigations for dating services, which have really proliferated these past several years. There are eight local branches of national dating services alone in my area, Northeastern Ohio (Cleveland), not to mention the local services. They can face serious liability problems in some cases; there was a case last year where a woman was stalked and harassed, and had money stolen from her, by someone she met through a "professional" dating service for "professionals", and it was a nationally-known service. It turned out he wasn't at all who he said he was, he'd been married multiple times with several domestic violence convictions, had filed bankruptcy twice, had filed frivolous lawsuits against past lovers, had been convicted of theft and fraud, and was not the professional he claimed to be, he had no professional license. Even his driving record was horrendous. Yet, he'd fooled everyone with his smooth charm and acting ability.

So, you see what I'm getting at. So, what do you think, am I just being foolish with this idea or is it something you think might work? I believe in old-fashioned romance as strongly as possible, but, at my age, I'm realizing that we have to be realistic.

[Stumbles]

1. Well, the problem i see with this is

that people change. Just because someone was arrested 10 years ago doesn't make them necessarily a bad mate today. This is similar to how i still cannot get a student loan or a decent job because i was convicted of selling pot in 1998. Totally clean since. Seems like a dating NCIC. I could see using it to screen for sex offences, violent crime etc, but basically anything like this sets off red flags IMHO.

[Booberdawg]

3. But that is STILL information that a potential mate should be aware of

[liberalhistorian]

9. I do see your point, and I agree that

that could be a problem. The important thing to do would be to put things like that in perspective in the background report. And if something happened five or ten years ago, and nothing's happened since, I think that would be a strong indication that it was an aberration and not the way the person is today.

I'm sorry you're having trouble because of one stupid pot conviction, that's ridiculous. This stupid, senseless, absurd, fascist drug war simply has to end.

[Booberdawg]

2. Sounds like an excellent idea!

In fact I've heard of such things already. The trick would just be to market it through the dating service and possibly other sources as well because I see a market for your service for those who don't use the dating service.

Good luck!

[Cha]

4. I think it's an idea whose time has come!

And you could be the one to pull if off! :-)

[liberalhistorian]

6. I'm glad to see a lot of encouragement!

I've talked to a lot of people in my own circle who feel the same way. Maybe it's time for me to develop a serious, detailed business plan. Guess I'd better go buy Business Plans for Dummies tomorrow!

[Kat45]

5. I've heard that a lot of people do check out potential 'dates'

by using investigative services. So I'd say there is a market, and the way you're suggesting marketing this could work. I'd suggest doing a little research to see if there are already folks in this business.

[liberalhistorian]

7. Research is a good suggestion that I've thought of,

I think that even if there are others doing it, which I'm currently not aware of, I may be able to find my own "specialty niche" or unique way of doing it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. This is already a common practice in Japan,

where one doesn't want one's self and one's family "shamed" by association with an unscrupulous person.

It can be useful to know a person's background. To give an example of a non-romantic situation, the previous parish I attended hired a music director. The priest we had at the time was supposed to have a background check done, but for some reason did not do so. The music director appeared to be doing a great job for about two years--until he was arrested for B&E and vandalism while under the influence of a combination of meth and LSD.

We were all shocked, because he had always behaved himself on the job. But the background check would have revealed a string of arrests in another state for similar escapades.

Personally, I have a pretty good "creep detector" and have never actually gotten involved with a sociopath or an addict or con man of any kind. But I certainly have friends who could have used such a service.

[liberalhistorian]

11. That's the sad thing, even really smart

men and women get taken in by people skilled at being cons. I'm better at detecting that than I was when I was younger, but still not as good as I should be!

[Cheswick2.0]

10. It sounds like a great idea

make a business plan, there should be some information on the net and with local womens business association about what should be included. Then apply for a small business loan. I'm telling you, don't shut yourself of doing simple contracts, no fault divorce, wills etc......

Teresa

[liberalhistorian]

12. The local businesswomen's association, that's a great

suggestion, thanks!

[dweller]

13. Why not put the plan into play before

the potential member could join the group as a participant. IOW, exclusive membership to those who have already passed the background, make it part of the fee/screening to even join.
Then as a member you'd have the assurance that all of the potential mates are cleared, as you yourself were, etc.
Sounds exclusive, but frankly, some would pay for the peace of mind.

not that i'd join. I'm trust my senses about things like this and have been both lucky and unlucky depending how well i listen and trust my inner gut feelings. Not that it works 100% for me, but then, romance like life, is a chance sometimes.

good luck with your endeavors.
dp

[prolesunited]

15. If you go with a prescreened pool of applicants

I would include a blood test to screen for AIDS or other blood-borne diseases like hepatitis.

[Demobrat]

14. I think it's a great idea.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who would love to be able to check out a "potential" without actually going so far as to hire a detective. Especially if the cost was realistic and didn't involve having the person tailed or anything like that. You know the old saying "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is". That could be your slogan.