How to Verify a security guard company’s credentials?

When hiring a security guard company, you trust them with sensitive responsibilities. Hiring an unverified or unreliable company can put you at risk.

So verifying a company guard company’s credentials is important to ensuring the safety and protection of your property, assets, and people.

Unverified companies lack proper training licensing, and or insurance, potentially leading to liability issues, poor service quality, and legal issues.

This article aims to provide clear guidance on how to verify a security guard company credentials, to make sure that you make the right decision in selecting the right security service provider for your needs.

Following these steps, you can ensure you’re hiring a professional, trustworthy, and compliant company that will meet your security expectations.

Why Verifying Credentials of a security guard company is Important?

Hiring a licensed security guard company is crucial for ensuring that you receive high-quality, reliable, and legally compliant services.

The credential of a security guard company represents their ability to perform their duties professionally, safely, and within the boundaries of the law.

Moreover, without proper verification, you risk engaging a company that may not have the appropriate training, experience, or legal authorization to perform security duties effectively.

Proper credentials offer several benefits, including:

1. Professionalism and Reliability: A licensed security guard company has passed necessary regulations and standards, ensuring that they have trained and qualified personnel. That helps the security person to handle critical situations.
2. Legal Compliance: Proper credentials indicate that the company is attached to local, state, or national security laws. This reduces the risk of potential legal issues.
3. Insurance and Liability Protection: An insured company will cover any possible losses or incidents that may occur while security guards are on duty.

Issues Arising from Hiring Unverified Companies

Hiring an unverified security company can lead to several serious consequences, such as: 

1. Legal Liabilities: Without proper licensing and insurance, you may be accountable for any incident that occurs. For instance, if a security guard injures someone while performing their duties, you could be liable for compensation.
2. Inexperienced or underqualified Guards: Unverified or incompetent skilled security personnel can compromise the effectiveness of your security services, making your property or events more prone to threats. 
3. Poor Service Quality: Companies that do not look ever may lack commitments to high standards, resulting in poor customer services or insufficient response during emergencies.

Key Credentials to Verify

When hiring a security guard company, verifying their credentials is important to ensure you are receiving professional, legal, and reliable services. The following are the key credentials to check before making your decision:

• Licensing
• Insurance 
• Certification and Training 
• Background Checks
• Industry Experience and Reputations

Verifying these key credentials helps you to hire professional personnel to a company that can provide the safety and protection you need.

Steps to Verify a Security Guard Company’s Credentials

You can use the following steps to verify the credentials of a security company:

1. Research the Company Online: Start by researching the company’s online presence to get an initial sense of its legitimacy and reputation. Search through company website, online reviews, and ratings you can also search through social media.
2. Contact Regulatory Bodies: To ensure that a company is licensed and working legally, reach out to the relevant regulatory bodies and all licensing authorities in your areas and region. In the U.S companies are typically regulated by the state-level department while in UK the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is responsible for licensing security companies. In Pakistan, security companies must be registered with the local authorities under the Private Security Companies Ordinance.
3. Verify the Company’s License: Once you identify the relevant licensing body, contact them directly to verify the company’s license number and ensure it is active and valid. Most regulatory bodies provide online verification tools where you can search for licensed companies by their name or license number.
4. Request Documentation: Requesting and reviewing documentation from the security guard company is essential to ensured that they meet legal and professional standards.
   • Documents to Request:
     • License Copy
     • Insurance Certificates  
     • Training Records
5. Ask for References:  Speaking directly to past or current clients is an excellent way to assess the quality of service provided by the security company. Questions to ask References:
   • How satisfied were you with the company’s security services?
   • Did these security guards show professionalism and reliability?
   • Where there any issue with the security guard’s performance? And if so, how were they resolved?
   • Would you refer this company to others?
   • Where there any issue with the guard’s performance and if so how they will resolve 
   • How did the company handle emergencies?
6. Visit the Company’s Office: An in-person visit to the security company’s office can provide valuable insight into their operations, professionalism, and commitment to quality. It will also help you to assess professionalism, transparency, operations, and resources.

Red Flags to Watch Out For:

When hiring a security guard company, it’s important to be vigilant and watch for warning signs that may indicate an unreliable or unverified provider. Following are some red flags to be aware of, as well as tips on how to avoid falling victim to scam

1. Lack of Proper Documentation: One of the first signs of a questionable security company is a lack of proper documentation. A good and reputable security company should have no issue providing copies of:
   • Licenses
   • Insurance
2. Negative Reviews and Poor Reputation: Before hiring a security company, it’s important to research their reputation online. Negative reviews, complaints, or resolved disputes on Google, yelp or industries-specific forums should raise concerns.
3. Unwillingness to Provide References: A good reputable security guard company should readily provide references from their past client. If a company hesitates or refuses to provide references, it may be a sign that they have something wrong.
4. Vague or Unclear Service Agreements: Another sign of an unreliable security company is vague contact. If the terms of service, security duties, or pricing are not clearly defined, this could be a sign that the company is attempting to poor service quality.​
5. High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Be cautious of companies that use high-pressure sales tactics to close deals quickly. This might not always indicate fraud it can be a Red flag for unreliable companies who prefer profit over client satisfaction
6. Lack of Proper Security Equipment and Technology: Professional security companies should have the necessary tools and technology to handle security duties effectively. This may include:
   • Surveillance camera and monitoring system
   • Communication tools for guards to report incidents or emergencies like wireless.
   • Access control systems to monitor entrances and exits.
7. Poor Communication and Customer Service: The lack of clear communication or poor customer service is a major red flag. If the company fails to respond to client’s inquiries in a timely manner, it could signal poor management and a lack of professionalism.

How to Avoid Falling for Scams or Subpar Services?

Verify Credentials: Always double-check the company’s credentials, including licensing, insurance, and certifications, as discussed before.

• Read the Fine Print: Make sure to properly read contracts and service agreements before signing. 
• Do Your Research: Look at online reviews, search and ask for references, and talk to other businesses or organizations that have used the company’s services.
• Delay in Responses: Be cautious if the company doesn’t respond quickly and timely to emails or phone calls.
• Unprofessional Interaction: Pay attention to how representatives communicate. Rude or unprofessional behavior should not be acceptable.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored the important step for verifying a security guard company’s credentials before hiring. We have highlighted the importance of ensuring that the company is licensed, insured, and properly trained to handle your security needs.

Verified credentials like licenses, insurance, background checks, and certification are very important to ensure professionalism, reliability, and legal compliance.

By following the steps mentioned above such as researching the company’s online contracting regulatory bodies, requesting documentation, and checking references you can avoid the risk associated with hiring an unverified security provider.

In conclusion, always keep in mind the above point when selecting a security guard company. Verifying their credentials ensures that you can choose the right person for your organization.

General FAQs

What is the importance of a security guard company’s license?  

A security guard company’s license is proof that the company meets the local and legal requirements set by the local authorities. It ensures that the company operates legally and that its staff is properly trained. Hiring a licensed company helps reduce the risk related to qualified personnel and ensures compliance with local laws.

How do I verify a security guard company’s insurance?  

To verify a securities guard company’s insurance, ask for a copy of their insurance certificate. These documents should have detailed the type of coverage the company holds, such as liability and worker’s compensation.

What certifications should a security guard company have?  

A reputable security guard company should hold the following certifications such as first aid, CPR, conflict resolution, and specialized security training. These certifications ensured that the guards were well-trained to handle various emergencies

How can I check if a security guard company has a good reputation?  

To access a company’s reputation, check online reviews and references on platforms like Google Yelp, and specialized security industry directions. Also, ask the company for references from past clients. Ask these clients about their experiences and the quality of the services provided.

What documents should I request from a security guard company?  

When verifying a security guard company, request the following documents:

• License: A copy of the company’s security license issued by the regulatory authorities.
• Insurance Certificates: Proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
• Training Records: Certification of security guard training, including specialized skills (e.g., first aid).

What are the risks of hiring an unverified security guard company?  

Having an unverified security guard company can expose you to various risks including legal abilities, poor surface quality, and repetition damage.

How do I contact regulatory bodies to verify a company’s license?  

To verify a company’s license, contact the relevant regulatory body or licensing authority in your region. This may be a local police department, state regulatory agency, or private security authority. You can typically find contact information on their official website. They can confirm whether the security company is properly licensed and in good standing.