Kind of an odd requirement.  Did they offer an explanation as to why they have this new policy in place? 

I would be unwilling to submit to a background check simply because a client asked for it particularly without giving me a reasonable explanation why.  I can understand why an inhouse position might require a background check; but requiring it for freelance work doesn't sound right to me.

There's also the issue of confidentiality.  Where is First American keeping the data  & just who will have access to it & what about  the company doing the work?  Who are they & what is their reputation?  What do they do to safeguard the information & who there has access to it?  This doesn't pass the smell test for me.  Too many holes where personal information can leak out - even if there's nothing in your past - why let yet another corporate entity have access to your social security number & other information. 

& then there's the whole issue of who is being asked to pay for this background check.  Not that I'm the least bit cynical, but I'm going to take 3 guesses - pass on two of them & with the one guess left to me say that it's you they want to have pay for this.  If that's the case, then it really doesn't pass the smell test.