Applying for a job today often involves more than just submitting your resume. Many employers now rely on advanced background checks to screen candidates, pulling detailed information that goes far beyond a basic criminal record search. These advanced background services can include credit data, employment verification, and even personal identifiers that are prone to error.
If you’re a jobseeker, an inaccurate report can become a major barrier to employment. This is especially true when you’re unaware the mistake even exists. For individuals who’ve experienced job delays or offer withdrawals, uncovering errors in background reports can be a crucial step toward correcting the record and moving forward.
How Background Checks Affect Job Seekers
Advanced background checks are used in many hiring processes, especially when the role involves handling sensitive information, finances, or public safety. These checks might pull information from multiple sources, including court records, credit files, education history, and previous employment. While they’re meant to help employers make responsible decisions, mistakes in these reports can result in lost job opportunities, even for fully qualified applicants.
Errors may include criminal charges that belong to someone else, outdated convictions, or records that were supposed to be sealed or expunged. In some cases, the problem lies in data entry or matching algorithms that confuse two individuals with similar names. These types of errors are inconvenient and can damage your professional reputation and create long-term setbacks.
Understanding Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives jobseekers important protections when a background report is used during the hiring process. Employers are required to inform you if they plan to run a background check, and you have the right to see a copy of the report before any adverse hiring decision is made. Most importantly, the FCRA gives you the ability to dispute errors and requires the background check company to investigate and correct inaccurate data.
Despite these protections, many jobseekers are unfamiliar with their rights and may not realize they can push back when false or misleading information appears in a background report. That’s why understanding the FCRA and how it applies to your situation is a key part of protecting yourself.
What to Do if Your Background Check Contains Errors
If you’ve been denied a job or feel a background check may have influenced a hiring delay, request a copy of the report right away. You are legally entitled to receive it if the report was used in the hiring decision. Once you have the report, review it carefully for signs of misinformation. This might include unfamiliar addresses, employers you never worked for, or criminal offenses that do not apply to you.
Next, file a dispute with the background check company. Provide as much documentation as possible to support your claim, such as court documents showing dismissed charges or letters from previous employers confirming your work history. The company is required to respond within a set period, but delays and communication gaps are unfortunately common. In complex cases, especially those involving mixed files or identity theft, additional support may be needed to ensure errors are properly corrected.
Why Background Check Errors Happen
Advanced background services often pull data from a wide range of public and private sources. While this level of detail can be helpful for employers, it also increases the chances of errors. Data may be outdated, pulled from the wrong file, or misinterpreted by automated systems. In some cases, reports include expunged records that should no longer appear or criminal records from individuals with similar names or birthdates.
When these errors happen, they’re often outside the applicant’s control. However, they still carry significant consequences. Inaccurate reports can block access to job opportunities, delay the hiring process, or even lead to withdrawn offers. The more detailed and wide-ranging the background check, the greater the risk of false matches or misreported data.
How Sherman & Ticchio PLLC Can Help
At Sherman & Ticchio PLLC, we work with individuals who have been harmed by inaccurate information in employment background checks. Our team can help you navigate the complexities of background check litigation, ensuring that any issues with inaccurate or unfair background checks are addressed properly. Our role is to help ensure that your rights under the FCRA are upheld and that you are not unfairly penalized by inaccurate or misleading information in your report.
We understand the frustration of losing out on a job opportunity because of a mistake you didn’t make. That’s why our approach is compassionate, clear, and focused on results. We take time to understand your unique situation and provide step-by-step guidance that aligns with your goals.
If you’ve been affected by inaccurate results from advanced background services or are unsure how to correct a background check error, contact Sherman & Ticchio PLLC. We’re here to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.