Background Checks
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
–Warren Buffett
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) prohibits employers (and other persons) from accessing certain consumer reporting information about you without your consent, such as criminal background checks. The FCRA also imposes penalties on employers who make adverse employment decisions based on the information obtained from these sources without first providing you with notice and an opportunity to explain any inaccurate information. In addition, if inaccurate information is provided to your employer that affects your employment, you may have a claim against the agency who reported the information. In a study published in 2012, the Federal Trade Commission found that 26% of participants identified at least one potentially material error in their credit reports provided pursuant to the FCRA. If you believe that background information has been used against you in employment or other settings, you may have a valid claim against your employer or the reporting agency.