How do I know which background check company did my background check?
There are two ways to find out which background check company ran your report and how to contact them:
- BEFORE someone runs a background check on you (such as an employer, private landlord, or creditor), generally they must TELL YOU that they are going to get a background check on you and get your PERMISSION. They must also give you the name, address, phone number, and website of the background check company that they are going to use.[2965]
- If someone takes a harmful action against you (such as refusing to hire you, rent you an apartment, or give you benefits) based on information in your background check, they must give you an “ADVERSE ACTION LETTER” with the name, address, and phone number of the company used.[2966]
You have the right to know what internal procedures the background company uses to investigate your claim. You can ask the company for this information and they MUST provide it to you.[2967]
A NOTE ABOUT CHALLENGING INFORMATION IN YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK REPORT: Under the law, you have the right to challenge any information in your background check, and there is a specific process for doing it. However, in practice, it might not be as easy or straightforward, especially if the background check company is uncooperative or unresponsive. If you have trouble getting the company to review or change the wrong information in your file, it is recommended that you contact a lawyer for help.