Background checks. Although the word may sound scary, this is not something to be feared. In fact, it is a normal part of life and, at some point, everyone will have a background check. There are a multitude of reasons a background check can be performed, reasons ranging from a new job, before moving into a new apartment or condo, and more. And while you have no control over what appears on the background check report (your history is your past and there is very little you can do to change the past), you have the right to protect your privacy by knowing what is legal and what is. it is not legal information in a background check report.

A background check usually contains a lot of different information. Most of the information complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), but sometimes you may find information that seems out of place or unnecessary. There are people who can legally have all the information, for example, any job that involves the government, the FBI, or the police. In those cases, the government can know all the information because it refers to national security. In all other cases where the government is not involved, access to that information is denied. An important step in ensuring your privacy is asking what information is requested in the background check. If the employer or tenant (or whoever) gives an unclear answer or ignores the question entirely, ask them to write down exactly what information they are looking for. That way, if something shows up on the background check that wasn’t originally communicated; you can take the appropriate steps to clear things up.

Each company has different policies on the information it needs. General standard check may include any or all of the following: felony and misdemeanor arrest and conviction charges, education and professional license checks, employment checks, social security checks, sex offender checks, motor vehicle reports , federal criminal checks, reference checks, civil litigation, OIG database, federal bankruptcies and many others. There is also an industry standard for how long this information can be used to recruit. The FCRA also states that a company can go back seven years to be hired. Any previous information is declared illegal and should be discarded.

If by chance you end up finding information, there are steps you can take. The best step is to have a conversation with the other party, and for the most part, any issues you may have can be easily resolved. Also, if the problem is still not resolved, try consulting an attorney. If the information provided is old and has passed the seven-year period, legal action can be taken.

When a company or person requires a background check, it is important to know your rights regarding your privacy. If you suspect that there is illegal information on your background check report, there are actions you can take to protect yourself.

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