Have you ever wondered whether the information in your background check is actually accurate?

You might be surprised to learn that mistakes happen more often than many people realize. A background report may contain outdated information, records that belong to someone else, or information that should no longer appear. In February 2024, the National Institute of Justice sponsored a study showing that 60% of background checks contained a false-positive (i.e., the person was wrongly flagged for a criminal record) while up to 90% of background checks contained false-negatives (i.e., material omissions from a person’s record). These errors can affect employment, housing, insurance, and other important opportunities.

Background checks play an important role in many of life's biggest moments—from applying for a job or renting an apartment to obtaining a professional license or volunteering. But if you've ever wondered how to see what others might see about you, you may be surprised to learn the answer isn't as straightforward as it seems.

If you've ever applied for a job, rented an apartment, applied for a loan, or purchased insurance, there's a good chance someone looked at information about you before making a decision.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the federal law that helps make sure those background reports are as accurate, fair, and private as possible.

A man lost his job due to someone else’s criminal record showing in his background check. Learn how these errors happen—and how to catch and fix them.