Michael V.’s Fight to Reclaim His Life After Checkr’s Devastating Mistake

Michael V. had found stability and security in a world where these things are often fleeting. He worked full-time with DoorDash for over a year, relying on its flexibility to make a decent living and support his family. DoorDash wasn’t just a job to him; it was his primary source of income. But that stability was shattered in the blink of an eye, thanks to a background check company’s careless mistake.

The Background Check That Changed Everything

It started like any other day in late May 2023. Michael was doing what he always did—working his regular shifts with DoorDash, dropping off meals, and planning how to make ends meet that month. He wasn’t worried about his upcoming background check from DoorDash; after all, nothing had changed since they last ran one. He had a few minor criminal records from years ago—like possession of marijuana and burglary tools—but they hadn’t been an issue before, so he didn’t expect them to be now.

That changed when Michael suddenly found himself locked out of his DoorDash account. At first, he thought it was a glitch—nothing a quick call to customer support couldn’t fix. But when he called, he was told his account had been deactivated. The reason? According to a recent background check, Michael was now associated with two serious criminal cases: a conviction for felony aggravated assault of a police officer and another for felony resisting arrest. He also saw a misdemeanor conviction involving weapons.

Michael was floored. He had never committed these crimes. How could this be happening?

A Family Name, A Criminal Mistake

The answer, he later learned, was a cruel mix-up. Michael wasn’t the only “Michael Anthony Venerable” in his family. His father and brother shared the same name but had different birth dates and Social Security numbers. Yet, when Checkr ran Michael’s background check, they somehow pulled up his brother’s records. Despite having his correct date of birth and Social Security number, Checkr slapped his brother’s criminal history onto Michael’s background report and sent it to DoorDash.

This reckless mistake cost Michael his job—and more than just his job. DoorDash deactivated his account immediately, citing these false criminal records as the reason. He missed the initial email notification of this “pre-adverse action,” and his livelihood had already crumbled by the time he figured out what was going on.

A Devastating Impact

Michael’s income from DoorDash was his lifeline. Without it, his world quickly spiraled out of control. He couldn’t keep up with his rent, and soon after, he was evicted from his home. Desperate, he turned to friends for temporary shelter, sometimes crashing on their couches, but most nights, he found himself sleeping in his car.

The financial hit didn’t stop there. Unable to pay his bills, Michael fell behind on his credit card payments. Creditors began calling non-stop, adding to the constant stress he was already facing. Worse yet, Michael’s inability to pay child support caused him to lose visitation rights with his daughter—his biggest heartbreak of all. He had been looking forward to her staying with him for the summer for months. Now, without a home or stable income, that dream was gone.

Each day became a struggle for survival. Michael would park his car in various places, trying to avoid police or anyone who might ask him to move. The Arizona summer heat made it nearly unbearable to sleep in his car, and the looming threat of violence or theft haunted him as he tried to rest. Simple comforts, like a hot shower, became rare luxuries he could only access by relying on the kindness of friends.

The Battle Begins

In early June 2023, Michael took immediate action. He contacted both DoorDash and Checkr, pleading for them to fix the mistake. He explained that the criminal records didn’t belong to him and asked for an investigation to correct the report. While Checkr agreed to reinvestigate, the damage had already been done. By the time they removed his brother’s records from his background check, weeks had passed, and Michael was still without work.

On June 14, 2023, Checkr confirmed they had corrected the error, issuing a new background check to DoorDash. But even with the corrected report, DoorDash refused to reactivate Michael’s account immediately. Instead, they asked him to reapply as if he were a brand-new driver. It made no sense to Michael—his background check was on file, and the error had been fixed. Yet, DoorDash dragged their feet, leaving him in limbo for weeks.

Losing More Than Just a Job

For 45 long days, Michael tried tirelessly to get his job back. Each day without work pushed him deeper into financial ruin. He applied to other gig platforms like Instacart, but the pay was far less than what he made with DoorDash. Instacart’s work was also physically demanding, requiring him to carry heavy groceries in the brutal Arizona heat. On top of his financial struggles, the physical toll of his new job left him exhausted.

The consequences of Checkr’s mistake were more than just financial—they affected every aspect of Michael’s life. He lost his home, his stability, and, worst of all, the ability to see his daughter. The emotional pain of not being able to provide for her and spend time with her was unbearable. Michael had always worked hard to give her the best life he could, but now, because of someone else’s negligence, he felt powerless.

Holding Checkr Accountable

This story is about more than just a clerical error. It’s about a company’s reckless disregard for the truth and its devastating impact on a hardworking man’s life. What Checkr did (or didn’t do) to and for Michael V. clearly violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires background check companies like Checkr to follow “reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy” when reporting consumer information.

Had Checkr done its job correctly, it would have seen that the criminal records it reported didn’t match Michael’s date of birth or Social Security number. But they didn’t take the time or care to check, and Michael paid the price.

With the help of his attorney, Michael filed a lawsuit against Checkr for its blatant disregard of the FCRA. The suit alleged that Checkr failed to follow reasonable procedures to ensure that the background information they reported was accurate, costing Michael his job, his home, and his ability to care for his daughter. Consumer Attorneys successfully settled Michael's case for an amount that will help him get back on his feet and start rebuilding his life. With this settlement, Michael can begin the process of securing stable housing and regaining financial stability.

Seeking Justice and Moving Forward

Michael’s story is a stark reminder of how damaging inaccurate background checks can be. When companies like Checkr prioritize speed and automation over accuracy, innocent people suffer. Michael did not just fight for compensation—he fought to reclaim his life and ensure that no one else has to go through what he did.

Michael’s legal battle is over, but the scars left by this experience will not fade easily. The emotional and financial damage caused by Checkr’s negligence will take time to heal, but with the support of his legal team, Michael can now move forward and rebuild the life that was wrongfully taken from him.