Failed a Checkr Background Check Due to Errors? Here's How to Fix It and Get Compensated
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Failed a Checkr Background Check Due to Errors? Here's How to Fix It and Get Compensated
When Technology Decides You Don't Deserve a Job
It often begins with an email that looks routine - a few polite lines, maybe a company logo, and then the familiar phrase: “We regret to inform you…”
For most people, that message doesn't just end an application; it ends a moment of hope. A job offer is not only about income - it is a form of validation, the reward for effort, persistence, and trust in the system. So when the offer vanishes over something called a background report, the loss feels both unfair and inexplicable.
If you’ve experienced this kind of rejection, remember - you're not powerless. Errors in background checks are fixable, and the law gives you clear rights to challenge them. Consumer Attorneys help workers every day restore accuracy and peace of mind.
Often the reason isn't a failed interview or missing qualification - it's a background check error.
Behind that rejection might be Checkr, a San Francisco-based background screening company that powers hiring for some of the world's largest employers - from Uber and DoorDash to Netflix. Checkr's promise is speed: using artificial intelligence to analyze millions of records in seconds. But when automation outruns accuracy, even a small background report mistake - a mixed file, an outdated charge, or a name typed one letter off - can derail a career before it begins.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), tens of thousands of Americans lose job opportunities each year because of background check mistakes. For them, efficiency turned into exclusion - and accountability disappeared in the fine print.
If that sounds familiar, this guide breaks down what's really happening behind the screens, what your rights are, and how to take action when a Checkr background check gets it wrong.
In this article, you'll find out:
- How Checkr background checks work, and where automation gets it wrong.
- The most common Checkr background check mistakes that cost people jobs.
- What your legal rights are under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
- How to dispute and fix a wrong background report step-by-step.
- When it's time to call a lawyer, and how Consumer Attorneys can help.
What Is Checkr and Why So Many Companies Use It
Checkr, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco and Denver, provides background checks for some of the world's biggest employers, including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Shipt, Instacart, Netflix, and Coinbase.
Its appeal is speed. Checkr uses algorithms and automation to search through court databases, DMV records, and private data brokers in minutes - a process that once took days. The results are delivered to the employer through a digital dashboard, and hiring decisions are made almost instantly.
The trade-off? Automation without human verification. A single mismatch in name, birth date, or Social Security number can create a completely false profile, one that looks “official,” even when it's completely wrong.
What Shows Up on a Checkr Background Check
Each employer customizes what they ask Checkr to search for. Depending on the industry, a background check can include:
- Identity Verification - Confirms your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address history.
- Criminal Records - Checks county, state, and federal databases for felony or misdemeanor convictions.
- Motor Vehicle Reports (MVR) - Required for delivery, logistics, or rideshare roles; includes suspensions or traffic violations.
- Employment & Education Verification - Ensures the experience listed matches official records.
- Credit History - Occasionally used for financial or management positions.
The problem isn’t what Checkr looks at - it's how it processes the data. The algorithm isn’t built to understand context, only patterns. A dismissed case looks like a conviction. A common name looks like a criminal match. A typo becomes a red flag.
Common Checkr Background Check Mistakes
Even the smallest data mismatch can create devastating consequences. These are the most frequent background report errors consumers face:
Your record gets tangled with someone else's who shares a similar name or date of birth - a “mixed file.” Suddenly, their criminal history appears on your report.
Records that should no longer be reported, such as dismissed or non-conviction cases older than seven years, still show up on Checkr reports. This happens when old data isn’t updated or removed on time.
Expunged charges are erased by law and should never appear on a background check. When they show up, it means Checkr pulled data from outdated or uncorrected sources.
Sealed cases are legally hidden from employers, but they sometimes reappear due to old database entries that were never updated. Reporting sealed records is a clear FCRA violation.
Automated systems sometimes match incomplete identifiers, like partial dates of birth, and assign crimes to the wrong people.
Drivers and gig workers have been flagged for “suspended” licenses that were perfectly valid. One mistyped digit in an SSN can trigger this issue.
Simple clerical errors, such as a swapped digit, reversed date, or missing middle initial, can send Checkr searching entirely the wrong databases.
Instead of confirming directly with courts, Checkr often buys bulk data from third-party vendors, many of which are outdated or unreliable.
If your employer plans to deny or delay your employment based on your background report, they must send you a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of your report first. Skipping this step violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
If any of these situations sound familiar, don't wait for the system to self-correct. A quick review from Consumer Attorneys can help confirm whether your report violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
How Common Are These Mistakes?
More common than most realize.
- The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) found that 1 in 4 background checks contains at least one error.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reports that nearly 30% of all FCRA complaints involve background screening agencies.
- In 2024 alone, Checkr faced multiple federal lawsuits for false criminal reporting and failure to verify records.
Behind every statistic is a worker suspended, an offer rescinded, a paycheck delayed and a family devastated. For gig workers, a 24-hour deactivation can mean unpaid bills and lost health coverage.
Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The FCRA is the federal law designed to keep background checks fair and accurate. It gives you specific rights and real leverage when companies like Checkr make mistakes.
You have the right to:
- Know what's in your background report.
- Receive notice before any employer takes adverse action against you.
- Dispute inaccurate or outdated information.
- Have corrections made within 30 days.
- Recover compensation for financial or emotional harm caused by negligence.
If Checkr or an employer violates these protections, for instance, by denying you a job without notice, or ignoring your dispute, you can take legal action under the FCRA.
How to Dispute a Checkr Background Check Error
Step 1: Review Your Report
Visit the Checkr Candidate Portal to view your report. Scan for:
- Criminal charges you don't recognize,
- Expunged or dismissed cases,
- Incorrect license or driving history information,
- Misspelled names, wrong dates, or mismatched identifiers.
Step 2: File a Dispute
You can dispute online, by phone, or by mail. Be clear and attach evidence - court documents, IDs, dismissal orders, or DMV records. Under the FCRA, Checkr must investigate within 30 days and send you the results.
Step 3: Notify Your Employer (Optional)
Inform the employer that you've disputed the report. Many will pause hiring decisions until the investigation is resolved.
Step 4: Get Legal Help if It's Ignored
If Checkr ignores clear proof, reuses wrong data again and again, or closes the dispute without explanation, that's not just frustrating - it's illegal. A consumer protection attorney can enforce your rights, reopen your case, and pursue damages.
When to Call an FCRA attorney
- You were denied or deactivated because of false information.
- You never received a copy of your report or pre-adverse notice.
- Checkr missed the 30-day dispute deadline.
- The same error reappeared after a “fix.”
- You lost wages, benefits, or emotional peace due to the mistake.
Legal help isn't just for suing - it's for restoring accuracy, protecting your reputation, and stopping the same error from hurting you again.
Real Cases: When Checkr Got It Wrong
At Consumer Attorneys, we've handled thousands of background check error cases nationwide. A few examples:
- $50,000 settlement: An Uber driver was suspended after Checkr falsely reported an assault charge.
- $45,000 settlement: A Checkr report incorrectly listed a DUI for an Uber Eats applicant, delaying her start by 16 weeks.
- $30,000 settlement: Checkr showed convictions that had been legally set aside, blocking a client from working for both DoorDash and Uber.
Each case started with a single inaccurate report and ended with accountability. These are more than case numbers - they're examples of everyday people who refused to accept an automated mistake as final.
Checkr Isn't the Final Word
If you've tried to fix your report by yourself and hit a wall, that's often when legal action becomes the next step. A wrong background report isn't a data glitch - it's life interrupted. It can cancel your job before it starts, damage your reputation, and make you question a system built on "trust."
But the law doesn't trust algorithms - it trusts fairness. The FCRA gives you the right to challenge inaccuracies, demand corrections, and seek compensation for the harm caused. When technology fails, the law steps in.
At Consumer Attorneys, we help clients:
- Correct inaccurate background check reports
- Recover lost wages and damages for emotional distress
- Hold negligent reporting agencies accountable
If Checkr got it wrong, don't let it define you. Let Consumer Attorneys help you reclaim your record, your reputation, and your right to work.
Ask for Our Help Now!
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No fees out of your pocket - the law requires the offender to pay your legal costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You may file a free dispute directly with Checkr. Just keep in mind that correcting the report is only half the battle - compensation for the harm caused usually requires an attorney to enforce your rights under the FCRA.
By law, 30 days, though the process can be faster if your evidence is complete.
Absolutely. If their negligence caused financial or emotional harm, you’re entitled to compensation under the FCRA.
No. Employers cannot penalize you for disputing an error. Once fixed, your report should reflect the truth.
Industry data shows up to 25% of all background reports contain at least one error - often small, but sometimes career-ending.
Yes. The harm occurred when the wrong report cost you work or income. Late correction doesn't erase liability but you need an attorney to enforce that.
Daniel Cohen is the Founder of Consumer Attorneys. Daniel manages the firm’s branding, marketing, client intake and business development efforts. Since 2017, he is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates and the National Consumer Law Center. Mr. Cohen is a nationally-recognized practitioner of consumer protection law. He has a we... Read more
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