LexisNexis Background Check Errors

Background checks are a regular part of our lives. From job searches to apartment searches to applying for insurance, companies seek to minimize risk by hiring, renting to, or insuring reliable, safe, reputable, and incorruptible people. However, more background checks mean more background check errors. More background check errors mean more people are being treated unfairly, losing opportunities, losing jobs, losing homes, and needlessly enduring reputational and financial damage.

As consumer law attorneys, we see the effects of background check errors and inaccuracies far too often. Here’s what you need to know about the Lexis Nexis consumer report and the Lexis Nexis background check. In this article, we explore LexisNexis background check reports, LexisNexis criminal background checks, LexisNexis employment background checks, the errors that can occur, what to do if you spot an error in your LexisNexis background check report, and how to correct LexisNexis report issues.

About LexisNexis Company

LexisNexis has been providing businesses with data and information solutions since 1973. It is a leader in legal research, corporate analytics, and data compilation. One of its products is called LexisNexis Risk Solutions. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is a background check company for any organization that wants to minimize risks from hiring, insuring, lending to, or renting to people. LexisNexis Risk Solutions offers identity verification, background checks, employment verification, criminal background, and consumer credit reports. LexisNexis Risk Solutions has special divisions, like LexisNexis Accurint, which provides background check services to law enforcement, and LexisNexis C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), which gives companies up to seven years of a person’s automobile and property insurance claims.

How Does LexisNexis Conduct Background Checks?

To create background reports, LexisNexis scans thousands of databases - both public records databases and databases not available to the public. The public databases it searches are criminal records, litigation research, credit reports, education verification, job history verification, rental history, and professional license verification. LexisNexis Accurint and C.L.U.E. also search non-public databases to find insurance claims, assets, relatives, liens, judgments, business associates, clients, and more.

How Long Does a Background Check from LexisNexis Take?

LexisNexis background check time varies. The time will depend on the scope of the background check, the subject’s employment history, residential history, and criminal history. LexisNexis completes most background checks within a few days to a week. However, the background check of a subject with many addresses in many jurisdictions, international associations, and long employment history will take longer.

What Information Does LexisNexis Provide in Their Background Checks?

LexisNexis offers a range of information in their reports depending on the request of the employer, insurer, landlord, or law enforcement personnel. Basic information will likely include criminal records, credit history, and verification of employment and education history. More in-depth background check reports will consist of insurance claims for seven years, assets, relatives, and other associates.

LexisNexis Criminal Background Check

A criminal background check by Lexis Nexis checks the state, local, and federal databases for criminal records. Depending on the laws of the state, this may also include arrests. However, the FCRA prohibits LexisNexis from including convictions older than seven years. LexisNexis may search national databases like the National Sex Offender Registry and the FBI’s criminal database.

LexisNexis Background Check for Employment

Depending on the employer and the nature of the job, this will likely include a criminal background check, employment history verification, education verification, a credit report, and other inquiries.

What Are the Consumers' Rights when Verifying Their Background Check?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumers can receive a free copy of their background check report every year. Consumers can also dispute the incorrect information on their background check reports. The FCRA also says that companies like LexisNexis must use reasonable care when preparing and distributing their background check reports.

Consumers can also contact a background check lawyer for assistance in reviewing their LexisNexis criminal records or with questions about the LexisNexis background check process. Let us know if you find a LexisNexis error or any LexisNexis wrong information for the best legal advice on initiating a LexisNexis dispute to get a Lexis Nexis background check correction.

The FCRA contains a provision that says background check companies pay your legal costs and fees to correct mistakes in your report. So not only is there no fee for our first call, but you will only pay something once we win.

Which Companies Use LexisNexis for Background Checks?

Any company with employees can use LexisNexis for background checks. Insurance companies, landlords, property managers, law enforcement, and others may utilize LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ more tailored background check services.

What do Companies Use LexisNexis Background Checks For?

Companies use LexisNexis background checks to minimize risk when hiring, renting to, insuring, or otherwise engaging with job applicants, insurance applicants, and rental applicants.

Can Errors Occur in Background Checks from LexisNexis?

Yes, errors can occur, and they do occur with some frequency. When errors occur, they have serious financial, professional, reputational, and emotional consequences for those impacted.

What Causes Errors in Background Checks?

With so much data being transmitted from so many places so quickly, errors happen for many reasons. Any typographical error, administrative error, misspelling, data mix-up, or mistaken identity can result in an error.

Main Types of Errors

Standard errors include outdated information, incorrectly reported criminal records, mistaken identity, and duplicate items. You can imagine what happens when a computer attempts to retrieve the data of two people with similarly spelled names or similar Social Security Numbers. 

How Often Do Errors Occur in Background Checks from LexisNexis?

LexisNexis has yet to supply information regarding how many inaccurate background check reports it produces in a week, month, or year. However, the latest data indicates that over 25% of background check reports contain some sort of error. That’s one of every four job, insurance, or rental applicants. 

What are The Consequences of Having Errors in Your Background Check Report?

It is impossible to fully understand the degree of harm that an error in a LexisNexis background check report can have. You can lose your job, not get a job for which you are qualified, not get insurance, not get an apartment, or not get any of the opportunities that might have been yours without the error. The errors create a ripple effect of reputational and financial damage that is impossible to measure.

You Can Contact LexisNexis if You Need to Correct an Error in the Background Report

The FCRA says that if any employer takes an adverse action because of something in a LexisNexis report, the employer must tell you precisely what was in the report that prompted that adverse action. If that information is inaccurate, you can dispute it. We suggest you review your LexisNexis report once a year since you can dispute inaccurate information anytime. If you ever see any erroneous information, write a letter to LexisNexis identifying yourself and the inaccurate information, along with how you want LexisNexis to fix it. Include copies of any evidence that proves the report is incorrect. Send the letter via certified U.S. mail to:

LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center

P.O. Box 105108

Atlanta, GA 30348-5108

Sending the letter via certified mail accomplishes two things: it preserves your rights to sue LexisNexis later on and provides a paper trail. 

What to Do if You Do Not Receive Answers to Your Questions on the Background Report

The FCRA requires LexisNexis to investigate the dispute, correct its error, and provide you with a response as to the findings of its investigation within 30 days of receipt of your dispute letter. If LexisNexis does not do this, it violates the FCRA, and legal action might be appropriate, especially if you have already lost a job or otherwise suffered due to the error. 

You Can Sue LexisNexis if Your Report Contains Errors

Under the FCRA, individuals can sue reporting agencies for failing to correct inaccurate information. Sometimes the only way to get the attention of a company like LexisNexis is to sue.

Who Can You Contact to Solve the Problem With an Error in the Background Report from LexisNexis?

Contact Consumer Attorneys. It is never too early to contact us. We are always happy to talk to consumers. If you are in a skirmish with LexisNexis, we will assess the situation, offer legal advice, and, if necessary, take legal action to get you the compensation you deserve.

Remember, the FCRA says that LexisNexis pays when it makes a mistake.

Assistance in Disputing a LexisNexis Background Report

We are with you every step of the way, from the minute you find the error in your LexisNexis background check report to the resolution of a lawsuit. We provide guidance, support, and representation in disputes with LexisNexis.

Lawsuits Against LexisNexis (some of our cases)

We have represented many clients in successful lawsuits against LexisNexis for inaccurate background reports.

Consumer Attorneys recently sued LexisNexis on behalf of W.B., a Michigan resident. W.B. was offered her dream job, consented to a background check, and then had that dream job rescinded when the LexisNexis criminal background check mistakenly reported that they had four felonies. W.B. and LexisNexis reached a settlement that W.B. found more than satisfactory.

We also recently represented A.M. from New York who applied for and was denied a credit card. When they inquired why, they learned that LexisNexis had identified them as “Deceased” on their credit report. We sued and settled for an amount that A.M. found very favorable.

Contact Us

Errors in LexisNexis background checks can have profound implications. Knowing your rights and taking action if you're affected is essential.

Our firm protects consumers’ rights and ensures companies like LexisNexis follow the law and treat people fairly.

There are many ways to contact us to begin the conversation with a background check attorney. You can visit our website. Once there, you can chat with a live representative or fill out a form to be contacted. You can email us at info@consumerattorneys.com. In your email, tell us a little about your issue and the best time and way to reach you. You can always call us at 1-877-615-1725.

We have represented thousands of consumers at odds with consumer reporting agencies, background check companies, and many others. Our goal is to hold these companies accountable when they make mistakes that hurt you, to get consumers the compensation they deserve, and to ensure things are as fair as possible.