How to Dispute Incorrect Information on a LexisNexis Background Check?

Questions about errors in your LexisNexis background report? Here is everything you need to know about fixing them.

A LexisNexis dispute asks LexisNexis Risk Solutions to investigate inaccurate or incomplete information in your consumer file and correct or delete it as appropriate. You can also dispute information that is too old to be reported legally. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), LexisNexis must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation unless it reasonably determines that the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant.

When you submit a LexisNexis report dispute, identify each disputed record, explain what is wrong, and include any supporting documents you have. You can dispute information by mail or contact the Consumer Center for submission instructions.

What a LexisNexis report is and which reports it covers

LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides different information products. Its Consumer Disclosure Report lets you review information maintained about you, including historical addresses, property records, liens, judgments, bankruptcies and professional licenses. Insurance claim data and loss history are found in its CLUE report.

Identify the report and disputed record when requesting a correction, because the information involved depends on the product. To learn what information LexisNexis collects and how it is used, read our guide on what is LexisNexis used for.

What Should You Look For On a LexisNexis Background Check?

If you find LexisNexis reporting false information about you, write down the mistake so you can dispute it later. Common problems include someone else’s information mixed into your file, a criminal record that does not belong to you, or a case that was dismissed but still shows up as active. You might also see records that were already corrected but still appear on your file.

When your report arrives, review every section carefully:

• Personal Information: Verify your name, date of birth, SSN, phone number, and current and previous addresses.
• Employment and Education: Check employers’ names, dates of employment, phone numbers, degrees earned, and academic records.
• Criminal History: Look for expunged cases, outdated records, arrests listed as convictions, misclassified offenses or records belonging to someone else.
• Financial and Credit Details: Verify account dates, balances, payment history, and outstanding debts.
• Insurance Records: Check for inaccurate claims; for insurance claim errors, see our guide to a LexisNexis CLUE report dispute.

Documents You Need to Dispute Your LexisNexis Report

When submitting a LexisNexis report dispute, provide enough information to identify your file and explain the error. Include supporting documents if available, and follow any identity-verification instructions LexisNexis provides.

Personal information

If the mistake involves your name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number, include proof of identity. A government-issued photo ID, passport, birth certificate or Social Security card can confirm who you are. A recent utility bill, lease, bank statement or mortgage statement can also help verify your address.

Other information

If you find mistakes that are connected to jobs, school, money accounts or past criminal records, use papers that clearly discuss the problem. Paychecks, W-2 forms, tax papers, degrees, school reports, letters from employers, bank statements and letters confirming an account was closed can help fix work or money information.

Keep a copy of every paper you send, write down the day you sent them and keep any number or reply you get. If the mistake is still there after looking into it, these papers can support a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or a claim under the FCRA.

How to dispute your LexisNexis report by mail

You can dispute your LexisNexis report by mail. Send a written dispute, proof of identity and any documents that support your claim to the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center. Use certified mail with a return receipt so you can prove when LexisNexis received the package.

1. Obtain and review your report. Request your Consumer Disclosure Report through the LexisNexis Consumer Portal or by mail, then mark every inaccurate item.
2. Write a concise dispute letter. State that you are disputing information in your LexisNexis consumer file, identify each erroneous record, and explain why it is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated.
3. Attach copies of your evidence. Include a photo ID and copies, not originals, of court records, employer records, police reports, or other proof.
4. Include your contact information. Provide your full name, current mailing address, date of birth, and the best phone number or email for follow-up.
5. Send the dispute by certified mail with a return receipt. Keep the tracking number, mailing receipt, copies of the letter, and all attachments for your records.
6. Mail it to the LexisNexis dispute address. Send it to LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center, P.O. Box 105108, Atlanta, GA 30348-5108.

A printable LexisNexis dispute form is not always required; a clear written letter with the same information can serve as your dispute submission.

How to dispute your LexisNexis report online

To start a LexisNexis dispute report online, use the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Portal and submit the inaccurate item through its online request system. The portal allows consumers to request reports and learn about the LexisNexis dispute process. For assistance with a correction request, LexisNexis directs consumers to its Reports Help page.

1. Go to the LexisNexis Consumer Portal. Visit consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request to request your Consumer Disclosure Report or information about the dispute process.
2. Verify your identity. Follow the portal’s identity-verification instructions so LexisNexis can locate the correct consumer file.
3. Request or access your report. Select the option to request your Consumer Disclosure Report if you do not already have a current copy, then follow the instructions to access it.
4. Identify the disputed information. Enter the report section, record type, date, source, and exact details of the item you believe is wrong.
5. Explain the error and upload documents. For online correction assistance, use the LexisNexis Reports Help page. Explain what is inaccurate or incomplete and include supporting evidence if available. A case number is required when uploading documents.
6. Submit the correction request and save confirmation. Follow the Consumer Center’s instructions for your dispute. Save the confirmation number, screenshots, copies of uploaded documents, and any reference number LexisNexis provides.
7. Request a Description of Process Letter if needed. Use the Consumer Portal to request a letter describing how LexisNexis processes disputes in its system; LexisNexis states that it is sent by U.S. mail.

What will happen after filing a dispute?

Once you submit a dispute with LexisNexis, the company has to look into the information you claim is wrong. Under the FCRA, the agency usually has 30 days to complete its review after receiving your dispute. If you provide additional details within those 30 days, the deadline may be extended by up to 15 days, but only if the disputed information has not already been found inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable.

LexisNexis must look at the information you send and usually tell the information provider within five business days after getting your dispute. If the disputed information is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, LexisNexis must promptly correct or delete it as appropriate.

After finishing the reinvestigation you should get the results in writing, within five business days. This includes a consumer report based on the updated file. If the record was corrected, ask for a copy of your report. Following a qualifying deletion or dispute notation, you can ask LexisNexis to send notification to specifically designated recipients who received the disputed information within the previous two years for employment purposes or six months for other purposes.

Older records can also be disputed. Under the FCRA, many negative items cannot be reported for more than seven years, but criminal convictions are an exception and can be reported without a time limit. For timelines, see how long a LexisNexis background check takes.

If you are filing a LexisNexis claim dispute about an insurance claim or loss history, the process runs through your CLUE report instead.

What Steps do Background Check Companies Take to Correct Your Report?

Depending on the nature of the errors, LexisNexis may investigate the sources of the information, or it may need to correct its internal system. For example, if the error happens because of a mistake that LexisNexis made, it has to fix it. If LexisNexis got wrong information from a public records source, then LexisNexis must check the disputed entry again. Its responsibility to correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information in its own file does not depend on the source first correcting its records.

What if Your Dispute is Ignored by LexisNexis?

If LexisNexis ignores your dispute or misses the applicable deadline, contact Consumer Attorneys to assess whether it violated the FCRA. If LexisNexis reasonably determines that a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, it must notify you within five business days of that determination and explain its reasons and what information is needed. We have taken legal action against LexisNexis, sued LexisNexis, and settled suits with LexisNexis. We can handle your case too.

Sue LexisNexis if Errors Are Not Fixed

Another possibility is that LexisNexis will investigate but not fix the errors. Can I sue LexisNexis? Yes, suing LexisNexis may be an option when it investigates but leaves a verified error on your file.

A potential lawsuit against LexisNexis may try to get:

• Actual damages: Compensation for proven losses caused by an FCRA violation, such as lost wages, increased insurance premiums, or out-of-pocket expenses.
• Statutory damages: Fixed damages may be available for certain willful FCRA violations.
• Punitive damages: These may be available in cases involving willful noncompliance.
• Attorney’s fees and costs: The CFPB identifies attorney’s fees as a form of relief available when a consumer reporting company violates the law.

Before filing a background check lawsuit, preserve the report, dispute letters, mailing proof, denial letters, and communications with LexisNexis.

Real LexisNexis dispute cases and settlements

Real LexisNexis report-dispute cases show that consumers have pursued FCRA claims after background-report errors were not corrected.

Berry v. LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group, Inc.

This report-related FCRA case involved allegations that LexisNexis sold Accurint reports without required permissible-purpose safeguards, refused consumers access to reports, and refused to investigate disputed information. The plaintiffs said the reports were consumer reports under the FCRA. LexisNexis disagreed with that classification.

Court: The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia approved the class settlement, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit later affirmed that approval.

Outcome: The settlement added up to a $13.5 million fund. It also included changes to the LexisNexis business practices that were meant to improve how consumer information is protected when shared with debt collectors. The settlement resolved disputed claims; it was not a judgment establishing that LexisNexis failed to correct a particular background-report error.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case outcomes depend on the facts, evidence, parties and applicable law in each matter.

Contact Us

If your LexisNexis dispute did not correct the error, contact us for a free case review. Inaccuracies in LexisNexis background checks can cost you a job, a rental or a fair insurance rate, and knowing your rights is what lets you act on them.

Our law firm is dedicated to protecting consumers’ rights and holding companies like LexisNexis accountable for complying with the law and treating consumers fairly.

You can contact us through any of the following methods to request your free case review:

• Visit our website: Chat with a live representative or complete a contact form to request a follow-up.
• Email us: Send a message to info@consumerattorneys.com to schedule a consultation with an attorney.
• Call us: Reach our team at 1-866-846-8173.

We have helped thousands of consumers facing issues with consumer reporting agencies, background screening companies, and other organizations. Our goal is to make sure these companies take responsibility for mistakes that hurt people, help clients recover the money they may deserve, and keep the process fair along the way.