My background check mixed me with someone else’s felony. Can I get compensation for denial?

Question

I was denied after my background check came back showing a felony I’ve never committed. I pulled the report and it’s obvious the record belongs to someone else. Different person, different case, different life. But the employer treated it as if it were mine and rescinded the offer.

Accepted Answer

Felony misattribution is one of the most serious background check errors. When a screening company reports another person’s felony under your name, that’s a mixed file violation of the FCRA’s accuracy requirements.

If the denial was based on this error, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Lost wages or income.
Delayed employment opportunities.
Emotional distress and reputational harm.
Punitive damages if the company acted recklessly or willfully.

The law doesn’t treat this as a harmless mistake. Reporting a felony that doesn’t belong to you can carry significant legal consequences for the screening company.