What can I do if my background check shows an eviction that never actually happened?

Question

My tenant screening report shows an eviction on my record that never went through. Yes, my landlord filed eviction paperwork years ago, but we settled everything before it ever went to court. The case was dismissed, I paid what was owed, and I left on agreed terms. But the screening report shows it like I was actually evicted, with no mention that the case was dismissed or resolved. Now I'm being denied apartments because landlords see this and assume I was forced out. I've tried explaining that it was settled, but they just point to the report and say their hands are tied. The screening company is reporting the filing without reporting the outcome, and it's destroying my housing options.

Consumer Attorneys · Accepted Answer

Reporting an eviction filing without including the dismissal or resolution is a serious FCRA accuracy violation. When a screening company reports that an eviction case was filed but fails to report that it was dismissed, settled, or never finalized, they're providing incomplete and misleading information that can devastate your housing prospects.

Under the FCRA, tenant screening companies must:

Report complete and accurate court dispositions
Include dismissals, settlements, and case resolutions
Not present filed cases as completed evictions when they weren't
Update records to reflect the final outcome

What to do immediately:

Obtain certified court records showing the eviction was dismissed or settled
Dispute the incomplete information with the tenant screening company
Provide documentation proving the case was resolved without eviction
Request they update the report to show the correct disposition

Send us the screening report showing the incomplete eviction record and your court documents proving dismissal or settlement. We can demand immediate correction and push for updated reports to be sent to any landlords who received the false information. If the incomplete report caused you to be denied housing, you may be entitled to compensation under the FCRA.

An eviction filing is not the same as an actual eviction — especially when the case was dismissed or settled. The screening company must report the whole truth, not just the part that makes you look bad. We'll make sure they fix this and answer for the housing denials it caused.