Can I dispute a background check that shows addresses where I've never lived?

Question

My background screening report lists four different addresses in states I’ve never even visited, let alone lived in. One is in Florida, another in Texas, and I’ve been in California my entire adult life. When I saw this, my first thought was identity theft, but after checking my credit reports, everything else looks normal. It seems like the screening company attached someone else’s address history to my file. Now the employer is questioning my application because the addresses don’t match what I provided, and they’re treating me as if I was dishonest. I wasn’t dishonest; the screening company mixed me up with someone else. How can I prove these aren’t my addresses when they appear on an official report as if they were facts?

Consumer Attorneys · Accepted Answer

Incorrect address history on a background check is a clear sign of a data furnisher error or a mixed file problem, and it's a violation of the FCRA's accuracy requirements. When a screening company reports addresses where you've never lived, they've failed in their legal duty to maintain reasonable procedures for accuracy.

This type of error can harm you in multiple ways:

Employers may question your honesty or assume you're hiding something
It suggests the report may contain other people's information
It can delay or derail legitimate employment opportunities
It raises concerns about identity theft even when there is none

What you should do right away:

Obtain copies of your actual address history (leases, tax returns, utility bills)
Dispute the incorrect addresses in writing with the screening company
Request they investigate and provide proof of how they verified these addresses
Save all documentation showing your true residential history

Send us the background report with the wrong addresses and your proof of actual residence history. We can demand the screening company correct the report immediately and investigate how this error occurred. If the incorrect information was reported to your employer and caused them to question your integrity or delay your hiring, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm caused.

Wrong addresses aren't just inconvenient mistakes — they can destroy your credibility. We'll make sure the screening company fixes this error and answers for how it happened in the first place.