Sterling verified someone else's charges on my report. Can I dispute again after they said it's accurate?

Question

I'm completely stuck and don't know what to do next. I've been working toward this new position for months, and when the background check came back from Sterling, there were criminal charges listed that I've never heard of. The charges are from a different state, the middle name doesn't match, and the date of birth is off by three years. I immediately disputed it through Sterling's website, uploaded copies of my driver's license showing my correct information, and wrote a detailed explanation of why this couldn't possibly be me. A week later, Sterling sent me a response saying they "verified" the information and it will remain on my report. No explanation of how they verified it, no details about what they checked, just "verified." Now my start date is on hold and HR is treating me like I lied on my application. I didn't lie - this record isn't mine! Can I submit another dispute when Sterling already said they verified it? What else can I possibly do to prove I'm not the person in this criminal case?

Consumer Attorneys · Accepted Answer

A "verified" response from Sterling does not mean the information is actually yours - it often just means Sterling did not conduct a meaningful investigation into whether the record truly belongs to you. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), when you dispute information, Sterling has a legal obligation to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, which means they must actually review the evidence you submitted and verify that the identifiers match. Simply asking the court or data source "is this accurate?" and accepting their answer is not a reasonable investigation when you've provided clear evidence of a mismatch. You absolutely have the right to dispute again, and the fact that Sterling "verified" incorrect information may actually strengthen your legal position.

Here's what you should do immediately:

Save all documentation: Keep Sterling's "verified" response, your original dispute submission, your driver's license, and any other proof that you're not the person in the criminal case
Gather additional mismatch evidence: Obtain any documents showing where you actually lived during the time of the alleged offense, employment records, or anything else that proves you couldn't be the person in the case
Submit a more detailed second dispute: Send a formal written dispute by certified mail (not through their website) with all your evidence and explicitly state that Sterling's first investigation was inadequate
Request the matching methodology: Ask Sterling to provide the specific identifiers they used to match you to this record

Sterling's "verification" of someone else's record may be a willful FCRA violation. When a background screening company maintains obviously incorrect information after you've shown them clear proof of a mismatch (different middle name, different date of birth, different state), they may be acting recklessly or willfully. This can significantly increase your potential damages if you file a lawsuit. We can help you escalate this dispute, demand that Sterling actually investigate rather than rubber-stamp the information, and if necessary, file a federal lawsuit to force correction of your report and seek compensation for the harm to your employment prospects. Under the FCRA, Sterling would have to pay our attorney's fees if we win. Don't accept Sterling's inadequate response - contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.