What is Accurate Background Check?
Accurate Background is a background checking service founded in 1997 and based in Irvine, CA. They specialize in employment background screening for various industries, with a particular focus on the gig economy, healthcare, staffing, and retail sectors. Notable clients include Amazon Services, Ross Stores, and Target.
Company Information
Accurate Background, Inc. 200 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 1100 Irvine, CA 92618
Contact Information:
- Phone: (800) 784-3911
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.accurate.com/
Key Services and Claims
Accurate provides background screening services that typically include:
- Credit History: Assessing financial responsibility and potential risk factors
- Criminal Record: Ensuring workplace safety and verifying applicant honesty
- Driving Record: Evaluating driving history for positions requiring vehicle operation
- Civil Records: Identifying history of legal disputes or lawsuits
- Sanctions or Watchlists: Ensuring applicants aren’t barred from specific activities/industries
The company claims a “99.99% Accuracy Rate” and states they “Trim turnaround time and get accurate, up-to-the-minute information about a candidate’s status in the criminal court system.” They also assert, “We put all our energy into optimizing every facet of the client, candidate, and product experience every day.”
Consumer Complaints and Legal Issues
Despite these claims, numerous consumers have reported issues with Accurate Background’s services:
“Accurate background check listed me having lived in states that I have never lived in including a state I’ve never been to.”
“This is the second background check that I’ve done where someone else’s name has come up on my report.”
“By far the worst background screening company I have come across and I work in recruitment. Been waiting more than 4 weeks for a simple background check that normally takes 2 to 4 days…”
Legal Actions
- Shekar v. Accurate Background, Inc. (2019): Accurate Background violated the FCRA by furnishing information for employment purposes without notifying consumers or maintaining strict procedures to ensure information was complete and up to date (1681k(a) violation). They told a potential employer that Shekar was convicted of a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct when they hadn’t been.
- Class Action Settlement (2024): Accurate Background agreed to pay $487,000 to settle claims that it violated the FCRA by inaccurately preparing reports. The plaintiffs alleged that Accurate Background failed to use all publicly available information, including expungement records, which harmed consumers by providing prospective employers with adverse information.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Protections
The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects consumers who were denied job offers or driving opportunities due to inaccuracies or errors in background checks. Those would include inaccurate criminal history, driving history, civil records, or sanctions that would prevent an employer from following through with a job offer.
What if my Accurate background check contains errors?
If you encounter discrepancies in your background check that impede your employment prospects, and these records are found to be erroneous, it may suggest a potential “mixed file” scenario. In such instances, the background screening company might have used your name and address, which coincided with another individual’s, leading to the amalgamation of screening records.
Inaccuracies within the report can stem from various factors:
- Mixed files: Details pertaining to another person inadvertently appear on your report
- Outdated information: Screening databases lacking the most current information
How mixed file cases happen
Approximately 2% of all U.S. citizens have critical inaccuracies on their credit reports. Causes include:
- Similar names
- Data entry errors
- Address confusion
- Identity theft
- System glitches or technical errors
In many cases, a name and geolocation are used to search for an individual to perform the background check (rather than social security number), leading to false information appearing on your screening.
Your Rights Under the FCRA
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to sue consumer reporting agencies for providing inaccurate information about you.
You may have a case if you’ve experienced any of the following due to inaccurate information on your background check:
- Your background check showed accounts that lead you to believe multiple credit reporting agencies may have incorrect information about you
- Your dispute with the screening company was ignored
- Errors were removed and then reported again
Taking legal action is an option if you believe that inaccuracies in your background check have resulted in adverse consequences to your life. A consumer protection attorney can help analyze the situation and determine how to hold the consumer reporting agencies and furnishers accountable.