File disclosure
Your right under FCRA § 609 to a complete copy of what a consumer reporting agency holds on you.
In more detail
You may demand everything in your file from any CRA. It is free once every twelve months, and free any time you have been denied employment or housing because of a report. Almost nobody exercises this right.
Why it matters to you
You cannot dispute what you have not read. Most people discover an error in their background check only after a rejection, and often are never told the report was the reason.
What to do
Request your file from every major employment and tenant screening company before you next apply for anything.
- FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)
The federal law governing companies that assemble consumer reports, including background checks.
- Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA)
Any company that regularly assembles consumer information to furnish reports to third parties.
- Adverse action notice
The notice an employer must send before and after rejecting you because of a background check.