If a background check costs you a job due to incorrect or unfair information, **R23 Law’s California Consumer Protection Attorneys** explain your rights and legal options under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Background Checks: What They’re Supposed to Do—And How They Go Wrong

Background checks are meant to give employers peace of mind. But when they’re inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete, they can wreck someone’s chance at employment—with no warning.

At R23 Law, we regularly assist job seekers who’ve been denied opportunities due to background check errors. Whether you applied to a job with DoorDash, Target, Wells Fargo, or Uber, you have rights when that check is wrong—and legal remedies when it costs you a job.

How Background Check Mistakes Happen

Here’s where things often go sideways:

Wrong person, same name (you’re not the one with a criminal record, but it shows up on your report)
Outdated records that should have been sealed or expunged
Misreported charges, such as minor infractions shown as felonies
Lack of notice—employers are legally required to inform you before taking adverse action based on a background check

In many cases, we’ve seen employers violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by failing to notify applicants or using inaccurate background information to justify rejections.

Real-World Examples: Employers Held Accountable

Wells Fargo paid $12 million to settle a class-action suit after applicants claimed they were denied jobs without being told why.

A federal court awarded $562,000 to over 1,000 job seekers in Pennsylvania whose records were reported incorrectly during background checks.

DoorDash and other gig economy platforms regularly disqualify applicants based on driving or criminal records—often without verifying their accuracy.

These cases prove one thing: Background check companies and employers can be held legally and financially accountable.

Rules Employers Must Follow Under the FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you critical protections:

Employers must get your written consent before running a background check.
If they intend to reject you based on that report, they must give you:

A copy of the report
A notice of your rights
Time to dispute inaccuracies

If they skip these steps—or use flawed or misleading data—you may have grounds to file a lawsuit and recover compensation.

What Disqualifies You from Jobs Like DoorDash?

In gig economy hiring, things move fast—and often without the thoroughness that accuracy requires. You may be disqualified for:

Violent or sexual offenses
Theft or financial crimes
A poor driving record

But if those disqualifiers are inaccurate or misattributed, you may be unfairly shut out—and that’s where R23 Law can step in.

When You Should Contact a Lawyer

Contact R23 Law’s California Consumer Protection Attorneys if:

You were denied a job and didn’t receive a copy of your background report
Your report contains inaccurate or outdated criminal information
You were confused with someone else
You lost a job or promotion over a record that was sealed or expunged
You feel targeted based on low-level, non-violent offenses

You don’t have to prove intent—just that the report was inaccurate and hurt your employment opportunities.

Background Checks Gone Wrong? Let’s Fix That.

You’ve worked too hard to be disqualified because of a flawed or careless report. At R23 Law, we’ve helped clients across California and nationwide:

Dispute incorrect background check data
Sue screening companies and employers under the FCRA
Recover lost wages and emotional damages
Restore their professional reputations

📞 Think your background check cost you a job unfairly? Call R23 Law today to schedule your free consultation with our experienced California Consumer Protection Attorneys. We’ll review your report, explain your rights, and take action if laws were violated.

DENIED A JOB AFTER THE BACKGROUND CHECK? — You Might Have a Case