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anthonyekoehler · 6 years ago

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Employment Screening Background Check – Checkr

What is Checkr?

Checkr provides background checks for more than 10,000 business. As more people are moving towards gig work, freelancing, and independent contracting, the ability to complete background checks more efficiently has become a necessity for companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Instacart. Traditionally, background checks have been a long and time-consuming process that required weeks to complete. In this gig economy, workers want and need to work quickly to make ends meet and companies want to keep up with demand for their products.

Enter the consumer reporting agency Checkr. Founded in 2014 in San Francisco, Checkr saw the need for quick background checks both in the United States and internationally and claims to have “found the way to balance safety and consumer protection” and it is their “responsibility to be accurate and help [our] clients avoid errors”, relying on trust and transparency for its clients and applicants.

Checkr has counted mostly app-based companies, such as meal delivery and rideshare services, as its main customers, but the reporting agency has also recently added some more traditional, big name companies to its customer base, like staffing giant Adecco and insurance company Allstate, taking the amount of companies that use Checkr’s services to over 10,000.

A variety of pre-employment background checks are run by Checkr using the applicant’s name, birthdate, and social security number, including:

Sex offender registry

County, state, national, and federal criminal checks

County and federal civil checks

Global watchlist

Driving records

National and international employment and education checks

Personal and professional references

Drug checks

Credit checks

Not only are background checks performed by Checkr quicker, results are available in days as opposed to weeks, they are also more cost effective for the company using their service.

Traditional background checks were often paid for by the applicant which served as a way to weed-out those who would likely not pass. Instead, companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash pay for the checks which range in price from $21 for a Standard Background Check to $43 for the Employment Pro Check. Background checks run by any agency are only able to be completed with the consent of the applicant, and with Checkr this is no different.

The speed and accuracy of Checkr, which is the fourth largest background check company in the United States according to Checkr co-founder Daniel Yarnisse, has come into question, however. According to Yarnisse, Checkr is completing 1 million background checks monthly with a staff of just 150. Instead of relying on human eyes, Checkr performs “web scraping” which uses algorithms and automation to complete the majority of the work required, with “experts to verify for accuracy and quality…for a streamlined product” Yarnisse said. Sometimes this web scraping doesn’t pick up subtleties such as misspellings or incomplete information, returning false information or information that does not belong to the applicant in question.

While Checkr may be providing a streamlined product, there have been high-profile cases where some red-flags have been missed and over 40 lawsuits alleging violations of the FCRA. In a 2016 lawsuit, it was found that 25 drivers with criminal convictions not only passed Chekr background checks, they were independent contractors actively driving for Uber. In December of 2018 Checkr agreed to pay over $4.4 million dollars in damages after settling a class-action lawsuit involving 96,000 job applicants and they have settled numerous individual lawsuits where an applicant’s report contained false information including erroneous criminal convictions and records that were expunged.

The exact number of cases where someone was disqualified from a position because of a company using Checkr is difficult to determine, but the fact remains that the trend towards quicker background checks has led to law-abiding citizens being denied much-needed employment because of machine error and has also allowed those convicted of violent crime to slip through the cracks, putting the general public at risk.

To help prevent errors, misinformation, and pending charges like DUI’s that may not show on a yearly background check, Checkr and Uber have rolled out a program called Continuous Check, which Uber V.P. Gus Fuldner hopes will “strengthen the screening process and improve safety” by providing insight into changes that can affect an employee’s ability to work.

According to the FCRA, all background checks are required to be fair and accurate. If a background check should come back from Checkr with erroneous or completely wrong information, consumers are entitled to a copy of the report to review and they can then dispute the report. However, this takes time and can mean lost job opportunities and lost income. In a gig-economy, this can be devastating.

Overall, Checkr is filling a need in a fast-changing world, but it could be improved. With freelancing and independent contracting expected to continue to grow to 43% of the workforce by 2020, it is important that those who want to work be given a fair, accurate, and honest chance at finding employment while also ensuring the safety of the general public.

Checkr Customer Service

1 Montgomery St Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: 844-824-3257 Website: https://checkr.com/

REMEMBER…

*If you are not having any luck with Checkr, contact us at 888-572-0176. We’re here 24/7!

What is an Employment Screening Background Check?

An employment screening background check is more thorough than a criminal history check. Employment screening background checks are for potential employees – typically for the candidate/s most likely to be hired – to determine if the candidate is suitable for the position.

These background checks help ensure the safety of both employees and clients, as well as the company itself; they ensure that the candidate is indeed fully qualified for the position; and they ensure that a candidate’s criminal history can be evaluated, if necessary. These checks also provide a wealth of information beyond simple criminal history, such as employment history, residence history, credit reporting, and watch list/sex offender registration.

Checkr Mistakes on my Background Check

THE BEST PART IS…

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act FCRA, you have a legal right to dispute and remove inaccurate information from your credit report. These inaccuracies come in three common forms:

Wrong information – Untrue information such as criminal records, driving records, accounts you did not open, judgments for lawsuits which didn’t involve you, or debts you did not incur can be permanently removed from your credit report.

Duplicate information – Some accounts or transactions may be listed more than once in your credit report, and it’s helpful to ensure that your report is duplicate-free to avoid appearing to have more debt or credit-related problems than you do.

Old and negative information – Most types of outdated negative credit information, such as foreclosures, judgments, liens, lawsuits, and bankruptcy, can be removed after about seven years.

Checkr Lawsuit

If you want to know just how unhappy consumers are with Checkr, take a look at the lawsuits filed against the agency on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (“PACER”). PACER is the U.S.’s federal docket which lists federal complaints filed against a wide range of companies. Most of the lawsuits filed against Checkr are based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act. However, PACER numbers may be deceiving. A lot of companies these days have arbitration clauses. Checkr is one of those companies. Checkr’s Terms of Service has an arbitration clause. Therefore, lawsuits filed against Checkr are actually filed in arbitration with the American Arbitration Association. Voluntary arbitration can be an effective way to resolve a dispute. However, forced arbitration is a bad thing. Companies, like Checkr, want you to give away your rights to file a lawsuit in court because in arbitration, Checkr has an advantage and can escape accountability.

Checkr Complaints

If you’re on this page, chances are you are just like the many consumers out there who have a problem with Checkr. Here are some of the BBB reviews and complaints against Checkr:

“This is a company that does background checks. I live in Washington state, it is one of the states that restricts background checks to only 7 previous years back from the date of the initiation on background checks. This company broke the law by going back 33 years to find a misdemeanor on my record that prevented me being hired by “Lyft” thus costing me the income I would have made on that job. I have had no other instances on by record, and feel it was totally unfair of this company to do this.”

“They performed a background check on me for a job with *********. Its pulling up a charge for shoplifting from Kentucky. The person listed is same name and birthdate as me but I have never lived in Kentucky. They used my social security number so I asked them couldn’t they check that and see that it’s not me. They took maybe an hour after my dispute to say they weren’t changing their report. This has cost me a job. I feel like they could’ve taken more time to be sure that this is not me.”

“This company reported inaccurate information to my contractor. First i have never pled guilty or been convicted at trial on of for a robbery felony from April 1995. Second this company is a hot mess. They report a case from 2014 that was dismissed. I agreed to term on a open case at the end of the day the disposition on the case was dismissed time it was close.. under California law you can not disclose the terms of a negotiation on a open case. Upon this case been dismissed was the day it was closed. So case dismissed the outcome like it never happen according to the judge.This case was dissed lime it was for a reason and they violated the court’s ruling and California law when they reported to my contractor the contain in a case that was dismissed OFF MY RECORD LIKE IT NEVER HAPPEN.”

Online reviews and complaints on other sites do not get much better for Checkr. For example, on Consumers Advocate consumers have the following to say about Checkr:

“I feel Checkr is not looking for accurate information when doing background checks, I tried to correct what they sended to company I work for and they destroyed any job opportunities I may have had because they wouldn’t correct the background checks to the correct information.”

“This company does NOT follow regulations set by other states. They seem to believe they are above the law. If your state has time limit regulations, beware this company does not follow them. I give them a zero rating. The use lame excuses for their blatant disregard of the state laws and regulations. I have been a victim of their actions. They had to go back 23 years to find a misdemeanor to report,…………. really Since this will not let me leave my comment without clicking a star, I will click 1, but I really gave them a 0!”

Dispute Credit Report

Are you one of the 40 million Americans that have a mistake on their credit report? Mistakes on your credit report can be very costly. Along with causing you to pay higher interest rates, you may be denied credit, insurance, a rental home, a loan, or even a job because of these mistakes. Some mistakes may include someone else’s information on your credit report, inaccurate public records, stale collection accounts, or maybe you were a victim of identity theft.

THAT’S NOT ALL…

If you have a mistake on your credit report, there is a process to dispute them. My office will help you pull your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information. If a credit reporting agency violates its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may be entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000.00, plus the credit reporting agency will be required to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision. This means, the credit reporting agency pays your attorney’s fees and costs. Therefore, you will not pay me a penny for my time.

Free Credit Report

You have the right to get a free copy of your credit report, once every 12 months, from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

To order your free credit report:

Visit: www.annualcreditreport.com Call: 877-322-8228

Mail a request to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

THE GOOD NEWS IS…

If you have any issues getting a copy of your free credit report, contact us. Not only will we help you get a copy of all three of your credit reports, we will review your credit reports with you to ensure they are accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Background Checks

What do Background Checks Show? Background checks provide a variety of information, such as: criminal history, potentially including arrests, dismissed cases, and/or expunged/sealed records; motor vehicle history, such as traffic tickets; employment history; education history, such as high school and postsecondary records; and civil records and references.

What Kinds of Criminal Records Can be Revealed in a Background Check? Depending on state law, background checks may include misdemeanors, felonies, and/or juvenile offenses. National criminal information, however, is more expensive and time-consuming to gather, as the vast majority of criminal convictions are at the state-level or lower rather than federal. Furthermore, the two “official” nationwide criminal conviction databases are available only to federal employers and law enforcement officials. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) doesn’t require a deadline for these convictions to be removed from background checks, though some states do have a deadline, such as seven (7) years in California and Illinois.

Are Arrests That Don’t Result in Conviction Included in a Background Check? Regardless of innocence or guilt, some arrest records may appear in background checks unless they have been legally sealed. For this reason, some organizations do not approve of taking arrest records into account for background checks, though it is indeed legal.

Do Dismissed Cases Show on Background Checks? A dismissed case may appear on your background check, as a criminal charge will stay on your record even if there was a not-guilty verdict or the charges were dismissed. Fortunately, employers do distinguish between formal convictions and charges that do not amount to convictions.

Do Expunged or Sealed Records Show on Background Checks? Expunged or sealed records should be absent from a background check report if the candidate successfully petitioned to have said records expunged or sealed. If a candidate has had a conviction expunged, the correct answer to “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” is “No.”

Do Traffic Tickets Show on Criminal Background Checks? While simple traffic tickets are civil citations and will not appear on a criminal history check, they can be found via a motor vehicle records check. More serious driving offenses, such as intoxicated or reckless driving, will appear on a criminal history check.

How Far Back do Criminal History Checks Go? There is no federal rule for how far into the past a criminal history check goes and this is typically decided on a state-by-state basis. A common deadline among states is seven (7) years, which is the deadline in Illinois.

What Are Verification Checks? While criminal history checks are self-explanatory and make up only one part of a background check, “verification checks” are used to verify other important information about a candidate. This information includes education, employment history, reference-checks, and professional licenses or certifications.

How do Employment History Checks Work? Employment history/verification checks ensure the validity of information provided by a candidate about his/her work history. These checks typically focus on objective details such as job titles, duties/responsibilities, employment dates, and salary information, which are often obtained by communicating with a candidate’s past employer. While there is no law regarding what an employer can say about a formal employee, employers are typically careful about speaking of formal employees in a personal manner to avoid accusations of defamation or slander.

What Kinds of Civil Cases Show Up in a Background Check? Bankruptcies, civil suits, tax liens, and judgments may appear in a background check. However, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), bankruptcies must be removed from candidates’ potential background reports after ten (10) years, and civil suits, tax liens, and judgments must be removed after seven (7) years. Also, there is no national database for civil actions just as there isn’t one for criminal actions, so the extent of evaluation of civil actions may depend on the employer conducting the background check.

Are Driving Records Included in Background Checks? Driving records may or may not be included in background checks, but are almost always necessary for jobs which require driving. Trucking companies, for example, place far more emphasis on past traffic offenses, DUIs, and license-suspensions than other employers, while all employers may emphasize driving records as much as they prefer.

Are Credit Reports Included in Background Checks? Credit reports used to be regular components of employment screening background checks. Following the 2007-08 recession, however, bad credit had affected so many potential employees that it was no longer an essential factor of these checks; some states even began prohibiting employers from using credit reports in their hiring decisions. However, some positions still require credit checks, especially those involving the handling of money.

What Else Can Be in a Background Check? Background check companies often provide employers with a variety of options to choose from depending on the employer’s needs and desires. Additional information that can appear in a background check may include residence history, drug test results, placement on a terror watch list or sex offender registry, or even social media usage.

What do Companies Look for in Background Checks? Background checks typically have common components: a criminal records check will search for county and federal records, prior convictions, and international criminal history. Identity, employment, and education checks help ensure that candidates are who they say they are and all information they have provided is accurate. Credit checks, while less important than they were prior to the 2008 recession, are still necessary for many finance-related positions. Finally, candidates should be mindful of the possibility of their social media pages being browsed by a potential employer. However, this should not be a cause for concern for most candidates, as employers typically search only for patterns of abusive or antisocial behavior or anything egregious enough to cause an employer to reconsider a particular candidate

People, First – Here’s What Our Clients Say About Us

Agruss Law Firm has over 850 outstanding client reviews through Yotpo, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Here’s what some of our clients have to say about us:

“Thank you Agruss Law Firm!! Not only did you make them remove negative information from my credit report, I also received a settlement payment. I so appreciate your speedy and expert services. I am very glad that I ran across your agency, you were very professional and most of all able to assist me with my issue.”

“I had inaccurate information on my credit report from a student loan company. I disputed it and got no results. Agruss Law Firm took my case, sued the responsible parties, fixed my credit report, got me money damages, and the other side paid my fees and costs. I did not pay anything.”

“My ID was stolen. I had wrong information on my credit report. My lawyer got the wrong information removed and got me money. This was fast and easy. I highly recommend Agruss Law.”

Share Your Complaints Below About Checkr

We encourage you to post your complaints about Checkr below. Sharing your complaints against this agency can help other consumers understand what to do when this company starts calling. Sharing your experience may help someone else!

HERE’S THE DEAL!

If you have a problem with Checkr regarding your background check, you may be entitled to money damages, up to $1,000.00, plus actual damages, and we’ll get Checkr to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision, which means the credit reporting agency will pay your attorney’s fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. We have helped hundreds of consumers fix inaccurate information on their credit reports, and we’re ready to help you, too.

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agrusslawfirmllc · 6 years ago