Disputes

How to Dispute Information in a Background Check Report

Direct Screening obtains criminal record information from public record sources, including courts and authorized data providers. The source of any criminal record included in your report is identified within the report itself.

If you believe that a public record is inaccurate, you may wish to contact the court or agency that maintains that record to request a correction. Direct Screening does not have the authority to modify or alter official public records.

If you believe that:

information in your report is inaccurate
information has been incorrectly matched to you
information is not a valid public record

you have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to request a reinvestigation.

Submit a Dispute

To initiate a dispute, please complete our Dispute Form, available here:
Dispute Form

You may submit the completed form by email, mail, or fax using the contact information provided on the form.

What Happens Next

Upon receipt of your dispute, we will:

review the information in question
reinvestigate with the original source, as necessary
complete the reinvestigation typically within 30 days, as required by law

We may request additional information to verify your identity and assist in the reinvestigation process.

Important Information

Direct Screening does not make decisions about you. We provide background reports to employers, property managers, and other authorized users.

If you have questions about a decision made based on your report, such as a hiring or leasing decision, you must contact the company or organization that made that decision.

Expungements and Record Updates

If your criminal record has been expunged, sealed, set aside, or otherwise modified by a court, you may wish to ensure that this update is reflected across background screening databases.

One available option is the Foundation for Continuing Justice, which offers a free service to individuals who have obtained expungements or similar relief.

Once verified, updated information may be distributed through a clearinghouse system used by many background screening providers.

Using a third-party service may help reduce the time it takes for updates to be reflected across multiple data sources. However, you are not required to use any third-party service and may also contact us directly to request a reinvestigation.

Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

You have important rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), including the right to:

request a copy of your consumer report
dispute inaccurate or incomplete information
have inaccurate information corrected or deleted

For more information, please review:
Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA