Articles — "fcra" | All Screeners

Compliance

The Standalone Disclosure Rule: How One Extra Line Becomes a Six-Figure Lawsuit

Before you can run a background check, federal law says you have to give the applicant a disclosure form that stands completely alone. Mix it into your job application or add extra legal language, and you've built a template that can turn into a class action.

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Guides and analysis

The Standalone Disclosure Rule: How One Extra Line Becomes a Six-Figure Lawsuit

Individualized Assessment: What the EEOC Actually Requires Before You Reject Someone for a Criminal Record

'Reasonable Time to Dispute': What Courts Actually Mean Before You Finalize a Rejection

Your AI Hiring Tool Might Legally Be a Background Check Company

Background Check Company Red Flags: 9 Signs You Picked a Bad Provider

Can I Ask About a Sealed or Expunged Criminal Record?

Choosing a Background Check Provider: A Framework That Actually Works

Clean Slate Laws and the Records That Shouldn't Be There

Employment Credit Checks: What They Actually Show, and Where They're Legal

FCRA vs. EEOC: The Two Separate Federal Rulebooks Employers Keep Mixing Up

How Far Back Can a Background Check Legally Go Under Federal Law?

How Far Back Do California Background Checks Go? The 7-Year Rule (and the $75,000 Myth)

The CRA Made the Mistake, You Got Sued: Why Vendor Selection Is a Compliance Decision

What's a Good Dispute Rate for a Background Check Provider? (And Why Almost Nobody Asks)

10 Questions to Ask a Background Check Company Before You Sign a Contract

7 Background Check Mistakes First-Time Employers Make (and How to Fix Them)

Am I Allowed to Run a Credit Check on This Candidate?

Can I Background Check a Current Employee Being Promoted?

Can I Reject a Candidate Because of an Old Criminal Conviction?

Can I Screen a Candidate Who Lives Outside the U.S.?

Can You Reject a Candidate for Filing Bankruptcy? The Federal Law Employers Get Wrong

Do I Need Consent to Background Check a Contractor or Gig Worker?

Do I Need to Background Check Unpaid Interns or Volunteers?

How to Run Your First Employee Background Check: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Business Owners

How to Set Candidate Expectations During a Background Check (With Email Templates)

How to Write a Background Check Policy for a Small Business (Free Template)

What Is PBSA Accreditation and Does Your Background Check Provider Need It?

Am I Allowed to Screen a Candidate Without Telling Them?

Background Check Red Flags: What's Actually Disqualifying vs. What Deserves a Second Look

Can I Background Check a Minor or Teen Employee?

Can I Run a Background Check Before Making a Job Offer?

NYC Fair Chance Act: The Correct Order to Run a Background Check

Permissible Purpose Under the FCRA: When You're Actually Allowed to Run a Background Check

Social Media Background Checks: What Employers Legally Can and Cannot Screen For

The Summary of Rights Under the FCRA: What It Is and Why You Can't Skip It

What Is Adverse Action, and How Do I Handle It the First Time? (With Template)

An Applicant Disputed Their Background Check. Now What? The Employer's Obligations Under FCRA Section 611

Can You Start a New Hire Before the Background Check Clears?

DIY Background Checks vs. Hiring a Screening Company: What Small Businesses Actually Risk

The FACTA Disposal Rule: How Employers Must Legally Destroy Background Check Records

Background Check Programs for Staffing and Temp Agencies: A 2026 Buyer's Guide

Negligent Hiring vs. FCRA Overcorrection: The Legal Tightrope Employers Don't Realize They're On

What a Background Check Compliance Audit Actually Looks For

What Happens If You Violate the FCRA? Penalties, Statutory Damages, and Class Action Risk

Credit Checks and State Law: When Pulling a Credit Report Is Itself the Violation

How to Build an Employee Background Check Program From Scratch

Can I Ask About Arrests That Never Led to a Conviction?