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After applying for a teaching position, a woman authorized a background check. She later learned her report contained criminal records that did not belong to her.

Her Story

A woman who applied for a teaching position with the Tomball Independent School District agreed to a background screening. This is a standard procedure. Screenings are conducted to protect students and staff and to ensure the applicant is eligible for hire.

Unfortunately, this screening did not provide the expected outcome. The woman's report contained information about nine criminal convictions. None of them actually belonged to her. These records were for another woman who had the same birth date and maiden name.

How Could This Happen?

When running a background check, the first step is to verify the subject's identity. This can involve several steps, especially if the person has a common name. The rest of the background report cannot be completed until the identity is verified.

In some cases, an identity search may return multiple results. When this happens it is crucial for the Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) that is preparing the report to obtain all the data they need to ensure they are screening the correct individual. That did not happen in this situation.

Aftermath of the Screening Issue

The woman who sought employment with Tomball Independent School District had also submitted several other applications. She wondered why she was having such difficulty finding a job - until she learned about the mistaken identity. Some of the crimes that were incorrectly attributed to her included cocaine possession, theft and robbery.

Since this disturbing discovery, the woman set out to clear her name. She has had some success and was recently hired as a substitute teacher. However, she expresses concern that a similar situation could happen to others and cause people to lose out on jobs for which they are perfectly qualified and eligible.

Part of the issue is that basic information about criminal records can be found on various public records websites. If employers rely on these sites or utilize the services of companies that do not adhere to a high standard of data quality, it is possible that other job seekers could suffer from cases of mistaken identity.

The Importance of Using an Accredited CRA

An article written by a local news agency claimed the CRA that compiled the woman's background check is not accredited by The National Association Of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS). The NAPBS promotes a high standard of ethics and performance in the screening industry. To become accredited, a CRA must prove that they have high standards in areas such as:

• Consumer Protection
• Legal Compliance
• Client Education
• Researcher and Data Product Standards
• Verification Service Standards
• General Business Practices

Backgrounds Online is proud to be accredited by the NAPBS. We are committed to providing screening services that are accurate, compliant and trustworthy. All of our screening professionals must earn their FCRA Certification. This teaches them important lessons about compliance and helps prepare them to maintain a high standard of background screening excellence.

When Running Background Checks

When you run background checks, it is important to utilize the services of a reliable CRA. The team at Backgrounds Online is experienced, highly trained and prepared to help provide solutions for all of your screening needs. We become your partner in the screening process and provide authoritative background checks that contain reportable data you can use to make informed business decisions.

If you have questions about what we can do for you, please contact us today. Our team is available Monday - Friday from 5am to 5pm (PST).