Employment background checks by employers have increased since September 11, 2001.

Employment  background checks are used by 93% of all employers on some of their job applicants, yet many have  errors. A study by the National Consumer Law Center indicates serious problems with the accuracy of employment background checks. For more information about this study go to: http://www.nclc.org/issues/broken-records.html.

Mistakes in employment background checks are unfair to applicants. Common mistakes that are contained in employment background checks that are used for employment include:

• Mistaking the applicant with another person
• Revealing expunged or sealed information
• Containing outdated information
• Containing misleading information

Consumers may be unaware that the Fair Credit Reporting Act also applies to protect consumers against the improper use or distribution of employment background checks.

Jim Pietz has represented consumers in seeking the enforce the FCRA against an employer who, it was alleged, had violated the FCRA in its use of criminal background checks.