Compliance.

Compliance Resources

Adverse Action Program Sample Disclosure and Authorizations

Employer Obligations under the FCRA

If employers want to run background checks in the United States, they are required to comply with The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most notably if they engage a third-party background screening provider, known as a credit reporting agency (CRA).

Congress enacted the FCRA 40 years ago. Despite having the term credit in its name, the FCRA does more than regulate credit checks that anyone looking to get a loan or open a charge account must undergo.

Generally speaking, employers must comply with the FCRA when they order virtually any type of report from a CRA, including reports derived from public record sources (e.g., criminal and motor vehicle records checks).

Below are links that help explain employer obligations under FCRA in more detail:

1. Disclosure – FCRA §604(b)2(A)i
2. Authorization – FCRA §604(b)2(A)ii
3. Individualized Assessment – EEOC Enforcement Guidance 915.002
4. Adverse Action – FCRA §604(b)3(A)

Fair Credit Reporting Act | EEOC Enforcement Guidance

PBSA/BSAAP Accreditation Status

CredentialCheck is among only 5% of Consumer Reporting Agencies to earn Accreditation from the Professional Background Screening Association. Even more impressive, CredentialCheck is one of few to earn a perfect audit score, with ZERO recommendations for improvement, and ZERO non-conformities on both our initial audit to earn Accreditation, and most-recently with our interim surveillance audit.

The Professional Background Screening Association offers an accreditation program for Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) located in the United States. Governed by a strict and thorough set of professional standards of specified requirements and measurements, the Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program (BSAAP) has become a widely recognized seal of approval bringing national recognition to an employment background screening-affiliated organization for its commitment to achieving excellence through high professional standards with accountability that results in continued institutional improvement. (PBSA, 2017).

Screening Scope Statement

CredentialCheck is a Consumer Reporting Agency providing employment background checks and drug testing. The services and scope of the background check is determined based on employer requirements, but may consist of Criminal Services, Identity and Sanction Services, Verification Services, Drug Testing and Health Screening Services, among others. CredentialCheck reviews all background check results against our Risk Matrix to determine if the information returned to us is reportable within compliance of local, regional, state, federal, and EEOC regulatory laws and guidance. CredentialCheck’s standard scope of a background check is 7 years unless determined by location.