How To Remove Items From Your Background Check: What You Need To Know

October 7, 2021

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Haunted by the past? Learn how to remove items from a background check and restore your good name today.

It makes sense that landlords, employers, and lenders want to see background reports before deciding who to lease, hire, and lend money to.

Your background report provides an idea of who you are and helps them understand the likelihood that you’ll stick to your contract.

But while background checks make sense, having an issue with your background report doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It could simply mean that you’re someone who went through a tough time due to circumstances out of your control. Or, it may even mean the information on your background report could even be a mistake.

For someone with a clean record, a background check can be nerve-wracking. Even if you pay your bills on time and don’t have a criminal record, mistakes can happen.

Some mistakes (such as a late payment) are unlikely to have any effect on getting a new apartment, job, or loan. But others (such as an arrest) can wreak havoc on your future.

If you have a mistake on your credit report or criminal history, it’s key to understand how to remove items from your background check. This allows you to move forward with your life, and seize the opportunities you deserve.

Understanding The Problem: Figuring Out Which Items To Remove

The first part of knowing how to remove items from a background check is understanding what you need to remove.

For instance, if a potential employer won’t offer you a position due to information on your background check, they’re required to tell you exactly why. Should this happen, you can move forward and learn how to tackle the issue the next time you apply for work.

If a lender rejects your loan application, they must provide you a written statement explaining the issue behind the decision. Once a year, you can get free copies of your credit report. These can provide the information you need to improve your credit.

Credit Report Corrections

There are many items on your credit report that can hurt opportunities. It’s important to understand how to remove items from your background check that could lower your credit score.

Inaccuracies to watch out for include:

Paid-off accounts listed as open
Identity theft issues, including the appearance of accounts you never opened
Negative financial events (such as bankruptcy) that should not show up due to the statute of limitations
Debts incurred by past spouses

Credit reporting agencies have 30 days to investigate and correct your report after an inquiry. If you notice an inaccuracy and are now applying for a job or loan, inform the person reviewing your application. Then, provide documentation that you reached out to the credit bureau to correct the issue.

Criminal History Corrections

Many jobs require a criminal record check. However, clerical issues can often result in mistakes on your criminal history report. This is why it is key to know how to remove items from your background check and criminal record.

Some common mistakes on criminal history reports include:

A lack of information. This may be a record of the arrest without a note that no charge was filed
A crime committed by someone with a similar name
Expunged/sealed items, even though these issues should not be visible

You must be aware of any issues on your criminal history report. This ensures employers, lenders, and landlords have accurate information about your past.

What If Your Background Check Has Correct Negative Information?

It can be hard to move past mistakes when you have correct negative information on your record. But, there are a few different things that you can do to lessen the impact, even if you have lingering issues you wish would disappear.

Steps To Remove Background Check Info

1. Learn What’s Showing Up

First, the best thing you can do is be aware of what’s on your background check. Then, you can let the person viewing the background check hear it from you before finding it on your credit or criminal history report.

When you get in front of the issue and talk to the person directly, you give them a chance to understand the issue from your point of view. When the person finds out from your background check (rather than you), it looks like you may be trying to hide something.

2. Combat Negative Info With Positive Data

Secondly, prepare yourself with information that shows how you’ve changed since the incident occurred.

Do you have negative information on your credit report and want to get a new apartment? Show your potential landlord records of utility bills and rental fees paid on time. Explain what caused the negative information to appear on your report in the first place.

If you have collections accounts on your credit, paying them off — or setting up a payment plan — can show a potential landlord, employer, or lender that you are improving your financial health.

3. Expunge Your Records

If you have criminal records, you have a few options. You can work with the court to attempt to seal or expunge your record. Or, you can talk with your potential new landlord, boss, or lender about what happened and how circumstances are now different.

Depending on the crime, circumstances, and matters of the case, you can take steps to show you deserve another chance.

How To Remove Items From a Background Check: Getting Help

If you notice inaccuracies in your credit or criminal report, you’re not alone. What’s more: we can help.

It can be tough to try to stay on top of negative information, especially when you’re working hard to get a new job or to move to a new place.

When you reach out to Erase Mugshots, we’ll carefully go over your background report and talk with you about what needs to be removed. Our skilled team will go to work to create the reputation you deserve, helping you move forward.

Should You Try To Figure Out How To Remove Items From a Background Check On Your Own?

While you can try to figure out how to change items on your background check on your own, it’s not a good idea. It’s tough to find every site where negative background information about you is listed unless you’re a reputation management professional.

Remove negative info and clean up your background checks fast! Contact our Removal Team today to learn more.

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