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My background check
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How do I check the status of my background check?
Read MoreTo check the status of your background check, log into the Candidate Portal using the information you provided the company with during your application process. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be able to see the status of your report as well as any actions you need to take.
Non-US candidates
There are two portals that may be used by non-US candidates:
- International Candidate Portal - used when a candidate's work location is based in a country other than the US, Philippines, or Singapore
- International Candidate Portal (Philippines and Singapore) - used when the candidate’s work location is based in the Philippines or Singapore
Related articles:
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My background report is complete. What happens next?
Read MoreOnce your background check report is complete, the company that ordered your background check has access to review your report. Since the results of screenings are available to companies upon the completion of the screening, Checkr does not send copies of reports to companies that have ordered reports.
Please remember: Checkr is a consumer reporting agency. We provide background check reports for companies that request them. We do not review reports, make employment or engagement decisions, or determine company requirements regarding employment or engagement. The company you applied with will make its own determination based on its own requirements and review of your report.
Once your report is complete, please reach out to the company you applied with for updates. Our support team is not informed about hiring timelines and will not know how long the company you applied with will take to get back to you. -
How do I submit a document to Checkr?
Read MoreYou can submit a document to Checkr in one of the following ways:
- Submit information through the Candidate Portal. Visit the Candidate Portal and log in with the information you submitted for your background check. Refer to How do I log into the Candidate Portal? if you're having issues logging in.
- Submit information through email. If we requested additional information from you, we will send you a link in an email to upload documents. Search your email inbox and spam folder for the keyword Checkr. The upload link will look like the image below. It works best in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browsers.
- Submit information by submitting a request ticket. If you cannot access the Candidate Portal or submit information through the link we sent you, please submit a request ticket here with the description and attachment.
Important
Make sure any photos you upload are as clear as possible. Poor photo quality may cause delays in the background check process.
Related article:
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Why am I being asked for additional information from one customer, but not the other?
Read MoreIn many cases, different companies have different requirements and are reviewing different information contained within your report. This may be due to each company’s hiring requirements, applicable regulations, or the industry in which you are applying.
Please reach out directly to the company you applied to for details regarding their requirements.
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Why did Checkr search a county/state I never lived in?
Read MoreThe SSN Trace identifies potential addresses that are associated with your SSN, not necessarily ones that you’ve lived in. For example, it can include counties where you’ve applied for loans or received mail. The address history is used to determine which counties and other databases should be searched for potential public records.
Please note that we get address histories from a variety of sources. The SSN Trace identifies information compiled from credit and banking history, which is obtained from credit bureaus.
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How do I log into the Candidate Portal?
Read MoreTo log into the Candidate Portal:
1. Enter your date of birth (DOB) and the email address you submitted when agreeing to your background check.
2. Click Continue. A confirmation screen will appear, letting you know that Checkr sent you an email that will allow you to securely access your account.
3. Navigate to your email inbox and open the email from Checkr.
Important
This link will expire 30 minutes after it is generated. Be sure to click the link within 30 minutes of requesting it, or you'll need to request a new link by repeating this process.
If the issue persists, contact Checkr Support.
4. Click the View My Background Check link within the email.
This link will bring you directly into your Candidate Portal account.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you cannot find the email in your inbox, check the following:
- Confirm that you used the correct email address,
- Confirm that you entered your DOB correctly, and
- Check your Spam folder
If you are experiencing issues when attempting to log in, it could be because of the following:
- An error in your credentials. Please contact the company you applied with to confirm the information on file.
- The background check has not begun. Occasionally there can be a brief delay between when you applied to a company and the company’s system ordering the background check. You will not be able to log into the Candidate Portal until the company has requested the background check.
- Your background check is more than 12 months old. For security and privacy purposes, reports that were completed more than 12 months ago are not available on the Candidate Portal. If you need a copy of an old report or have a question about an old report, please submit a request to our support team.
Clicking Having trouble signing in? will route you to the previous version of the Candidate Portal login screen. This will allow you to use more personal identification information to access your portal.
Important
If you receive an error message asking you to generate a new access link, repeat the link generation process by returning to step 1 of this article.
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How do I request a new background check?
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Why is my background check taking so long?
Read MoreThree common reasons your background check may be taking longer to complete include:
- We are waiting for a piece of information from you. If this is the case, you should have received a communication from us. Be sure to check your Spam folder for an email from Checkr.
- The county court(s) being searched is/are taking longer than usual to return data. It’s possible, for example, that there is a record request backlog in one of the counties or courts being searched. For more information on the county search process, please see County Criminal Record Search in the Checkr Help Center.
- Your background check includes a screening, like employment or education verification, that depends on verifying information with third parties. These verifications often require contacting an individual or an organization, which may cause a delay in results.
If Checkr has not requested additional information from you, then you're likely in the final stage of the background check.
Most background checks take 3 to 7 business days to complete, but some may take longer. Every background check is as unique as the individual applying, so the completion time varies with each report.
Checkr ETA, which is available in the Candidate Portal, provides an estimate of when your report should be complete. Actual delivery time is not guaranteed.
Having trouble logging into the Candidate Portal? Refer to How do I log into the Candidate Portal?
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How do I update my personal information on a report?
Read MoreThe process for updating information on your report will look different depending on which information needs to be updated.
I need to update my: How to update this information: - Name
- Date of birth
Submit a request to Checkr’s Support Team.
Be sure to attach a photo of the front of your driver’s license or state-issued ID.
Please note that, depending on the company you applied with, we may not be able to use the submitted documentation to make changes. If this is the case, we will provide you with next steps for resolving the issue.
- Social Security Number (SSN)
This is dependent on what the issue is.
First, check the Candidate Portal and/or your email for a link sent by Checkr that allows candidates to re-enter their SSNs.
If you do not see anything in the Candidate Portal or your email, submit a request to Checkr’s Support Team.
- Phone number
- Zip code
Contact the company you applied with so they can update the information or request a new report. Checkr is unable to change the submitted information. Important: The Checkr Support Team is unable to update your phone number or zip code.
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What if an employer decides not to hire me as a result of seeing my background check?
Read MoreQuestion
I was denied employment based on my background check results. What now?
Answer
Checkr is not involved in the hiring process; each company has its own engagement criteria and conducts its own evaluation of the information contained in a background check report.
If you have questions about how the information on your report was used to determine your engagement eligibility please contact the company you applied with for information.
Related article:
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I've turned my life around and my background check report doesn't reflect who I am today. How do I explain that?
Read MorePlease note that Checkr does not evaluate the information returned on your report and does not influence or otherwise make engagement decisions.
At Checkr, we know that background check records alone do not provide the full picture of a candidate. Everyone has the capacity to make mistakes, and our potential extends beyond what may have happened in the past. Every individual has a unique story that is worth hearing.
We’re proud to provide employers the opportunity to utilize Candidate Stories, a feature that allows your story to be told directly to the company you applied with, as shown below:
If the company you applied with is not using this feature, you will need to provide additional information to them directly. You can determine if the company you applied with has this feature available by logging in to the Candidate Portal and scrolling to the bottom of the page to see if there is a “Share your story” option:
Clicking on “Share your story” will allow you to: (1) provide general information about yourself, (2) provide information about a specific record or records on your report; and (3) upload any documentation to support the information you choose to provide.
If you would like to provide general information about yourself, there are example prompts to help you think about what additional information you can provide:
If you would like to provide information about a specific record or records on your report, there are also example prompts to help you think about how you can provide additional context about your record:
Candidate Stories give decision-makers a chance to better understand the person behind the background check. As more candidates tell their stories, the meaning of trust and safety will grow, normalizing hiring people with records and giving everyone a fair chance at employment. Check the Candidate Portal to see if this option is available for you. -
How will I know that Checkr has received my documents?
Read MoreIf you have uploaded documents to the Candidate Portal, please allow up to 3 business days for review.
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My report was completed more than 12 months ago. Why can’t I access it?
Read MoreFor security and privacy purposes, reports that were completed more than 12 months ago are not available on the Candidate Portal. If you need a copy of an old report or have a question about an old report, please submit a request to our support team.
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My reports were run by two different companies on the same day - why did they come back with two different statuses?
Read MoreQuestion
Two of my reports completed on the same day; why did one report come back “Consider” if it is showing the same information as the other report, which is “Clear”?
Answer
A “Consider” status means that your report is complete and contains reportable records or information. Companies may choose to display information differently to facilitate their review or reportable records or information. If you have a question about the engagement criteria of the company you applied with, we recommend you contact that company directly.
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If my case is pending or dismissed, why is it still showing in my report?
Read MoreQuestion
If my case is pending or dismissed, why is it still showing in my report?
Answer
Under the FCRA, pending cases and non-convictions are generally reportable for seven years.
In some states, like California, Kentucky, New Mexico, and New York, the reporting of non-convictions is limited. In Kentucky, the reporting of pending cases is limited.
A "non-conviction" could include dismissed cases, not-guilty verdicts, alternative or deferred adjudications (programs that result in dismissed charges if the defendant completes certain conditions), and nolle prosequi dispositions (formal abandonment of prosecution).
For more information about lookback periods, refer to How far back are records searched during a background check?
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I paid my tickets and my violations are resolved. Why are the violations still being reported on my Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)?
Read MoreQuestion
I paid my tickets and my violations are resolved. Why are you still reporting violations on my motor vehicle record?
Answer
Paying a fine or ticket does not always remove the associated violation from your motor vehicle record (MVR). In some cases, you may be able to have a record or restriction amended or removed from your MVR by contacting your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) or its equivalent. If you contact the DMV and there are changes made to your record, you can let us know by logging into the Candidate Portal and clicking on the “Report an Error” button on the page. For more information about filing a dispute, refer to Something on my background check report is wrong. What should I do?
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I paid my fines - why does an amount still show on my report?
Read MoreQuestion
If I paid my fines, why does an amount still show on my report?
Answer
The fines on your report reflect the amounts ordered by the court when the case was adjudicated. If your report includes “outstanding balance or balance due,” that means the court records showed that an amount was still owed at the time your report was completed.
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Why was my background check canceled?
Read MoreIf your report indicates it has been canceled and you are unsure why, please reach out to the company you applied with. Our support team is not informed about hiring decisions or timelines and will not know how long the company you applied with will take to get back to you.
Please remember: Checkr is a consumer reporting agency. We provide background check reports for companies that request them. We do not review reports, make employment or engagement decisions, or determine company requirements regarding employment or engagement. The company you applied with will make its own determination based on its own requirements and review of your report.
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Why is my tenant screening report expired?
Read MoreTenant screenings reports expire one month following the date of creation. If you are applying for new housing and your personal report is expired, you will need to obtain a new personal report from the housing rental site where you applied. Please follow their application process to order a new report.
Once you obtain a new personal report, you may download it to your device from Checkr’s Candidate Portal. Unfortunately, Checkr is unable to send the personal report to any landlords. You will be responsible for providing the new personal report to any potential or future landlords.
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I have two reports. Why does my background check show records on one report but not the other?
Read MoreQuestion
Why does my background check show records on one report but not the other?
Answer
Your reports may look different or include different records depending on when the report was ordered and which company ordered the report. The company you applied with determines the scope of the report. If you have any questions about how your report will be considered by the company you applied with, please contact that company directly -- Checkr is not involved in engagement decisions.
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I'm a candidate in California or Massachusetts, and my background check is delayed.
Read MoreThere are two common reasons why your background check may be delayed in California and Massachusetts:
- The wait times can be longer in California and Massachusetts because the courts generally take longer than average to respond to our record request. If your report is in PENDING status and we haven’t asked for any additional documents from you, then you’re likely in the final stages of the background check.
- As of September 2021, changes have been made that limit the public availability of record information in the state of California (including, but not limited to, Los Angeles County). Checkr, as well as other background check providers, are affected by this change. With less information publicly available, the background check process requires more time to complete, sometimes resulting in long delays.
To check the most up-to-date status of your report, log into the Candidate Portal. Unfortunately, our Candidate Experience Support team does not have any information beyond what is available in the Candidate Portal.
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I just received an SMS message from a number claiming to be Checkr. Does Checkr send text messages?
Read MoreYes, Checkr does send SMS text messages to communicate urgent and time-sensitive updates regarding your background check application. Checkr will only send you messages from a 243257 number.
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How do I opt out of receiving SMS text messages from Checkr?
Read MoreYou always have the option to opt-out of SMS text messages from Checkr. To do this, send a text message to 243257 with any of the following commands:
- N
- No
- Stop
- Stopall
- Unsubscribe
- Cancel
- End
- Quit
You will receive the following message confirming that you successfully unsubscribed your phone number: "You have successfully been unsubscribed. You will not receive any more messages from this number. Reply START to resubscribe."
Related article:
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How do I opt back into receiving SMS text messages from Checkr?
Read MoreTo opt into receiving SMS text messages from Checkr, send a text message to 243257 with any of the following commands:
- Start
- Yes
- Unstop
- Y
- Yea
- Yeah
- Yep
- Yup
You will receive the following message confirming that you have successfully re-subscribed your phone number: "You have successfully been re-subscribed to messages from this number. Reply HELP for help. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg&Data Rates May Apply."
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I did not give consent to run my background check to the company I applied with.
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Password Protected PDFs
Read MoreFor privacy and security reasons, some clients ask that their background report PDFs be password protected with the last 4 digits of the candidate's SSN.
Once you enter the password, you will be able to open your report. If you do not wish to enter the last 4 digits of your SSN through your email, you can also access your report through our Candidate Portal.