How to dispute a Checkr background check
By Jean Luc · Updated September 26, 2026 · Sourced to Checkr's own instructions and the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Log into Checkr's Candidate Portal, find the item you believe is wrong, and click “File a dispute” at the bottom of the page. Disputing is free. Federal law gives Checkr 30 days to reinvestigate, or up to 45 if you send new information along the way, and it must send you the results in writing. Tell the employer that you've filed, because they make the hiring decision, not Checkr.
1. Work out which problem you have
A dispute is for information that is wrong: a record that belongs to someone else, a charge shown without its dismissal or acquittal, an outdated entry, or an employment or education detail that doesn't match. This is the most common complaint in the candidate reviews we aggregate. One Trustpilot reviewer wrote that Checkr showed “ALL charges regardless of guilty or not guilty verdicts going back to your birthdate.” A charge without its outcome is exactly what a dispute is for.
If the record is accurate and you want the employer to understand it, a dispute won't remove it. Checkr offers a candidate stories tool for adding context, such as how long ago it was, what has changed, and rehabilitation.
If your check is stuck and not finished, that isn't a dispute either. According to Checkr's help center, reports that are still in progress, reports that came back clear, and reports more than twelve months old can't be disputed in the portal. For stalled checks, see how long Checkr checks take and why they stall.
2. File the dispute in the Candidate Portal
Log into the Candidate Portal. If your email address is linked to more than one background check, Checkr asks for your date of birth to confirm it's you. Open the report, find the inaccurate item, and click “File a dispute” at the bottom of the page. Select the items you're disputing and say what is wrong with each.
Attach proof. The documents that settle disputes fastest are the ones that come from the source of the record: a court disposition showing a dismissal or acquittal, an expungement or sealing order, a corrected court record, or ID that shows a record belongs to a different person. Checkr accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files in the portal, and you can reply to the dispute confirmation email with more documents later. Keep that email; it's your record of when the legal clock started.
3. Know the deadlines the law sets
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i) sets the timeline, and it applies to Checkr as a consumer reporting agency:
- Checkr must finish its reinvestigation within 30 days of receiving your dispute.
- The deadline can extend by up to 15 days, but only if you send new, relevant information during the first 30. It doesn't extend if the item turns out to be inaccurate or can't be verified.
- Within 5 business days of receiving your dispute, Checkr must notify whoever supplied the information, such as the court or data source.
- If the item is inaccurate, incomplete, or can't be verified, Checkr must promptly delete or correct it.
- Checkr must send you the results in writing within 5 business days of finishing, along with an updated copy of your report.
4. Tell the employer right away
Checkr reports; the employer decides. If an employer is considering withdrawing your offer because of the report, federal law requires them to first send you a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act,” and to give you a chance to respond. Checkr's own guidance to employers calls five to ten business days a good benchmark for that window. Some states and cities require longer.
Federal law doesn't explicitly require the employer to wait until your dispute is resolved, so don't count on it. Reply within their window, say you've filed a dispute with Checkr, and send the same documents you gave Checkr. If they go ahead, the final adverse action notice must include Checkr's contact details, a statement that Checkr didn't make the decision, and your right to a free copy of the report and to dispute it.
5. If Checkr says the record is accurate
A dispute that comes back “verified” isn't the end of your options:
- Ask Checkr to describe how it verified the item. The results notice must tell you that you can request this, including the name and address of the source it contacted, and its phone number where available.
- Add a dispute statement to your file. If the reinvestigation doesn't resolve the dispute, you can file a brief statement, which Checkr may limit to 100 words. Future reports containing the item must note that you dispute it.
- Fix the record at its source. If a court record itself is wrong or out of date, the court clerk can correct it, and a corrected record gives you grounds to dispute again.
- File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, under credit reports and other personal consumer reports, which covers background checks.
- Talk to a consumer protection attorney. The FCRA lets consumers sue for willful or negligent violations, and courts can award attorney's fees, so many attorneys review these cases without an upfront fee.
Background on Checkr's litigation history and accreditations is on our Is Checkr legit? page.
This guide explains the process and your rights under federal law. It isn't legal advice. State and local rules vary, so for a specific situation, especially a lost job offer, talk to a consumer protection attorney.
Checkr dispute FAQ
How do I dispute a Checkr background check?+
Log into Checkr's Candidate Portal, find the item you believe is wrong, and click "File a dispute" at the bottom of the page. Select the items you're disputing, explain why, and upload anything that proves it, such as a court disposition or dismissal order. Checkr emails a confirmation, and you can reply to that email with more documents.
How long does a Checkr dispute take?+
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Checkr has 30 days from receiving your dispute to reinvestigate. That can extend by up to 15 days only if you send new, relevant information during the first 30. The extension doesn't apply if the item is found to be inaccurate or can't be verified. Checkr must then send you the results in writing within 5 business days of finishing.
Can my employer withdraw my offer while my dispute is open?+
Federal law requires the employer to send you a pre-adverse action notice, a copy of the report, and a summary of your rights before making a final decision, and to give you a reasonable chance to respond. It doesn't explicitly require them to wait until your dispute is resolved. Some states and cities add longer waiting periods. Tell the employer as soon as you file, because the employer, not Checkr, makes the hiring decision.
What if Checkr says the record is accurate?+
You can ask Checkr how it verified the information, including the name and address of the source it contacted. You can add a dispute statement of up to 100 words that goes on future reports containing the item. You can also correct the record at its source, usually the court clerk, and file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Can I dispute a report that says Clear or is still in progress?+
Not through the portal. Checkr's help center says clear reports, reports still in progress, and reports more than twelve months old can't be disputed there. If your report is in progress and you're worried about what it will show, wait for it to complete. If it's stuck, see how long Checkr checks take and why they stall.
Does it cost anything to dispute?+
No. The FCRA requires a consumer reporting agency to reinvestigate a dispute free of charge.