Sterling Background Check Errors Can Cost You a Job — and Cost Sterling $100–$1,000 Per Violation

What Sterling Is Required to Do — and Often Doesn't

Sterling is a "consumer reporting agency" under the FCRA. Every violation of your rights is worth $100–$1,000 in statutory damages for willful violations plus punitive damages and attorney fees.

• ✗
  Reported criminal records that were expunged, sealed, dismissed, or resulted in a not-guilty verdict

  15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b) — Maximum possible accuracy; expunged records must not appear
  $100–$1,000
• ✗
  Failed to send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the background check report before your employer could take action

  15 U.S.C. § 1681b(b)(3)(A) — Pre-adverse action disclosure requirement
  $100–$1,000
• ✗
  Reported another person's criminal record due to a name or date-of-birth mismatch

  15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b) — Reasonable procedures for accuracy in identity matching
  $100–$1,000
• ✗
  Reported criminal records older than 7 years for positions with an annual salary under $75,000

  15 U.S.C. § 1681c(a)(5) — Obsolete criminal record reporting restriction
  $100–$1,000
• ✗
  Failed to follow strict procedures for employment reports using public record information

  15 U.S.C. § 1681k(a) — Public record information for employment purposes
  $100–$1,000
• ✗
  Failed to investigate your written dispute about inaccurate information in your Sterling report

  15 U.S.C. § 1681i — Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
  $100–$1,000

How to Get Your Sterling Report and Dispute Errors