Tag: criminal and civil court data

Consumer Reporting Agency Reaches $11.5 Million Settlement Over Faulty Reporting October 10, 2022 The plaintiffs filing a class action lawsuit against a major consumer reporting agency (CRA) announced they reached a settlement agreement. This agreement settles how the agency allegedly reported inaccurate or incomplete criminal and civil records. This settlement agreement would require the CRA to pay $11.5 million and make changes to how it records criminal and civil court data. The claims, in this case, accused the CRA of violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Allegedly, the CRA failed to employ reasonable procedures to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of the consumer information it reports. For example, the CRA in question provided screening reports on potential tenants, which would go to landlords. This case is a consolidation of six different ones, which were pending before courts in four states. These were consolidated by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation into one case in April 2020. Soon after, the parties began settlement talks, resulting in the current settlement agreement. According to several cases in the settlement under the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the CRA incorrectly reported felony and misdemeanor convictions due to mismatching data. Furthermore, the CRA included mismatched dates of birth, address information, and Social Security Numbers (SSN). Other cases included in the settlement alleged that the CRA failed to update records of eviction cases to represent the actual status of the cases due to relying on out-of-date and incomplete information. Under the agreement, the CRA agreed to change how it records civil and criminal data. Furthermore, the CRA agreed that it would not link individuals to criminal records without using three separate personal identifiers. These identifiers include name, date of birth, address, or SSN. The CRA also agreed not to rely on landlord and tenant records unless they are from a source that is checked at least every sixty days for updates. The settlement would create a fund of $11.5 million; approximately a third of the amount will go toward attorneys fees. The remainder would benefit the settlement class, estimated to include about 90,000 members who could receive awards ranging from $40 to $800. In addition, the settlement obligates the CRA to provide information necessary to identify individuals who may qualify for the class. As this case shows, landlords and employers must ensure they are working with a screening provider they can trust. Doing so ensures the accuracy of their reports. This partnership will also help ensure compliance with the law and reduce potential liabilities associated with inaccurate reports. Confidently verify your employment qualifications when you switch to pre-employment background checks. Talk to a sales representative today. Source

Tag: criminal and civil court data

Consumer Reporting Agency Reaches $11.5 Million Settlement Over Faulty Reporting

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