Originally Posted by
noglider
A company that was considering hiring me told me they'd be doing a background check on me. I figured it would happen at other places, and I was curious what my records, if any, said. So I paid for a background check on myself. I think it cost $50. It turned out to be clean, and I'm glad I checked, just for peace of mind. Errors like yours are less likely for me, as my name is unusual. It's so unusual that I'm the only person on the whole internet with my first and last names. There are one or two others with my name, but they're not on the internet. I guess it's because it's a Catholic first name and a Jewish last name.
True, my first/last name is about the fifth most common in the USA, if those name ranking sites are to be believed. It sounds like you've got that covered. However, as [MENTION=366933]mgw4jc[/MENTION] said (and I work further upstream in that industry), after any adverse decision they are
required to provide you the report if it's a credit check, and should provide it or tell you how to get it in the case of more general background checks. Just be sure to obtain it either way.
The thing is, a lot of those background checks just give the employer a rating number and no other information. They don't actually know specifically why they're rejecting the applicant and the employer doesn't have to give you anything in that case, but they do have to show you the path to get it. The other thing, maybe more important, is that those background checks are compiled from different sources with varying levels of accuracy, especially the cheaper ones. So don't take anything for granted. There can always be errors. But enough unasked for advice, I'm just trying to provide moral support here.