What Checkr is and who uses it

Checkr is a background check company that employers, landlords, and other organizations hire to investigate a person's history. You do not pay Checkr directly — the organization requesting the check pays them. Checkr pulls records from courts, databases, and public sources to create a report on criminal history, driving records, employment verification, and other information depending on what the hiring organization ordered.

Checkr operates in all 50 states and handles millions of background checks each year for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 firms, as well as for property management companies and gig economy platforms. If you are explore for a job, rental, or contract work, there is a reasonable chance Checkr is the company running the check.

Key Takeaways

  • Checkr is hired by employers and landlords to investigate your history; you do not choose them or pay them directly.
  • The organization ordering the check decides what records Checkr will pull — criminal history, driving records, employment verification, or a combination.
  • You have the right to see your Checkr report before a final decision is made against you, and you can dispute information you believe is wrong.
  • Checkr must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which means they must notify you that a check is happening and give you a chance to correct errors.
  • The time it takes Checkr to complete a check varies from a few days to several weeks depending on how many records they need to pull and how busy the courts are.

What information Checkr includes in a report

The contents of your Checkr report depend on what the employer or landlord ordered. A basic check might include only criminal records and a Social Security number trace. A more thorough check could add driving history, employment verification, education verification, credit history, or civil court records. Checkr pulls this information from county courts, state databases, the National Criminal Database, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and other public sources.

Criminal records are the most common element. Checkr searches for felonies and misdemeanors in the counties where you have lived. They also check the National Sex Offender Public Website if the hiring organization requested it. Driving records come from your state's DMV and show accidents, violations, and license suspensions. Employment and education verification involve Checkr contacting your previous employers or schools directly to confirm dates and titles.

Checkr does not have access to sealed or expunged records in most cases, though this varies by state and the type of record. They also cannot see medical records, financial records, or anything protected by privacy law unless you have signed a separate consent form allowing it.

How the Checkr process works from start to finish

When an employer or landlord orders a background check through Checkr, they provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address history. Checkr then sends you a notice — usually by email — informing you that a check is happening and giving you a chance to review the information they have on file and correct any errors before they start pulling records.

Once you acknowledge the notice (or after a certain time passes), Checkr begins pulling records from courts and databases. This stage can take anywhere from two to four weeks, depending on how many jurisdictions they need to search and how quickly those courts respond. During this time, your status in Checkr's system usually shows as "pending" or "in progress."

When Checkr finishes gathering records, they compile a report and send it to the organization that ordered the check. That organization then decides whether to move forward with you, ask for more information, or reject you based on what they found. If they plan to take action against you because of something in the report — such as not hiring you or denying your rental — they must notify you and give you a chance to dispute any information you believe is inaccurate.

Your rights when Checkr pulls your information

Checkr must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a federal law that protects people whose information is collected by third parties. This means Checkr must get your written consent before running a check, must notify you that a check is happening, and must give you a way to see your report and dispute errors.

You have the right to request a copy of your Checkr report at any time. You can do this through Checkr's website or by contacting them directly. If you find information in the report that is wrong — a criminal record that is not yours, an incorrect employment date, a driving violation you did not commit — you can file a dispute with Checkr. Checkr then has 30 days to investigate your dispute and correct or remove the information if it is inaccurate.

If an organization decides not to hire you, not to rent to you, or to take other action based on information in your Checkr report, they must tell you that a background check was the reason and provide you with a copy of the report and information about your right to dispute it. You cannot be rejected based on a background check without this notification.

How long Checkr takes and what affects the timeline

A Checkr background check typically takes between 3 and 10 business days, though some checks finish faster and others take longer. The timeline depends on several factors: how many states and counties Checkr needs to search, whether they need to verify employment or education directly with your previous employers or schools, and how quickly those courts and organizations respond to record requests.

Checks that include only a national criminal database search and Social Security trace tend to be faster — sometimes completed in 24 to 48 hours. Checks that require county-by-county court searches or employment verification can take two to four weeks. If Checkr encounters a discrepancy or needs more information from you, they will contact you and the timeline extends further.

Court backlogs and holidays also affect timing. If Checkr is searching records in a county with a slow court system or if the search happens during a holiday period, the check takes longer. You can usually see your status in Checkr's system and get an estimate of when the check will be complete.

Disputing errors in your Checkr report

If your Checkr report contains information you know is wrong, you can dispute it directly with Checkr. Common errors include criminal records that belong to someone else with a similar name, employment dates that do not match what your employer has on file, or driving violations that were dismissed or expunged but still appear on the report.

To start a dispute, log into your Checkr account and select the item you want to challenge. Explain why the information is inaccurate and provide any documentation you have — a court document showing a case was dismissed, a letter from your employer confirming the correct dates, or a DMV record showing a violation was removed. Checkr then contacts the source of the information to verify your claim. If the source confirms the information is wrong, Checkr removes or corrects it and sends an updated report to the organization that ordered the check.

If Checkr's investigation does not resolve the dispute to your satisfaction, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state's attorney general. You also have the right to add a statement to your report explaining your side of the dispute, which will be included if the organization requests your report again in the future.

What Checkr cannot see and what it can

Checkr cannot see sealed or expunged records in most states, meaning if a court has officially sealed or removed a record from public view, Checkr should not find it. However, some states allow employers to see sealed records for certain positions, and some records are sealed in name only — they still appear in databases Checkr uses. The rules vary significantly by state, so if you have a sealed or expunged record, research your state's specific rules or ask Checkr directly whether it will appear.

Checkr also cannot see your medical records, financial records, tax returns, or anything protected by attorney-client privilege or doctor-patient confidentiality. They cannot access your social media accounts or personal emails unless you give them permission. They cannot see records from other countries unless the hiring organization specifically requests an international background check, which Checkr offers as a separate service.

What Checkr can see includes any criminal record that has not been sealed or expunged, your driving record from the DMV, civil court records (such as evictions or lawsuits), bankruptcy filings, and any information you provided on your job process or rental form. They can also see employment and education history if they contact your previous employers or schools and those organizations respond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my Checkr report before the employer sees it?

Yes. Checkr sends you a notice before they start pulling records and gives you a chance to review the information they have on file. Once the report is complete, you can request a copy from Checkr. However, you may not see it before the employer receives it — the timing depends on when you request it and how quickly Checkr responds to your request.

What if Checkr finds a criminal record that is not mine?

File a dispute when ready. Checkr will investigate and contact the court or database where the record came from to verify whether it belongs to you. Provide any documentation you have, such as your birth certificate or a government ID showing your date of birth, to help prove the record is not yours. If Checkr confirms the error, they will remove it and send a corrected report to the employer.

How long does a dispute with Checkr take?

Checkr has 30 days to investigate a dispute and respond to you. In practice, disputes often resolve faster — sometimes within a week — if the source of the information quickly confirms the error. If the dispute is complex or requires back-and-forth with a court, it can take the full 30 days or longer.

Will a background check hurt my credit score?

No. A background check from Checkr does not affect your credit score. Checkr is not a credit reporting agency, and pulling a background check does not create a hard inquiry on your credit report. Your credit score remains unchanged whether or not Checkr runs a check on you.

Can I ask Checkr not to report certain information?

No. Checkr reports what they find in public records and databases. You cannot ask them to hide or omit information. However, you can dispute information you believe is inaccurate, and you can add a written statement to your report explaining your side of the story if you disagree with what appears.