Category Archives: Background Check Errors

Harmful Data Broker Practices—What Can Be Done to Protect American Consumers

As many as 40 million Americans have errors on their credit reports—and errors on credit reports can cause havoc on someone’s financial well-being, leading them to have potentially higher interest rates on credit cards, mortgages, and car loans. It can even impact their ability to rent an apartment or get a job. Meanwhile, despite the […]

What You Need to Know about Child Identity Theft

While many parents will get a Social Security Number for their child, it may be many years before the child uses their identification for financial purposes (e.g., opening a bank account). In the intervening time, the dormancy of children’s information makes kids an ideal target for identity thieves. The children’s underlying data is real, but […]

Why Having a Vietnamese Name Can Result in a Problem with Your Credit

The traditions and symbolism behind Vietnamese names are profoundly meaningful, while individuals’ personal names are often beautiful and inspiring. But having a Vietnamese name in the United States can pose a unique challenge when it comes to someone’s financial security. Let’s explore why this is an issue and what you can do to protect yourself. […]

How Those with Arabic Names Are More Likely to Have Errors in Credit Reports

While those with Arabic names may be used to having people make mistakes in addressing them (e.g., thinking that “bin” or “ben” is someone’s first or middle name), these errors can be more than a mild annoyance if they are on someone’s credit report. When that happens, it can have real consequences on their financial […]

Mexican-Americans Should Watch Their Credit Files for Erroneous Information

Mexican-Americans are proud of their outstanding heritage and vibrant culture. They are also proud of their lineage and often have two surnames that reflect their ancestry. Many use their father’s and mother’s family names as their surnames. For example, a man may go by Gilberto Lopez Garcia, or a woman may be called Maria Gonzalez […]

People of Polish Ancestry Should Check Their Credit Files

William Shakespeare famously wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But, for many of us, names are important since they give us our identity. Especially our last names. Surnames are a source of pride since they link us to our families and ethnic […]

Common French Surnames Can Cause Credit History Problems

The nation of France is known for its contributions to art and culture, from the architectural marvels of the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles to the fashion runways of Paris to the masterpieces in the Louvre Museum. And don’t forget the food and wine! The people of France have a lot to be […]

New Report Reviews the Biggest Data Breaches of 2022 (and so far, for 2023)

It’s astonishing how frequently revelations of a data breach have hit the news. But these events are so frequent they may get less media coverage than they warrant. That can hurt consumers—because if you’re not aware of breaches, you won’t know that your data has been compromised and take steps to protect yourself from identity […]

A Record Year of Complaints for the Three National Credit Bureaus

Credit Bureaus are the worst. That isn’t just hyperbole. That’s the finding from a new U.S. PIRG Education Fund analysis. Confirming what you already knew, PIRG reviewed complaints made to U.S. financial firms—regarding everything from student loans to credit cards. And PIRG concluded that the “Big 3” credit bureaus received more complaints than any other […]