Consumer complaint received 2025-07-30 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Other personal consumer report
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION
State: MA

Complaint narrative:
I accepted a job offer with XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX in XXXX, MA on XX/XX/XXXX, conditional upon clear background check. The job paid XXXX per year. First Advantage did the screening and on the application itself, it asked whether I was ever convicted of a felony, to which I truthfully answered and provided details about a XXXX XXXX  from XXXX. They ran the checks and wrote, " No reportable offenses '' for felonies, but in the remarks, they wrote, " Admitted offense- No reportable offenses '', however they listed that component as " decisional '' for the employers review. Suddenly, the employer is reaching out to me requesting information regarding the specific charge of XXXX XXXX from XXXX. How did the employer even know the specifics of the crime I disclosed on my background app if it was non-reportable? The day after I submitted my responses to the questions, and after I had to request it, they sent me a pre adverse action notice stating the contents of my report were the reason. HoweverXXXX XXXX  is listed no where on it. Therefore, the consumer reporting agency disclosed this info off the record somehow. Furthermore, MA law M.G.L. c. 93 52 states CRAs may not report adverse info, including convictions, that predates the report by more than 7 years. My conviction happened in XXXX, which was 13 years ago. 

Although I disputed the fact that they reported outdated info to the CRA, they blamed the employer for using the info THE CRA DISCLOSED, admitted they shouldn't have disclosed it, but told me there's nothing they could do. They did not help me dispute anything. Next, I receive an updated background report with all the same info, but now it says " fail '' and " ineligible '' near the felony section. I called First Advantage and they told me XXXX XXXX denied me based on my admission. I have yet to receive any adverse action notices despite this. I also know they denied me because my applicant status with XXXX shows " Not selected '' instead of " In progress ''. 

Furthermore, despite the fact that the circumstances of my crime were totally unrelated to any retail establishment and I worked in an almost identical XXXX XXXX XXXX  for 8 months just prior to this offer, along with 2 other jobs handling thousands of dollars in products, and I provided my manager as a reference for my prior retail role, and my mother ( XXXX  " victim '' ), they never called my references, and clearly did not bother with due diligence to weigh the circumstances of what happened, years passed, and proof that I wasnt a threat, against the job itself. Instead they flat out denied me with no follow up or research. 

So, I've lost a job offer due to being honest on my background check app, however First Advantage 's negligence and failure to abide by MA state consumer reporting law is what's most concerning. Please advise what my options are, as this is hugely unfair and unethical.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation