Two of the U.S.’ largest employment background check providers must pay $13 million for failing to ensure their background checks did not contain inaccuracies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced. Serious inaccuracies reported by General Information Services and its affiliate, backgroundchecks.com Inc. potentially affected consumers’ eligibility for employment and caused harm to their reputations. The $13 million includes $10.5 million in relief to consumers and a $2.5 million civil penalty. In a statement, the companies said: “Regardless, the companies remain committed to the highest achievable levels of accuracy in their reports and acknowledge that every background screening agency must engage in continuous improvement. Therefore, the companies take the bureau’s allegations very seriously and have agreed to the terms that the order imposes.”

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