For Krishan Tucker, a single mother in Atlanta, everything she does is about creating stability for her two sons.
She spent years working her way up the ranks in health care consulting, determined to give her children a life far removed from her own upbringing. After a layoff, an abnormal mammogram and the end of a marriage, Tucker seemed to find a break in late 2025, landing what she calls a “miracle” job that paid $165 an hour. However, this proposal never materialized.
Tucker’s job was put on hold after a background check conducted by HireRight, a third-party screening firm, revealed discrepancies in Tucker’s employment history during her onboarding through MBO Partners. The report cited “potential conflicts” related to past contract roles and freelance consulting work that she later turned into her own business.
“Before I even started, it was ripped off,” Tucker told Atlanta News 1 Investigates. “I just cried and screamed. It wasn’t something I did wrong. It was actually a small problem and there was a mountain between me and a job that could provide a livelihood for me and my kids.”
Tucker believes the job offer is a done deal and he has found a new home to rent with the help of friends and family. Her new job start date is set for mid-December.
However, the job offer was quickly rescinded. When she reviewed the background report herself, Tucker discovered a critical error: One company Tucker contracted with from 2017 to 2018 reported that she had never worked there, according to notes in the HireRight system. After contacting her former employer directly, Tucker learned that the verification request had been submitted with the wrong last name.
“[The HR rep] “The problem is, they sent the request asking me to verify the employment of Krishan Tucker, not Krishan Dawson,” said Tucker, whose surname was Dawson. Tucker reportedly disclosed this key detail on a background check form.
The human resources representative from Tucker’s former company reportedly emailed HireRight on December 17, 2025 to correct the error.
“I just learned that the verification request for Krishan Tucker is actually Krishan Dawson. I can confirm that Krishan Dawson is on the mission [here]”, read part of an email from a human resources representative to HireRight.
Although the error was later corrected, HireRight reportedly continued to point out inconsistencies with Tucker’s employment dates, which Tucker believed were the result of a name error in her background check.
While background check errors are unfortunate, Tucker is not alone as consumer advocates say background check errors are both common and costly.
According to Consumer Justice, the chance of an error during a background check is 50% (2), a level the National Consumer Law Center describes as “rampant.” Ariel Nelson, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, said weak oversight allows screening errors to persist, often to the detriment of consumers (3).
“If Congress, federal agencies and states do not take action to ensure that background check companies are closely monitored and held accountable for their repeated errors due to poor policies and practices, consumers will continue to pay the price in lost housing and job opportunities, while employers and landlords will miss out on qualified employees and tenants,” Nielsen said.
Background checks are now standard practice, with about 95% of employers using them, according to the Association for Professional Background Screening(4). HireRight is one of the largest background screening companies in the United States, serving more than 40,000 employers.
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But consumer review and federal complaint data indicate ongoing concerns about HireRight, as the company’s average rating on Google and the Better Business Bureau is about one star (1). HireRight complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau nearly tripled in 2025, with 91 complaints filed in 29 states, according to data reviewed by Atlanta News First Investigates.
While HireRight typically responds to background check errors within a set time frame, public records do not indicate how often these responses result in corrections.
Additionally, some of the online complaints about HireRight appear to be similar to Tucker’s experience. In a Better Business Bureau filing, an applicant claimed that a drug test in late November incorrectly labeled marijuana and prescription drugs, despite a recent negative test from another employer (5).
On December 23, MBO Partners issued a “final adverse action” notice rescinding Tucker’s employment contract (1). The company said it could not comment on the specific details of her case due to federal privacy laws, but stressed that candidates are given the opportunity to review and challenge background check reports before finalizing employment decisions.
Tucker is now piecing together part-time jobs while continuing to apply for full-time positions and has filed a lawsuit against HireRight. In the meantime, consumer advocates say her experience is a reminder that there are steps employees can take when a background check affects a job offer.
The first step is to know your rights. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, employers must notify applicants when a background report results in an adverse employment decision and must provide information about the screening company used and the applicant’s right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information. Workers are also entitled to receive a free copy of the report used in decision (6).
Experts also recommend reviewing your credit and background reports before applying for a job to catch errors early. Job seekers can request a free copy of their credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com and may want to check state and local laws that limit what potential employers can request and when.
If there is an error on your background check, you must file a dispute directly with the reporting agency and attach any supporting documentation. Agencies typically have up to 30 days to conduct investigations, which may conflict with immediate financial needs such as rent, health care or child care.
Workers who believe a screening company mishandled their reports can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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Atlanta News Investigates First (1); Consumer Justice (2); National Consumer Law Center (3); Association of Professional Background Checks (4); Better Business Bureau (5); Federal Trade Commission (6).
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. It is provided without any warranty of any kind.
