# How background searches find data

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-background-searches-find-data/792296>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 28, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-background-searches-find-data/792296 "2017-07-28T00:08:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-background-searches-find-data/792296/21 "2017-07-28T23:18:11Z")

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Is this similar to credit checking websites? I’m trying to get one to correct my details right now because when it came to putting down my address they appear to have defaulted to the address of my landlord, a major housing association. Since I have never lived at that address (and neither has anyone else) I then come up as not really living anywhere at all.

So if these sites use credit scoring websites they might be getting completely wrong data due to human error.

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-background-searches-find-data/792296/22 "2017-07-28T23:38:40Z")

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> [@markn\_1](#):
>
> FWIW, I put my name into [mylife.com](http://mylife.com), and while they had my address and birthdate correct, pretty much everything else was wrong. I didn’t pay for the details, but it was clear that the phone number, photos, and work history were completely erroneous. There were seven items in my work history and not a single one bore any relation to any place I’ve actually worked.

I love how you can read recommendations on the side while the engine is performing the search like “you would be crazy to rent to a tenant without making a background check”, “Fortunately I didn’t hire this guy after making a background check”, etc…

And finally, when you get the report, you must approve a statement like “I won’t use this data to make a decision about rental, employment, etc…”

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-background-searches-find-data/792296/23 "2017-07-29T19:00:10Z")

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I tried my name also. Got the age and email correct, lists my wife and daughter in law, and a previous address. However, the job listed is very specific, an administrator at somewhere I never heard of. I do rate 4 out of 5 with one person rating me!! So not much.

Dennis

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**Author:** ![Oddball\_92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b3f665/32.png) [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-background-searches-find-data/792296/24 "2017-07-29T19:55:07Z")

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Is there a way to get your name removed for free? They have my info correct, unfortunately.

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