# How can I see my background check? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772 "2014-05-06T02:23:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772/1 "2014-05-06T02:23:21Z")
I have applied for a few jobs which require a background check. It should not be an issue, I have never been arrested or defaulted on a loan or done anything else that they would be checking for. However, I have a very common name and I want to check it for errors because for almost all of my life I have had other people’s paperwork mixed up with mine. At one point I even had to get Experian and the FTC involved because another person at my college had the same first and last name as me and his loans showed up on my credit report. How would I go about doing this? ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772/2 "2014-05-06T03:35:11Z")
Unless this is a security clearance for DoD or USG then it will compose the following: DMV record Police department record Credit bureau That’s about it. And, calling any references if they asked for any. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772/3 "2014-05-06T05:25:22Z")
You could find one of the many online services which employers use to screen employees for $20-$50 each, and pay the money to run a report on yourself, and see what it says. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772/4 "2014-05-06T18:11:24Z")
In some states the background check company must provide a free copy to you at your request. Check the fine print. ---
**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772/5 "2014-05-07T04:25:49Z")
> [@electronbee](#): > > Unless this is a security clearance for DoD or USG then it will compose the following: > > DMV record > Police department record > Credit bureau > > That’s about it. And, calling any references if they asked for any. If I recall correctly, the three major credit bureaus have to give you a copy for free at least once a year, if you request it. The other documents may require a small fee. I believe Virginia charges $5 for a copy of your driving record, and the one time I was involved in getting a criminal record it was like $25, I think. (Fun fact: when applying for a license to sell alcohol, they want a criminal record on every officer of the corporation. They don’t want permission to obtain one, they want it submitted with the application. Since I was in charge of handling the application, I had to run a criminal record check on my boss to send in with the paperwork.) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-see-my-background-check/687772/6 "2014-05-07T05:45:43Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > In some states the background check company must provide a free copy to you at your request. Check the fine print. I had to undergo a background check in January for a job with a private university. I received a copy in the mail a few weeks later. I’m in California.