Failed a Dollar General Background Check?

You can dispute your report, or even sue, if an employment screening error cost you the job. No out of pocket expense for you.

Updated on Author: Sergei Lemberg

Updated on Author: Sergei Lemberg

Dollar General runs background checks on applicants, but what happens if you are rejected? If you just ignore it, you may keep having the same problem because false information or errors may stay on your report. You have legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to fix those mistakes or even sue for damages.

Does Dollar General Perform Background Checks?

Yes. Dollar General requires background checks for all job applicants. According to a website dedicated to helping convicted felons find work, job seekers consent to these checks by submitting an application. The checks are done after applicants are interviewed to verify information on the application and unearth relevant information about past criminal charges or convictions (if any).

Although any job offer made by Dollar General is contingent upon passing the background check, having a criminal history will not necessarily prevent you from being hired. However, any dishonesty about a past felony conviction results in automatic disqualification.

In most cases, a Dollar General background check takes one week.

Because the background check required by Dollar General is conducted for employment purposes, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) affords you certain legal rights. These are: the right to be told if information from a background check has been used against you; the right to know what was in the background check report; and the right to challenge incorrect or invalid information.

You should be aware that state laws pertaining to information about arrests might vary. However, federal law excludes information about arrests that occurred more than seven years ago from background check reports unless the annual pay for the position you are seeking is more than $75,000. There is no time limit for conviction records.

You should also be aware that if Dollar General uses another company to run background checks, it must have your written consent before that screening is done.

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Dollar General and Big Retail

Dollar General describes itself as America’s neighborhood general store. As such it has more than 15,000 stores in 44 states, where customers can find brand name and specialty products at affordable prices. These products food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, clothing, housewares and more.

Benefits of Working At Dollar General

According to its website , Dollar General currently employs more than 130,000 people. In addition to its sores, Dollar General employees work in its distribution centers, fleet, and corporate offices. Dollar General routinely hires people to fill entry-level and other positions in those areas. Retail positions include: sales associates, lead sales associates, assistant store managers, and store managers. Salaries in all areas will vary by position.

As a Dollar General employee, you may also qualify for certain benefits . These include different types of health and disability insurance, access to counseling, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

How Do I Qualify To Work For Dollar General ?

In addition to passing the background check, you must meet the minimum age requirement (18) to work at Dollar General. You must also submit an application online or in person; complete an assessment test; and complete an interview. Additional requirements will be based on the position you are seeking.

And they’ll also run a background check on you….

What are my Background Check Disclosure and Consent Rights?

You have a right to know if an employer will use information from a background check against you and an employer cannot obtain background check information without your express written consent.

A background check company cannot hand over your information to an employer unless the employer certifies that: (1) it has “clearly and conspicuously” disclosed to you in a separate document that it may obtain a background check; (2) you have authorized it to get the background check; and (3) it will provide you with advance notice of any adverse action based in any part on the background check report, a copy of the report, and a summary of your rights under the FCRA.

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Dollar General Background Check Complaints

In 2014 , Dollar General reached a $4 million dollar settlement with plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit who claimed the retailer violated their rights under the FCRA.The lawsuit, which was filed in Virginia, alleged that the background check company retained by Dollar General failed to provide notice about the use of background checks as required by law; and a chance to correct erroneous information in the reports before denying them jobs.

You Received A Pre-Adverse Action Notice From Dollar General . What Are Your Legal Rights?

By law, anyone who uses the information in a background check report to screen job applicants must let any applicant know when they didn’t get the based on the information in the report.

This means you have a right to see what is in the background check. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also be able to sue the company that requested the background check and rejected your application, or the company that issued the background check report

Your Right to an Accurate and Legally-Compliant Report From Dollar General

A background check company must take reasonable steps to ensure its report is as accurate as possible.

The FCRA also puts limits on the negative information a background check report can include. A report cannot list civil suits, judgments, arrest records, paid tax liens, accounts in collection or most other negative information (except criminal convictions) after 7 years, or bankruptcies after 10 years. It also cannot list expunged convictions

Your Right to Dispute an Unfair Background Check Report from Dollar General

If you don’t get a job because of information on your background check report, you are entitled to a copy of the report. You also have the right to dispute the report if it has errors or includes information it shouldn’t.

If you dispute your report, the background check company must investigate and correct any errors within 30 days.

Were You Harmed By False Information or Errors In Your Dollar General Background Check Report?

Often, whether you get hired or promoted depends on the information gleaned from an employment background check. A background check can come in many shapes and sizes. It may be as simple as verifying your social security number. Or it may include a detailed report of your credit and criminal history, or even information gathered from interviews of your friends and neighbors about your character and reputation.

Whatever the scope of the background check, the FCRA sets strict standards for how employers background check companies get consent for and conduct background checks, and what they can do with the information they find.

If a background check commissioned by Dollar General fails to meet those standards, the FCRA affords you a number of rights.

Your Right to File A Lawsuit Against Dollar General if your report includes inaccurate or illegal info

If you lost out on a Dollar General job or were suspended or fired because a background check report included inaccurate or illegal information, you may be able to sue in federal court. If you sue and win, you may be entitled to your actual damages or statutory damages up to $1,000, plus punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and court costs.

Ready to Assert Your FCRA Rights?

Fired or Not Hired Because of an Unfair Background Check? If so, you’re in the right place.

  • Our 12-year track record of helping hardworking, regular people just like you speaks for itself.
  • We have the experience, knowledge, and dedication to get you the best results possible.
  • We’ve helped more than 25,000 consumers recover more than $50 million.
  • We work to restore your reputation and get you the compensation you deserve. You focus on living your life.
  • We care because we know what it’s like to lose out on a job because a faceless company didn’t follow the law.
  • We will fight hard for you and won’t stop. We are not afraid to stand up to big, powerful companies. That’s what we do.
  • It won’t cost you a penny out of pocket – you pay nothing until we win money for you.

Our mission is to fight for your rights. ✊

If you’re ready to assert your rights and fight incorrect information in your background check, we can help you get justice. Complete our form for a FREE case evaluation, or call 844-685-9200 NOW. 

Sergei Lemberg

About the Author:

Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."

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5 COMMENTS
  • Stephanie

    Dollar General refuses to hire me over a misdemeanor that came about due to a divorce and a bunch of lies. My ex-husband was having an affair and asked for a no-contact order. The judge granted a protection order at our final divorce hearing. Two months later a non-violent email turns up saying it was from me and I never sent it. There was no domestic violence and it has no bearing on my ability to work. I was honest about it from the beginning. They hire felons but won’t hire me over a misdemeanor???

  • Heather l

    Waited 2 weeks for background to come back was called told i was good to start worked for two days store manager had me on schedule for two weeks out and calls me to tell me my background failed and i was terminated. Somethings not right here…

  • Shayna

    I was denied the job because I failed the background check and I’m not a felon.I didn’t receive a copy or a reason why I was denied just a text from the store manager.

  • Brooke

    I was hired then a week later fired after they ran my background check. I have a misdemeanor that i thought didnt even go on my record. I dont know what to do

  • Cassandra W

    Hired on for three months waited the week for background check. Then on suspension because background got flagged. Been three weeks and have received nothing on how to clear it up

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