Failed a Walmart 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

Walmart 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 Walmart Perform Background Checks?

Yes, Walmart requires background checks for all U.S. applicants. Prior to completing a Walmart application on line, you must agree to the company’s stipulations regarding drug testing and background checks. By doing so, you are consenting to let applicable people, organizations and agencies – including law enforcement – to provide Walmart with relevant information about your background. By agreeing to the terms, you also agree that the company can deny your application or fire you later on if you lie or omit any pertinent information.

Because the background check required by Walmart is conducted for employment purposes, you have certain rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These rights include: the right to be informed 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used against you; the right to know what was in the background check report; and the right to contest inaccurate or outdated information.

Within this context, it is important to note that state laws vary. However, federal law excludes information about arrests that occurred more than seven years ago from background check reports unless the yearly salary for the position you are seeking is more than $75,000. There is no time limit for conviction records.

Finally, if Walmart uses another company to run background checks, it must have your written consent first.

Have questions? Call us now at 844-685-9200 for a Free Case Evaluation.

Our services are absolutely FREE to you.

Zero out of pocket expense ever.

Walmart and Big Retail

Walmart describes itself as the largest retailer in the world . As such, it collectively serves more than 270 million customers on its digital platform and in more than 11,000 stores globally. It also has more than 2 million employees around the world. In addition to working in Walmart stores, employees work in its distribution centers and in transportation. Walmart employees also work in corporate positions, in healthcare positions (in its Care Clinics), and more.

Benefits of Working At Walmart

As a Walmart employee, you may be eligible for numerous benefits including healthcare/health insurance, the opportunity to start a retirement plan, paid time off, and employee discounts. You may also be eligible for maternity leave and other parental/family benefits.

How Do I Qualify To Work For Walmart?

To work at Wal-Mart , you must meet the minimum age requirement, which is either 16 or 18 depending on which position you are applying for. In addition to passing the background checks and drug screening, you must also complete an application for the position you’re interested in, pass an assessment test, successfully complete two interviews and go through a three-day orientation..

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.

Background Check Error Cost you A Job?

We'll clean the errors and get you the compensation you deserve

Did they tell you about the check? Were there errors?

Don't let this happen again. No cost to you.

Walmart Background Check Complaints

In January 2019 , a California judge allowed a class action lawsuit against Walmart to go forward. The lawsuit alleged that Walmart conducted millions of improper background checks in connection with employment screening from 2012 to 2015. Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that Walmart put confusing information about background on its job applications during that time, even though it was legally obligated to provide all applicants with clear and concise information about the background check under the FCRA.

You Received A Pre-Adverse Action Notice From Walmart. 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 Walmart

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 Walmart

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 Walmart 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 Wal-Mart fails to meet those standards, the FCRA affords you a number of rights.

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

If you lost out on a Wal-Mart 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."

See more posts from Sergei Lemberg
9 COMMENTS
  • Sherika S

    I got a offer for a position in Food and Consumables at Walmart in Tennessee. I had to consent to getting a background check. The company sent me an email of the background check and every thing said NO RECORD besides two which was still processing. It showed they only went back from September 2015 to September 2022 which is 7 years. So I called First Advantage they explained to me that everything looked great so far they just waiting on the other two to come out of processing in the next couples of days. Two days later I get a call from Walmart saying I have orientation scheduled that Friday. So I was so excited thinking I got the job in which I did. After orientation I started working the very next day. 6 days later I get called into office to say that they found something on my background check in which they have to terminate me immediately. I was so heartbroken because I didn’t understand what was happening to me. So I called the company that did the background check. The lady stated that Walmart called back to tell them to do a lifetime background check on me. I asked her how is that when you guys did the first one on me it stats you only went back 7 years so how did it pull up now. She said technically they only go back 7 years but they called back to order a second one for lifetime and that’s when my charge pulled up when I was 18 l. I’m now 32 and never got in any more trouble with the law.

  • Bud

    I had a job offer in TLE but the company they used never sent me emails correctly and i even checked spam but because i never got the emails they closed the rec after saying the asked me about my self reported misdemeanor. it had taken months ontop of this as my local court house was taking forever. i missed out on a job i really wanted. the manager just said she was gonna see what she can do to get me back in but its been a few days.

  • Davina V

    I had a job offer from Walmart. I had a misdemeanor that was expunged and my case was closed. I self convicted myself on my Walmart application because I wanted to be honest and told the truth. Got a email from background that I was clear and no conviction was found, besides my self convicted statement that I had mentioned on my background application. Thinking I got the job, but I received a email stating that they have rescinding my employment job offer based on my self convicted statement. Background cleared, but since I was honest on my application they took my job offer away.

  • Judy

    I have applied for Walmart in NY and the background check came back that there was no record found. However since I self disclosed I had to provide information to corporate and they still have yet to get back to me. I’m stuck in limbo. I left a job at another retailer for this job and now I feel like I’m being penalized for telling the truth and showing my rehabilitation. Even the store is trying to get some type of answers and nothing. My next step is definitely to get a lawyer to get involved with this matter.

  • Kevin

    I worked at Walmart for six months then I needed to transfer because of extenuating circumstances considering my living conditions, I asked for a transfer and they said it was contingent on my successfully completing a background check to be eligible for any positions available. I neglected to inform them of some criminal convictions that were passed the seven-year mark, and thought it would be OK. I am now afraid that this second background check performed will cost me my job.

  • Chris

    Walmart refused to hire me due to a conviction nearly 20yrs old.

  • Adam D

    I was deffered by Walmart cause of my past convictions! I didn’t pass my background check.

  • Tam

    Have worked at walmart for almost 2 weeks now. Was open and honest about a misdemeanor in the past that had successfully completed defer judgment on. Now Walmart pulls me in office and terms me stating 2nd background came back.

  • Tiesha W

    I was offered a job at Wal-Mart in Statesboro GA. I had to wait on my background to come back before I can start work. My background came back clean, but I got an email saying I didn’t get the job because of my background.

Leave a Reply or Comment

Write a comment below to share online. Or, instead you can to our legal team.

Please select your star rating.

Briefly describe your experience Briefly describe your experience

What’s your name? What’s your name?

What’s your phone number? Please enter a valid phone number

Want to know if you could sue? Get a free legal evaluation from Lemberg Law?

Get Your No-Obligation
Case Evaluation

Send a secure message to our legal team.

What’s your name? What’s your name?
What’s your email address? What’s your email address?
What’s your phone number? What’s your phone number?
Briefly describe the problem Briefly describe the problem
Confidentiality Guarantee: We keep your information completely confidential and will not send you spam or sell your information.
By submitting above, I agree to the privacy policy and terms and consent to be contacted by an agent via phone call or text message at the phone number(s) listed above, including wireless number(s).