Universal Background Screening report cost you a job?

Who Universal Background Screening is and who relies on its reports

Universal Background Screening is an employment screening company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It provides employers with background checks, drug testing, employment physicals, employment and income verifications, and compliance services, and the CFPB’s list of consumer reporting companies also lists social media screening among its services. Its customers include employers in healthcare, transportation, retail, financial services, education and other industries. Universal says it is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, formerly the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.

Universal’s own FAQ describes the company as a consumer reporting agency and explains that the FCRA governs how its reports are prepared and used. It also says it is not involved in hiring decisions and does not evaluate the information on your report; the employer does that.

Errors that show up on Universal Background Screening reports

• Wrong-person records. A criminal case belonging to someone else attached to your report. Universal’s FAQ lists “a record reported doesn’t belong to you” as an example of a dispute.
• Stale case outcomes. A case whose status changed after it was reported, such as a later dismissal or reduction. Universal’s FAQ lists “a case status changed after the record was reported” as another dispute example.
• Expunged or sealed records. Cases a court cleared that still appear.
• Duplicates. One case listed several times.
• Verification errors. Jobs, dates, income or degrees reported incorrectly.
• Old non-conviction records. Arrests and other non-conviction records more than seven years old, which the FCRA generally bars.

How to dispute Universal Background Screening

1. Get your report. Universal’s FACTA notice says you can request a free file disclosure by calling 1-877-263-8033 and selecting option 2, or by writing to Universal Background Screening, 7720 North 16th Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ 85020. You can check the status of your request the same way.
2. Start the dispute. Universal’s FAQ says to call 877-263-8033 or email [email protected] to submit a dispute.
3. Identify each record. Give the case number, court, county and state for each criminal record, and explain exactly what is wrong.
4. Attach proof. Dismissal, expungement or sealing orders, certified dispositions, your ID, and anything showing a record is not yours.
5. Tell the employer. Universal notifies the employer when the dispute is complete, but you should tell the employer right away that you have disputed and ask it to hold its decision.
6. Keep copies. Save the report, notices, your dispute email and every reply.
7. Watch the 30 days. Universal says it has 30 days to complete a reinvestigation and will email you the results, with an updated report if anything changes. That matches 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1).

How to contact Universal Background Screening

• Disputes (email): [email protected], per Universal’s FAQ
• Consumer phone: 877-263-8033 (option 2 for file disclosures and request status), per Universal’s website
• Mailing address for file requests: Universal Background Screening, 7720 North 16th Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ 85020, per Universal’s website (Universal’s CFPB listing instead shows Post Office Box 5920, Scottsdale, AZ 85261, and phone option 1)
• Online dispute form: none listed on Universal’s website or CFPB listing

Your rights under the FCRA

• Accuracy (§ 1681e(b)). Universal must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. Matching records by name alone can fall short.
• Public records for employment (§ 1681k). When it reports public-record information for employment that is likely to hurt you, it must either notify you at the time or maintain strict procedures to keep the information complete and up to date.
• Disclosure and authorization (§ 1681b(b)(2)). An employer generally must give you a clear, standalone disclosure and get your written permission before ordering a report.
• Pre-adverse action notice (§ 1681b(b)(3)). Before acting on a report, the employer generally must give you a copy and a summary of your rights.
• Reinvestigation (§ 1681i). Disputes must be reasonably reinvestigated free of charge, with inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable information corrected or deleted.
• Reporting time limits (§ 1681c). Arrest records and other adverse non-conviction information generally cannot be reported after seven years. Convictions are not subject to that federal limit, though some states set their own.
• Your file (§ 1681g). You can get your file, its sources, and the list of employers who received your report in the past two years.

Can you sue Universal Background Screening?

You may be able to sue if Universal reported inaccurate or outdated information about you because it did not use reasonable procedures, or failed to reasonably reinvestigate your dispute, and the report harmed you, for example by costing you a job.

• Negligent violations (15 U.S.C. § 1681o): actual damages, such as lost wages and emotional distress, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
• Willful violations (§ 1681n): actual damages or statutory damages of $100 to $1,000, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.
• Deadline (§ 1681p): generally two years after you discover the violation, and no later than five years after it happened.

We did not find a CFPB, FTC or state enforcement action against Universal Background Screening. The employer that ordered the report may also have separate duties under the disclosure and adverse action rules.

FCRA Attorneys handles these cases on contingency. No fee unless we win.

Get a free case review

FCRA claims have deadlines. If a Universal Background Screening report cost you a job, save the report, the notices and your dispute, and request a free case review. FCRA Attorneys has offices in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta, and files FCRA cases in federal court nationwide, directly or with local counsel.

Questions about suing Universal Background Screening

Can I sue Universal Background Screening?

Yes, if the facts support it. Universal Background Screening describes itself as a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA. You may have a claim if it reported inaccurate information without reasonable procedures, or failed to reasonably reinvestigate your dispute.

How long does a Universal Background Screening dispute take?

Universal's FAQ says it has 30 days to complete a reinvestigation under the FCRA, that it emails you the results, and that you receive an updated report if anything changes. It also says the company you applied to is notified when the dispute is complete.

Will Universal Background Screening decide whether I get the job?

No. Universal says it is not involved in the hiring process and does not evaluate the information on your report. The employer decides. That is why you should tell the employer you have disputed and ask it to wait for the result.

What does it cost to bring a case?

Nothing out of pocket. FCRA Attorneys works on contingency, with no fee unless we win, and the FCRA lets a successful consumer recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs from the company.

Related reading

• Got a Pre-Adverse Action Notice? What It Means and What to Do Next
• Background Check Dispute Letter: What to Write, What to Attach
• How to Fix a Background Check Error, Step by Step
• When Your Background Check Shows Someone Else's Criminal Record

Sources

• Universal Background Screening homepage (services; FACTA notice for free file disclosures; Phoenix, AZ address and phone)
• Universal Background Screening FAQs (consumer reporting agency; dispute steps; 30-day reinvestigation; founding member of PBSA)
• Universal Background Screening: Contact (customer service for applicants)
• CFPB consumer reporting companies list: Universal Background Screening (employment screening; social media screening; free report every 12 months; Scottsdale P.O. box)

Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.