Yes, there is a way to remove negative information from your records when you are the subject of a background check, although it’s better to correct your background report beforehand. By law, you can remove any negative information on a background report as long as the information is inaccurate or its presence on your report is in violation of law, such as a statute of limitations. The process for removing negative information from your records varies, but in general you’ll need to file a formal dispute with the governmental agency or credit bureau that disseminates the background report.

Credit bureaus are required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to ensure that all information on a consumer background report is accurate and within the seven year time-frame for most items, such as payment delinquencies. If negative information on your credit report is inaccurate or exceeds the seven year maximum, you can write a dispute letter to the credit bureau to request the item’s removal. Unless they can verify otherwise, they are required to remove the negative item. For any negative information that appears on governmental records such as driving and criminal records, you’ll need to contact the responsible governmental agency directly. In such a case, disputing negative information reported by law enforcement or a court may require advanced legal action.

If you’re concerned you may have negative information in your records, you should strongly consider conducting a background check yourself. Conducting a background check online is quick and easy and can save you a lot of headaches in the future.