How far back does a Sears background check go?

• free credit report agency
• employee background screening
• longer term care

IF the pay an outside provider (a consumer reporting agency) to do the check then the FCRA applies.

under FCRA all that can be considered by the agency and reported to the employer is:

any criminal activity within the last 7 years

or

any conviction that is within the last 7 years or the statutes of limitations for the conviction whichever is LONGER.


if they do the check themselves that can consider ANYTHING they find in MOST but not all states.

if they use the Internet and find a old news story about you they can consider that if they can reasonably prove it was about you.


so

to your question; they will most likely only know what is reported by the agency they use, and that will only contain information from the last 7 years unless your crime has a longer statute of limitation.

Additional Details

When I filled out the application with Sears, they asked if I had been convicted of a felony in the last 7 years. My felony conviction was 15 years ago, so I said 'No'. They've offered me a position, pending the background check and drug screen. On the BC consent form, they asked me about addresses for the last seven years. Will their check be exhaustive, then, or only for seven years?

How far back does a Sears background check go?