If you consented at any point (this might include providing your number on an account application), a debt collector can do this. However, if you never consented, are being contacted about someone else’s debt or told the collector to stop calling you, the debt collector could be violating the law and you may want to contact a consumer attorney.

Whether individuals are hired, promoted, retained or allowed to volunteer often depends on information revealed in a background check. Companies conduct background checks on prospective employees and volunteers for many reasons including

  • public safety
  • legal requirements
  • liability
  • protecting vulnerable populations
  • customer assurance
  • avoiding a business loss

It depends. Ban the Box laws are state and local laws that limit the questions that an employer can ask on a job application (usually about your past criminal record). They can sometimes be complex and vary depending on the state, county or city. To see what the laws are in your area, you can check The National Employment Law Project’s Ban the Box Guide.

Yes, if someone has stolen your child’s personal information, it’s possible for accounts to be opened in your child’s name. To determine whether this has happened, you can contact the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) to see if your child has a file. Children won’t have a file with the credit bureaus unless they’re a victim of identity theft.