The end of 2012 is heralding some important changes in the forms required for background screening. Please read the information below to make sure you are compliant with the new Consumer Protection Financial Bureau changes when January 1, 2013 arrives!
Please contact us with any questions.
Phone: 888-833-5304
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CFPB BECOMES GOVERNING AGENCY FOR FCRA
In 2010 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) became the overseeing agency responsible for enforcement of federal consumer protection laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). With this new authority in place, the CFPB has made changes to three notices required by the FCRA, effective January 1, 2013. (Two of the changes affect you as an employer)
The change directs users of consumer reports (i.e. background checks) as well as furnishers of consumer reports to the CFPB as a governing agency, instead of the previous governing agency; the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).
To comply with the new law, employers and Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRA's) will need to update their forms/notices by January 1, 2013.
Please read the information below so that you will be compliant with the updated requirements. |
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CHANGES TO NOTICES - REQUIRED FOR FCRA COMPLIANCE
Changes to the forms are as follows:
1. A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act:
This notice must be provided to applicants/employees who are subject to a consumer and/or investigative consumer report, (background check) to provide a summary of the major rights under the FCRA. It has been updated for usage in 2013.
Occuscreen has previously included this Summary of Rights as part of the sample Disclosure and Release form given to clients upon setup of an account. Please remove the Summary of Rights from your disclosure and replace it with the updated notice.
The updated notice is available on our website. Download here
For more information, including information about additional rights under the FCRA, go to
www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore
or write to: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street N.W., Washington, DC 20552.
*If you would like to request an updated Sample Disclosure and Release form for your company (including the revised FCRA Summary of Rights), please email operations@occuscreen.com or call Occuscreen at 888-833-5304.
2. Notice to Users of Consumer Reports: Obligations of Users Under the FCRA:
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. 1681-1681y, requires that this notice be provided to inform users of consumer reports (such as employers) informing them of their legal obligations.
This notice has been previously sent out to Occuscreen clients upon setup of an account with Occuscreen, LLC (enclosed in your Occuscreen End-User Agreement).
Please print and read the document to ensure obligations are being met in regard to consumer reports.
The Notice to Users is available on our website. Download here
To read the full text of the FCRA set forth in full at the CFPB's website, go to: www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore
You should print, read, and familiarize yourself with this information. It is your responsibility as an employer to comply with this information when using background screening services.
This notice informs you of requirements for employers, including these and others:
- Have a permissible purpose when screening
- Make a clear and conspicuous written disclosure to the applicant
- Obtain written authorization from the applicant
- Notify employees before adverse action is taken due to the information on the report.
For questions or additional information on the CFPB or the FCRA notices, please contact us at 888-833-5304 or operations@occuscreen.com.
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Happy Holidays!!
In the midst of all this serious information about changes in forms, we want to take a moment to wish you, your organization and your family the very happiest of holiday seasons! We appreciate your business and look forward to continuing to serve you in the new year.
Holiday Hours:
CLOSED - December 24 and 25th
OPEN - December 31 6am - 12pm PST
CLOSED - January 1
Thank you and enjoy the holiday! |
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Please let us know if there are questions or areas of interest you would like us to address in future newsletters, or if you are interested in partnering for employment screening. |
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Sincerely,
Pamela Mack
Occuscreen
888-833-5304
pamelam@occuscreen.com |
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Stay updated with industry changes!
At Occuscreen, we strive to keep our customers up-to-date on federal and local regulations and changes. Please check our website, the notifications on the results site, and read the emails and newsletters we provide to stay current with changes in the industry.
If you have questions, please email me at pamelam@occuscreen.com
or call us at
888-833-5304.
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NEW ADDRESS
Please note our new address:
Occuscreen, LLC
805 Broadway St, Suite 215
Vancouver, WA 98660 |
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