Everyone deserves the chance to move forward.
To start fresh.
To build a better life.
But what happens when a background check company refuses to let you?
That’s exactly what happened when RentGrow reported an eight-year-old vacated conviction that should never have appeared on a tenant screening report.
Trying to Build a Better Life
Our client was looking for an apartment closer to work and family, a place that would make everyday life a little easier and more stable. Like most renters, they agreed to a background check as part of the application process.
There was no reason to worry.
Years earlier, a misdemeanor assault case had been fully resolved. The court vacated the conviction. All fines were paid. Probation was completed. Life had moved on.
Until RentGrow dragged the past back into the present.
When the Past Is Wrongly Rewritten
Despite clear court records showing the conviction was vacated eight years earlier, RentGrow listed it as an active conviction on the screening report.
That single mistake changed everything.
Our client’s rental application was denied. The apartment that fit their needs, close to work, the right size, in the right location, was suddenly out of reach. They were forced to start the search over and ultimately had to settle for a smaller apartment, much farther from work.
And then came the humiliation: being told “no” over something that legally no longer existed. Something they had already taken responsibility for. Something they had worked hard to move beyond.
The Emotional Toll of Careless Reporting
Background check errors aren’t small administrative glitches; they hit people where it hurts most: housing, stability, dignity, and the ability to move forward.
After years of staying out of trouble and rebuilding their life, our client suddenly found themselves judged by a mistake RentGrow made, and a conviction that wasn’t even supposed to be part of their record anymore.
The fear that this could happen again was overwhelming. And it’s a fear many people share after being harmed by inaccurate tenant screening reports.
You Have the Right to Move Forward
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires companies like RentGrow to report accurate, up-to-date information. Listing a vacated conviction is a serious violation of those rights.
Our firm filed a lawsuit to hold RentGrow accountable for the harm caused and to help our client regain control of their future.
After everything our client went through, the case was ultimately resolved through settlement, a step that finally allowed them to breathe, move on, and reclaim the progress they had worked so hard for.
If This Feels Familiar, You’re Not Alone
When a background check company reports outdated or false information, it can derail your life. But you do have rights, and you do not have to face this alone.
Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C., helps consumers fight back against tenant screening errors and reclaim the opportunities they deserve.
Contact us today for a free case review.
You pay nothing unless we win your case.