A must-listen for job seekers: Our Managing Partner, David Chami, joins the People in Transition podcast to talk background checks, criminal history, and the hiring process.
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, Episode 143 went live at the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/803141/episodes/18877234
Listen to David’s conversation with host Bob Gerst on the People in Transition podcast, then check out our practice page to learn more about how background check errors cause devastating, unnecessary professional and financial harm to job seekers across industries and professions.
Quick Links
The People in Transition Podcast
Since 2020, host Bob Gerst has been using his podcast platform to offer job seekers authentic, practical insights into various aspects of the employment landscape, including navigating career changes and the hiring process.
The Podcast in Its Own Words
With versatile availability, job seekers have broad access to this highly-rated podcast, describing itself as the “ultimate guide to navigating life’s major career changes with confidence and excitement.” Job seekers are invited to join Gerst and his guests on “an inspiring and entertaining journey through the many transitions of life.”
As Gerst explains, “Whether you’re a student landing your first job, a professional between gigs, an aspiring entrepreneur ready to start your own business, or someone preparing for a well-earned retirement,” this podcast has you covered.
“Each episode offers unique insights and practical tips from people who have successfully walked these paths themselves as well as helped many others in their journey.” Consumer Justice Law Firm is thrilled that David Chami is among them.
The People in Transition podcast is available on major podcast platforms, including:
- Apple
- Spotfify
- Amazon
- Audible
- Youtube
- Buzzsprout
- Rephonic
People in Transition, Episode 143: David Chami Talks Background Checks
When David was invited to sit with Gerst on People in Transition, he welcomed the invitation as an opportunity to have a pointed conversation and share legal insights with job seekers across all industries and career paths.
What David Chami Brings to the Conversation
Gerst thoughtfully describes David’s background and what drew him to consumer protection and helping clients fight enormous consumer reporting agencies in the first place.
“David Chami, Managing Partner of Consumer Justice Law Firm, joined us on People in Transition to shed light on an issue that quietly impacts millions of job seekers: background checks.”
“With a legal career rooted in consumer protection and years of experience litigating under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, David has helped clients recover tens of millions of dollars from companies that reported inaccurate or misleading information. His work sits at the intersection of law, employment, and fairness—making him a powerful advocate for individuals navigating the hiring process.”
“Even before founding his current firm, David Chami built a reputation for holding large institutions accountable, including insurance companies and credit reporting agencies. Today, his focus is on ensuring that everyday people are not unfairly denied opportunities because of errors, outdated records, or systemic flaws in background screening and credit reports. His insights offer both a legal and human perspective on what can often feel like an opaque and unforgiving system.”
Modern Hiring and Background Checks: How Errors Impact Job Seekers
In a summart of highlights from their conversation, Gerst notes that they touched on a particularly harmful hurdle for job seekers in the modern era- criminal history mistakes.
“In our conversation, we explored the realities of modern hiring, where background checks are used by nearly 95% of employers and are often handled by major background check companies. We talked about why employers generally cannot deny employment based solely on a charge without a conviction, and the many challenges within the system—such as dismissed charges that remain on records, mistaken identity issues (like data confusion caused by common names or hyphenated names), and inaccuracies caused by data vendors that don’t rely on Social Security numbers.”
Discussing a Recent $680K Win for Background Check Errors
“David also shared a compelling case involving a client who successfully sued Uber over incorrect background information, resulting in a $680,000 verdict. We discussed who actually pays for legal representation (the answer may surprise you), the differences between expungement and record sealing—and why neither fully guarantees your past won’t resurface—and, most importantly, how the Fair Credit Reporting Act exists to protect employees and ensure their rights are upheld.”
Why This Epsiode is a Must-Listen
According to Gerst, “this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating today’s job market. Whether you’re actively searching, considering a career move, or simply want to understand your rights, David’s insights could make a critical difference. Tune in to People in Transition and learn how to protect your future before a background check defines it.”
Gratitude for the Experience
Consumer Justice Law Firm would like to extend our gratitude to Bob Gerst and the People in Transition podcast for spending time in conversation with David CHami about a topic that is incredibly important, not only to our practice broadly, but to David and our entire consumer protection legal team personally.
We recognize that consumer reporting mistakes, including the types of errors that block jobs and end careers, are incredibly personal. It is our hope that anyone who takes the time to listen to this conversation will come away feeling hopeful that recovery is possible.
What Most Job Seekers Don’t Know
The conversation in this episode of People in Transition highlights something that most job seekers are blissfully unaware of- until it stands directly and unapologetically in their way- background check errors are ridiculously common.
Top Background Check Errors Impacting Job Seekers
While there are, unfortunately, a seemingly endless number of ways that errors can show up on a background check report, these are a few of the most common:
- False criminal history: this errors happens when job seekers who don’t have a criminal history are made to look like they do. A common cause of this errror is a mixed background check report, which is exactly what it sounds like- someone else’s background check data is mixed into yours.
- Duplicate entries: this is an error that occurs when the same event or encounter with the criminal legal system is reported multiple times. It makes a single incident look like a pattern of behavior, which makes job seekers look like repeat offenders.
- Expunged/Sealed records reported: for job seekers who have had a prior conviction expunged or sealed, this error means that a record that shouldn’t even appear on your background check is now on full display.
- Inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading disposition: job seekers who were arrested but never charged, charged but never convicted, or plead to a misdemeanor see this error show up when their background check data doesn’t tell the full story or gets the ending wrong.
Job Seekers Have Rights Under the FCRA
Job seekers have rights under various federal, state, and local laws, but job seekers dealing with background checks specifically- whether during the job application process or during rechecks after hiring- have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Under the FCRA, job seekers have several important rights, including:
- the right to dispute inaccurate, misleading or false information
- the right to have the dispute investigated and the errors corrected
- the right to file a lawsuit and seek compensation if:
- background check errors caused professional, financial, or emotional harm
- the background check companies ignore your dispute, refuse to make corrections, falsely claim the information is actually accurate, or fix errors only to have them show up again
Other FCRA Consumer Reporting Errors
Of course, background check reports aren’t the only type of consumer report that is regularly impacted by data errors. Credit reports from all three credit bureaus, along with consumer reports from other companies, can also be impacted.
When credit report errors strike, instead of resulting in lost job opportunities and unfair rejections and firings, the damage looks more like loan denials, insurance rejections, and more.
Similarly, tenant screening reports containing errors cause people to face application rejections and lose out on apartment, housing, and vacation rentals.
How Job Seekers Get Justice
After listening to the David Chami and Bob Gerst discuss background check errors on the People in Transition podcast or after reading more about background check errors on our practice page, reach out to Consumer Justice Law Firm with questions.
Job seekers looking for a free case review or legal help filing a dispute or lawsuit, can get the process started easily with one phone call or online form.
David and our entire team of experienced consumer protection attorneys are happy to hear from you!
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