How to Dispute Your Record with Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect)

What Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect) Does

People search sites aggregate public records — including arrest records, court filings, and booking data — and sell access to anyone with a credit card. These sites often retain data long after the underlying record has been sealed or expunged, because they scraped the data when it was still publicly available.

Dispute Contact Information

Use the following contact information to send your FCRA dispute to Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect). The recommended method is online portal, but sending via certified mail in addition to any other method is recommended to preserve your legal rights.

How to File an FCRA Dispute with Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect)

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute any information in your consumer file that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or should not be reported. Here is the step-by-step process for disputing your record with Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect).

1. Step 1. Gather your documentation: a copy of your court order (expungement, sealing, dismissal, or set-aside), a government-issued photo ID, and any case disposition paperwork. The more specific your documentation, the faster the investigation.
2. Step 2. Write a dispute letter that identifies the specific record you are disputing, explains why it is inaccurate or should not be reported (e.g., "This record was expunged by court order on [date]"), and requests correction or deletion. Include your full name, date of birth, and current address so the company can locate your file.
3. Step 3. You can submit your dispute through Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect)'s online portal. However, consider also sending a certified mail copy — online portals may include arbitration agreements in their terms of service that could limit your legal options if the company fails to comply.
4. Step 4. The company has 30 days from receiving your dispute to complete their investigation. Under 15 U.S.C. Section 1681i, they must either verify the accuracy of the reported information, correct it, or delete it. If they cannot verify it, they are required by law to remove it.
5. Step 5. If the company does not respond within 30 days, or responds but refuses to correct an inaccurate record, you have several options: file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, consult a consumer protection attorney (many take FCRA cases on contingency), or contact your state attorney general's office.

Your Legal Rights Under the FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates companies like Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect) that compile and sell consumer information. It gives you specific, enforceable rights — these are not requests or suggestions. Companies that violate these rights face real legal consequences, including statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per willful violation, plus attorney fees.

The Bigger Picture: Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect) Is One of 164+ Companies

Disputing your record with Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect) is one step. But your arrest or criminal record data has likely been scraped and distributed across the private background check industry — a network of 164+ companies that independently maintain their own databases.

Filing a dispute with Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect) does not automatically update other companies. Each company maintains its own database and requires its own dispute. People who go the fully DIY route typically spend 20 to 40 hours researching companies, writing individualized letters, tracking responses, and following up when the 30-day windows expire.

That said, this is absolutely something you can do yourself. The law is on your side. The FCRA gives you real leverage. The main obstacle is not complexity — it is time and organization.

Other People Search Sites

These companies operate in the same category as Instant Checkmate (PeopleConnect). If your record appears in one company's database, it may also appear in others.