Background Check Disclosure and Authorization

1. Purpose and Scope

This Disclosure applies to individuals who apply to provide, or who provide, services as independent professionals (“Pros”) through the Handy Circle platform. It explains that Handy Circle, Inc. (“Handy Circle,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) may procure background screening reports about you for eligibility, trust, and safety purposes. It is intended to satisfy the standalone-disclosure requirement of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and analogous state laws.

2. Disclosure Regarding the Procurement of Consumer Reports

Handy Circle may obtain one or more “consumer reports” or “investigative consumer reports” about you from a third-party consumer reporting agency (“CRA”) for the purpose of evaluating your eligibility to provide services, and on an ongoing basis while you provide services, through the Handy Circle platform.

These reports may contain information concerning your identity, criminal records, sex-offender registry status, motor-vehicle and driving records, and other background information, to the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant to your provision of services. Handy Circle uses this information to help maintain the trust and safety of homeowners and the marketplace.

3. Investigative Consumer Reports

To the extent any report obtained is an “investigative consumer report” — a report that includes information about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living obtained in whole or in part through personal interviews — you have the right to request additional disclosures regarding the nature and scope of the investigation, together with a written summary of your rights under the FCRA, by contacting Handy Circle at hello@handy-circle.com. Where required by law, you may also request the name, address, and telephone number of the CRA that prepared the report and request a copy of any such report.

4. Ongoing Screening

You understand and agree that, where permitted by law and subject to any renewed authorization required by law, Handy Circle may obtain updated reports about you periodically for as long as you remain active on the platform, in order to maintain the integrity and safety of the marketplace.

5. Your Rights Under the FCRA and State Law

You have rights under the FCRA, including the right to receive a copy of any consumer report used to make a decision about you and the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information directly with the CRA. A separate “Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” is provided to you together with this Disclosure.

Residents of certain states — including California, Massachusetts, New York, and others — have additional rights and are entitled to additional state-specific notices, which are provided as applicable. For example, California applicants may request a copy of any investigative consumer report and, where a box is provided, may check it to receive a copy at no charge; New York applicants may, upon request, be informed whether a consumer report was requested and receive the name and address of the CRA that furnished it. If Handy Circle takes any adverse action based in whole or in part on a report, you will receive the notices required by the FCRA and applicable law, including a copy of the report and a summary of your rights, and an opportunity to dispute its accuracy.

6. Authorization and Consent

By indicating your acceptance during onboarding — for example, by checking the authorization box or providing your electronic signature — you voluntarily authorize Handy Circle and its designated CRA to obtain and use consumer reports and investigative consumer reports about you as described in this Disclosure, in connection with your application and your continued eligibility to provide services through the platform.

You acknowledge that you have received and read this Disclosure and the accompanying Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA. You agree that a photocopy, electronic copy, or facsimile of your authorization is as valid as the original. This authorization does not by itself guarantee that any report will be obtained or that you will be permitted to provide services through the platform.

7. Contact and Questions

Questions about this Disclosure or about background screening may be directed to Handy Circle, Inc., 56 Broad St STE 14252, Boston, MA 02109, USA; email hello@handy-circle.com; phone (857) 214-8626.