posted on July 5, 2006 02:07:13 AM new
Depends, how much info do you need. What do you need background info for? The service I use to locate people when doing vehicle repossesions is a very in depth service. Covers everything from criminal history, credit report, corporate info, property and vehicles owned, military history, known and possible addresses and phone numbers, relatives and their info and so on and so on. It ain't cheap but for the average person I get 10-20 pages of info. 1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
posted on July 5, 2006 03:59:12 AM new
from what I can see sparkz, equifax doesn't do tenant screening.
mike - I just want to check on a future renter that is from TX. they just moved here so I don't have any local references. the last time we rented to someone from out of town they skipped owing 2 months rent and a LOT of mess to clean up. I would like to avoid doing that again if possible.
they've given me their DL number, SS number, former address etc.
posted on July 5, 2006 10:19:24 AM new
For tenant screening, any good real estate agent or property management service should be able to provide you with a name of a service. I got out of the residential landlord business years ago. I let a property management service handle all that for me now. I have a house that has had 3 tenants in the last 10 years. I have never seen or spoke to any of them, and would not know them if I met any of them on the street. Any problems or repairs are handled by the agency. The background check they do on prospective tenants is more thorough than most large employers do on new employees. And the service is not that expensive.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on July 5, 2006 12:55:43 PM new
The most comprehensive service there is is IRB search. You will have to sign up for a account and fax or mail in your application to them. This is not one of those cheap fly by night services and use of their service is strictly controled as you will have access to alot of personal information. But if you want the most detailed search there is this is the one you want. There service is one of those closely guarded secret's in the repo business. http://www.irbsearch.com/
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
posted on July 5, 2006 02:22:48 PM new
My friends use Equifax and verify employment along with present and previous address. The previous address is usually the most honest and they give the best info for references. Verify employement and get a check stub/ If the applicant want to use Freecreditreport.com or annualcreditreport.com to provide their own credit reference, In California, you can charge up to $30 for application processing which includes the credit check. (States vary on this so check with the state you live in) If they run their own credit report, deduct that amount from the application fee.
posted on July 5, 2006 02:51:45 PM new
Other than being one of the 3 major credit reporting agencies, Equifax has divisions that provide much more comprehensive services. It's used by many insurance companies. (That's how your insurance company finds out about those traffic tickets that don't go on your DMV record when you attend traffic school.) They are also used by many nationwide trucking companies to check out potential drivers. In fact, if you dig enough, you'll see they are also used by Ebay for I.D. verification. And Paloma is correct on the fee. My property management company charges a $30.00 fee to the applicant to process an application. That in itself will send about 90% of the lowlifes and deadbeats heading for the exits.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on July 6, 2006 04:06:14 PM new
oops - thanks paloma
the paycheck stubs is a great idea. unfortunately our former renter was ah-hem "self employed" as a insurance seller something or other. judging by the various "names" he's received mail under since he moved I'm not quite sure what he was selling.
funny thing is that checking under both state DBA aka business names there is no such business except for an expired one from 5 years ago. now why am I not surprised??
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS