Has anyone received a payment from the collection agency affiliated with the report resident debts service on this site? The description says they will send a letter to the tenant and report them to the bureaus for 120 days, but then they begin actively pursuing collections with a 38% contingency fee on anything they collect for you.

Chances of you doing this on your own and collecting is slim to none. I know Indiana is a little different when it comes to small claims. I mean that in a good way. I would file immediately for the $8. I would still pay the fee, attempt to collect, and then they could ask me to take it off. I wouldn't do it on my own.

Eddy Mac your input is not helpful. LL's need to LEARN how to collect. Saying "slim to none" is not true.

Just like purchasing real estate you gotta learn how to do it and do it right.

If your lease is structured right-- and you collect on your own you add the 15% interest on debt AND the 25% collection fee. No you don't have to pay a collection company.

The quickest way to alert other LL's is by filing your case ASAP with the court. So on the 3 or 5th day you're applying for your dispossessory action--- NOW it's documented for all to see. Collection entry's could take a year or 2.

I actually think that is very helpful. I have been successful with collecting a couple. Its very complicated and took a long time to learn. From what you're saying we should spend more time learning how to collect than screening better. You must dealing with A+ tenants that great credit scores and that have a steady job their entire life. So your idea would work. I'm on the other end. My court will not issue bench warrants or enforce them.

So in your lease you could make up your interest rate? Thats something new to me, wouldn't fly in my court. It actually says on the wage garnishment document that its 10%, but it sounds like you know your way around that. The 25% collection fee is an interesting idea that probably could pass, I do like that.

Eddy, regarding your sentence - "It actually says on the wage garnishment document that its 10%".

Just because it says a percentage on the court document, that does not meant that is the maximum your state permits. For example, on the court documents where we file, 6% interest is customary. However, the last time I checked our state actually permits up to 18% interest. I can therefore request the 18%. However, if you don't know that, most landlords simply go with the customary 6% on the paperwork.

For those who are not aware, to get to the report resident's debt service available through this site, go to ReportTenantsdebt.com

Eddy just as Jeffery just said-- its on the credit reports. Most people don't realize when they file with the court the 3 major creidt beaure's are notified. Thats how we LL's can protect each other. I use this site credit reporting and when you do the check you can see the dispos (they don't disappoint). Here's where you have to check and double check. Here in our county I can see all dispos on the civil and criminal calander. I understand about when folks aren't local so due diligence.

Here's something others may or may not do. When tenant gives address or you get address from DV lic. we look up property tax records. It shows who owns the property. Sometimes the owners number is there but each time there is a mailing address for the tax bill my manager calls that number to verify.

You rcomment about 10 or 15% if it's in your lease and not usery amount your good to go. Have never had a court deny it or the collection fee of 25%-- if they did we would just say its less than the 35% the other company would charge. That's 25% plus court fees BTW.

I had a dentist try to scam me....he owned his own practice. Bad move. I filed thru the Prothonotary and got the $1,200 or so that was owed to me, plus a little interest. It took me less than three months after filing.

Pa is one of the few states that have Prothonotaries. I have not had much luck with reporting it to the debt collection site from this here. 38% of something is always better than 100% of nothing.

Not sure if this is a sign of poor screening or poor collection performance but, we have never had success filing for collection on this site (10 years, 2 dozen filed and 100s of tenants). Or, success with any other site for that matter.

Ray, would you be able to provide a little more detail on how to file directly with the prothonotary in PA?

Kevin, you may not be aware, but last time I checked, this site still allows landlords to report tenant's debt to all 3 credit bureaus and you do NOT need to have a judgment to do so.

Scott, I'll gladly help out - this applies only to PA though so if your rentals are not in Pa - disregard.

Most LL in Pa will stop after they get the judgement from the local DJ. That is a mistake. After getting a judgement, the tenant has a 10 period to appeal possession and a 30 day period to appeal any money owed.

On day thirty one or soon there after, you need to bring back the judgement transcript back into the same DJ's office and ask them to make it a judgement of record. The local DJ will sign the bottom of the transcript and hand it back to you. They make ask if the tenant paid you anything during the past 30 days.

Now take the transcript down to the county courthouse so that the prothonotary can record the document. Recording will cost you about $10. These documents used to get picked up my the credit report agencies - they do not any more. However, if the tenant sells something with a title or will require financing, they will pull a record search and find that you are entitled to get paid when these assets sell. So it rather foolish for a dentist to pull a fast one....I new he owned his practice and his house. He was in the middle of divorce (hence why he was renting from me), so I only had to wait out the dividing up of assets.

yes, we are in PA.

If following correctly; reporting to any or all of the three credit agencies has no effect on a debtor to pay up when selling something with a title - it is the act of filing a judgement with the prothonatary that does so.

If someone from MrLandlord monitors - would be interested in what benefit there is to reporting to all three credit agencies on this web-site?

Scott, the one main possible benefit is that people who have a debt on their credit report, may one day wish to clean up their credit report, to buy a home for example.

I have had this happen several times, where I get a call from a former renter 2, 3 or 5 years later who contact us to find out the balance owed so they can pay the debt. When the call comes it's like found money, hundreds or thousands of dollars:)

Thanks Jeffrey,

for whatever its worth - The Mr Landlord collection record on our behalf is "0".

Mr Landlord provides a great service otherwise