 I messed up (by bet [MA]) Jul 11, 2019 7:24 AM
 I messed up (by Lynn [MA]) Jul 11, 2019 7:45 AM
I messed up (by plenty [MO]) Jul 11, 2019 7:47 AM
I messed up (by Richard [MI]) Jul 11, 2019 7:48 AM
I messed up (by myob [GA]) Jul 11, 2019 7:56 AM
I messed up (by David [MI]) Jul 11, 2019 8:47 AM
I messed up (by WMH [NC]) Jul 11, 2019 9:00 AM
I messed up (by RB [MI]) Jul 11, 2019 9:37 AM
I messed up (by S i d [MO]) Jul 11, 2019 10:00 AM
I messed up (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Jul 11, 2019 10:02 AM
I messed up (by Robert J [CA]) Jul 11, 2019 12:14 PM
I messed up (by bet [MA]) Jul 11, 2019 12:52 PM
I messed up (by 6x6 [TN]) Jul 11, 2019 7:13 PM
I messed up (by Salernitana [CA]) Jul 11, 2019 9:00 PM
I messed up (by GKARL [PA]) Jul 11, 2019 11:53 PM
I messed up (by Steve [MA]) Jul 12, 2019 6:22 AM
I messed up (by Drew [CO]) Jul 12, 2019 12:33 PM
I messed up (by Robert J [CA]) Jul 12, 2019 3:52 PM
I messed up (by 6x6 [TN]) Jul 12, 2019 4:28 PM
I messed up (by Rob [MA]) Jul 12, 2019 9:02 PM
I messed up (by bet [MA]) Jul 13, 2019 6:33 AM
I messed up (by bet [MA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 7:24 AM
Message:
Landlord is a learning endeavor and I have learned a valuable lesson. Check, double check their names, their driver licenses, other adults names, google their last names. use partial name search in the eviction court records . I just learned the last tip. My "want them gone" tenant has a long history of evictions, young son is a convicted murderer no parole, they were throw out of housing for cause. I missed her deliberate name change by one letter. These people are the worse kind and the typical bad for this town. Violent children in involved in gang violence, barred from housing, a dead child at the hands of gang violence. One letter I missed in their name fraud. It was easy, I should have caught it. Application and bank info in one name, name signed in a different spelling, one letter. --73.227.xxx.xxx |
I messed up (by Lynn [MA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 7:45 AM
Message:
Hind sight is always 20/20 but a good reminder to be strict on checking ID's, Pay stubs, and see if addresses all match. I also check MLS to see if the landlords they put down are the true owners of the properties that they claimed to live at. --38.142.xxx.xxx |
I messed up (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 7:47 AM
Message:
Yep. Done same. They meant to trip you up. Just thank them for this opportunity to learn this lesson... now they can move on cause you are wiser and smarter. They have trained you for all the rest. Whezz this is a rough bunch, thinking back...any other clues, appearance? Speech? Behaviors? Cleanest? Teeth? Car appearance? --99.203.xx.xx |
I messed up (by Richard [MI]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 7:48 AM
Message:
I've noticed this in many of my bad experiences as well. Just had one try this on me a couple months ago. I checked with electric company to see if they were changing account to their name. Nope! A different name, spelling off by a letter. Here the electric company has been ripped off so much by these scum that they now require a signed lease before putting power in a tenants name. I told the electric company that this was not the right name and they immediately shut down the power. Potential renter then called me and wanted me to put lease in their cousins name. HA! Heck no! Needless to say, they did not get the place. Turned out they had a $850 unpaid bill at former address under a third different spelling of the name, plus several hundred to the gas company. They were smooth though, had a "reason" for everything.
I've since changed my screening criteria to avoid trash with aliases. When I start seeing multiple "also known as" or names where they switch first, middle and sometimes even last names around or start using initials and misspelling names, that is an instant rejection. --96.40.xx.xxx |
I messed up (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 7:56 AM
Message:
We all can't say you should have done this or that or you did wrong. We've all been burned by these pro's. Step back regroup move forward-- lesson learned.
The Internet has done wonders for us all but it's been a god send for crooks. You can buy anything on line--- fake identity. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
I messed up (by David [MI]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 8:47 AM
Message:
also maiden name! --144.250.xx.xx |
I messed up (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 9:00 AM
Message:
I ran a background check on someone - not the traditional kind, I paid PeopleFinder. Her name was not unusual but her daughter's was, and they turned up linked. So I knew it was the right mother. Six different last names, with various different spellings on several. And dozens of addresses and evictions going back to 1998.
This wasn't for housing but I wonder if a traditional background check would have found her? --50.82.xxx.xx |
I messed up (by RB [MI]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 9:37 AM
Message:
Ya know what I'm gonna say,
Screen x3. (time and effort)
Include a (licensed) Private Investigator.
Weed'em out!
The proof is in the Pudding. --184.53.x.x |
I messed up (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 10:00 AM
Message:
It happens. I recently had a tenant apply and I mis-typed their name by one letter in the search: they were Robison (real) vs. Robinson (my error). Fortunately, the worst offense was a Class D misdemeanor from a few years ago...nothing I would have denied based on anyway. So far, they've been good tenants. One of them has a 770 credit score and excellent income, and based on they have greater odds of a successful tenancy than my average applicant who is low to mid 600s and has just a little over 3x the monthly rent in income. --107.216.xxx.xxx |
I messed up (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 10:02 AM
Message:
Bet, even the FBI makes a mistake and occasionally lets a bad one through. There is no way that a landlord can conduct an FBI quality background check.
We just do the best that we can do. We learn from our mistakes and we try to learn from other's mistakes. That's one of the reasons we are all here on this website, to share warnings.
Get them out, clean up, tighten up your screening, go on. --98.146.xxx.xxx |
I messed up (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 12:14 PM
Message:
Before I even do all of my own checking, I use the professional credit checking service. I gladly pay for:
1) A TransUnion Credit Report with FICO Score
2) An Experian Credit Report w/FICO Score
3) Two National Eviction Reports Including Sex Offender, Terrorist and Most Wanted Criminal
4) Instant Nationwide Criminal Search
5) Experian Social Security Number Trace
6) Telecheck
I require from the applicant several pay stubs, original drives license, social security card, bank statements, copy of current lease, vehicle registration and auto insurance card/policy.
With all of the provided documents and the Professional reports, I then call references listed in the application, current and prior landlords, employer and a Neighbor from a prior rental.
This is little change that I won't catch an alias, name change or some type of fraud.
Although, I've been doing this for 41 years and had a few bad calls/choices choosing tenants. I try never to make the same mistake twice.....saving time, headaches and grief. --47.156.xx.xx |
I messed up (by bet [MA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 12:52 PM
Message:
Thanks guys. All helpful info. I have given seminars on screening people and I am good at it, but def some room for improvement. This current tenant was screened 4 yrs ago so a lot has changed since then in our process and now more will change. --73.227.xxx.xxx |
I messed up (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 7:13 PM
Message:
Thank you for sharing your experiences and information.
Robert J, Ecelent job screening. That is a lot of required information. Do they ever balk at it? If they do, is that a denial? Thank you for sharing your process. --73.120.xx.xxx |
I messed up (by Salernitana [CA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 9:00 PM
Message:
I've done that, and the tenant basically did the same thing on the application. It was my bad since the misspelling looked glaringly like it could use another letter. Anyway, I'm glad that your nightmare tenants gone and that you and their now ex-neighbors are safe. Thanks for the tips on how to avoid this the next time too.
--107.142.xxx.xx |
I messed up (by GKARL [PA]) Posted on: Jul 11, 2019 11:53 PM
Message:
Oftentimes I'll get suspicious if no hits turn up on my court system. To check myself, I also check for things like traffic tickets to make sure I have the names correct. Anyone with any mileage at least has a traffic ticket so if things turn up blank, I'm automatically suspicious. I back the initial check up with a nationwide background check with the SSN. I also verify the SSN and match it with their name. --209.122.xx.xxx |
I messed up (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Jul 12, 2019 6:22 AM
Message:
Boy Bet, I'm sure glad that I've never made any mistakes and am a "PERFECT" LL. (g)
I think this fall we should try to get some of the New England LLs together for some stimulating talk & yummy Flat Bread Pizza. It's been way too long since we had those yearly meetings in Portsmouth, NH. --96.237.xx.xx |
I messed up (by Drew [CO]) Posted on: Jul 12, 2019 12:33 PM
Message:
So sorry, Bet. Feel you yup. Been there. May the forces be with you and we'll be here to celebrate with you on the other side! (Which will hopefully be here before you know it) --172.58.xx.xxx |
I messed up (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Jul 12, 2019 3:52 PM
Message:
Because my rentals are in top condition and I'm asking a fair rental price, any applicant that balks at my requests are not serious applicants, OR they have something to hide. Generally a bankruptcy, debt or in collections. --47.156.xx.xx |
I messed up (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jul 12, 2019 4:28 PM
Message:
Thank you Robert J. --73.120.xx.xxx |
I messed up (by Rob [MA]) Posted on: Jul 12, 2019 9:02 PM
Message:
How many characters will this system accept for my screw ups?
3 years ago I was slacking and let this couple in during a rash of move ins. They claimed bedbugs 6 months into it and the exterminator was sent. He immediately recognized them from an other landlord they played games with. I ran them through masscourts.gov and saw the carnage.
They are still there paying rent on time to this day.
Sometimes good goes bad and bad goes good in this business. But I'm always ready to take action.
--72.74.xxx.xx |
I messed up (by bet [MA]) Posted on: Jul 13, 2019 6:33 AM
Message:
Rob, after the court system went on line, I looked up some of my previous tenants from my days of just starting out and I was surprised. I could see why these folks were disqualified. Our qualifications are so much tighter now, I am surprised I rented to anyone before, lol.
Yes Steve lets get together! --73.227.xxx.xxx |
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