Background Checks | Tenant | Credit | Criminal | Property

What Shows up on a Criminal Background Check

2010-01-31T13:14:00.001-08:00

See what is on your criminal background check report

A number of people want to know what shows up on a criminal background check and to be sure that information is important. Many employers and businesses that extend credit want to know what is in the criminal background of credit or employment applicants.

Why Should I Look at Example Background Checks?

Whether you are ready for the reality or not, the only way you are going to find out what shows up on a criminal background check for you is to buy a copy of your own background check. Honestly - do you really care what is on someone else's criminal background check (you would care if you are in business or hiring someone) - but what about if you are looking for a job. Wouldn't you want to know what strikes might be lurking out there against you? I know I would.

How Deep a Background Check Will Someone Do?

There are a couple of sources online which businesses use to investigate people. What services they use and what information they seek varies with the level of sensitivity of the relationship to the background check target. A new vendor with a long business history and good reputation would naturally be less subject to a deep penetrating credit background check than a out of town job applicant. It stands to reason, no? In the case of someone already known to have a good reputation, it is likely information will be collected and confirmed but little or no action taken on it. In the case of an unknown out of towner looking for a new job, that applicant can expect to be scrutinized: the higher the position in the organization, the higher the level of scrutiny.

Examples of Typical Background Checks - Cursory Public Records Search

Here's what might show up on a criminal background check, depending again on whether this is a cursory search (less accurate but extremely cheap) or highly accurate (used for the purposes of determining credit and or extending job offers).
First let's look at a cursory check. This is a less accurate review of information, but sadly this information is available to ANYONE who wants to know - cheap. Spend $30 for a 3 yr membership and then buy a month of unlimited access for $20 and go to town - view as many of these records as you want for a full month. It behooves anyone to know what is on their own report and be prepared to challenge any misinformation on it, or explain any hiccups that are legitimate.

Examples of Typical Criminal Background Checks - FCRA Search

The previous example was that of a public records check, which honestly is not considered accurate enough to ensure fair treatment with regard particularly to criminal records and credit history. Many court records can be annulled or otherwise expunged from the public record - particularly with regard to records which might prejudice a job or credit applicant. It is for this reason that more expensive databases (that swim through the legal files in order to clean up errors and annulled record) exist to provide fair and non-prejudicial records for credit review. Here is an example of what those records might look like (report is multiple pages).

Examples of Typical Criminal and Credit Background Checks - Credit and Eviction Records Search

The last bit of information you're likely to see on a FCRA compliant credit and criminal background check report is the credit history. Namely what you are likely to find on here is the civil court case records (if any) related to the applicant. Any time a landlord is required to evict a tenant there is a legal process involved which ultimately results in a record created. Here you will also find SSN verification and other details related to prior legal issues for the applicant.

A Word to the Wise - If You Want to Know What Shows up on a Criminal Background Check - Do One on Yourself!

Why wouldn't you want to know what sort of records your own behavior has created over the years? People are human, and there is sure to be something on your record which you would prefer was not there - so find out what is on your record and do something about it. If it can be annulled - do that. It'll cost a few bucks but it is worth it. Otherwise be familiar with what is on your report and consult an attorney or an unemployment agent to help you determine how to minimize the damage from your record. Being prepared is a sign of a desireable employee, even if the past record has some spots on it.

See what is on your criminal background check report

The Release Form - Background Check Legality May Need It

2009-12-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

The release form background check authorization document you get signed at the beginning of your screening is equally valuable as the information you get from your search? Many people new to investment real estate often don't know which type of background check to get and wind up either not doing one at all or doing the wrong type. Ultimately lack of preparedness led to lawsuits or eviction fights. Not fun. Given how inexpensive preparedness is it's a wonder more people didn't do it the right way.

Step 1: Advertising - Accumulate A Large Number of (Good) Applications
If you're new to the business of rental apartment income, your first thought needs to be on advertising, even if your units are all presently occupied. I continuously advertise rental units so I always have a good selection of applications on hand at any given time. Vacancies can happen at any time - so best to be prepared with pre-qualified prospects ready to call in for interviews.

First Comes Consent, Then Comes The Application
The minute someone identifies themselves as a potential applicant, you have to get to discussing the consent form and getting their signature on it. Let me repeat: the release form background check document comes first. Your consent form needs to indicate to the rental prospect that they must authorize a complete credit and criminal background check prior to even receiving an application. You have no idea how many bad apples that will eliminate.

Step 2: Getting Rid of the Chaff
Step 2 is all about efficiency. I'm thinking about what kind of background check process will allow me to scan as many applicants as possible for as little cost as possible. A quick scan is enough first time through. Forms that are missing information or are sloppy, set aside or toss. Don't bother with them unless you completely run out of good applications.

Once you have weeded out the folks that don't sign the application, don't put down references, don't include their social security number, etc. it's time to use a pre-screening service. Some will go through the trouble of giving phony information on the application so a quick public records database search is a cheap way to catch those bad prospects. Check the references phone numbers - are they legit? What about the social security number? Valid?

The nice thing about doing a screening yourself is that access to public records is cheap. Not to mention fast. Cutting large groups of applicants down is done quickly this way.

Step 3: Vet Their Credit History
Now the hard work starts but it is all in the name of getting the best candidate so let's do it. Select who you think the best two applicants are and bring them in for a chat. Use the interview as an opportunity to get any unclear facts straightened out.

Remind the applicant(s) that they still will be subject to credit and criminal background checks after the 1st interview. Presuming at least one of the applicants appeals to you, run your FCRA credit check. These are not cheap, but it is the correct kind of background check to get when you need to get the legal credit reporting and criminal background information.

Step 4: Make the Offer
If the rental candidate made it through step three, it's time to offer them a unit and get them signed to a contract based on your desired lease terms. If this first person doesn't come through, you've still got a number of other prospects ready to put through step 2 and 3.

Don't forget: the authorization release form for the background check comes first. Use your public records fact finder to get some knowledge about your tenant prospect. Use what you learn to be a little probative in your initial interview. Having a few facts in hand levels the playing field with you and your applicant. Checking how a person responds to a little bit of a challenging environment can speak volumes as to how they will fit in with other residents.

Typical Costs:
Public Records Service Background Check: under $10/yr
FCRA Credit / Criminal Background Check History : $19.95 - $34.95 (spend the extra money)

See Also:
Tips on Pre-Employment Screening Background Checks
Legal Executive Background Checks
Find Someones Email Reconnect with Business Contacts
Background Checks on Spouses and Cheaters

Background Check Under $10 - Surprising What You Can Find Out

2009-12-10T07:55:00.000-08:00

A background check under $10 is honestly going to be hard to find, but if you plan on doing a lot of them you'd be surprised how little it costs to do them in bulk. In fact, if you do a TON of them you can whittle the per background check cost to essentially zero if you use a cheap public records background check service and take advantage of the unlimited searches it offers. You may have to manage your subscription a little bit (dropping the advanced services when you don't expect to need them for a month or two).

These days a service that provides a cheap background check under $10/yr typically will charge add ons for access to their more juicy databases (think property tax public records and criminal / court records databases) - but for what little they charge the extra money is worth it - if you do enough searches.

Here's How the Cost of a Background Check Under $10 Would Break Down
A typical background check subscription service will give unlimited searches on a couple of low level databases for under $10/year. These databases don't usually have a great level of detail, but the DO return VERY good results on searches - providing not only items you searched for, but algorithm based variations on that search. You would be SHOCKED how valuable those algorithm variation results can be.

So You Need More Detail Than the Basic Search Results
Most people will be satisfied with the basic search results they get from the cheap / baseline service. Some people (think private investigators, lawyers, repossesors, spouses trying to catch cheating spouses, divorcees, bail bondsmen) need a greater level of detail (think: assets, prior addresses, aliases, outstanding warrants) and that's where the additional databases come in to the picture.

Additional database access at a cheap service is going to run somewhere around $20/month but if you only need a couple of searches done you can usually get a free trial for a couple of days if you already have basic service.

The Bottom Line: A Background Check Under $10 Is Available, Powerful, and Expandable
Do yourself a favor and sign up for a background check under $10/year basic service.

How to Check If Someone Is Giving You a Bad Reference

2009-12-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

When you think you need to check if someone is giving you a bad reference, two circumstances come to mind (and we cover both here - and oddly enough the solutions are remarkably similar).

The first circumstance is the evil former employer work reference. The second is a contractor or other new business partner reference. While these may seem like completely different cases with no relationship whatsoever, the causes for concern and actions needed for solution are quite similar.

Once a Chump, Forever Will You Be Defending Yourself from Being a Chump
The reason you are having fear at all is that you've been taken advantage of in the past. This means that you have either been the victim of bullying or malice from someone who knew they wouldn't be held accountable by you or anyone they were concerned with. Sadly, once this happens to you once, you may as well put a "kick me" sign on your back for the rest of your life because everyone will see you are an easy mark. There is hope however...

The Solution Is Just As Simple As The Cause...
The reason you are are subject to abuse is because you are an easy mark. You trust, you rely on the good nature of others, you take people at face value. So the solution is to not be an easy mark.

How do you do this?

What is it that every bully fears? Getting beat up by a bigger bully. What is it that every boss or business owner fears? People who know more than they do. Does this mean you go hire Vinny with the bat to pay a visit to your old boss? No. What it does mean is that you demonstrate you have POWER to defend yourself from abuse - and it's way easier than you think. Here is where the paths of the job seeker and business partner (see below) diverge. We'll tackle the job seeker first.

How to Check If Someone Is Giving You a Bad Refence As a Job Seeker:
Honestly, it is against the law for employers to give bad references because of the immense power they wield relative to the person seeking new employment. Unfortunately for too many employers and managers, the law is an inconvenience to them - particularly when it indirectly benefits them to hurt your chances at finding new work (keeps you "cheap" and "desperate").

The truth is it can be very hard to check if someone is giving you a bad reference, and you can do yourself some real harm if you get caught. So rather than play games on his rules by his terms, play in the arena where you as a job seeker will win EVERY-SINGLE-TIME: in the legal world.

Does This Mean I Sue My Previous Employer?
Nope. That costs money which you don't have and will have difficulty proving. BUT what it does mean is that you look up the home address of the plant manager and talk a lawyer friend into writing (and signing) a letter for you saying to the effect "I and my client (that's you) have reviewed (Client's name) exit interview paperwork and are satisfied with the terms of the separation. Signed Bob Z. Lawyer, Esq. Atty."

Deliver the Message - Right Where They Live
Then have a courier hand deliver it to their home address. Believe me, that plant manager will get the message: I have an attorney, and I know where to serve you with legal paperwork (a.k.a. I know where you live). If you really have balls, take the opportunity in the letter to ask for a signed letter of reference. That'll fix your problem but good.

You've done absolutely nothing wrong by taking this simple step, and you've demonstrated that you know the law is on YOUR side, and you have Vinnie the attorney advising you to represent you should the plant manager or other management representative cause you trouble.

Showing Power and Demonstrating You Know Their Weakness Levels the Playing Field
At this point, you shouldn't have to check if someone is giving you a bad reference, because believe me that plant manager is going to make sure everyone behaves correctly. Fat cat plant manager jobs are tough to come by, and someone else's petty grievance with you isn't worth them losing their job (due to lawsuit) over it. You've forced them to behave because you've demonstrated you know where they are vulnerable.

How to Check If Someone Is Giving You a Bad Reference: Business Contract
You have to check if someone is giving you a bad reference when doing business with someone new - it should be just a matter of course. The first time you meet someone or do business with someone the person you are working with is sizing you up. Questions that will inevitably go through their minds are things like:

If things go bad in our business deal, will I be able to get the upper hand in salvaging what's left?
Is this person going to believe everything I say?
Can I take liberties with the truth about expenses, work done, time spent, etc.
If I get the contract, can I work the terms so that I maximize my legal leverage without promising anything in return?
Can I get something for nothing from this person?

Don't Be Mad At Human Nature - Recognize It and Protect Yourself
Nobody wants to believe the worst in people but even the best people I know won't bat an eye about taking advantage of someone who is a push-over - and believe me the first time you meet somebody new they are already assessing whether you are gullible, soft, slow, or weak. Don't blame people for this - it's simply human nature.

What To Do To Fight Back
You have to stand your ground from day one - and that means verifying basic facts about the person you are dealing with. Does it mean check every last detail? No. What it DOES mean is push back by testing the person's knowledge, verifying they are who they say they are. If they give you references you need to check if someone is giving you a bad reference. "How?" you ask? The answer is to verify references and being crafty about how you do it.

Here's how I try to trip up would be "users" - for lack of a better word.

Get a couple of personal or (preferably) professional references from them
Take the references and compare them to a cheap public records database for accuracy

Did they make a mistake on an address or phone number?
Are the phone number references given registered to different people than who they listed? (****hint**** this is a HUGE warning sign - take heed!)

If the reference information matched public records databases, were you able to reach the people listed?

Try to trip the reference person on the phone up. Confirm their address with them but give them the wrong address - switch street number digits for example - make it look innocent (93 Main St becomes 39 Main St., etc)
Ask about how long they've known your potential new business partne
Ask what projects they've done and their level of satisfaction

Honestly - almost nobody gives out a reference that will give a bad review but if you call someone who gives a bad reference - RUN!

Ask if you can see some of the work, if appropriate
Visit the work site, if permitted (is it clean, good work? Did they leave unfinished business?)
Ask if the job was completed on time and on budget

Finding Information Before You Sign the Deal Is PARAMOUNT
If you sign a deal before doing your homework... don't come crying to me. You got what you deserved. Do what you can (a la the job seeker above) to serve notice about your willingness to take legal action but be advised: you are in a MUCH WEAKER POSITION than the job seeker.

The Bottom Line: Stop Being a Chump
Don't be lazy. If you are a job seeker, don't check if someone is giving you a bad reference - fire a legal warning shot across their bow before they get a chance to give you a bad reference!

If you are a entering into a business contract: get information and check the d*** facts! Don't be lazy and stop blaming others for taking advantage of you. People walk on you because you are a doormat. Forgive yourself for things that have gone on in the past, and stop being a whipping post. Use your mind and the information at your fingertips to show you are not gullible and that you check up on people. Fear of being caught is the only tool you have to keep people honest. If you suspect someone is phony - RUN! LEAVE! DON'T-SIGN-ANYTHING! and DON'T GIVE SECOND CHANCES!

Pre-employment Background Checks Cost Money Short Term But Can Save Your Business

2009-07-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Pre-employment background checks would have saved one local business over $200K this past year. It's true, one local business recently caught an hired bookkeeping company embezzling money from clients (including her own business) to the tune of $200K. Truth be told, they got off light. Employee embezzlement costs an average business $350K when discovered. Employers who have done their initial homework are less likely to hire at risk employees, true. Pre-employment background checks aren't enough though. It's important to continue to monitor the financial health of employees (with consent).

Employers that take pains to watch the income to debt ratio of employees are far more likely to thwart fraud before it happens. Get consent from your employees as a condition for continued employment and then make annual employee credit check monitoring (where legal) a part of your management process. An employee with a debt payment to income ratio higher than 35% should be considered moderate risk. Someone with a debt payment to income ratio higher than 50% should be considered high risk.

Why Pre-Employment Background Checks Can Be a Small Business Owner's Best Friend
By Matt E Spitz

If you're a small business owner making your first hires pre-employment background checks can be a savior for your small business. Do even a simple review of your applicant's information and you'll weed out numerous bad apples trying to spoil your business. Many applicants who may appear at first glance to be the most qualified for a position within your company can be embellishing their resumes... or worse still fabricating it entirely.

If you've already begun hiring people without verifying applicants' resumes and background information you may have already made a bad hire. If you have made a bad hire without doing pre-employment background checks then you may already have established a reputation on being lax on applicant honesty. Once word gets around you don't verify background information you'll have every bad apple within shouting distance applying for a job at your business.

If you've already hired someone, there is little you can do to undo a bad hire but you can still do a check on them to find out whether your new employee lied on their application. Reviewing that application and asking your new hire about any discrepancies you turn up may at least stem the flow of bad apples turning up on your doorstep.

A couple of things you should include in your pre-employment background checks about your new hire include verifying employment history, criminal record, and doing a credit check. Tracking and verifying this information may not undo a bad hire but your ability to manage and monitor your employee's access and work will be better focused.

Matt E. Spitz

See how you can get unlimited pre-employment background checks for less than $10.00 a year.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_E_Spitz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Pre-Employment-Background-Checks-Can-Be-a-Small-Business-Owners-Best-Friend&id=2239154

I hope that you see while it is important to do background check screening on new employees please be sure to use legal pre-employment background checks - for your own sake.

Good Tenants - Made One at a Time

2009-07-29T07:57:00.001-07:00

Good tenants are everywhere - in every town, in every neighborhood. Did you not know that? In economic times like these good tenants are like gold - they pay their rent, don't complain much, and take good care of their units. Unfortunately I hear a lot of sob stories from landlords and property managers about having to evict bad tenants who didn't pay and destroyed property. Have fun with that I say.

What many of these inexperienced property managers didn't realize is that the best way to make money in an investment real-estate income property is to buy at a reasonable price, conduct a professional operation start to finish, and keep rents low.

Buy and Flip Is Dead - Re-Finance and Make Do Are IT
Unfortunately too many people jumped on the real-estate bandwagon with the cheap ARM financing and got stuck with a high price property in an economy that can no longer support the ridiculous rental rates landlords thought they could charge forever. Smart landlords who are able to re-capitalize at lower fixed costs need to learn from the lessons of the past decade and drop rental rates, do thorough tenant credit screening, and attract and retain good tenants with long term leases. The days of "buy and flip" investment properties are over.

My recommendation is decide to run a professional operation or get out of the business, but don't just take my word for it...

Good Tenants Are Everywhere - Nearly Anyone Can Be a Good Tenant
By Matt E Spitz

Good tenants - where to find them and how to keep them that way? People are always asking me how I always end up with great, respectful tenants that pay on time and in full. I've thought about that question often enough now (and see enough other operations) to know why I've been successful while so many others are always struggling. You're going to wait for me to say that it all has to do with location, neighborhood, and the local economy... and to a certain extent that plays a role. Obviously if you buy a rental unit in a high crime, heavy drug use neighborhood a good tenant simply isn't going to want to live there.... or will they?

There Are Good Tenants and Bad Tenants Everywhere
I've got to be honest with you - there are good tenants and bad tenants in every single neighborhood in the country. Some people are steadfastly honest, some people are steadfastly dishonest, and a whole lot of people are in-between. The steadfastly honest people are never going to rent from you. They own. You don't get to stable long term ownership without good long term credit and once you are good and you own you never rent again. That leaves you with but two tenant pools to draw from, the bad folks (whom you never want to rent to), and the middle ground folks who can be good tenants or bad tenants but you're not sure because they either don't have a history, or they have a short history, or their history has some blotches. How do figure out who the good ones will be?

A Good Tenant is Made, Not Born

So here's the secret answer you've been looking for all these years. A good tenant can be made out of these middle ground rental candidates. Laying a foundation of accountability and professionalism on your part allows you the opportunity to demonstrate clearly what expectations of behavior are for tenants and managers. Follow through with complete and clearly laid out codes of conduct and consequences for violations, and then strictly adhere to those guidelines. Making a good tenant is done by being an accountable and professional property manager yourself.

You get good tenants by teaching them good habits from the first day you meet them to the day they leave your rental units. Demonstrate clearly by every action and interaction with your current or future tenants that you run a professional operation - even if you're just renting a room out. That means a complete rental application including authorization for a tenant credit background check. It's up to you whether you do a preliminary (non-FCRA) background check first (why not do them? You can do unlimited searches for under $10/year) to double check their information prior to their interview.

Once you've selected a couple of candidates to bring in for final interviews, do your FCRA compliant background check (see above link) and use that as part of your final selection criteria. Matt E. Spitz

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_E_Spitz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Good-Tenants-Are-Everywhere---Nearly-Anyone-Can-Be-a-Good-Tenant&id=2377629

It doesn't have to take all that much time or money to do basic tenant screening and then run a credit check on the best applicants.

Prior Post: Get a Background Check - Cheap Ways to Get Info On People

Get a Background Check - Cheap Ways to Get Info on People

2009-07-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

It's very easy to get a background check these days, but how and why you use the information you get goes a long way in determining how much it's going to cost to get the background check done. People who just want to find a little bit of dirt on their neighbors can use one of the cheap background check companies. People using that sort of service usually are just looking for basic information about home value and or criminal record, if any. It's always a good idea to see who is new in the neighborhood.

People who have a business related use for a credit check have to use a more dedicated service which balances the need of businesses to get credit information against the privacy related issues of those who are subjected to credit review. Here's more on that topic from a business/real estate author.

Get a Background Check Quickly, Quietly, and Cheaply - But Beware of the Limitations
By Matt E Spitz

Businesses that need to get a background check quickly won't be using an FCRA compliant service. Most times this doesn't matter because users of these services are not really interested in credit or criminal history, they're usually just confirming address information or verifying a social security number or tax ID number. A service designed to do this sort of retrieval is done broadly and covers public records databases. Information typically is retrieved and transmitted online quickly.

People who need to get a background check covering criminal, work, education, or credit history need to know going in that the information must be in compliance with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) law, because FCRA rules require at least a signed fax from the person being investigated authorizing the credit or background search. People trying to obtain this information without authorization are going to come up empty without performing some kind of forgery - a felonious criminal offense, or database hacking, also a felonious offense.

Deciding whether to get a background check and what type of service to use boils down to understanding how invasive the search needs to be. Does the search need to include financial data such as a credit score or current credit balances and payment estimates? If so then that sort of search must go down the path of FCRA compliance. Likewise if the search involves confirming work history, educational degrees attained, and or criminal history. The FCRA is designed to protect the privacy rights of individuals while still serving the business community's need to know information vital to extending credit. The availability and relatively low cost of credit is critical to maintaining a strong and growing economy.

Those who get a background check on someone but need to do it without authorization such as employers concerned about existing employees, or spouses trying to track the assets of cheaters, or single parents receiving child support trying to locate a deadbeat parent - all tend to use non-FCRA services because they don't require consent. These services don't obviously have the same level and depth of information, but the people seeking this information tend to be trying to ascertain location data, tax data, and death records - all of which are open to the public.

I find it valuable to retain a cheap information service so I can get a background check done immediately on anyone at anytime for just under $10 a year (unlimited searches). I use that information to help me monitor and understand the pressure(s) my employees may be facing in their lives. Usually a non-FCRA background check will have enough data for this sort of light investigation. If you already have a consent form signed as part of your hiring / application process you should be able to get background information of this cursory kind immediately online. Deeper searches require written consent, but are also similarly available online.

Matt E. Spitz

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_E_Spitz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-a-Background-Check-Quickly,-Quietly,-and-Cheaply---But-Beware-of-the-Limitations&id=2556276

If you're like me then you pretty much only need the cheap background checks. If you are in business doing hiring, providing credit, or own rental properties you need to be much more careful in how you do credit screening.

Prior Post: Rental Applicant Screening - The Cost Effective Way

Rental Applicant Screening - The Cost Effective Way

2009-07-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

The best way to go about rental applicant screening is to think of your screening process as funnel catching raindrops with two filters at the bottom. You want to get as many raindrops to hit the top of the funnel as possible but you only want the pure water to flow through.

You get maximum exposure to raindrops by building a big funnel - and that means doing effective advertising in your area and the surrounding area. This will get the word out that you have space to rent. You should be advertising even when you don't have vacancies, because you never know for sure when someone may wish to break a lease.

The next thing to do is effectively and efficiently do rental applicant screening. Rather than re-invent the wheel here I found this article which pretty well covers the topic.

Rental Applicant Screening - Using Self Elimination
By Matt E Spitz

Rental applicant screening is a constant headache for the landlord with open units, but it does not have to take forever and it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg either. Honestly - with the right balance of cleverness and forcefulness (personality-wise) the vast majority of potential bad apple tenants are more than happy to screen themselves right out of your office. That's the kind of rental applicant screening all of us can afford.

How do I do this? It has to start with the very first contact with your potential applicants. Why do I say potential applicants? I say that because no one, not one single person, gets a tenant application from me until I have a signed consent form in hand. A consent form for what, you ask? I get a signed consent form from a prospective tenant before they ever even see anything even resembling an application. Before I took off on a little tangent I was talking about my first conversation about renting. I make mention of the consent form right off the bat. No fuss, no muss. I make it absolutely clear that the person I am talking to will be filling out a consent form and their background and credit history will be checked.

Needless to say many of the people I talk to do not bother to show up at my office to sign a rental applicant screening consent form. They already know they have a checkered past and don't bother to show up. Good riddance. Too harsh? Listen, the only thing worse than an empty apartment is an apartment with a drug using loser deadbeat in it. Agreed?

What next? When I do still end up stuck with a bunch of applications to go through, I use my cheap pre-screening service first. For just under $10 a year I can do rental applicant screening all day for a flat subscription fee. I use that information when conducting interviews to go over any questions I had for the applicant. This gives the applicant an opportunity to distinguish themselves as a good tenant - how they handle pressure and conflict can demonstrate how they'll interact with neighbors.

Once I have it narrowed down to two applicants I cover myself with an FCRA compliant background check, to cover my legal bases. (See why this is important when you do rental applicant screening to use a Fair Credit Reporting Act Compliant Service for your final selection)

Matt E. Spitz

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_E_Spitz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Rental-Applicant-Screening---Using-Self-Elimination&id=2470846

So the message is basically make sure you catch a lot of pre-filtered raindrops (good applicants) and put them through your filters. Once you've completed your inexpensive rental applicant screening and have selected your best two rental applicants for FCRA rental applicant screening, do the FCRA compliant credit check to cover your legal obligations. This should give you the best chance at running a successful rental property.

A Background Check on Someone for Free Can Provide More Info than You Might Expect

2009-07-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

You might not think a background check on someone for free can not provide much information on a person but if someone provides you with bogus information about themselves a quick free background check may trip them up.

Those people looking for a little bit more or deeper background information on someone need only look to one of the inexpensive public records databases (like this one). For a modest subscription fee of what amounts to ~$10/year you can do as many searches as you want. That comes in real handy if you have to verify a lot of information about people or you perform a line of work where you tend to deal with people who lie to you frequently. (See sample background checks - editor's note, sample check presented costs additional $20 for a month of unlimited searches - recent pricing change).

Background Check on Someone For Free - You'll Save a Lot of Heartache and More
By Matt E Spitz

A background check on someone for free is sure to carry considerably limited information however you might be surprised just how much information you can get for no out of pocket expense. A large number of public records search engines have sprung up all over the place and many of them offer quite a bit of information on people without requiring any sort of monetary payment. Needless to say this information can be priceless when it comes to new relationships and internet dating.

Internet Dating and New Relationships Bring on Great Risk
The huge explosion of internet dating websites and speed dating services offer a great opportunity for new couples to meet and fall in love but what frequently happens is that the couples who do fall in love don't take the time to really explore each others past, and in some cases don't verify that they are who they say they are. This can be a devastating mistake for someone deeply in love with a person who is really just out for a good time... or potentially worse. Many suspicious daters at this point try to get a background check on someone for free when they find the facts don't seem to add up.

Free Background Check Services Do Carry a Non-Cash Price Tag
The downside to services like these is that they do require a valid email address in order to process the information request. The obvious conclusion one may draw from the service provider gathering your email address is that they intend to fill your email inbox with all sorts of related (and sometimes unrelated) offers. Opting out of such offers is easy but can be something of a nuisance.

Is The Free Background Check Service Worth It?
Is it worth it? Free search service providers typically will show a list of names, phone numbers, addresses, age, and sometimes relatives (if available) for the price of getting your email address. For many people, that information alone is enough. For others however, more information is needed, and a background check on someone for free just isn't going to cut it.

The Next Level: A Background Check on Someone for Free (Almost)
The next level of investigation services charges a small fee but provides a little bit more information including listing any real-estate assets owned, any death certificates registered, etc. Records of this kind are available usually on a subscription basis, where the user can do unlimited searches of this kind. Is this a background check on someone for free? No. But on the other hand if you do many searches on people, the initial subscription cost can be completely negligible on a cost per investigation basis.

Even doing one of the background checks on someone for free can provide enough information to catch a would be phony lover. Trip them on simple information such as their own phone number of the names of their siblings and you can save yourself or your friends a lot of heartache.

If that information is not enough, go for one of the background check services that provide information on assets, social security number, and death certificates - all popular frauds amongst false Casanovas.

Matt E. Spitz

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Free background check services aren't obviously going to provide much detail beyond the most basic information, but if you want a more in depth background check on someone then perhaps one of the inexpensive background check companies may be better suited for your needs.

Previous Post: Rental Background Check

Rental Background Check - Vacancy Beats Deadbeat Every Time

2009-07-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt - a rental background check can go a long long way to helping you avoid the disaster that comes with having a loser deadbeat tenant. What always amazes me is that how just spending a few bucks on a screening service still doesn't seem like a good bargain to some landlords. Where did it ever say that doing research on the people with whom you are doing business is a bad thing?

Even if the person you plan on renting to is someone you "know" - what do you really know about them? Do they pay their bills? Do they have outstanding credit issues or a judgment against them that will seriously affect their ability to pay rent consistently? You owe it to yourself and them to find out. Now a cursory scan like the aforementioned screening service won't give you the financial details the way an FCRA compliant rental background check will, but it's cheaper and can still help you weed out a lot of bad applications without having the expense of doing an FCRA check on every single applicant... that would cost a fortune.

Here's some of what you should think about doing when dealing with a new prospective rental occupant.

Doing a Rental Background Check Can Really Save You a Lot of Headaches
By Matt E Spitz

A rental background check can really save you a lot of headaches if you're in the property management business. Have you ever had a tenant move in to your room or apartment for rent only to immediately stop paying and become a complete nuisance to you and your other tenants?

This doesn't have to happen to you anymore. There are a plethora of cheap information services offering rental background check with little out of pocket cost to you. How much in terms of damage and loss rental income would you save had you just done a quick tenant credit and background check on your deadbeat tenant before handing him or her a set of keys.

As a property manager you are probably all too aware that more often than not the law falls on the side of the tenant and eviction can be a costly and expensive process. It is all the more imperative then that you adequately screen tenants prior to acceptance of their rental applications no? Doing a quick rental background check can quickly and easily weed out the deadbeats from the good renters.

Make sure you collect the following information on your rental application:
1. Name
2. Previous addresses (and property manager contacts)
3. Social Security Number (for credit check)
4. Any aliases the person has used in the past
5. Personal references (to be used to track down and serve bad apples if necessary).
6. Reject anyone who refuses to give this information.

Once you have all this information you are armed with all you need to do an effective rental background check. Use this application and verification process consistently and you are certain to get and retain good, honest, steady paying tenants. Further, the tenants you have will appreciate the absence of bad apples in your complex or boarding house.

Matt E. Spitz See how you can use rental background check services unlimited times for under $10.00 per year.

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What Free Background Checks on People Contain and Where to Get Them

2009-07-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Free background checks on people don't honestly carry that much information in them however they do carry some information. Ultimately though if you want detailed information on someone, or if you have a credit or financial related reason for doing background checks on people you'll ultimately end up paying for a service either on a subscription basis (unlimited searches but limited usage / consent not required) or individual basis (financial/credit/etc. - requires consent). There are even services to verify employment history. This article describes what you'll typically find in a background check, be it a free background check, a non-consentual background check, or an FCRA compliant background check.

Free Background Checks on People - How Much People Can Find Out and How Shockingly Little it Costs
By Matt E Spitz

Free background checks on people are available via public records databases but the results you get for the free searches are usually quite limited. No cost public records searches typically will turn up a person's name, address, phone number, age, and sometimes relatives such as mother, father and siblings.

These resources are really handy when you have a pretty good idea who you are looking for and have a few facts about them. When it comes to verifying information that even strays a little bit into the the grey area of private information such as social security number, mortgage and home information, or other personal or financial related data, availability of information clamps down quickly.

The next level of personal background data digs into the aforementioned basic financial data, date of birth, mortgage holder, neighbors, plus partial social security numbers and death records. These are not free background checks on people however as there typically is a small subscription fee attached. Again, these records are somewhat limited in their scope but are immediately available and certainly more revealing that I would prefer... particularly for so small a fee. These additional records are most likely pulled from local tax records and other publicly available documents. They aren't necessarily 100% accurate, but they're usually close enough... and again, much more than I prefer people to know about me.

The next step up in terms of personal investigation is the credit background investigation. At this point credit data is available but again, these are not free background checks on people either and furthermore privacy laws actually require prior written consent of the person whom you are investigating. A law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) severely restricts who can access these records, meaning usually a specific business purpose is required.

When I do need to check information on someone I use my cheap pre-screening service first. For just under $10 a year I can do as many background checks on people as I want for a flat annual subscription fee. I use that information when I'm concerned people are trying to pull a fast one on me.

I hope no one tries to pull a fast one on you. See all kinds of sample legal background checks and see just how much information is available for so little.

Matt E. Spitz

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Tenant Screening Credit Checking Services

2009-07-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

Tenant screening credit checking services vary depending on whether the service is FCRA compliant, the level of service and the type and depth of search, and whether or not ancillary services (background and criminal databases) are also used.

A tenant screening service designed simply to verify information is usually the cheapest, although according to FCRA rules it may not be used to EXCLUDE candidates from consideration, it doesn't hurt to have this basic information verified prior to making a final decision (see a sample low cost screening service report).

What makes this type of report extremely valuable is its ability to help you sort through numerous applications in a short period of time without a per search cost. One flat fee covers unlimited searches. No, you can't use this type of background credit check for your final decision but you can prioritize your candidates into applications which are complete and correct vs. applications that are incomplete and or sketchy.

The next step up from this type of service would be to look at tenant screening credit checking services which are Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) compliant. These services do carry a per-search charge and are more expensive. The upside is that they provide armor against applicant lawsuits. You definitely want to pay the fee for this type of service if you feel you're dealing with a belligerent applicant or you have a couple of candidates who are practically equal (and hopefully both good).

There are other even more thorough screening background check services that go into work history and educational background, but that is more for executive search firms and employers - who have to deal with a similar set of rules and restrictions.

The Best Way to Check Credit and Background for Renters

2009-07-06T16:29:00.001-07:00

The best way to check credit and background for renters doesn't have to be expensive, but it does have to be thorough. First, your number one priority is to get as many good applications in hand as possible. Lots of applications dramatically increases the number of good prospects, and also allows you second and third choices should your first pick not pan out or another vacancy opens.

To get more tenant applications spend a little money on newspaper advertising and get yourself on the Craigslist ads for your area too. Be advised that folks looking on Craigslist often are looking for something for nothing - make "how you heard about our vacancy" an optional question on the rental application. If you see Craigslist or other free ads service... make a note of it. Make sure you have plenty of exposure in your target areas.

Once you have your applications in hand, use your cheap tenant screening service to sort applications into accurate and inaccurate or incomplete applications.

Once you have them sorted into good applications and not so good applications, select three for short phone interviews. Make sure they are still interested in your rental unit, make note of who gives the most pleasant interview. If still interested, proceed to do an FCRA compliant credit check on your favorite of the three you called.

Credit Check Consent Form Tenant: Get 'R Done

2009-07-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

The credit check consent form - tenant is the most important document in your tenant application package. It is also the very first document your applicant should sign and return to you. Without that document signed and returned I don't even waste my time handing out the application package or spend any more time on that prospect. I simply say, "Thanks for stopping by, but we don't give out applications without a signed and completed credit check consent form - tenant."

It's really that simple. As a landlord you can not do a credit check on your rental applicants without a consent form. That being the case, why on earth would you ever waste your time with someone not willing to turn in a consent form?

What do you need to include on your form? Name of applicant (written and signature), witness name and signature, social security number. Some simple lingo: Indicate that the consent form authorizes you (the landlord, property owner, or apartment manager) to conduct a credit and criminal background check and to review the accuracy of the information provided on the rental application and assess the credit worthiness of the prospective renter. Have copies of the fair credit reporting act handy to pass out to your applicant, and indicate on the form that you offered the FCRA to your prospect.

In summation:
Title of Form: Credit Check Consent Form - Tenant - Including Criminal Background
Name of applicant
Signature of applicant
Social Security Number of Applicant
Name of Witness
Signature of Witness
Your Name
Your Signature
Simple Lingo (above)

This will provide you a solid foundation on which to legally conduct a background credit check.

Background Checks on People - Nowhere to Hide Assets

2009-06-30T01:18:00.001-07:00

Background checks on people are so easy these days it's become common-place for spouses to investigate each other to discover what affairs and assets they might be hiding. Now it's not all that common that inexpensive background checks will reveal individual bank accounts but odds are the apartment on Long-Island and the house in the countryside are going to, particularly if they had to use some sort of credit to obtain them.

Other records people are likely to search are the dreaded cell phone record searches. If you've been calling the same number over and over again (a.k.a. your mistress' phone number) and you happen to leave your cell phone lying around... well just don't come crying on my shoulder when she takes both the Long Island apartment, the house in the country, and the Ferrari, k?

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of benign uses of background checks and cell phone searches (executives lying about resume data comes to mind, as well as child predator address databases), but the most frequent use of background checks is lying about affairs and hiding assets. Private eyes have long known this sort of information was publically available - it just used to be MUCH harder to troll through records to find it. Not so anymore. Don't believe me?

Do a background check on yourself. See how much your neighbor can find out about you.

Tenant Screen - Your One Chance to Beat a Deadbeat

2009-06-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

If you don't tenant screen then you've missed your one and only opportunity to beat a deadbeat before he becomes an ugly wart in your rental complex. And from what little I know of warts, one wart begets another... begets another, etc. You get the idea. It only takes one to bring down a complex with a heavy mortgage load, but even someone with a unit that's free and clear doesn't want to deal with the headache of unloading a deadbeat.

I had one friend who lost his entire investment in a four-unit not too long ago. He was out of town for a couple of weeks and let his brother (a nice fellow... but not experienced) handle filling the vacant unit while he was gone. Needless to say no landlord tenant credit check was done on the woman who moved in (carrying the luggage of a loser boyfriend who had gotten her pregnant).

When my friend DID get back from his trip he quickly got on the computer to do some follow up work on his new tenants and to his horror found out on her credit report background check she had been evicted from the last three places she had lived. Needless to say my friend doesn't talk to his brother anymore... and that was before the bank repo-ed the 4-unit.

Rental Background Checks - Don't Compromise on Credit or Criminal History

2009-06-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Rental background checks cover anything from rental history to credit history to possibly employment history and (hopefully NOT) criminal history. The point is that every prospective tenant has some sort of history (even if it's no background at all), and that as a property manager, you have to sort all of it out. One thing that most landlords do is a renter credit check.

This simple act digs just a little bit into the credit history of an applicant to determine what types of places they've lived and whether they were able to maintain a landlord tenant credit arrangement for more than one lease. I figure if a tenant got through year one and into year two with one landlord they must have paid often enough to get renewed. I can't always rely on tenants and applicants to provide the right contact information on places they've lived so I make sure to get consent for a landlord tenant credit check. Doing that ensures I can verify the information the applicant has provided quickly and get to the business of filling my empty unit(s).

If I have a ton of applicants (I advertise constantly whether I have vacancies or not) I my cheap tenant screening service first to weed out the applicants that can't spell their name right or have wrong contact or SSN information. Hey, if you can't fill out an application correctly... are my other tenants going to be impressed with me for letting you in? I think not. I digress. When I get down to the dirty work of picking between one or two renters I go for the one who scores best on their renter credit check.

The Employee Criminal Background Check - No Enemies Among Us

2009-06-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

Some companies now do an employee criminal background check as a part of their hiring process in addition to drug testing. This has come as a result of some employees staying 'clean' leading up to their interview and drug testing only to revert to their old bad habits once they've been hired.

But Companies Have Gotten Smarter: High Correlation Between Criminal Activity and Drug Use
In a somewhat novel insight, many companies began doing criminal background screening to prevent violent people from entering the workplace. This was a backlash to public outcry when child predators were found to be working in middle and elementary schools. Companies jumped on the bandwagon and started doing their own investigations and found that in their own midst the same employees with drug history also had criminal history. HR put two and two together and thought, "If we screen for criminal activity prior to hire we can make a good guess as to whether someone is faking their way past our drug tests." To quote a couple of beer drinkers from across the Atlantic, "BRILLIANT!"

So now smart companies do a pre-employment criminal background check too. A positive result for violent offense such as robbery, drug use, or loss of vehicle operator's license becomes an automatic red flag, or certainly a proceed with caution.

Employers Background Check - Not All Companies Do Them

2009-06-29T18:47:00.001-07:00

I have to admit I am saddened whenever I hear about companies that don't conduct an employers background check on new hires, particularly executives. When I hear about this regarding a company I own shares in... it's usually too late - the fraud executive has already ruined the company and the shareholders are left with the shards.

It happened a bunch of times last year, and although a number of companies did a quick scramble to shore up their own executive suites with executive background checks still more public and private enterprises didn't. An employers background check might have prevented the kind of thing that happened in the Dartmouth College athletic department last year, or the corporate board room of Radio Shack. Dartmouth weathered the storm just fine... Radio Shack... not so much though they at least still have a pulse.

The point is not so much that companies have people without adequate qualifications - because that isn't true. An executive that makes it to the top is not without some level of competence. The problem that arises is when too much of such an executive's success has come from a reliance on unethical behavior to achieve goals. That sort of success is NEVER good for a company's long term viability.

An employment history background check or two might have kept boardrooms and executive suites at numerous companies more honest in the last decade. Unfortunately the stakes were too high and not enough good people were able to keep the rest of the sharks honest. When that happens, a lot of people lose. People like us. Fraud has a price, even little white lies on a resume. Rewarding unethical behavior is never good for workplace morale or performance.

Social Security Number Background Check - Why Do it?

2009-06-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

A social security number background check saves a lot of hassle when it comes to avoiding the kinds of basic screw ups associated with setting up your employee's tax records come employment tax filing time. Other reasons for using background check companies for SSN verification include preventing identity theft and fraud.

We all think it can never happen to us however messing up an employee's social security number can really screw up their tax records. Screw ups likes these ultimately result in headaches for your employees and could result in civil actions against your company or you personally. Best to avoid that kind of confrontation by taking the extra time to get it right the first time. Do your social security number background check using one of the cheap background check companies and avoid headaches and liabilities down the road.

Good Tenants Are Made Not Born

2009-05-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Good tenants are made by good landlords, and it starts from first contact all the way through moving out day. Your professionalism, thoroughness, and accountability as a landlord sets the tone for every encounter you have with a tenant or prospective tenant.

The day you are lax in your standards, punctuality, accountability, etc., is the day you open the door for your former good tenants to believe they can let things slide too. Rental contract not signed??? "Ahhh that's not big deal," they'll say... only you're going to be the one paying the price when 4 months have gone by with no rent from unit number 7.

Good tenants are made by good professional landlords. Start with a thorough application process, verify information with thorough background checks, and hold people accountable to rental terms to the letter and without exception.

Background Credit Checks - Are They Right for Your Business?

2009-05-10T17:21:00.001-07:00

Background credit checks are fairly expensive if done properly (i.e. FCRA Compliant). Where do you draw the line on doing background credit checks? When is it too expensive?

A cursory (non-FCRA-compliant) background check is something you can do to cheaply verify the accuracy of information given on a credit application. That's cheap money - less than $10/year brings unlimited background checks on any applications filled out by customers (a background check authorization is a part of your application... isn't it??? It needs to be!). That'll give you a quick assessment of the veracity of information on the application. This sort of background check is not legal for use in DENYING credit to an applicant. It can give you peace of mind in granting credit however, and it gives you verified contact information should you need to get ahold of your new customer. No harm in that, is there? Absolutely not!

If you're extending credit to someone for a sizeable amount of money - or for an extended period of time - it's time to think about making approval/denial decisions based on credit history. That means going to an FCRA compliant credit reporting service (like this one).

Rental Background Check Is a Landlord's Best Tool

2009-05-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

In this day and age of a slowed economy, the last thing any real estate investment property owner needs is a deadbeat tenant. A rental credit check prior to approving an application can very well be the best investment you as a landlord ever make.

It only takes a few minutes to fill out the online forms of an FCRA compliant background check, and you will of course be required to prove you have the applicant's permission to do such a check (which you ought to be getting as a part of your standard application process anyway...)

Get that stuff done and overwith quickly once you've narrowed the applicants down to one or two. You rental credit check (FCRA compliant) can be an important part of the final selection process and can significantly reduce the number of ulcers you have and reduce the number of night's sleep you lose. You owe it to yourself to a rental credit check of every applicant, and repeat the process on a spot check basis each year of your current tenants (get permission again of course...) Doing so can be a great paying investment for you... both in the bank AND in peace of mind.

Sample Background Checks on People

2009-04-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ever wished you could see what sample background checks on people contain? The previous example is just one of many types of background checks. Most businesses or landlords who use background check services want to verify that you are who you say you are, and that you don't have a long history of welching on people. Oh.. yeah, they also typically want to make sure you'e not some sort of lunatic violent/criminal type either.

Why Do a Background Check?
Basically what a sample background check on people is a tool to help a business person manage risk. A business person wants to know that if they extend credit to you by means of cash or property (such as a car or apartment) that you're going to treat them with respect and honor your obligations to pay. Other times people will do a sample background check of information if they're placing you in a position of trust... perhaps you're going to baby-sit for them, or house-sit. Maybe they're considering you for pet adoption or they're selling their house to you. There are any number of reasons people would do a sample background check on you.

Anything I Can Do... You Can Do Too - and You Probably Should
Here's the cool part... anything someone can do to you.. you can do to them. If your next landlord wants to do a credit check on you then there is no reason you shouldn't be able to ask to do a similar check on their business, or if an individual then a personal background check. Now honestly, a person renting an apartment to you is not going to want you to do a background check on them - they'll just refuse your application and rent to someone else or not at all. On the other hand if you're buying a car or house from someone, or giving money to a financial advisor then you have every right to ask for and expect background check information. The nice thing is, sample background checks on people are really cheap, and depending on which service you subscribe to, you can do unlimited background checks for as little as $10/year.

Don't Be Shocked that Your Private Information... Isn't
Surprised your personal information is worth so little? Welcome to the age of the internet my friends. Public records which used to be difficult to access have been stored and catalogued on the computer in databases. In truth your information is free, the only costs associated with access to the information is database management, overhead, and server space. In other words your personal public information is worth squat. Privacy is non-existant, and the sooner you learn that, the better you'll be able to function.

Sample background checks on people are important and a completely standard means of functioning in the world today. Start using them to help you maintain a level playing field with the people you do business. We live in a world who's motto should be, "Trust, but verify." Given how cheap background checks are - you really have no excuse.

Find Info on People | Check Out the Truth

2009-04-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today more than ever I think it is important to find info on people that hold positions of trust in your life. I was alarmed at just how much of my OWN personal information was open to public scrutiny.

Having said that, are you aware how poor a negotiating position you are in if you haven't done your OWN research on yourself and whoever you happen to be doing business with? You can find info on people, and if you do a lot of business with others, they've probably found out a lot about you. You can bet if you are doing business with a shady or shrewd character you can bet they've done their personal background check homework on you.

Take a look at this sample personal background check report from find-missing-peoplesite.com. This is only a personal background check. Imagine what sort of records people might find about your credit history or criminal background checks. The government spends a considerable amount of money to find info on people. Ever wonder what they know about you? You have a right to request your FBI file and find out about what the government knows about you. Here's where you can get more information about how to get your FBI file.

A Cheap Marriage Background Check Can Save More Than Just Your Heart

2009-04-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

A marriage background check can be the difference between happiness and heartache... or worse. Relationships can change so rapidly between couples both young and old these days. How many boyfriends / girlfriends can a young person expect to share a relationship with in their lifetimes? How many more mature people are traveling across country to meet (for the first time) someone they've been chatting with on the internet for only a few weeks or months?

We Can Be Sooo Trusting
While I'm all for harmonious relationships we can be too willing to be trusting when it comes to matters of the heart. That is why it is so important to do a little online snooping around before becoming deeply involved with someone. We all have a natural desire to be loved and sometimes we don't properly take into account the risks of entering into relationships of trust. Even we things are going smoothly it's only prudent to step back from time to time and evaluate who we are with and verify that both husband and wife truly are on the same path.

Do You Really Know What Your Fiancee or Spouse is About?
We all think we know our significant others very well and we of course love them dearly but what exactly do they do when they're away? Does your significant other go away on frequent business trips or have an overly routine schedule (with you one weekend, gone the next)?

Don't Dismiss the Signs Out of Hand
These are two of many potential signs that your future spouse may be leading a double life. As hard as it is to believe that your fiancee could already be married or never finalized that divorce or his spouse disappeared under suspicious circumstances - it happens. We see it on the television over and over again. Paying attention to details of your fiancee's habits and making notes about them can be used in conducting a marriage background check (see a sample background check).

Be Curious
What sorts of things can you find out? What is your fiancee's credit history? Does he or she have a criminal background at all? What about previous marriages? Did she finalize her divorce or is she still technically married? If she's still married you know your fiancee can't take new vows with you, don't you? An quick and inexpensive marriage background check can go a long way to making sure your marriage is valid and your future is based on a solid foundation. Nobody wants to be the next person featured on one of those "he did me wrong" shows. Don't let that happen to you. A quick marriage background check can cost as little as $10/year. How can you afford not to do one?

Pre-Employment Background Checks May Be Your Only Defense Against Employee Fraud

2009-04-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

If you're a small business owner making your first hires pre-employment background checks can be the only thing between your small - or modest - sized business and bankruptcy. If your fledgling business is beginning to take off in this tough economy, the last thing you want to be worrying about is the person you just hired to do your book-keeping and make out the payroll. Do some careful, selective research (it can cost as little as $10/year for unlimited preliminary background checks) and you can rest at night with one less headache.

Once You're an Employer... Your Hands Are Substantially Tied
If you've already begun hiring people without verifying applicants' resumes and background information you may have already made a bad hire. If you have made a bad hire without doing pre-employment background checks then you may already have established a reputation on being lax on applicant honesty. Once word gets around you don't verify background information you'll have every bad apple within shouting distance applying for a job at your business.

You Can't Easily Undo a Bad Decision
If you've already hired someone, there is little you can do to undo a bad hire but you can still do a check on them to find out whether your new employee lied on their application. Reviewing that application and asking your new hire about any discrepancies you turn up may at least stem the flow of bad apples turning up on your doorstep.

Suggestions for Your Pre-Employment Screening Process
A couple of things you should include in your pre-employment background checks about your new hire include verifying employment history, criminal record, and doing a credit check. Tracking and verifying this information may not undo a bad hire but your ability to manage and monitor your employee's access and work will be better focused.

A Hiring Background Check Is the Best Investment a Small Business Can Make

2009-04-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

A hiring background check may seem like over-kill or too much to do for an individual or small-business owner, but no investment you make may be more important. I can't even begin to recount how many times I have heard about small business owners who had had thousands of dollars embezzled by thief employees. No story is sadder than a small businessman who has lost a fortune because an employee came along and cleaned him out. This does not have to happen to you, however.

Protect Your Small Business from Fraud and Bad Apples
If you're a small business owner and have either hired your first employees or are considering doing so for the first time you can be taking on significant risks to your business. While you may be an expert plumber or carpenter, what do you really know about people, hiring, and employment law? Doing a hiring background check (see a sample basic background report) can go a long way to improve your odds of selecting a qualified and honest applicant. A basic report can't be the basis for screening applicants but it can be a huge time saver verifying basic information. Do a basic information verification now

Be Aware That Your Obligations Begin the Moment of Hire
It turns out that employees have significant rights fairly early on in the employment relationship, which makes it of paramount importance that you do a hiring background check and select the right employees in the first place. It can be both difficult and costly to get rid of a bad apple once you've picked it from the tree. It can be difficult if the employee chooses to resist termination or bad-mouths your business to customers or potential customers. It can be costly in terms of your unemployment tax rate gets increased - or worse if you have to pay a penalty for a negative experience rating. A negative experience rating is very much a possibility for new employers who make an early mistake hiring someone.
What sorts of things do you want to find out about a potential new hire?

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Does the applicant have a significant amount of outstanding debt? An applicant with a large amount of debt can be a financial risk to your small business. While this information may not be enough to exclude your applicant, you may choose which areas of the business the new hire has access.
2. Does the applicant have a criminal record? If your business has clients which require workers or contractors to have clean criminal records due to Federal or State mandates... you need to be aware of and exclude workers with criminal records from working with those clients. If most of your customers fall into this category... then you can't be hiring people with criminal backgrounds, right? A hiring background check will eliminate this ugly possibility before it's too late to avoid.

Stay Ahead of the Curve - Don't Let Surprises Ruin Your Business
Whatever your business, do yourself a favor and collect the information to do a hiring background check. Verify the information for accuracy and be prepared to be the bad guy and say no to applicants who don't measure up. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches and you could very well save your business.

An Individual Background Check Is Your Path to Prevent Fraud

2009-04-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

An individual background check: there is no cheaper, easier way to prevent fraud than by verifying information you are told from the people you do business with. Doing an individual background check will quickly and cheaply weed out the bad apples in your checkbook. If someone is giving you the business or run around, then chances are very good they've done it to other people too. If your plumber, mechanic, tenant, or fiancee has been taken to court or had credit related actions taken against him then there is a public record you can access and discover the contents of for cheap money. This background check service offers unlimited individual background checks for under $10/year.

Not Making Bad Decisions Is A Low Risk / High Return Investment
An individual background check can be one of the highest return, lowest cost investments you make in your lifetime. Most of us go about our business every day working with the same people - spending our money at the same stores and small businesses. If you're like me though you wonder from time to time as to whether someone is trying to pull something over on you. I've always been an extremely honest person but because of that many people try to take advantage of my good nature. It probably happens to everyone from time to time but some of us have targets on our backs.

You Do Have Power Over Charlatans, Cheats, and Deadbeats
It is possible to defend yourself from those people you see every day who always seem to try to get the better of you. If you're paying your hard earned money to a mechanic or plumber, don't you think it's a good idea to know they're not lying to you? If you're on your own, living alone without family nearby to check on you, you could very well be at risk for significant and frequent fraud. Without family and friends to put fear into the businessmen you do business with there is nothing to hold them accountable to you. A quick and inexpensive individual background check can put your mind at ease that none of your business is going to people who do not hold up their end of the bargain all the time (see a sample background check).

Take off the Rose Colored Glasses Once in a While
It's possible that you're working you way through life without having people take advantage of you, but in truth that is highly unlikely. I do an individual background check on every person who tries to sell me anything before I buy from them. While we all would like to believe people are trustworthy - circumstances tell us otherwise. I make a small investment in an individual background check to make sure the people I do business with hold up their end of the bargain. It has routinely been the best investment I've ever made.

The Applicant Sign Up is the Start of Your Tenant Credit and Background Check System

2009-03-30T19:42:00.001-07:00

Most investment property owners these days collect at least some minimal data about applicants. What some greeninvestment property owners do with that data is use it to call in applicants for the final step... where the person then recites the same data on the form again. What pray tell has that investment property owner really learned about their future renter? Zilch. The green investment property owner will surmise he has done a proper FCRA compliant tenant credit and background check of the future renter however in truth they have verified none of the data gathered from the applicant. What, you say? People give false information on rental applications? Umm yeah... renters give false information on rental agreements. Basic knowledge gathered from an applicant which has not been verified (see a sample report) by at least a cursory background check is useless. Be aware... if you're known amongst deadbeats as being less than thorough in completing full tenant credit checks and verifying data then odds are very high that many of these vagrants will be at your rental office with a rental application in hand. Your rental property dreams quickly become dreadful deadbeat nightmares. What happens then? How do you conduct a proper tenant credit and background check?

Arm yourself with the power of knowledge: Verify, Verify, Verify
So you got some information from a future renter. Great! What's next? Well did they fill it out fully? How about an employer contact and work history? If so you have a lot of good data you can use. If you're getting serious about this applicant then the next step in your review needs to be a detailed credit and background verification. Did they lie about where they work? What about prior investment property owners? What about the IRS? Does the IRS require backup withholding from these individuals? Does the applicant have any liens or judgments against them? These questions are fair game in a tenant credit and background check.

What Good are Personal References?
Personal references are OK however almost anyone can come up with at least three people willing to speak for them. I usually save the personal references on file in case I need to go to an attorney to track the renter. Sometimes emergencies arise where personal contacts gathered in the tenant credit and background check are worthwhile. Otherwise family references are of almost no data gathering value in determining the worth of a future renter.

Investigate... Most Will Thank You for Doing So in the Long Run
Don't quit until you have the sorts of things you desire to identify before you call in your future renter for a more thorough interview. Now that your investigation is complete you can conduct a full interview with your possible new renter. In some cases they're involved in a divorce. If so, take down the new info and then what... affirm it. Get answers. Your future renter will respect you for doing a complete examination – and they too should live easier knowing that the person in the next room has been through the same vetting process. It's a little bit of a snoop (see a sample background check report page 2, page 3), OK, but most of us are willing to lose a little privacy if it helps us by making our lives more secure. A tenant credit and background check completed thoroughly benefits everyone concerned.
You can find out more about completing tenant background checks. Read about completing tenant credit and background checks before you sign.