<p>I’m looking to get information beyond a credit check about some potential renters. Has anyone used one of the sites you see on the internet that offer to provide you credit, criminal background, lien/judgment, etc. information for something like a $40 fee? Are these sites legit and if so, do you have a particular one you’d recommend?</p>
<p>I have not used one of these services but you can find an alot of information yourself on the web…I go to the local courthouse website and do a search…(through this search I can see if they have had eviction proceedings…or other things that might show up in court.)…I search property tax records…(to verify who owned the places they list as previous residences). There is a lot of public information out there … don’t forget to do a search on sex offenders…here is a website for it. [National</a> Sex Offender Registry](<a href=“http://www.familywatchdog.us/]National”>http://www.familywatchdog.us/)</p>
<p>I have used this company in the past [Online</a> Tenant Screening | Background Check | Criminal Background | by ScreeningWorks](<a href=“http://www.screeningworks.com/swWeb/?]Online”>http://www.screeningworks.com/swWeb/?). I only used them once but I found them satisfactory. They do not give you a complete credit report, but rather a “credit evaluation risk” with ratings of Minimal, Elevated or Serious credit risk. They also run criminal history checks and eviction checks. I paid $29.95, I think.</p>
<p>I’d much prefer a full credit report but the laws have changed and individual landlords can’t get them any longer unless they have a separate office with records all locked up, and there’s usually a $75 charge for someone to come out and “inspect” your office to make sure you meet all the requirements. For as often as I need to check a tenant, I’d rather just pay the $29.95.</p>