Screening tenant

Sorry Dai but your credit score doesn't show on your actual credit report. You usually have to pay an additional fee to get your FICO score. I think that you should be more concerned with what is showing on the report itself as apposed to worrying about what his/her actual score is. I would say that it's OK if someone has had multiple late payments in the past as long as everything else is showing paid and current now. I also wouldn't trust anyone who has let things like utilities go to collections. It's one thing if you're having trouble paying your credit card bills but for someone to let their fuel or electic go unpaid for so long that they turn you into collections, thats not a good sign. Especially with the fact that all gas and electric companies are very good about working out payment arrangements with you as along as you contact them and explain why your currently behind.

Its just my opinion but I hope it helps. Good luck!

I think cbass is correct. Your credit report shows only your credit history and your personal details. It shows how prompt you are in paying back loans and the number of times you applied for a credit, late payments and your outstanding debts. Moreover bankruptcies and hard inquiries also remain on your credit report. But credit report does not show the FICO scores. Moreover, I too think that FICO scores is not essential to decide whether you will accept the tenant or not as payment history will describe him more efficiently. If I were you and if the utility bill payments of the to-be-tenant as shown in the credit report was OK, I would have accepted him.

FICO scores does not appear in the credit report, but you can always find the credit history of your tenant from the report. cbass is correct in the sense that if utility bills are outstanding on the credit report then you should avoid the tenant, else if the bills are not outstanding I don't find any reason to avoid him.

I think the last few pages are just the inquiries aren't they, I know when I pull my report that is what is on the last few pages.

Not sure what you are talking about guest, could you be more specific about what the issue is? What does this have to do what we have been talking about? Please explain.

Hi guest
I cannot understand what you are talking about. Please explain it in more detail.

OP did not rent to the original individual in question. He/she will rent to someone else.

OP probably made a good decision...if the applicant grosses
$35k/yr, he is probably taking home less than $1900/month, and the rent is $1500/month. Not ideal.

sounds like you made the right decision.

yes marlo

I probably would have passed up on the first one too, with the price of everything like food and gas, could they really afford the rent. I think you made the right choice.

I can't see rent being half your monthly income. After paying the rest of your bills,grocery and gas that would leave a person more than broke. I would believe the person made a wise decision.

I def. think you made the right decision here. I would have done the same thing!

I would ikmagine that rentikng could really be a headache. My sister was having trouble selling her house so she decided to rent it while it was up for sale. I know the headaches she had. I wouldn't want them but I am sure this could be a way to make extra cash.

Renting is like any other business if you get good tenants then you are okay, so that is why it is important to run the credit check, as much as we hate that here, better to be safe than sorry. You also need to check out the persons income and then past land lords. And do not forget the security deposit for your own protection.

I would also say to learn the tenant/landlord laws in your state before you decide to play landlord, it can lean very heavily in one direction. Some people learn the hard way, in court trying to collect their rent money, only to find out that they violated some right the renter had that they did not know existed.

lots of good solid advise there ERB.

I have an aunt who habitually gets the bad renter because she feels bad for people, then she lets them move in, they end up not paying their rent and then she gets stuck with a bunch of junk every time they move out. I swear it is like a rerun each time.

Don't you just hate that. People can only be nice for so long but if they keep letting themselves be taken advantage of then don't bother complaining about it. Sounds alot like my ex mother-in-law. Always suggested Prozac but she didn't find it funny. Go figure.

That is the main reason why most landlords check a person's credit report. They normally look at the report to find out whether the tenant had atleast paid the utility bills timely or not. They have nothing to do with your credit score. If the tenant does not pay rent to the landlord, he can also get a judgment from the court to evict him.

I used to work at a human service agency and one of the programs would help people with rent, provided they had a job and was able to keep it up. It would be the same people over and over, they never used the help to get ahead it was always just another source of income for them, drove me crazy. Used to see them in there getting help with fuel or rent in the day time and then at bingo that night wasting a pile of money, my blood pressure would go through the roof. I had to sit there and not say a word, confidentiality you know.

Some people just can not be helped, I think a lot of times we enable people, if we were providing drug money like that it would be another story, but I think in the long run we free up money for drugs and gambling, what is the difference?

I agree with you there Gn. I know alot of these people too. It really does have a way of upping your Bp. I was really aggravated last winter when I had to struugle to come up with money for my fuel tank. We made too much to qualify for a grant. I was at a friends house and it was sooo hot that I asked how they were comfoertable with such high tempertures. Believe it or not they laughed and said "why not I didn't pay for it" Then instead of turning the heat down a bit they actually opened the front door and a window. All I could think was "Why I am living with my thrmostat at 76 degrees while I pay for theirs to be set to hawiian standards.

Now you see that would just aggravate me, just a waste of tax payers money. I can see these programs being used for the elderly but it seems like in pennsylvania, everything the elderly qualify for the so called disabled qualify for also, makes no sense to me. They only thing that they have not figured out how to get into is the lottery programs that are set up for the elderly, like prescriptions and such, hopefully they won't ever, but I am sure if they open the door, the flood gates will open also. All of them wanting their share.

That is what happens when people take help as a hand out instead of a hand up!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly and this is one of my sorest points. Just like the welfare system. You let people keep having kids and they never get off. I am not knocking the people who truly need it for a short time or the single mom who is working but need it as a supplement casue some dead beat dad. There are situations that make needing welfare exceptable but I am betting at leat half the people on it do not need to be. There should be a time limit or community service hours assigned. How many people (who don't need it) do you think would want to walk around collecting trash or cans so that all there friends can see who bought their south Poles or Levis?

Fireyone,

It really frustrates me too, I know where I work we have programs that the county assistance office refers people over to and they have so many days to get work. I think right now we have maybe 20 people out working and no other clients.

I really think that we are successful in getting people out to work, but we need them to make them come over, they told us they are using a program called diversion now, they give them a lump sum and then give them time to get a job, I don't know if it is working or not. I know that the ones that they do refer to us, that get come in, usually get jobs and stay in them if they really want to work.

However, I know there are many, many more that they could be referring and don't.

I guess if it gets them out there in the working field to pick up their own tab then its worth it. I still bet their our those who take the lump sum and run.. I guess Obama is suppose to have a program to get welfare people who have been a long time part of the system out to the working field. That would be good to see but so would lower taxes. Heck will probaly freeze over faster.

I don't really believe a word they say when they are in an election year. They will say anything to get your vote at this point. People have to have the desire to want to change and improve their situation, alot of people don't. They are just as happy sitting back and collecting welfare benefits. I think that many have to have an under the table job, I don't see how they make it on a small amount of money that welfare hands out. I guess I need to add up the rent discount (free housing), foodstamps and fuel and etc, to see what they really do get a year to see what makes it worth it.

Thaty is where I was coming from on my last post. If you add up all their frree stuff rent $400,electric (if on the program)$100, foodstamps (this could vary) $400, cash assistance $750, divide out the fuel grant over 12 months $50 (these are just some perks I am aware of) . That is roughly $1700 a month. Now through in an under the table job (possibly), free medical and what do you get? They really are living not to bad. That figure was on a family of 4.
I know people getting this. Yeah sure the house and vehicle isn't top of the line but for doing nothing thats just pretty good. An d thats not all of the perks..you also got...food banks, christmas tree programs,WIC,clothing banks and who knows what else. Where does that leave the desire to work?
Next take into account if they actually want to pretend to get a job.. Around here they will give you a gas allowance to look for a job, money towards clothing for work and evenmoney towards a vehicle or vehicle repairs. I know people that go get this then either swear they can't find a job or keep it for a couple months and quit. Now tell me if you seen something like all of the above in the want adds (especially the med,dentist and hosp.) you wouldn't applt for the job?

holy crap, you really put some thought into this didn't you, LOL. I guess when it is all laid out like that, I have to ask my silly self, what the hell am I doing working?

I know,

My pride and my work ethic and I need to go to work and pay my taxes so these people can have a free ride, LOL.

Actually it was spelled out to me by someone on the sysytem. Really no crap. They must have a lot of time on their hands to figure out the small details. Then the more I thought about it I thought why is the government making this sooo easy and appealing?I mean why give them free milk..make em go milk the freaking cow, instead of the system.

Well if they are not working, then when they talk to others who get benefits and they all talk together to make sure they are not missing out on some freebie.

Isn't thatn the truth. I was at my brother races on saturday. I had a girl sitting behind me that I knew talking to another person about how she picks cabbage and such under the table and it doesn't effect her welfare. Her botfriend recently bought her a car to get back and forth. When the other person asked ihow she could afford insurance she said "We bought it as a junk car. I am not paying that for insurance. I don't have my damn license anyway". I thought yep and you probaly won't ever get caught eithr. Isn't that the way it usually works out for these [people}

Don't you just want to pick up the phone and turn her in?

Oh do I ever. With the stress I am under because we are working people that get no help it is sickening. I guess I am always afraid that if I do something like that it would come back and bite me. Seems like these people get away with this crap and never get caught. They always have a slick way of getting out of it. I really get sick when I see whrere some of our tax dollars go to and who they go to. This are is overpopulated with these types.

The funny thing is that they feel they are entitled to it, blows my mind how people think, I sometimes wonder how they feel that they should be taken care of while others go to work everyday and bust their buns, who intiated the free ride system? or frame of mind?

Whoever did initate it needs to be ran over. I just can't see how they are not bored with what they call a life.

That is just it, they really have no ambition if they sit back and take it all in without considering where it even comes from. I think that if they are young and able they should be given a six month time frame and told that they are done. On the other hand, maybe the employers need to be slapped on the hands a little harder for paying under the table, they are avoiding paying taxes on these people when they fork over cash under the table. They also are screwing them out of possible social security benefits in the long run also. If this employer was turned in a few times then the irs would be on them and they may be more reluctant to pay under the table. This is all fraud on both parts.

I think you hit it on the nose there GN. So many places pay under the table. I am not saying I am 100% against this but people who work an a daily basis should be on the time clock. Sometimes I think the places that employ these people actually know they recieve other benefits like welfare and SS. Anyone that doesn't try working first shouldn't be entitled. I see some of these people where their parents have them on SS while they are a child and they go on recieving it without any disruptions until death.

I see where both erb and fireyone are frustrated here and I agree that they should be turned in, these companies are screwing all of us and so are these people. If you look at the one post where fireyone explained all the benefits that are recieved then if this income was reported maybe they could start contributing to their own table.

It is not fair to everyone else who gets up everyday, goes to work and brings home a paycheck that has all the normal deductions, most of which is taxes to support their lazy butts.

Do you know what I think is truely unfair? Well I am gonna tell ya anyway. They moved retiremnent to age 72. Now I get the paper every chance I can,which is generally 3-4 times weekly. I always read the deaths first (yes I know morbid huh?) How many people do you think actually see this age? Most are going ,going gone by then or get a couple checks to leave for some ungrateful relative.

When did this happen, I work with a guy that can retire at 62 or 65, he will lose out of retirement money at 62, he is now 65 and still going strong, I will miss him when he goes.

It cut off at a certain year. My dad could get it at 62 or 65 but after a certain year and I am not sure of what that is they changed the age to (looking it up)In 2008 the retirement age for people born after 1960 is 67.
I thought it was 72. I know there was talk about moving up the age again. I believe they were going for 72.

People are living a lot longer now and are much younger at the older age, they say the new 50 is about actually a 40 year old. I have seen some women the look ten years younger than what they actually are. This keeps people in the workforce longer, paying into taxes and other government fees, so where does all the money go. That is why a 401k or other type of retirement is crucial these days.

Makes you wonder where the money is. I know a lot was borrowed fro m SS years ago b y the governmaet and never repaid. I think if money is set aside for something and its put their by paying citizens they should have a vote, like they do for a presidental election before they can dip into it. This really seems unfair.

I know, It just sucks that you will work your whole life to find out that it is all spent.

I know. I keep looking at all the people they dole this money out to that is either undesrving or could do something with their lives. There are so many around me that I even started speaking up. Sometimes it is like you just want to get your fair share now cause you know it won't be there later.
The other pet peeve I have about SS is when a woman stays home and raises the children and after the kids are raised and hubby passes on she is not entitles to any benefits from him until her retirement age. This is what happened to my mother in law. They are so strung out on someone being at home raising the kids but yet they make this next to impossible to do.

She should have been eligible for widows benefits for her husbands social security wages, I am pretty sure that something like this exists.

Nope. She was not entitled to that until retirment age. At least that is what she told us. The only way to get any benefits is if you have children under 18. I am just going by what I was told. I know she keeps talking about almost being at the age where she can get those benefits from him.

I am almost positive that there are benefits for surviving spouse if the deceased worked full time. I could be wrong but I have always thought it worked this way anyway. She should be eligible for at least ssi benefits, what is she living on now?

In a trailor down from the house she use to own in the same town. I am unsure. The ss website really isn't that informative. I went there in search of a few answers and didn't find any.