No, there is no membership fee associated with this service. ATS is a no-risk service. If after one or two credit checks you do not like the service, there is no obligation to use the service - and you have not invested anything in it. We are confident that you will like our efficient, expedient service.
ATS offers volume discounts to Members that request 10 or more credit checks per month.
There are a number of ways in which that can be done. Here are two suggestions:
If queried as to why specifically the application was denied, you should only repeat your stated reason. You do not have to provide them with further explanation. Again, these are only suggestions; you may already have your own standard rejection letter.
You should ensure that the credit report is sufficiently shredded. You should keep the signed Authorization for five years in the event ATS is audited or the Applicant makes an allegation that you did not have consent to obtain a copy of his/her credit history. Privacy laws dictate that you must safeguard this confidential information.
After the five year period you may shred the Authorization/Rental Application as the statute of limitations will have run out.
Yes, you must have the written consent of the applicant to obtain a copy of his/her credit file. Most Rental Application Forms have the consent clause just above the signature on the last page. You can obtain a Rental Application from the ATS website under "online forms."
ATS takes seriously its responsibility to protect Consumer privacy and will report all matters for Police investigation where credit information has been misused or obtained under false pretenses. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides for a severe penalty where a Consumer's information has been obtained under false pretences. Section 619 of FCRA refers...
Section 619. Obtaining information under false pretenses [15 U.S.C. § 1681q]
Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.
If you cannot show that you had authorization or consent to obtain a Consumer's credit history, you will be in breach of the Agreement that you signed with ATS Tenant Screen Inc.. This will result in immediate cancellation of the ATS Service and/or other repercussions as noted above where the matter has escalated.
Important: In each instance you should query the Prospective Tenant about why there was no positive credit history; the answer should be reasonable and believable.
No Fico Score : Where the rating comes back as No Score Available this is likely the reason why:
No Record Found : Please note that this is different than No Fico Score.
These are the reasons why there is no Fico Score or Credit History for an Individual.
Having no credit file = red flag and your tenant screening should include further due diligence.
Visit www.criminalfraud.com and click on Landlord Fraud.
Landlord Criteria should include:
Note: Every Individual that works in the U.S.A. is required to have a S.S.N. whether it is a temporary one or not. For further information on this topic visit this page from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
A Credit Report establishes the credit worthiness of a Prospective Tenant. It is just as important to establish the tenant worthiness, do this by contacting the current landlord. Click on ATS Recommendations at the bottom of the ATS Decision Credit Report for further advice and/or obtain the Landlord Checklist Form from the Forms section on the website to assist with questions that should be asked when contacting the current landlord.
Yes. Identity theft is on the rise in North America and is a huge concern with many industries - including the Residential Rental Industry.
One of the benefits of obtaining a credit report is that you can compare the information on the rental application to that on the credit report. Often bad or delinquent tenants will give false or erroneous information on the application; for example, leave a letter out of the last name, give a wrong date of birth, leave the most current addresses out because they owe rental fees with the previous landlord, etc.
If you encounter a case of identity theft the credit report will assist you in verifying that. Here is how: "So, Mr/Ms Prospective Tenant, can you tell me with which Financial Institution you have your credit cards?" "Can you tell me what the balance is on that account?" "Have you ever had a car loan?"
This information is listed under trades/accounts on the credit report. It will tell you who the credit grantor is, when the account was opened, the balance, past due payments and the rating of that account. If Mr/Ms Prospective Tenant cannot give you that feedback, then you are likely dealing with an impersonator (Identity Thief). For further information on identity theft and landlord fraud...visit www.criminalfraud.com.
Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5 pm
Saturday: 8 am to Noon
(Pacific Time)
Sunday closed
ATS has two forms that you can use during the application process; a Rental Application Form and a Notice to Tenant that advises the Prospective Tenant of the consequences should she/he leave you stuck with unpaid rental fees or damaged rental property. For all other forms please visit our affiliate website at www.landlordeguide.com. There you will find every form that your rental business requires; it is your rental business so make sure that you have all the tools to do the job.
ATS requires an online payment at the time of ordering. You can pay by
either Visa or MasterCard. Credit card payments are processed through
Global Payments Inc. which is one of the world's larges payment processors.
Your payment is processed in a secure and confidential environment. ATS
does not keep member's credit card information on file under any circumstance.
ATS is bound by Privacy Laws. It does not share its database with 3rd parties and it does not participate in spam e-mail programs. The only e-mail you are likely to receive from ATS is the Welcome Letter. Important notices may be sent out periodically that advise of website changes, etc. Only important e-mails will be sent to you.
ATS is a Credit Reporting Agency that reports the debts of tenants who have left landlords stuck with unpaid rental fees and damaged rental property, resulting in a debt. The debt that you report must be over $200.00 and you will need to keep on file documents and other evidence (photos/witnesses) to support your allegation of debt. ATS makes it easy for you to report a Delinquent Tenant with its online reporting form.
Most U.S. and CDN Credit Bureau Reports are completed and posted to your SECURE account within minutes. Equifax Canada takes 10-15 minutes during business hours. You can view them for a period of up to two weeks. By that time you should have made up your mind as to extending a lease or not. ATS deletes the report and you do not have to worry about the disposal of confidential information.
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Please click on the appropriate tab below to find out which documents are required from you:
1. Proof of ownership for rental property
Deed OR Title OR Mortgage Document for the rental Property
AND
Insurance document OR utility bill in your name for the rental property
2. Document for current address
Telephone or cell phone bill listing your name and your current residence.
3. Proof of identification
Clear copy of your valid driver's license.
REALTOR must provide ALL of the following documents:
1. Copy of the Listing/Management Agreement with the Property Owner.
2. Copy of a valid Real Estate License.
3. Copy of a valid business license and website URL if one exists.
4. Clear copy of a valid driver's license.
PROPERTY MANAGER must provide ALL of the following documents:
1. Property Management Agreement which is signed by you and the property owner.
2. Clear copy of your valid driver's license
3. Utility bill or cell phone bill listing your name and current residence address
4. Copy of a valid business license.
ATS is a provider of information obtained from various Agencies and they in turn obtain their information from many different sources and data bases. ATS does not verify or guarantee the accuracy of such data.
All data should be verified or discussed with the Individual whom it belongs to. If any of the data is incorrect, they should contact ATS for information on how to correct the inaccurate information that may be on file with the various Companies or data bases.
No Fico Score: Where the rating comes back as No Score Available this is likely the reason why:
Visit www.criminalfraud.com click on Landlord Fraud.
Landlord Criteria should include
1. credit report
2. bank statement
3. adequate bi-weekly or monthly income
1. verify with current landlord that all obligations on lease agreement were met
2. include criminal and eviction searches
3. include employer reference that verifies job stability, character, dependability, responsibility.
