Every day headlines are filled with terrifying tales of information fraud and identity theft. It is a common occurrence and one that will continue into the future. In an age where devious individuals go through trash to find discarded documents that may contain critical information, people need to protect themselves or they could wind up in the headlines.
One area of concern is in renting a property. With more and more Americans becoming transient and forgoing home ownership to rent a home or apartment, the opportunity for information theft is very high during the rental process. Anytime critical information is exchanged with another individual via an application or similar process the opportunity for identity theft exists.
Once a rental candidate finds a property of interest two things happen:
- Tour the property.
- Fill out the application and get a credit report.
The information on a rental application is all the data an information thief needs: Name, Date of Birth, and Social Security Number. Those three pieces of information, in the wrong hands, can destroy an individual’s credit history.
What’s a renter to do?
TenantScreeningUSA.com offers a solution: SmartMove. SmartMove is a service every potential renter should know about and utilize. This service not only provides a one-stop data collection point for a renter’s application information, but it will protect all sensitive information in a secure manner.
SmartMove will:
- · Keep personal information private — keep sensitive information such as your Social Security, birth date and bank account numbers private by verifying your identity directly with TransUnion – a trusted source for consumer data online. Your sensitive information never has to be seen by your potential landlord.
- · Faster application processing — give your consent and your potential landlord will have everything required to complete the screening process within minutes.
- · “Soft” hit — don’t let your apartment search negatively affect your credit report and credit score. SmartMove lets you be the one to initiate the request, which won’t impact your credit in a negative way.
- · Joint-tenant recommendations — single recommendation for joint renters and co-signers
TenantScreeningUSA.com has partnered with TransUnion in creating a secure program ideal for renters. Data is collected through a secure Internet portal that allows the exchange of information to occur between the perspective tenant and TransUnion. Information is not sent in the open, is not written on a document, and is not sent to a landlord or property manager.
What a landlord will receive is a leasing recommendation, a credit report, and a criminal history background check. The tenants’ identifying information, such as their Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Bank Account Numbers, remains secure. Also, the transaction is nearly instant thus providing a quick turnaround. This will be of significant benefit in a rental market that has become highly competitive.
To get started go to http://tenantscreeningusa.com/renter-background-check/ and click on “Create An Account.” It is a quick and painless process, one that will create peace of mind and keep a renter’s personally identifiable information safe and secure in an unpredictable world.
