BP - MySmartMoves - Missed Detecting an Eviction

[Chan K.]

Hi BPer, 

For those who have been using MySmartMoves service through BP. 

Do you have any issue? The MySmartMoves background check has been my go-to place for tenant screening. Unfortunately, my previous screening, the reports (background, eviction, credit) came out perfect. For sanity check, I just typed in the name of the applicant in www.masscourts.org, then BAM, the lady had an eviction like 3 years ago.

Now, I am pretty nervous about using the service. I called the customer service, and he was pretty nice about it. He told me that he will take note, but he could not submit a ticket for investigation on my behalf. The applicant is the only person that can request the investigation. Go figure right ..... @Joshua Dorkin, what is your thought on this if any at all?

-Chan-

[Steve Babiak]

So if you want to be thorough in your screening, then you must get a full credit report that shows the address history for the applicant. Then you look up the owner for all addresses in the address history (being specific for the period of time in which that history has them residing at a specific address).  Next you contact those owners. 

If your state is like MA or PA (hurray, PA now allows this), you can use a statewide website to look up eviction records for a named individual. And if there is a match to name and date of birth, or addresses match those from the address history - then you have with high certainty found a legitimate eviction. 

If they have resided in multiple states, you might not be able to identify all of that, but you will be better served if you at least try. 

Getting just a score or accept/decline answer just doesn't cut it IMO ...