Verify Employment

[Jennifer Salazar]

Hi- Whats the best way you have found to verify employment/salary?  I did a mock background check (via smartmove) and it didn't pull up my current employer of 4 years.

So I expect this might happen with a potential tenant as well.  

I have no problem calling an employer to verify- but I want to ensure its not someone on the phone pretending to be an employer.

Just trying to cover all my bases..as i have met some characters.

Thanks-

Jenn

[Account Closed]

Originally posted by @Jennifer Salazar:

Hi- Whats the best way you have found to verify employment/salary?  I did a mock background check (via smartmove) and it didn't pull up my current employer of 4 years.

So I expect this might happen with a potential tenant as well.  

I have no problem calling an employer to verify- but I want to ensure its not someone on the phone pretending to be an employer.

Just trying to cover all my bases..as i have met some characters.

Thanks-

Jenn

 What I did was Google the company, and call and ask for the HR Dept.  I'd also ask for a copy of their pay stub.  The pay stub will also give you info - like year-to-date info regarding their benefits or collected taxes, etc.  This can be a way to see if they've actually worked there as long as they say they have.  

For instance, if they say they've been there 10 years, and the pay stub shows year to date of just a couple weeks - you know they're lying.

It should also have their current address - and you can see if that address is the one they gave you for their current landlord.

Just another tip to check with tenants - I asked to see their ID and I'd write down the address on it.  I'd also ask for a printed personal check for the application fee - and write down that address, too.  Then, when they fill out their address history - you'll be amazed to see how many applicants don't include the addresses on their ID or their personal checks.  Also, the credit check will list all of their previous addresses.  Most applicants will leave out some of their former residences.  If you catch this, you should deny.

This is a lot of why I don't like the new trend to just have applicants use a service that suggests you deny or accept, without you being able to see the actual report.  There is more on that report than you would think - such as a list of all of their former addresses.

To see actual reports, you usually have to have your office or even bedroom (which was my case) to show that you're a real business (even if you're a resident manager with files in your bedroom), and a locking filing cabinet and shredder.  This is a minimal inconvenience and takes maybe an hour.  But, then you can see the actual full reports.  And once you learn how to read them, you can make your own informed decisions.