Who do you use for Maine eviction screening?

Who do you use for Maine eviction screening?

Portland, ME · Member since 2012 · 616 posts · 550 votes

This post applies to Maine landlords, but may be useful for others as well.  For 10 years I used padzilla, also known as tenant-net, for eviction and credit report screening.  They did an inspection of my office so they could send me the full credit report.  They recently changed their policy so that I can no longer see the report and I just get a summary.  I need the actual report because it shows prior addresses, mortgages, etc. that confirms info. on the tenant's application.  Also, they only do eviction and Bankruptcy searches for Maine, not for the other states.

Because of this, I signed up with Rentec Direct, which allows me to see the actual credit report.  I have to pay a monthly fee even if I don't do any tenant screening, but the platform also allows me to collect rent online and I don't believe they actually hold the money, unlike some other companies that have held, (and lost!) payments.  The problem is that they claim to do a nationwide eviction search, but I have found out that it doesn't include Maine!  I tested it by inputting the name of a person who had multiple hits on Padzilla and they came back clean on Rentec Direct!   I also tested their social security number verification by using a number that I know does not match the name, and it came back as "validated"!  This makes me doubt all the criminal background screening that comes back as clean as well.

I believe that the issue with Maine is that our court data isn't readily accessible online.  Padzilla sends people to the courts to gather the eviction lists.  I don't know of any other companies that do this.  So, my question for the BP community is this: does anybody have a verified, dependable screening company that covers evictions nation-wide - even Maine, and that will allow me to see the full credit report (after an office inspection, of course)?  Thank you!

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Ryan MurdockPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y

I'm curious what you get for answers here. I've yet to find a "one stop shop" for credit, criminal, or other screening elements here in ME. You are right in that we are always on the outskirts of whatever is advertised as "nationwide coverage". 

I'm currently using AmRent for credit and criminal checks and they claim to have a manual eviction search capability but I haven't used that component yet. I'm fortunate that at least in Penobscot County the local landlord association posts eviction data on their website. Outside of Penobscot County I'm lost.

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  • Ryan MurdockPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    I'm curious what you get for answers here. I've yet to find a "one stop shop" for credit, criminal, or other screening elements here in ME. You are right in that we are always on the outskirts of whatever is advertised as "nationwide coverage". 

    I'm currently using AmRent for credit and criminal checks and they claim to have a manual eviction search capability but I haven't used that component yet. I'm fortunate that at least in Penobscot County the local landlord association posts eviction data on their website. Outside of Penobscot County I'm lost.

  • Specialist · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2018 · 557 posts · 191 votes
    8y

    Hi Amy! It sounds like Rentec Direct is not truly screening your applicants. There is plenty of free landlord software out there that will comprehensively screen your applicants (credit, criminal, and evictions) for almost every state and will allow you to look at the full report. I would check out some more options, and figure out if you can find an online service that checks Maine.

    If you need software recommendations, please feel free to PM! 

  • Rick BrowningPro Member
    New Gloucester, ME · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 5 votes
    8y

    I have used Cozy.co for a few applicants and have had some detailed results. They have a free online payment system that I have used for a year now without any issues. You can have the applicant pay for the check. You can look on the help section for a sample credit and background report

  • Portland, ME · Member since 2012 · 616 posts · 550 votes
    8y

    @Rick Browning have you ever had a positive eviction hit from Maine?  I'm glad Cozy is working for you.   I tried to sign up with them a few years ago and they took many months to approve my account.  Maybe I'll give them another shot.

  • Rental Property Investor · ME · Member since 2018 · 179 posts · 59 votes
    8y

    i use www.rentapplication.net for 2 years with pretty decent results.

  • Rick BrowningPro Member
    New Gloucester, ME · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 5 votes
    8y

    @Amy A.  I have had an eviction hit for Maine.  

  • Rental Property Investor · Auburn, ME · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 24 votes
    8y

    I've been using Cozy for rent collection and haven't had a chance to use it for screening yet. It looks like Cozy has partnered with Checkr for background checks. I found the following on their site:

  • Investor · Biddeford, ME · Member since 2017 · 282 posts · 180 votes
    8y

    I personally use tenant net in Saco.  Www.goodtenants.net

  • Investor · Biddeford, ME · Member since 2017 · 282 posts · 180 votes
    8y

    Oops, so do you lol.

  • Ryan MurdockPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Tyler Bushey

    It's been years since I used tenant net but I gave up on them as their local criminal searches were useless. The criminal history would come back clean but a quick Google search would repeatedly turn up local convictions. Not good. Maybe they have improved but I doubt it. I'm still convinced there is no comprehensive one-stop-shop for screening. You need to piece together the puzzle from multiple sources.

    So far the best local criminal resource I have used is through the ME State Police. You can sign up with them and run statewide criminal checks for about $28/ea. 

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