Life Cycle of a Screening Report
Behind the Screening Process
Ever wondered what happens between pressing “Send” and receiving a completed report? This month, we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at our process.
Step 1: Clerking
The first team members to interact with the report is our Clerical team, whose specialty is payment processing and documentation.
Our clerks begin by receiving the application via email, Appfolio, TenantTech, Entrata, etc., from which they collect the documentation into a PDF and confirm it is legible and properly signed. The report type (full report, criminal only, etc.) is matched and billed to the client, with any special requests addressed. Basic information such as name, SSN, and DOB is then inputted into Bemrose’s custom program — PA (Personal Assistant) — and credit pulled through TransUnion.
Step 2: Screening
Our screeners then access the report on PA, where it is organized into four pillars: Credit, Employment, Rental, and Criminal/Eviction.
Credit
The screener begins by examining the applicant’s credit report, looking for various items such as: alternate names or other identifiers differing from the application, negative credit (particularly any collections owed to landlords), and mortgages.
Employment
In the employment section, the screener records the applicant’s source of income and then follows one of two paths:
If the applicant works for a company that does not use a fee-based service for employment verifications, we attempt to verify income with the employer directly
If the applicant is self-employed, the company does use a fee-based service, or the applicant receives income via benefits or another source, we check to see if the applicant has provided proof of income, and if it is sufficient
The screener then calculates the rent-to-income ratio based on employment verification, any documents we obtain, or what the applicant reports.
Rental
Addresses are obtained from a few sources, such as: the application, credit report, ID, income documentation, and/or eviction records. Each address is then researched, using county assessor searches to verify ownership of individually managed residences, and web results for residences maintained by property management. Based on the findings, we then contact each landlord for a rental reference.
Criminal/Eviction
Lastly, the screening team searches the available criminal and eviction records of every state/county we have knowledge of the applicant residing, under any names the applicant has used. They also search the National and state Sex Offender Registries.
Persistence is Key
After each section has been worked, the screener will continue to contact any outstanding references, with help from the applicant if possible. When the screener has either obtained all the information needed for the report, or the deadline arrives, they submit the report to Review.
Step 3: Reviewing
The final team to work on the report are reviewers, who ensure it is to the highest standard before delivery. Our reviewers look through each section, verifying there is no missing or incorrect information. They also ensure the report is properly formatted, with correct grammar and spelling. Finally, they evaluate applicant’s information against the client’s criteria, confirming the proper result and factors are marked.
Once the report is finalized, the reviewer marks it as completed and delivers it to you.
….and repeat!
Our team is highly specialized and collaborative, so that although outside sources can sometimes affect turnaround, please know we are always doing our best to deliver the best product in the most efficient time possible. Thank you for continuing to partner with us and trusting our team with your screening!
DISCLAIMER: READ CAREFULLY: The information provided in this article is not considered legal advice and is given only for information purposes. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL.