Rental Application Screening Process and fees (credit report, home, to move)

[homebuyer-123]

We have had several applications submitted over the weekend for our home rental. I charged each adult 25.00 for a credit check fee. To be fair, I ran credit checks on all the applicants and it turns out they all have a great credit report.

One couple that applied had a slightly better report than the rest and they are willing to move in earlier than the rest as well so we would like to select them. My question is this. Do I need to refund the application fees to the other applicants since their credit report was not "bad"? Should I have run only one at a time? The information I have found on various sites is conflicting.

I am also wondering the best language to let the declined applicants know that they were not chosen and why.

Thanks for any recommendations!

[bellalunatic]

If you informed each applicant that the $25 fee was a non-refundable credit check fee, then so be it.
If in fact you did not, then I would consider returning it for the applicants that you are not choosing, (as well as all of their credit information to them directly).
In the future you would be better off having the applicants bring you a copy of their credit reports instead of processing them yourselves.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

If you informed each applicant that the $25 fee was a non-refundable credit check fee, then so be it.
If in fact you did not, then I would consider returning it for the applicants that you are not choosing, (as well as all of their credit information to them directly).
In the future you would be better off having the applicants bring you a copy of their credit reports instead of processing them yourselves.

An individual can modify the report prior to handing it over so I'd probably run the check myself.

[bayarea-girl]

This thread is OLD!