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FAQ-1

Frequently Asked Questions

Read commonly asked questions from ScreeningWorks® consumers who want to know more about the tenant screening process.

If your rental application was declined or any other adverse action was taken against you (such as being told that based on information in your screening report you must pay an additional security deposit or have a guarantor), you should start by requesting a copy of your report so you can review it for accuracy. You can request a copy of your screening report free of charge by completing and submitting a Tenant Screening Report Request and following the instructions on how to submit it to RentGrow. <button>Report Request</button>

  1. How can I get a copy of my ScreeningWorks tenant screening report?
  2. How can I dispute information on my tenant screening report that I think is wrong?
  3. If I submit a dispute, how long will it take?
  4. Why does ScreeningWorks appear as an “inquiry” on my credit report?
  5. Does ScreeningWorks make rental decisions or set property eligibility criteria?
  6. How can I contact one of the three major credit bureaus directly?
  7. How can I get a copy of my credit bureau credit report?
  8. What are some of my rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”)?
  9. How do I contact ScreeningWorks for help or answers to other questions?

1. How can I get a copy of my ScreeningWorks® tenant screening report?

If your rental application was declined or any other adverse action was taken against you (such as being told that based on information in your screening report you must pay an additional security deposit or have a guarantor), you should start by requesting a copy of your report so you can review it for accuracy.

You can request a copy of your screening report free of charge by completing and submitting a Tenant Screening Report Request and following the instructions on how to submit it to ScreeningWorks®.

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2. How can I dispute information on my tenant screening report that I think is wrong?

If you believe any credit, criminal or civil records information contained in your ScreeningWorks® tenant screening report was inaccurate or incomplete as of the date of the report, you can initiate a dispute by completing an Applicant Dispute Form and following the instructions on the form about how to submit it to ScreeningWorks®.

When submitting a dispute, it is important that you identify each item on your report that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, the account or court number, and the specific reason for your dispute. The Applicant Dispute Form will help guide you through this process.

TIP: Not sure? Need help? No problem. Please contact the ScreeningWorks® Consumer Relations team for help.

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3. If I submit a dispute, how long with it take?

Once ScreeningWorks® receives your dispute, we will begin processing it as soon as possible. In some cases, ScreeningWorks® can resolve disputes the same day. In most cases, ScreeningWorks® must submit the dispute on your behalf to the company that furnished the disputed information to ScreeningWorks®. With a few exceptions, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that these companies complete their investigations within 30 days. ScreeningWorks® will notify you that your dispute is underway and will notify you again as soon as the dispute has been completed.

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4. Why does ScreeningWorks® appear as an “inquiry” on my credit report?

If ScreeningWorks® appears as an inquiry on your credit report, it is probably because:

  • You applied for an apartment that uses ScreeningWorks®’s services around the date of the inquiry;
  • You submitted an application as a co-signer (or guarantor) for someone else who applied for an apartment around the date of the inquiry; or
  • Your lease was up for renewal around the date of the inquiry and you were rescreened by the property.

If none of these apply to you, please call ScreeningWorks® Consumer Relations right away at (800) 736-8476, option 2. If the inquiry was not valid, ScreeningWorks® will submit an inquiry dispute on your behalf to the appropriate credit bureau.

If you suspect fraud or identity theft, you may also want to contact Experian®, Equifax®, and TransUnion® directly to request that a fraud alert or security freeze be placed on your consumer credit file. Contact information for the credit bureaus is in the next section, and more information on Remedying the Effects of Identity Theft is available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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5. Does ScreeningWorks® make rental decisions or set property eligibility requirements?

No, ScreeningWorks does not make rental decisions and does not set the eligibility criteria for any property. All eligibility criteria are set and all rental decisions are made by the property owner or manager at each property. The “result” that appears on your tenant screening report reflects whether the information in your screening report meet that property’s particular requirements.

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6. How can I contact one of the three major credit bureaus directly?

Your tenant screening report will indicate which credit bureau provided ScreeningWorks® with your credit information, if credit information was requested by the property as part of your screening report. The contact information for each of the credit bureaus is:

TransUnion

www.transunion.com

P.O. Box 800 Woodlyn, PA 19094 800.916.8800

Equifax

www.equifax.com

P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 800.685.1111

Experian

www.experian.com

P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 888.397.3742

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7. How can I get a copy of my credit bureau credit report?

ScreeningWorks® only generates screening reports, and cannot provide you with a copy of your stand-alone Experian®, Equifax® or TransUnion® credit report. For information on how to obtain a free copy of your most current credit report directly from the credit bureaus, please contact them directly or visit the Federal Trade Commission website for more information.

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8. What are some of my rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”)?

ScreeningWorks® is required to make certain disclosures available to you about your rights under the FCRA. Current versions of these disclosures are below and may be updated from time to time as needed:

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9. How do I contact ScreeningWorks® for help or answers to other questions?

If you need help or have any other questions about your Tenant Screening Report, please call ScreeningWorks® Consumer Relations at (800) 736-8476, option 2 or send an email to [email protected].

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