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What's the difference between app. deposit & fee - Landlord Forum thread 321982

What's the difference between app. deposit & fee by Anonymous (Tx) on July 29, 2014 @01:32

                              
New LL. I have only charged a $40 app. fee, per adult, on my application given to a tenant and her husband. This was specifically stated to them it would cover the credit report/back ground check. After the app. was given to me with the $80 (for both husband/wife), long story short, they decided not to go forward with the app. after I told them the credit report has been pulled and it looked fine. They sent a message stating..... I expect an $80 check back, along with my paperwork. I have documentation that will be presented to you...

The only paperwork I have is the app. and the reports I've pulled from tenantbackgroundsearch.com. I requested additional documents and they said they would not provide anything else and wanted to 'quit' the application. My app states the applicant gives me permission to get all necessary info., which I've listed as well as putting in it, including but not limited to type of wording.

What to do?
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Re: What's the difference between app. deposit & fee by Lighthope on July 29, 2014 @01:55 [ Reply ]
They submitted an application and the application fee. If they want to pull out of the process, they don't get the fee back.

Kind of like paying an admission to an amusement park. Once you go through the turnstile...

Lighthope

Pearls of Wisdom - The finest things in life are not things.
Re: What's the difference between app. deposit & fee by Anonymous on July 29, 2014 @03:50 [ Reply ]
Once you start the application verification process using a system that charges money, it's too late for the prospective tenant to change her mind and ask for the fee back. The least I would do is give the prospective tenant the number to the verification agency, tell them to call and cancel and if it's not too late maybe the verification company can return her fee.
Re: What's the difference between app. deposit & fee by Katiekate (New York) on July 29, 2014 @07:24 [ Reply ]
I have a document I call "the procedure". It outlines in step by step manner the exact procedure that will happen. It states that an application fee must be paid when the application is submitted. It is $45 in cash per person. This is paid directly to the agency I use to process the application. ($15 for the credit report, $15 for the background search, and $15 for the criminal background search). Once that money is paid to the agency I do not get a refund from them...the applicant does not get a refund from me

"The procedure" is copied to the bottom of every email response from me. A printed copy of "the procedure" is given to the prospect when they come to look at the unit. I write every receipt for money directly onto that paper, and tell them to hang onto it..it is their receipt. Then, if they have any questions I refer them to printed copy. If they claim "I was told that!" I refer them to "the procedure". It has stopped any nonsense about refunds, etc.

The application fee is to process the application. Once you have done that..you cannot undo it. There isn't a "do over" on this. (Undo over?).
Give them back their paper work, but insist on doing it in person and get a signed receipt.

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