Frequently Asked Questions
You might not be familiar with how ApplyConnect works, and that’s okay! We’re here to help you find the most commonly ask questions regarding how to receive tenant credit checks, online rental applications, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
You might not be familiar with how ApplyConnect works, and that’s okay! We’re here to help you find the most commonly ask questions regarding how to receive tenant credit checks, online rental applications, and more!
If you have additional questions,
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General Questions
You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers. Learn more about how ApplyConnect works by clicking to expand and read some of our most frequently asked questions about setting up an account and requesting tenant background checks.
ApplyConnect is the easiest and most secure way for landlords, real estate agents, and rental applicants to share a consumer credit, eviction, and criminal report for the purposes of screening a rental applicant. ApplyConnect acts as an online tenant credit check provider for independent rental owners, landlords, realtors, property managers with small portfolios, and rental applicants. The site was designed to help those involved with filling rental property vacancies make safe and educated leasing decisions by providing access to the same tenant screenings tools that many of the larger property management companies use.
- Visit ApplyConnect.com and complete the registration form.
- In order to register, you must provide your name, email, address, date of birth, and phone number. Once complete, click the ‘Register & Begin Ordering’ button to complete your account set up.
- Once your account is created, you will need to verify your identity. On your Dashboard, click the ‘Confirm Your Identity’ button. To verify your identity, you must confirm the information provided during registration is correct and click the Continue to Terms button. You will be asked to provide your social security number (optional) and once Experian locates your consumer credit profile, it will generate a series of 4 multiple choice questions that only you should know. Once these questions have been answered correctly, you are ready to start sending out invitations. It’s important to note that this does not have any impact on your credit, or credit score. It is purely an identity verification process.
- Open the invitation email the landlord/real estate agent sent and click the ‘I Want to Rent’ button which will direct you to the ApplyConnect website.
- Click the ‘Register an Account’ button on the website. In order to register, you must provide your name, email, address, date of birth, and phone number. Once complete, click the ‘Register & Begin Ordering button’ to complete your account set up.
- Once your account is created, you will need to verify your identity. On your Dashboard, click the ‘Confirm Your Identity’ button. To verify your identity, you must confirm the information provided during registration is correct and click the Continue to Terms button. You will be asked to provide your social security number (required) and once Experian locates your credit profile, it will generate a series of 4 multiple choice questions based on your consumer credit profile. Once these questions have been answered correctly, you are ready to pay for the report(s). It’s important to note that this does not have any impact on your credit, or credit score. It is purely an identity verification process.
* Renters may also create an ApplyConnect account on their own, purchase their own tenant credit check, and choose a landlord/agent to share it with. Click Here to Register.
Both the landlord or real estate agent, and the rental applicant will log into ApplyConnect through the process mentioned above. As a consumer-initiated service, ApplyConnect requires both members to play an active role in confirming the validity of the application process. This ensures the service remains secure, and every applicant’s personal information is only shared between the two parties involved in the rental process.
Unlike traditional tenant screening services, the consumer (or rental applicant) is the one who actually initiates the release of his or her credit, eviction, and criminal data with ApplyConnect. This benefits landlords, realtors, and rental applicants. It is free for landlords and real estate agents, and it reduces the paperwork and long approval process required to initiate a credit inquiry on a consumer. For rental applicants, initiating the release of their own data results in a “soft inquiry,” which does not impact their credit score.
To keep the process secure, ApplyConnect is an online service. Landlords, real estate agents, and rental applicants will need to have:
- Access to the Internet
- Individual email addresses (married couples must still have their own email addresses. Reports are processed on the individual, not as a couple.)
If either party does not have access to the Internet, they may wish to consult a local library or management office. If either party does not have an email address, they will first need to establish one, which can be accomplished by using one of many free online email services (a few options: gmail, mail.com, aol). If there is more than one rental applicant on an application, each rental applicant must have a separate email address. Each rental applicant will then log in separately, or respond to different ApplyConnect email invitations, to confirm or decline the authorized release of their individual data to the landlord or real estate agent.
Reports process in a matter of seconds! Once the rental applicant has completed the purchase, they view their report online, and the applicant shares their report with up to 3 landlords or real estate agents (within 30 days of purchase). An email is automatically sent to the landlord or realtor that the report is ready and they will be able to view it from their Dashboard. The only delays are due to either party not completing one or more steps throughout the process.
ApplyConnect is online whereas larger credit report agencies have custom-built solutions that they host and maintain. By tapping into the powerful rental screening capabilities of Experian, you have access to the same credit data and decision tools, but it’s online so there isn’t the added cost of hosting and upkeep. ApplyConnect also owns their own data which allows for better quality at a lower cost to consumers.
ApplyConnect combines the powerful data and analytics of Experian with a national search of eviction filings and/or judgments, and a nationwide scan of the best available criminal record databases from multiple jurisdictions to provide you with a quick and reliable tenant screening credit check. You get all the information you need to make more informed screening decisions in less time. ApplyConnect enables you to screen effectively without compromising the privacy or security of the applicant’s personally identifying information.
Your account will only require you to verify your identity using questions obtained from your credit profile every 90 days, or up to one year if you are a frequent ApplyConnect user.
General Questions
You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers. Learn more about how ApplyConnect works by clicking to expand and read some of our most frequently asked questions about setting up an account and requesting tenant background checks.
ApplyConnect is the easiest and most secure way for landlords, real estate agents, and rental applicants to share a consumer credit, eviction, and criminal report for the purposes of screening a rental applicant. ApplyConnect acts as an online tenant credit check provider for independent rental owners, landlords, realtors, property managers with small portfolios, and rental applicants. The site was designed to help those involved with filling rental property vacancies make safe and educated leasing decisions by providing access to the same tenant screenings tools that many of the larger property management companies use.
- Visit ApplyConnect.com and complete the registration form.
- In order to register, you must provide your name, email, address, date of birth, and phone number. Once complete, click the ‘Register & Begin Ordering’ button to complete your account set up.
- Once your account is created, you will need to verify your identity. On your Dashboard, click the ‘Confirm Your Identity’ button. To verify your identity, you must confirm the information provided during registration is correct and click the Continue to Terms button. You will be asked to provide your social security number (optional) and once Experian locates your consumer credit profile, it will generate a series of 4 multiple choice questions that only you should know. Once these questions have been answered correctly, you are ready to start sending out invitations. It’s important to note that this does not have any impact on your credit, or credit score. It is purely an identity verification process.
- Open the invitation email the landlord/real estate agent sent and click the ‘I Want to Rent’ button which will direct you to the ApplyConnect website.
- Click the ‘Register an Account’ button on the website. In order to register, you must provide your name, email, address, date of birth, and phone number. Once complete, click the ‘Register & Begin Ordering button’ to complete your account set up.
- Once your account is created, you will need to verify your identity. On your Dashboard, click the ‘Confirm Your Identity’ button. To verify your identity, you must confirm the information provided during registration is correct and click the Continue to Terms button. You will be asked to provide your social security number (required) and once Experian locates your credit profile, it will generate a series of 4 multiple choice questions based on your consumer credit profile. Once these questions have been answered correctly, you are ready to pay for the report(s). It’s important to note that this does not have any impact on your credit, or credit score. It is purely an identity verification process.
* Renters may also create an ApplyConnect account on their own, purchase their own tenant credit check, and choose a landlord/agent to share it with. Click Here to Register.
Both the landlord or real estate agent, and the rental applicant will log into ApplyConnect through the process mentioned above. As a consumer-initiated service, ApplyConnect requires both members to play an active role in confirming the validity of the application process. This ensures the service remains secure, and every applicant’s personal information is only shared between the two parties involved in the rental process.
Unlike traditional tenant screening services, the consumer (or rental applicant) is the one who actually initiates the release of his or her credit, eviction, and criminal data with ApplyConnect. This benefits landlords, realtors, and rental applicants. It is free for landlords and real estate agents, and it reduces the paperwork and long approval process required to initiate a credit inquiry on a consumer. For rental applicants, initiating the release of their own data results in a “soft inquiry,” which does not impact their credit score.
To keep the process secure, ApplyConnect is an online service. Landlords, real estate agents, and rental applicants will need to have:
- Access to the Internet
- Individual email addresses (married couples must still have their own email addresses. Reports are processed on the individual, not as a couple.)
If either party does not have access to the Internet, they may wish to consult a local library or management office. If either party does not have an email address, they will first need to establish one, which can be accomplished by using one of many free online email services (a few options: gmail, mail.com, aol). If there is more than one rental applicant on an application, each rental applicant must have a separate email address. Each rental applicant will then log in separately, or respond to different ApplyConnect email invitations, to confirm or decline the authorized release of their individual data to the landlord or real estate agent.
Reports process in a matter of seconds! Once the rental applicant has completed the purchase, they view their report online, and the applicant shares their report with up to 3 landlords or real estate agents (within 30 days of purchase). An email is automatically sent to the landlord or realtor that the report is ready and they will be able to view it from their Dashboard. The only delays are due to either party not completing one or more steps throughout the process.
ApplyConnect is online whereas larger credit report agencies have custom-built solutions that they host and maintain. By tapping into the powerful rental screening capabilities of Experian, you have access to the same credit data and decision tools, but it’s online so there isn’t the added cost of hosting and upkeep. ApplyConnect also owns their own data which allows for better quality at a lower cost to consumers.
ApplyConnect combines the powerful data and analytics of Experian with a national search of eviction filings and/or judgments, and a nationwide scan of the best available criminal record databases from multiple jurisdictions to provide you with a quick and reliable tenant screening credit check. You get all the information you need to make more informed screening decisions in less time. ApplyConnect enables you to screen effectively without compromising the privacy or security of the applicant’s personally identifying information.
Your account will only require you to verify your identity using questions obtained from your credit profile every 90 days, or up to one year if you are a frequent ApplyConnect user.
About the Report
As a ‘soft-inquiry’, ApplyConnect tenant credit checks provide a risk score and Experian credit report without having any negative impacts on an applications credit score. Click to expand for more information on what is included in every tenant background check.
An Experian® credit report includes a 24 month graph of payment history, positive and negative tradelines, public records including bankruptcies and tax liens, and accounts that have been written off to collection companies.
VantageScore® is a credit score that was developed by the three national credit reporting companies (CRCs) — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.
VantageScore ranges from 300-850, with a higher score representing less risk to the landlord/real estate agent. Where your rental applicant’s score falls on the scale can help you better assess their risk.
The nationwide eviction history searches a database of 36+ million records including both judgments and filings. The report shows if an applicant has a history of not paying rent, violating a lease, disrupting the community, or anything else that would require a landlord to take legal action to remove them from the premises.
The nationwide criminal database scan uses the rental applicant’s name and date of birth to search through national databases, court and police records, and the sex offender registry to see if they possess a history of criminal activity. All criminal database scans go through a series of cross-references and intelligent algorithms in order to minimize the potential for false hits.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
The advantages ApplyConnect offers makes it a valuable tenant screening service for independent rental owners and smaller management companies that may not need frequent access to a tenant screening solution. ApplyConnect offers no cost, web-based access to the same data and analytics used by the largest consumer reporting agencies resulting in quick and reliable leasing recommendations. To maximize safety when using ApplyConnect, we also provide you with free resources and helpful tenant screening guidance to develop best practices.
- In order to complete the registration process, every ApplyConnect user must pass Experian’s identity verification process. A social security number is a good way for Experian to ensure accuracy when attempting to request a consumer’s credit profile to ask the out of wallet questions. Landlords and real estate agents may treat this step as optional, however if Experian is unable to locate their consumer profile without it, the social security number may be needed.
- Applicants are required to include their social security number during the identity verification process. This is both to authenticate their identity, but also as part of the process in preparing the credit portion of the Experian credit report. A social security number is how Experian searches for consumer profiles generally, and it is essentially for them to provide a complete and accurate credit report on an applicant.
You will likely need to temporarily remove the freeze from your credit profile with Experian for a minimum of 7 days in order to successfully verify your identity. Visit https://www.experian.com/consumer/cac/InvalidateSession.do?code=THAW to request a temporary removal. Please note that you will need to have the Security Freeze PIN that Experian initially had sent to you in order to complete the request.
Yes. ApplyConnect strives for maximum possible accuracy in reporting. One of the ways we achieve this is through the use of our Regulatory Matrix that will compare the provided rental property zip code to state, county and city tenant screening regulations. Any criminal and eviction records which are restricted for use by landlords will be masked.
About the Report
As a ‘soft-inquiry’, ApplyConnect tenant credit checks provide a risk score and Experian credit report without having any negative impacts on an applications credit score. Click to expand for more information on what is included in every tenant background check.
An Experian® credit report includes a 24 month graph of payment history, positive and negative tradelines, public records including bankruptcies and tax liens, and accounts that have been written off to collection companies.
VantageScore® is a credit score that was developed by the three national credit reporting companies (CRCs) — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.
VantageScore ranges from 300-850, with a higher score representing less risk to the landlord/real estate agent. Where your rental applicant’s score falls on the scale can help you better assess their risk.
The nationwide eviction history searches a database of 36+ million records including both judgments and filings. The report shows if an applicant has a history of not paying rent, violating a lease, disrupting the community, or anything else that would require a landlord to take legal action to remove them from the premises.
The nationwide criminal database scan uses the rental applicant’s name and date of birth to search through national databases, court and police records, and the sex offender registry to see if they possess a history of criminal activity. All criminal database scans go through a series of cross-references and intelligent algorithms in order to minimize the potential for false hits.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
The advantages ApplyConnect offers makes it a valuable tenant screening service for independent rental owners and smaller management companies that may not need frequent access to a tenant screening solution. ApplyConnect offers no cost, web-based access to the same data and analytics used by the largest consumer reporting agencies resulting in quick and reliable leasing recommendations.
- In order to complete the registration process, every ApplyConnect user must pass Experian’s identity verification process. A social security number is a good way for Experian to ensure accuracy when attempting to request a consumer’s credit profile to ask the out of wallet questions. Landlords and real estate agents may treat this step as optional, however if Experian is unable to locate their consumer profile without it, the social security number may be needed.
- Applicants are required to include their social security number during the identity verification process. This is both to authenticate their identity, but also as part of the process in preparing the credit portion of the Experian credit report. A social security number is how Experian searches for consumer profiles generally, and it is essentially for them to provide a complete and accurate credit report on an applicant.
You will likely need to temporarily remove the freeze from your credit profile with Experian for a minimum of 7 days in order to successfully verify your identity. Visit https://www.experian.com/consumer/cac/InvalidateSession.do?code=THAW to request a temporary removal. Please note that you will need to have the Security Freeze PIN that Experian initially had sent to you in order to complete the request.
Yes. ApplyConnect strives for maximum possible accuracy in reporting. One of the ways we achieve this is through the use of our Regulatory Matrix that will compare the provided rental property zip code to state, county and city tenant screening regulations. Any criminal and eviction records which are restricted for use by landlords will be masked.
Rental Applications
Your ApplyConnect includes an online rental application at no additional cost. Be sure to select that you want to use the application when you complete the registration form, or you can turn it ‘on’ once logged in to your account.
This free feature is available to landlords and real estate agents, and it can be enabled in several ways:
1) During registration you can check the box under Extra Features for “Online Rental Application – FREE.”
2) After your account has been created, go to ‘My Account’ and check the box that says “Online Rental Application – FREE.”
3) While logged into your account look for the option in the navigation that says ‘Rental Applications‘, and make sure it’s set to “On”
4) You can request the Rental Application from applicants individually while creating a new invitation.
Click on the option for ‘Rental Applications’ available on the navigation when logged into your account. You will see a list of applicants who have shared their credit report, and the current status of their rental application. From this page you can ‘View App’ to review the application, or send your applicant a reminder to finish their application.
On the Rental Application dashboard you will see a button that says “Send Reminder” for any applicants who have not yet submitted their application.
Rental Applications
Your ApplyConnect includes an online rental application at no additional cost. Be sure to select that you want to use the application when you complete the registration form, or you can turn it ‘on’ once logged in to your account.
This free feature is available to landlords and real estate agents, and it can be enabled in several ways:
1) During registration you can check the box under Extra Features for “Online Rental Application – FREE.”
2) After your account has been created, go to ‘My Account’ and check the box that says “Online Rental Application – FREE.”
3) While logged into your account look for the option in the navigation that says ‘Rental Applications‘, and make sure it’s set to “On”
4) You can request the Rental Application from applicants individually while creating a new invitation.
Click on the option for ‘Rental Applications’ available on the navigation when logged into your account. You will see a list of applicants who have shared their credit report, and the current status of their rental application. From this page you can ‘View App’ to review the application, or send your applicant a reminder to finish their application.
On the Rental Application dashboard you will see a button that says “Send Reminder” for any applicants who have not yet submitted their application.
Landlord and Real Estate Agent Account Questions
As landlords, real estate agents, and small property managers, you want to fill your vacancies with great tenants as quickly as possible, but you have a few questions. We hear you. Click to expand for more detailed information on processing reports and applications and how to use our free marketing tools.
Three factors separate ApplyConnect from anything else you might find out there:
- There is no lengthy enrollment process. Landlords/real estate agents simply create an account online at applyconnect.com/register and begin using ApplyConnect immediately.
- ApplyConnect enables the rental applicant to initiate the screening process by paying for the report and giving his or her consent in a secure, online environment. Because of this, the landlord/real estate agent doesn’t have to go through an onsite, physical inspection of their office in order to screen a potential tenant.
- Because the rental applicant pays for, and sees the report first, it posts to his or her credit file as a “soft inquiry” which does not affect his or her credit score.
- As a “portable” report option, the applicant is able to send you their tenant screening report faster than ever.
ApplyConnect is a consumer-initiated service, meaning the consumer (rental applicant) plays an active role in deciding when, and to whom, to release sensitive personal identifying information. The process is conducted online which keeps this information secure. Other services that do not actively involve the rental applicant require more from landlords and real estate agents, and often have less secure methods of obtaining and returning sensitive consumer information.
At this time, ApplyConnect only has the ability to process an application for rental applicants who have a valid U.S. Social Security Number.
Not at this time. ApplyConnect does not have the ability to report rental history on a consumer’s credit report. We recommend contacting a collection agency such as Rent Recovery Solutions, or your local apartment association to inquire about how back rent may be reported on a consumer’s credit file.
ApplyConnect does not verify employment history for rental applicants. Please contact our parent company, Contemporary Information Corporation (CIC), for more information on screening employment history.
Website: www.cicreports.com
Phone: 800-288-4757 Option 2
At this time, ApplyConnect does not verify rental history for rental applicants. Please contact our parent company, Contemporary Information Corporation (CIC), for more information on rental history verifications.
Website: www.cicreports.com
Phone: 800-288-4757 Option 2
When rental applicants set up an account with ApplyConnect, they are required to answer a series of personal questions to authenticate and verify their identity in order to grant consent for the screening and pay for their credit, eviction, and criminal information to be pulled and made available to you. If a rental applicant has difficulty with this process, please have him or her contact ApplyConnect directly for further assistance.
If you need to cancel an invitation, you can go to the ‘Pending Invitations’ tab, then click on the invitation that they sent to the rental applicant; there will be a cancel button available. Since the rental applicant has not completed his or her authentication and/or payment at this point, no charge has been incurred.
Once a report has been processed, an invitation cannot be cancelled. If the rental applicant has already completed the payment, confirmation, and authentication steps, the landlord/real estate agent can proceed to their Dashboard and click under the “decision” column. Select to ‘approve’, make ‘conditional’, or ‘deny’ an applicant so they will receive a notification. This does not remove the charge or the results, however it does mark the application as complete and issues an email to the rental applicant indicating a decision has been made. The rental applicant can then log into his or her account to view the decision and your comments.
If you have been waiting to receive the ApplyConnect email invitation, or a confirmation that the rental applicant’s report is ready to view, you should begin by checking your spam folder. The email will be coming from no-reply@applyconnect.com. If the rental applicant has not yet received an email from ApplyConnect prompting him or her to create an account and/or to grant consent to the screening, he or she can still do so by going directly to the ApplyConnect site and clicking on any of the “Create an Account” buttons and creating a rental applicant account (if the rental applicant does not already have an ApplyConnect account). The rental applicant must create an account using the email address that the landlord or real estate agent sends the request to. Once the rental applicant sets up an account, he or she will see an option on the Dashboard to complete the authentication process.
If you have entered the incorrect email address for the rental applicant, you can add that applicant again with the correct email address and then delete the incorrect rental applicant profile. To accomplish this, first the landlord/real estate agent must log in to their account and click on the ‘Pending Invitations’ tab on the top of the page. Select the application with the incorrect email address and click the ‘delete’ button. To add that applicant again with the correct email address, click on the ‘New Applicant’ tab at the top of the page and enter the correct name and email address, and click the ‘Send Invitation’ button. The rental applicant should then receive his or her request to consent to the screening.
- The rental applicant changed their mind, and does not want to have a credit & background report done; has something negative in their past they want to conceal; or they are no longer interested in the property.
- The invitation got caught in their spam filter. Ask that they allow an email from ‘applyconnect.com’ into their inbox.
- The rental applicant has a thin or no credit profile which prevents them from being authenticated. ApplyConnect continues to fine tune the security questions with Experian (so far we can score 30+ million more consumers than FICO), but consumers with no credit history are unable to have a credit report processed on them since no data exists.
The rental applicant chooses to purchase their report directly from the website bypassing your invitation. Customer support can assist you with this. https://www.applyconnect.com/contact
You are likely using your browser’s built-in print command – which prints only the visible parts of the screen. The ApplyConnect report is displayed within a frame of the screen, and has its own ‘Print Report’ link, found at the top of the report. This allows you to print the report in its entirety with a single click.
ApplyConnect lets you create custom links so that you can send email blasts to multiple prospective applicants, or post a link on your website, social media, online advertisement etc. To create a link, click the ‘My AC Links’ button on your landlord/real estate agent Dashboard. Click the ‘Create an ApplyConnect Link’ button, enter the property address, and click the agreement check box. Finally, click the ‘Create Link’ button. Now that you have created the ApplyConnect link, you are able to manage all of the links you might have created. Simply copy and paste the generated URL and paste it in to sites of your choosing.
Most likely you are still logged in as a landlord/real estate agent. Simply log out of ApplyConnect and open the unique property link which will take you to a welcome screen that your rental applicants will see.
Certain cities, counties and states have passed legislation/regulations placing additional restrictions regarding the use of criminal and eviction records on your rental decision. When inviting applicants to share their report, you will be asked to include the zip code of the rental property. ApplyConnect will reference the property’s location, and automatically modify the report for maximum possible accuracy to provide information which is legal to use in your decision.
When on your landlord or real estate agent Dashboard, you are able to click under the ‘decision’ column and select to ‘approve’, make ‘conditional’, or ‘deny’ an applicant. You will be redirected to an email template page that you can customize. Once the template meets your satisfaction, click ‘send’ and the rental applicant will receive it to the registered email.
Landlord and Real Estate Agent Account Questions
As landlords, real estate agents, and small property managers, you want to fill your vacancies with great tenants as quickly as possible, but you have a few questions. We hear you. Click to expand for more detailed information on processing reports and applications and how to use our free marketing tools.
Three factors separate ApplyConnect from anything else you might find out there:
- There is no lengthy enrollment process. Landlords/real estate agents simply create an account online at applyconnect.com/register and begin using ApplyConnect immediately.
- ApplyConnect enables the rental applicant to initiate the screening process by paying for the report and giving his or her consent in a secure, online environment. Because of this, the landlord/real estate agent doesn’t have to go through an onsite, physical inspection of their office in order to screen a potential tenant.
- Because the rental applicant pays for, and sees the report first, it posts to his or her credit file as a “soft inquiry” which does not affect his or her credit score.
- As a “portable” report option, the applicant is able to send you their tenant screening report faster than ever.
ApplyConnect is a consumer-initiated service, meaning the consumer (rental applicant) plays an active role in deciding when, and to whom, to release sensitive personal identifying information. The process is conducted online which keeps this information secure. Other services that do not actively involve the rental applicant require more from landlords and real estate agents, and often have less secure methods of obtaining and returning sensitive consumer information.
At this time, ApplyConnect only has the ability to process an application for rental applicants who have a valid U.S. Social Security Number.
Not at this time. ApplyConnect does not have the ability to report rental history on a consumer’s credit report. We recommend contacting a collection agency such as Rent Recovery Solutions, or your local apartment association to inquire about how back rent may be reported on a consumer’s credit file.
ApplyConnect does not verify employment history for rental applicants. Please contact our parent company, Contemporary Information Corporation (CIC), for more information on screening employment history.
Website: www.cicreports.com
Phone: 800-288-4757 Option 2
At this time, ApplyConnect does not verify rental history for rental applicants. Please contact our parent company, Contemporary Information Corporation (CIC), for more information on rental history verifications.
Website: www.cicreports.com
Phone: 800-288-4757 Option 2
When rental applicants set up an account with ApplyConnect, they are required to answer a series of personal questions to authenticate and verify their identity in order to grant consent for the screening and pay for their credit, eviction, and criminal information to be pulled and made available to you. If a rental applicant has difficulty with this process, please have him or her contact ApplyConnect directly for further assistance.
If you need to cancel an invitation, you can go to the ‘Pending Invitations’ tab, then click on the invitation that they sent to the rental applicant; there will be a cancel button available. Since the rental applicant has not completed his or her authentication and/or payment at this point, no charge has been incurred.
Once a report has been processed, an invitation cannot be cancelled. If the rental applicant has already completed the payment, confirmation, and authentication steps, the landlord/real estate agent can proceed to their Dashboard and click under the “decision” column. Select to ‘approve’, make ‘conditional’, or ‘deny’ an applicant so they will receive a notification. This does not remove the charge or the results, however it does mark the application as complete and issues an email to the rental applicant indicating a decision has been made. The rental applicant can then log into his or her account to view the decision and your comments.
If you have been waiting to receive the ApplyConnect email invitation, or a confirmation that the rental applicant’s report is ready to view, you should begin by checking your spam folder. The email will be coming from no-reply@applyconnect.com. If the rental applicant has not yet received an email from ApplyConnect prompting him or her to create an account and/or to grant consent to the screening, he or she can still do so by going directly to the ApplyConnect site and clicking on any of the “Create an Account” buttons and creating a rental applicant account (if the rental applicant does not already have an ApplyConnect account). The rental applicant must create an account using the email address that the landlord or real estate agent sends the request to. Once the rental applicant sets up an account, he or she will see an option on the Dashboard to complete the authentication process.
If you have entered the incorrect email address for the rental applicant, you can add that applicant again with the correct email address and then delete the incorrect rental applicant profile. To accomplish this, first the landlord/real estate agent must log in to their account and click on the ‘Pending Invitations’ tab on the top of the page. Select the application with the incorrect email address and click the ‘delete’ button. To add that applicant again with the correct email address, click on the ‘New Applicant’ tab at the top of the page and enter the correct name and email address, and click the ‘Send Invitation’ button. The rental applicant should then receive his or her request to consent to the screening.
- The rental applicant changed their mind, and does not want to have a credit & background report done; has something negative in their past they want to conceal; or they are no longer interested in the property.
- The invitation got caught in their spam filter. Ask that they allow an email from ‘applyconnect.com’ into their inbox.
- The rental applicant has a thin or no credit profile which prevents them from being authenticated. ApplyConnect continues to fine tune the security questions with Experian (so far we can score 30+ million more consumers than FICO), but consumers with no credit history are unable to have a credit report processed on them since no data exists.
The rental applicant chooses to purchase their report directly from the website bypassing your invitation. Customer support can assist you with this. https://www.applyconnect.com/contact
You are likely using your browser’s built-in print command – which prints only the visible parts of the screen. The ApplyConnect report is displayed within a frame of the screen, and has its own ‘Print Report’ link, found at the top of the report. This allows you to print the report in its entirety with a single click.
ApplyConnect lets you create custom links so that you can send email blasts to multiple prospective applicants, or post a link on your website, social media, online advertisement etc. To create a link, click the ‘My AC Links’ button on your landlord/real estate agent Dashboard. Click the ‘Create an ApplyConnect Link’ button, enter the property address, and click the agreement check box. Finally, click the ‘Create Link’ button. Now that you have created the ApplyConnect link, you are able to manage all of the links you might have created. Simply copy and paste the generated URL and paste it in to sites of your choosing.
Most likely you are still logged in as a landlord/real estate agent. Simply log out of ApplyConnect and open the unique property link which will take you to a welcome screen that your rental applicants will see.
Certain cities, counties and states have passed legislation/regulations placing additional restrictions regarding the use of criminal and eviction records on your rental decision. When inviting applicants to share their report, you will be asked to include the zip code of the rental property. ApplyConnect will reference the property’s location, and automatically modify the report for maximum possible accuracy to provide information which is legal to use in your decision.
When on your landlord or real estate agent Dashboard, you are able to click under the ‘decision’ column and select to ‘approve’, make ‘conditional’, or ‘deny’ an applicant. You will be redirected to an email template page that you can customize. Once the template meets your satisfaction, click ‘send’ and the rental applicant will receive it to the registered email.
Rental Applicant Account Questions
If you’re not familiar with completing a tenant credit check, and have a few questions about what ApplyConnect’s report includes or with creating a rental applicant account – this is the place to be. Click the boxes below to get the answers to our frequently asked renter questions.
Landlords and real estate agents often request to view the credit, eviction, and criminal record history of an applicant to determine if there is a financial or safety risk before completing a lease agreement with a new tenant. ApplyConnect allows landlords and real estate agents to request permission from you to share this personal information for the purpose of making a rental decision.
Not at all! This is one of the things that make ApplyConnect such a valuable tenant screening provider. Since the rental applicant (you) initiates the release of his or her own data, the resulting inquiry is considered a “soft inquiry,” which does not impact your credit score.
ApplyConnect uses the email address entered by the landlord or real estate agent to send rental applicants an email request. If you did not receive the email, either the landlord/realtor did not enter the email address correctly or your email service may be blocking the email. Please check Spam folders or Junk Email folders to make sure that the email has not been filtered out. Note that the sender will appear as no-reply@applyconnect.com. To ensure future emails continue to reach the Inbox, please add the email address no-reply@applyconnect.com to an address book or safe sender list. If that doesn’t fix the problem, either request that the landlord/real estate agent correct the email address they entered, or go directly to applyconnect.com and click on any of the “Sign up” buttons if an account has not already been created. A renter account will need to be created using the email address to which the landlord/realtor sent the request. If you are unsure what address the landlord/real estate agent used, we recommend contacting them for confirmation. Once you create an account, there will be an option to complete the process.
If you receive a request to be screened by a landlord/real estate agent and do not wish to proceed, there will be an option in ApplyConnect to either Accept (proceed) or Decline (cancel) the screening process. No parties are charged if the application is cancelled by either party prior to the screening taking place.
At this time, ApplyConnect only has the ability to process an application for rental applicants who have a valid U.S. Social Security number. Please contact the landlord or real estate agent to discuss how he or she wishes to proceed with the application process.
Once the applicant purchases their report, they will have the ability to invite up to 3 properties to review their credit and background check. From the “Renter Dashboard” there will be an option to “Share My Report” along with details about how many shares may be remaining. Reports may be shared within 30 days of purchase.
When a rental applicant sets up an ApplyConnect account, they are required to answer a series of questions directly related to their consumer profile in order to authenticate their identity before Experian will release the credit report to a landlord/realtor.
ApplyConnect requires all users to be authenticated as a way of verifying your identity for security purposes. If your account was locked, you will need to wait 24 hours before trying again. To ensure a successful authentication, be close to your financial records for reference. If there is little to no information about you at Experian, then the ApplyConnect product may not be available to you. We suggest you obtain a free copy of your credit report to verify all information before attempting any further authentication. You may obtain a copy at annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.
Other services may have a rental applicant provide personal identifying information, like a Social Security number or account numbers, directly on a landlord or agent’s application. This means the rental applicant can’t control who has access to that information once provided. With ApplyConnect, however, the rental applicant provides his or her information directly to Experian in a secure, online environment. It stays between the rental applicant and Experian, a trusted credit reporting company that already maintains safe and secure consumer files.
Only those landlords or real estate agents to whom the rental applicant grants permission will have access to his or her credit, eviction, and criminal record information. Multiple requests from multiple landlords/realtors must be made in order to share the report multiple times.
ApplyConnect provides landlords and real estate agents with a leasing recommendation based on factors related to a rental applicant’s ability to fulfill lease obligations. In addition, ApplyConnect offers landlords/realtors the option to view a rental applicant’s credit, eviction, and criminal background data. However, none of these services affect the rental applicant’s credit score, and they do not include personally identifiable information such as their Social Security Number or account numbers that the landlord or real estate agent can see.
After the rental applicant provides approval for screening, the landlord/real estate agent only has 30 days from the date of purchase to access the credit report.
Yes! Your report can be shared with three individual properties for $39.95 in a time span of 30 days. Each uniquely shared report will also retain a record showing who the landlord or real estate agent is, and what property is being applied for.
Yes, ApplyConnect will automatically provide applicants with a copy of their own tenant background check within seconds of the report being purchased. The report will automatically become available to the requesting landlord/realtor at the same time.
Criminal records are not based on a unique identifier, such as your social security number. They are based on name, and in some jurisdictions the date of birth. Someone with the same personal identifiers who has a criminal past may appear, and unfortunately this is due to the way data is differently managed by courts all around the United States. This is a factor for each and every nationwide or statewide criminal record provider – period. What separates ApplyConnect is how our systems use multiple, complex methods to cross-reference your information and ensure only the most accurate information is provided to landlords and real estate agents. If you believe a criminal record on your report is inaccurate, our teams have a commitment to providing a fast response to performing additional research and validating the accuracy of the record. To dispute any inaccuracies, click here: https://www.applyconnect.com/consumer-disputes
Please note that ApplyConnect does not have any control over whether a landlord or real estate agent will hold the property you are applying for while the dispute process is happening. Our teams expedite the process, but many landlords/agents choose to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible, and may not be willing to wait even a few extra days while the dispute process is happening. Consult with your landlord/agent about making accommodations to hold the property for you.
- While numerous measures are taken to ensure report accuracy, there may occasionally be information that is incorrect. In this case, please click the ‘Dispute Inaccuracies’ tab within the Rental Applicant’s Dashboard and follow the listed steps in order for a consumer relations specialist to assist you. You may also click here: https://www.applyconnect.com/consumer-disputes
Rental Applicant Account Questions
If you’re not familiar with completing a tenant credit check, and have a few questions about what ApplyConnect’s report includes or with creating a rental applicant account – this is the place to be. Click the boxes below to get the answers to our frequently asked renter questions.
Landlords and real estate agents often request to view the credit, eviction, and criminal record history of an applicant to determine if there is a financial or safety risk before completing a lease agreement with a new tenant. ApplyConnect allows landlords and real estate agents to request permission from you to share this personal information for the purpose of making a rental decision.
Not at all! This is one of the things that make ApplyConnect such a valuable tenant screening provider. Since the rental applicant (you) initiates the release of his or her own data, the resulting inquiry is considered a “soft inquiry,” which does not impact your credit score.
ApplyConnect uses the email address entered by the landlord or real estate agent to send rental applicants an email request. If you did not receive the email, either the landlord/realtor did not enter the email address correctly or your email service may be blocking the email. Please check Spam folders or Junk Email folders to make sure that the email has not been filtered out. Note that the sender will appear as no-reply@applyconnect.com. To ensure future emails continue to reach the Inbox, please add the email address no-reply@applyconnect.com to an address book or safe sender list. If that doesn’t fix the problem, either request that the landlord/real estate agent correct the email address they entered, or go directly to applyconnect.com and click on any of the “Sign up” buttons if an account has not already been created. A renter account will need to be created using the email address to which the landlord/realtor sent the request. If you are unsure what address the landlord/real estate agent used, we recommend contacting them for confirmation. Once you create an account, there will be an option to complete the process.
If you receive a request to be screened by a landlord/real estate agent and do not wish to proceed, there will be an option in ApplyConnect to either Accept (proceed) or Decline (cancel) the screening process. No parties are charged if the application is cancelled by either party prior to the screening taking place.
At this time, ApplyConnect only has the ability to process an application for rental applicants who have a valid U.S. Social Security number. Please contact the landlord or real estate agent to discuss how he or she wishes to proceed with the application process.
When a rental applicant sets up an ApplyConnect account, they are required to answer a series of questions directly related to their consumer profile in order to authenticate their identity before Experian will release the credit report to a landlord/realtor.
ApplyConnect requires all users to be authenticated as a way of verifying your identity for security purposes. If your account was locked, you will need to wait 24 hours before trying again. To ensure a successful authentication, be close to your financial records for reference. If there is little to no information about you at Experian, then the ApplyConnect product may not be available to you. We suggest you obtain a free copy of your credit report to verify all information before attempting any further authentication. You may obtain a copy at annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.
Other services may have a rental applicant provide personal identifying information, like a Social Security number or account numbers, directly on a landlord or agent’s application. This means the rental applicant can’t control who has access to that information once provided. With ApplyConnect, however, the rental applicant provides his or her information directly to Experian in a secure, online environment. It stays between the rental applicant and Experian, a trusted credit reporting company that already maintains safe and secure consumer files.
Only those landlords or real estate agents to whom the rental applicant grants permission will have access to his or her credit, eviction, and criminal record information. Multiple requests from multiple landlords/realtors must be made in order to share the report multiple times.
ApplyConnect provides landlords and real estate agents with a leasing recommendation based on factors related to a rental applicant’s ability to fulfill lease obligations. In addition, ApplyConnect offers landlords/realtors the option to view a rental applicant’s credit, eviction, and criminal background data. However, none of these services affect the rental applicant’s credit score, and they do not include personally identifiable information such as their Social Security Number or account numbers that the landlord or real estate agent can see.
After the rental applicant provides approval for screening, the landlord/real estate agent only has 30 days from the date of purchase to access the credit report.
Yes! Your report can be shared with three individual properties for $39.95 in a time span of 30 days. Each uniquely shared report will also retain a record showing who the landlord or real estate agent is, and what property is being applied for.
Yes, ApplyConnect will automatically provide applicants with a copy of their own tenant background check within seconds of the report being purchased. The report will automatically become available to the requesting landlord/realtor at the same time.
Criminal records are not based on a unique identifier, such as your social security number. They are based on name, and in some jurisdictions the date of birth. Someone with the same personal identifiers who has a criminal past may appear, and unfortunately this is due to the way data is differently managed by courts all around the United States. This is a factor for each and every nationwide or statewide criminal record provider – period. What separates ApplyConnect is how our systems use multiple, complex methods to cross-reference your information and ensure only the most accurate information is provided to landlords and real estate agents. If you believe a criminal record on your report is inaccurate, our teams have a commitment to providing a fast response to performing additional research and validating the accuracy of the record. To dispute any inaccuracies, click here: https://www.applyconnect.com/consumer-disputes
Please note that ApplyConnect does not have any control over whether a landlord or real estate agent will hold the property you are applying for while the dispute process is happening. Our teams expedite the process, but many landlords/agents choose to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible, and may not be willing to wait even a few extra days while the dispute process is happening. Consult with your landlord/agent about making accommodations to hold the property for you.
- While numerous measures are taken to ensure report accuracy, there may occasionally be information that is incorrect. In this case, please click the ‘Dispute Inaccuracies’ tab within the Rental Applicant’s Dashboard and follow the listed steps in order for a consumer relations specialist to assist you. You may also click here: https://www.applyconnect.com/consumer-disputes
Pricing & Payment
ApplyConnect’s credit and background reports are only $39.95, and by default are paid for by the rental applicant. The property operator may pay for the credit and background report if they choose to. As a portable/reusable background report option, ApplyConnect gives applicants the ability to share that report with three individual properties in one month of their search for a new home for $39.95. If you have questions regarding enabling landlord/realtor payments, bank account authorizations, or payment receipts, click the questions below for more information.
Cost is only incurred when you use ApplyConnect for your online tenant screening needs. There are no monthly service charges, set-up fees, or other hidden costs. Our ApplyConnect reports are $39.95. Applicants are responsible for purchasing their own reports by default within the website. Simply create an account and use ApplyConnect only as often as you need to. You don’t even need to register a credit card on file in order to create your personal account!
Reports are free by default for landlords and real estate agents! As is common during the rental process, the rental applicant is responsible for fees incurred in order to rent a property. Once a report has been requested, it becomes the applicant’s responsibility to purchase the report for $39.95, which allows the renter to apply to up to three properties within 30 days of purchase.
To enable the landlord/real estate agent payments from your Dashboard, click on ‘My Account’, then scroll down until you see the extra features section. Click the box next to ‘Enable Landlord/Agent Payment’. Once you click on the ‘Enable Landlord/Agent Payment’ box, you will need to enter your credit card information and then click the ‘Save Changes’ button to complete the process to pay for your prospective applicant(s) ApplyConnect report(s). Remember when sending out invitations to make sure and click the box next to ‘Enable Landlord/Agent Payment’ on the invitation before you send it out.
The charge is incurred after the rental applicant has completed the application request, entered their information, and successfully passed their out of wallet identity authentication online.
A charge is an electronic transaction whereby an amount of money is transferred from the purchaser’s account as part of an online process.
With an authorization, the funds remain in the purchaser’s account (they are only kept aside temporarily while the validity of the credit card and availability of funds are verified), whereas with a charge the funds are transferred out of the account as part of the purchase.
Some credit cards operate under the dual debit-credit system (that is, the same card can function as a debit card or credit card), which is why it is possible that an authorization may appear in the purchaser’s online bank account summary, despite the fact that the amount hasn’t been debited. ApplyConnect representatives do not have the ability to remove authorizations. The purchaser will need to wait until the bank removes them, which can take up to 7 business days.
ApplyConnect will issue the credit within 24 hours. The purchaser’s bank may take up to seven business days to reflect the refund in the online summary of the credit card.
While it may appear that the credit card has been charged twice for a report request, the pending item the purchaser may notice on a bank statement is actually an authorization. Authorizations are the initial communication between ApplyConnect’s billing system and the bank’s billing system. While the purchaser may see multiple pending listings in the account, only one charge will be deducted after the authorization is completed. When this final deduction occurs, the charge will be posted to the account as successful. ApplyConnect will not bill an account until we receive an approved authorization from the bank. Authorizations are processed each time a rental applicant successfully passes authentication. When a purchaser checks his or her bank account, payment authorizations will often be listed as pending. These authorizations can remain on the purchaser’s account for anywhere from 7 to 10 days, depending on the bank. The purchaser may contact his or her bank to confirm the charge for the report request with ApplyConnect, or to check on the authorization status.
In most cases, an email is sent to the party paying the night of the transaction. Unfortunately, at this time, ApplyConnect does not issue formal receipts on the website or have the ability to generate a duplicate email receipt. Purchasers have the option to print the Payment Confirmation screen after entering credit card information to serve as a receipt if necessary.
Pricing & Payment
ApplyConnect’s credit and background reports are only $39.95, and by default are paid for by the rental applicant. The property operator may pay for the credit and background report if they choose to. As a portable/reusable background report option, ApplyConnect gives applicants the ability to share that report with three individual properties in one month of their search for a new home for $39.95. If you have questions regarding enabling landlord/realtor payments, bank account authorizations, or payment receipts, click the questions below for more information.
Cost is only incurred when you use ApplyConnect for your online tenant screening needs. There are no monthly service charges, set-up fees, or other hidden costs. Our ApplyConnect reports are $39.95. Applicants are responsible for purchasing their own reports by default within the website. Simply create an account and use ApplyConnect only as often as you need to. You don’t even need to register a credit card on file in order to create your personal account!
Reports are free by default for landlords and real estate agents! As is common during the rental process, the rental applicant is responsible for fees incurred in order to rent a property. Once a report has been requested, it becomes the applicant’s responsibility to purchase the report for $39.95, which allows the renter to apply to up to three properties within 30 days of purchase.
To enable the landlord/real estate agent payments from your Dashboard, click on ‘My Account’, then scroll down until you see the extra features section. Click the box next to ‘Enable Landlord/Agent Payment’. Once you click on the ‘Enable Landlord/Agent Payment’ box, you will need to enter your credit card information and then click the ‘Save Changes’ button to complete the process to pay for your prospective applicant(s) ApplyConnect report(s). Remember when sending out invitations to make sure and click the box next to ‘Enable Landlord/Agent Payment’ on the invitation before you send it out.
The charge is incurred after the rental applicant has completed the application request, entered their information, and successfully passed their out of wallet identity authentication online.
A charge is an electronic transaction whereby an amount of money is transferred from the purchaser’s account as part of an online process.
With an authorization, the funds remain in the purchaser’s account (they are only kept aside temporarily while the validity of the credit card and availability of funds are verified), whereas with a charge the funds are transferred out of the account as part of the purchase.
Some credit cards operate under the dual debit-credit system (that is, the same card can function as a debit card or credit card), which is why it is possible that an authorization may appear in the purchaser’s online bank account summary, despite the fact that the amount hasn’t been debited. ApplyConnect representatives do not have the ability to remove authorizations. The purchaser will need to wait until the bank removes them, which can take up to 7 business days.
ApplyConnect will issue the credit within 24 hours. The purchaser’s bank may take up to seven business days to reflect the refund in the online summary of the credit card.
While it may appear that the credit card has been charged twice for a report request, the pending item the purchaser may notice on a bank statement is actually an authorization. Authorizations are the initial communication between ApplyConnect’s billing system and the bank’s billing system. While the purchaser may see multiple pending listings in the account, only one charge will be deducted after the authorization is completed. When this final deduction occurs, the charge will be posted to the account as successful. ApplyConnect will not bill an account until we receive an approved authorization from the bank. Authorizations are processed each time a rental applicant successfully passes authentication. When a purchaser checks his or her bank account, payment authorizations will often be listed as pending. These authorizations can remain on the purchaser’s account for anywhere from 7 to 10 days, depending on the bank. The purchaser may contact his or her bank to confirm the charge for the report request with ApplyConnect, or to check on the authorization status.
In most cases, an email is sent to the party paying the night of the transaction. Unfortunately, at this time, ApplyConnect does not issue formal receipts on the website or have the ability to generate a duplicate email receipt. Purchasers have the option to print the Payment Confirmation screen after entering credit card information to serve as a receipt if necessary.
Support hours are Monday – Friday from 7am – 5pm PDT.