Hi all, I'm in the midst of dealing with a frustrating situation re: applying for lease. I apologize in advance for the length, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible. Anybody that has it it in them to read and give any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm moving in with gf and on Friday applied for an apt. When they attempted to run my credit check, it came back, in the words of the... [more]
Hi all, I'm in the midst of dealing with a frustrating situation re: applying for lease. I apologize in advance for the length, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible. Anybody that has it it in them to read and give any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I'm moving in with gf and on Friday applied for an apt. When they attempted to run my credit check, it came back, in the words of the management company, "as if I don't exist". Now, I don't have a credit card, or any loans / mortgages etc, and I let them know that. They said that's not what was happening. Even if I had no credit history, a) that would be fine based on all my other info and b) it still should return a result / file, but it was just giving them an error. They tried their preferred credit bureau (Experian) and the other 2 - same thing happened with all 3. The leasing director also told me things like student loans (even if it was under my parent's name), medical bills, utility bills, etc would appear on my report.
I first tried to call the credit bureaus and it was impossible to get a hold of somebody to talk to. After trying to talk to somebody at all 3, I tried to get my own report at all 3 via their automated system, and was greeted with an error as well (could not process your request). At that point, I contacted the SS department and was able to verify there was nothing wrong with that (all my info checked out and matched).
After a google search, I was able to reach a cust service rep TransUnion at this number: 1-800-916-8800. I gave my info to the rep, and within 5 seconds said he was looking at my file. I said, "so I have a file and am in your system, but I just have an empty history?", and he confirmed. I called management company back, and they asked me to have them fax / email them the report. I called TU back and was told they don't fax / email, but they can mail it (which I asked for) but that would take 5-7 business days, which would obv not be in time to get this apartment.
They referred me to annualcreditrport.com and said I could get my own file there immediately. I tried, and was greeted with an "unable to honor your request" error, which I imagine is what was happening to management company. I called mgmt company back, told them they don't fax / email, but I asked for a mailed copy. They said that would do no good. I called TU back, asked to talk to supervisor, and asked why I exist in their system, but when the leasing company tried to access my report it was giving an error. He said he could see in his system the company inquired about my credit earlier in the day and received my complete info / file. I said they were getting an error. He said they could call their marketing dept and get it straightened out. I asked for this # and he said he could not give it out as it was for bankers / creditors only, but they "definitely have it". I passed this along to mgmnt company and of course, they don't know what I'm talking about.
That's where I stand as of end of day Friday. I'm going to call TU back Monday morning and ask how they can obtain this marketing dept #, but am not expecting much. In the meantime, I actually signed up for TransUnion, and am able to login using my info and see my file.
I have a couple questions:
- I asked many people (family attorney, my financial institutions, friends who have experience with this) for some insight. They all came said the same thing: "well, do you have a credit history"? I said no cc / loans, and they said, well, that's what will happen. I asked about student loans, medical bills etc etc and they said they wouldn't appear on my report. This is in direct opposition to what the leasing director of the mgmnt company told me. Who's right?
- Both I and leasing agent realized this was something that probably wasn't going to get fixed in a day. I asked about having my gf be the sole leaseholder or my dad being a guarantor. I also have all other documentation: letter of employment, W-2s, pay stubs, financial account info, bank accnt info, letter from current landlord (I've lived at my current 4 BR apt for 8 years, the last 5 of which I've been sole leasholder). They said neither would work - they don't give keys to somebody they can't run a credit report on. I eventually even offered to pay 6 months rent up front, and they declined.
This seems pretty strict, but I don't have much experience. Until I fix this situation, can I expect the same from other potential apartments? Or is this management company being stricter than is normal?
I also feel like the woman should have known that the credit bureau wouldn't fax / email me the report if that's their policy. I asked her to just call the same # I did and they'd be told the same thing. They said it's not their problem, and that we only have one more chance for them to run a credit check as part of our $200 total application fee.
- Obviously having no credit history causing these issues is embarrassing, I just never felt the need to get a credit card. I applied and was approved for a credit card over the weekend, but it won't arrive for a week. How long will it take to establish a credit score? Will simply the act of receiving a credit card "snap" my credit profile into place? Or will I need to pay for and pay off a month? Or more?
- Why, if I have a file, is it returning an error when searching? I'd imagine this is due to my blank credit history. But shouldn't THAT return, and not an error? Is there any # I can call the other credit bureaus at and actually talk to somebody?
Thanks so much to anybody that's made it this far.
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Response by front_porch
over 10 years ago
Posts: 5317
Member since: Mar 2008
Well, in the long run, you need to establish a credit history. The best way to do this is probably one general card (think MasterCard or Visa) that you charge stuff on and pay in full each month, and one department store card (think Bloomie's, Macy) that you do the same thing with. I would think that the process of establishing credit by doing this isn't going to be instant, but you probably want to do it. Bernie123 , if he's around, can weigh in with even better thoughts.
For now, I would think you could get a broker to run your credit using whatever product they use (CoreLogic SafeRent or similar) or you could probably sign up and generate a report on yourself and show it to the management company. If the student loans were in your name, they would definitely show up on this kind of report; IDK if that's the case if they're in your parent's file. The danger you'll run into, of course, is that this is the product that the management company already tried to use.
Running your credit that way is going to run somewhere in the $40-$75 range each time, but it might be worth it because of your need for speed.
Current landlord reports aren't worth that much, because if your current landlord hates you, of course they're going to say nice things about you to offload you onto the next landlord. Going back to the previous landlord and getting a reference letter would have some weight, but it sounds like the landlord you had before this might have been student housing.
So the move that you might need to make is to buy an insurance policy (Insurent is the one I know of). This is majorly not cheap, but if you want the apartment and they won't take a guarantor, and you already know that whatever credit report you generate is going to contain a bunch of codes like "accounts not found" it's probably your only way to this particular apartment.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
ali r.
{downtown broker}
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Response by Hammy
over 10 years ago
Posts: 45
Member since: Mar 2007
I'd say get a different apt and have your GF on the lease with no mention of you living there. Use your Dad as the guarantor. Your GF is allowed in NY state to have a roommate.
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Response by crescent22
over 10 years ago
Posts: 953
Member since: Apr 2008
Go to creditkarma.com. It will spit out your TU and Experian reports for free. It might end up with the same no history outcome, but at least you can try and maybe submit what they have to the mgmt co. and see if they will accept it.
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Well, in the long run, you need to establish a credit history. The best way to do this is probably one general card (think MasterCard or Visa) that you charge stuff on and pay in full each month, and one department store card (think Bloomie's, Macy) that you do the same thing with. I would think that the process of establishing credit by doing this isn't going to be instant, but you probably want to do it. Bernie123 , if he's around, can weigh in with even better thoughts.
For now, I would think you could get a broker to run your credit using whatever product they use (CoreLogic SafeRent or similar) or you could probably sign up and generate a report on yourself and show it to the management company. If the student loans were in your name, they would definitely show up on this kind of report; IDK if that's the case if they're in your parent's file. The danger you'll run into, of course, is that this is the product that the management company already tried to use.
Running your credit that way is going to run somewhere in the $40-$75 range each time, but it might be worth it because of your need for speed.
Current landlord reports aren't worth that much, because if your current landlord hates you, of course they're going to say nice things about you to offload you onto the next landlord. Going back to the previous landlord and getting a reference letter would have some weight, but it sounds like the landlord you had before this might have been student housing.
So the move that you might need to make is to buy an insurance policy (Insurent is the one I know of). This is majorly not cheap, but if you want the apartment and they won't take a guarantor, and you already know that whatever credit report you generate is going to contain a bunch of codes like "accounts not found" it's probably your only way to this particular apartment.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
ali r.
{downtown broker}
I'd say get a different apt and have your GF on the lease with no mention of you living there. Use your Dad as the guarantor. Your GF is allowed in NY state to have a roommate.
Go to creditkarma.com. It will spit out your TU and Experian reports for free. It might end up with the same no history outcome, but at least you can try and maybe submit what they have to the mgmt co. and see if they will accept it.