Rental Application Form: Is this fishy?

[Stiganator]

I live in a college town and half the student population is from out of state.

I was talking to a manager at the place and she said you don't make 3x the rent you need a cosigner. That's no problem, but she says the cosigner has to local or within one hour. I said that was very strange, she says they physically drive to the cosigner if you default.

Also looking at the application,

They ask for Checkings, Savings, and Credit Card account numbers, which seems a little shady.

The cosigner thing is weird, but I make enough that it shouldn't be a problem.

Is asking for account numbers even legal?

 

[slpaulson]

Asking for account numbers seems pretty shady to me.

 

[waggy]

never seen one that asked for account numbers. then again i havent rented in over 14 years

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I live in a college town and half the student population is from out of state.

I was talking to a manager at the place and she said you don't make 3x the rent you need a cosigner. That's no problem, but she says the cosigner has to local or within one hour. I said that was very strange, she says they physically drive to the cosigner if you default.

Also looking at the application,

They ask for Checkings, Savings, and Credit Card account numbers, which seems a little shady.

The cosigner thing is weird, but I make enough that it shouldn't be a problem.

Is asking for account numbers even legal?

Legal? I don't know, but I'd balk at giving them any actual Credit Card numbers. That's out of hand.

 

[ScottyB]

Legal or not, I wouldn't give my account numbers.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Legal or not, I wouldn't give my account numbers.

:thumbsup:

 

[CZroe]

The account numbers thing is pretty normal. I got two applications last week and both asked for them. It's so that they can check on your credit.

 

[Stiganator]

This just seems shady, because I know all you need for a credit check is a name and maybe a SSN.

 

[alm4rr]

it's so when you default they know where they can go for money w/the sheriff (nothing stops you from closing the account tho)

 

[TipsyMcStagger]

Originally posted by: CZroe
The account numbers thing is pretty normal. I got two applications last week and both asked for them. It's so that they can check on your credit.

they don't need credit card acct#'s to check your credit. It seems to me that they want the #'s so they can try to charge your card in the event you damage the place and refuse to pay.

 

[NL5]

Originally posted by: TipsyMcStagger

Originally posted by: CZroe
The account numbers thing is pretty normal. I got two applications last week and both asked for them. It's so that they can check on your credit.

they don't need credit card acct#'s to check your credit. It seems to me that they want the #'s so they can try to charge your card in the event you damage the place and refuse to pay.

The account # comes up when you do a credit report IIRC. I've got a few here, I'll find one and see in a few...

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
They ask for Checkings, Savings, and Credit Card account numbers, which seems a little shady.

It is shady. Tell them you refuse to provide any account information. If they insist, rent elsewhere.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: TipsyMcStagger

Originally posted by: CZroe
The account numbers thing is pretty normal. I got two applications last week and both asked for them. It's so that they can check on your credit.

they don't need credit card acct#'s to check your credit. It seems to me that they want the #'s so they can try to charge your card in the event you damage the place and refuse to pay.

Then they'll find that it's even easier to refuse an unauthorized credit charge I don't think thats it.

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: alm4rr
it's so when you default they know where they can go for money w/the sheriff (nothing stops you from closing the account tho)

This happened in my case. I gave the account numbers and the day after they checked my credit and approved I closed the account and got one with another bank. Zing!

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I was talking to a manager at the place and she said you don't make 3x the rent you need a cosigner. That's no problem, but she says the cosigner has to local or within one hour. I said that was very strange, she says they physically drive to the cosigner if you default.

Account numbers or no, this would make me walk away.

 

[Modelworks]

I would not give out my credit or banking account numbers.
They do not need those to check your credit.
All they need to check your credit is name, social security number.

Most places that want a checking account number want it so that they can do a direct draft from your account. Do not allow this. I stopped writing checks for just this reason.
Any merchant can issue a EFT on your account once they have the account and routing number , both are on every check you write.

Credit cards are vulnerable too, but the difference is you can dispute the charges with the bank and get a hold put on the charges. With EFT the money is taken out and you do not get it back until you clear it with whoever charged it. So that is cash you do without until you resolve it. Most banks take the approach, you should not have given them the numbers if you did not want them to charge it.

 

[alm4rr]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Any merchant can issue a EFT on your account once they have the account and routing number , both are on every check you write.

without authorization, it would be an unlawful transfer and the bank would have to recredit your account.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: middlehead

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I was talking to a manager at the place and she said you don't make 3x the rent you need a cosigner. That's no problem, but she says the cosigner has to local or within one hour. I said that was very strange, she says they physically drive to the cosigner if you default.

Account numbers or no, this would make me walk away.

These are the kind that have hidden cameras.

 

[beguile]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I live in a college town and half the student population is from out of state.

I was talking to a manager at the place and she said you don't make 3x the rent you need a cosigner. That's no problem, but she says the cosigner has to local or within one hour. I said that was very strange, she says they physically drive to the cosigner if you default.

Also looking at the application,

They ask for Checkings, Savings, and Credit Card account numbers, which seems a little shady.

The cosigner thing is weird, but I make enough that it shouldn't be a problem.

Is asking for account numbers even legal?

You live out of state so the circumstances might be different. Look around and if you do encounter the same type of circumstances, then it might be the standard in dealing with out of state students.

Try to look at their perspective if you try to default and not pay rent. How would you deal with the situation? Do you think what they are asking reasonable?

 

[Chiropteran]

The checking account number seems to be standard. Anyone you write a check to has it anyway, it can't be too much of a risk. As far as credit cards and savings accounts, I'd say no.

 

[Stiganator]

I've talked to all my friends and even a guy who lived in the same apartment, but they didn't do that then. Noone around here has heard of such a thing.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I've talked to all my friends and even a guy who lived in the same apartment, but they didn't do that then. Noone around here has heard of such a thing.

Sounds fishy as hell to me.

 

[Captante]

I wouldn't do it.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: alm4rr

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Any merchant can issue a EFT on your account once they have the account and routing number , both are on every check you write.

without authorization, it would be an unlawful transfer and the bank would have to recredit your account.

Yes, but until you can prove it is an unlawful transfer that is money that you do not have in your account.

 

[Vic]

No, it's not fishy.