UK Tenant Data

BlackBird75

I wouldn't expect a legitimate, professional company to have someone start posting anonymous support on a forum such as this. I would consider that a red flag and advise caution to any prospective customers.

I would look at alternative companies offering a similar service and see if their Companies House records showed similar.

I would also ask the Data Commissioner (or whatever they are called this week) to take a look at whether this company is handling data securely.

The OP is right to be cautious about their personal data.

Mamalikes2sing

I am dealing with these at the minute as we sold our house and need somewhere to live while our new build is completed.

They are asking for more information that our mortgage application and have requested names of landlords from 10+ years ago and my husbands proof of ownership of a house he bought with an ex girlfriend 10 years ago that he no longer holds any information for

silvercar

That is the second new poster on the thread with criticism of the company.

Always surprising what attracts new posters to MSE!

BlackBird75

Mamalikes2sing wrote: »

I am dealing with these at the minute as we sold our house and need somewhere to live while our new build is completed.

They are asking for more information that our mortgage application and have requested names of landlords from 10+ years ago and my husbands proof of ownership of a house he bought with an ex girlfriend 10 years ago that he no longer holds any information for

Unfortunately, I think the existence of companies like this is a sign of more prospective tenants than properties available to let. If landlords and letting agents have enough demand from tenants willing to jump through all these hoops, then they will aim for this increased level of background information.

Humdinger1

I'm not sure if either of these above companies were involved - but a friend of mine declined last year to hand over info that would have enabled a total identity theft - passport, NI no, bank acct details - all to be a guarantor for her daughter's student accommodation. She paid up front for a year I think but when discussing it with the rental agency, they did confirm that more and more people were declining to hand over all these details

Once_Bitten_thrice

Where do I start with this company?
They ask for far more information than they actually require and pursue this aggressively. Their website is FULL of blind links and has been for months. Their referencing is questionable and it seems like they will do anything just to get the tenant passed. For example, they credit check people on addresses they have lived at only very briefly which can lead to false results as there has not been enough time for the tenant to build up any sort of history. I have even seen them credit check people using a hotel as their address! They take an age to answer the phone and never come back to you when you leave a message. They also used to save private landlord information on the system and make it available to competing lettings agents (don't know if they still do)! I think the ICO would have a word to say on that.
I'm an agent who used them for a while but I never would again.