BiggerPockets

I use NTNonline they have been fairly priced and you get quick service. As long as you have online access you can do a credit and eviction report in about 5 minutes on an individual for 12.50.

Years later...Search around for your state's criminal and civil records website. Though they don't give credit scores, as a screening tactic they can reveal volumes about someone's past, and you can be looking up someone while you're talking to them. Here are some I've used, I think they are all free. Please add your state if you know it, :

Minnesota: http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspx

North Dakota: http://www.ndcourts.gov/publicsearch/contactsearch.aspx

Wisconsin: http://wcca.wicourts.gov/simpleCaseSearch.xsl;jsessionid=368B0DC7CFAB7FFBFB4A2F7DB4A14E68.render6

Indiana: http://mycase.in.gov/default.aspx

North Carolina: http://www1.aoc.state.nc.us/www/calendars/CriminalQuery.html

I just used this one: https://rentalhunt.mysmartmove.com/ by transunion although I think it might have been pricier than some of the other ones listed here. I just liked how I didn't need to qualify to run a credit report because the tenant logs in and authorizes you to run their credit. They also give the option to have you pay, or the tenant can pay. I collected an application fee from the tenant and then just paid it myself.

I ran TransUnion Credit and Criminal Background for $25. Again, seems more expensive, but they seem to run alot of databases.

if you have tenants who need credit repair HELP... here's the guy to contact.
He's professional/certified

David Rodriguez
www.ConsumerCreditAuditors.com/pc
www.ArbaFinancial.com

I use Kroll Factual Data. It's about $22 for the credit and criminal. Most of that is for criminal. I think the credit part is only about $9. I always run both.

I have to go down to the county and run my own eviction. They aren't on line. I run (county wide) criminal while I am there. That's free and takes only a few seconds.

The criminal seems to be quite good on Kroll. They pick up things that the applicant claims was expunged.

I get an easy to read and complete credit report, so I can see exactly what the problem is and whether or not it is something I count or ignore. As far as I can see, credit scores without the report are totally worthless.

They do require the office inspection and they do insist upon good security for the data they deliver.

Thanks for the tip, P NW. That's a pretty sweet deal for both criminal and credit.

Even better!

Now if only BP could have an investor screening platform as well, it totally would make my day...