How to verify SS #
So I have a cosigner's SS number from his paper application. I also had him complete a background check through mysmartmove. The smartmove report indicates that I should verify his SS # because it may be invalid.
What is the best/fastest/cheapest way to do this?
Did you ask the cosigner if it is correct? It's either a typo or fraudulent. You're either going to hear back from them with oops, here's the correct number or never hear back from them.
Originally posted by @Todd Plambeck:
Did you ask the cosigner if it is correct? It's either a typo or fraudulent. You're either going to hear back from them with oops, here's the correct number or never hear back from them.
Yes I did. They verified with the number previously given. The issue may be that they have recently emigrated to the USA.
#2 General Landlording & Rental Properties Contributor
Simply tell the co-signer there is a problem with his SS# and until he can get it resolved you will not be able to use him as a co-signer for the applicant.
Move on to another applicant, ideally one that can qualify on their own.
The easiest/best way would be to view the actual SS card and verify the number printed on the card is the same as what you were given and the name matches their driver's license.
@Kyle J. That's exactly what I'm doing. Thanks.
If you pull credit reports from the major reporting companies, they will flag any inconsistencies, including prior addresses. Both are very useful in screening.
@Kyle J. I guess not too many people carry the SS card or even know where they place it nowaday with all the technology. If it is a requirement for every showing, the tenant demand might be really slim. The credit report consistency sound more promising.
Originally posted by @Chan K.:@Kyle J. I guess not too many people carry the SS card or even know where they place it nowaday with all the technology. If it is a requirement for every showing, the tenant demand might be really slim. The credit report consistency sound more promising.
Agreed. (In fact, no one should be carrying around their SS card on a regular basis.) But if the credit check flags a SS number as being possibly invalid (something I have also seen when screening tenants), there's really no other good way to verify it short of putting your eyes on the actual SS card. Bottom line, if an applicant's SS number gets flagged as possibly being invalid and the applicant can't produce the card to verify it, then you shouldn't be accepting them.
if a new immigrant could not produce a ss card, I'd be leary
i have copies of the SS card. Names match up with drivers license and application. Thanks!
@Max T. I'd worry about this. Who is the tenant who needs a co-signer? And if the co-signer just moved here, they won't have any credit you can verify anyway, so they'd be useless as a co-signer.
So, you'd have an iffy tenant with an iffy co-signer. I just don't think that's a good idea.
If only there were a government form you could fill out that would do this...
Oh wait, there's not one but TWO forms you could fill out. If you're a landlord and didn't purchase all-cash, you're already familiar with BOTH of these forms!
The SSA-89 process is a bit of a pain for a smalltime landlord to deal with.
But the IRS form 4506-T process is fairly easy, with instructions right on it, and you verify the integrity of the tax returns they provided to boot. Just ensure you TYPE IN the information from the tax returns EXACTLY PERFECTLY, including "Drive" versus "drive" versus "Dr" versus "Dr.", and so on.
