ALL CV Assn’s Can Now Pay $25 For Investigations!!

You now have another alternative. You can choose to continue to pay another vendor $150 or you can pay $25 to use Verify Screening Solutions Inc., an investigations company that I’ve been working with for the last five years and that does an average of 5000 screening applications per month. I’ll show you below a copy of one of their reports, which is more detailed than what you receive when you pay $150.

Verify Screening Solutions (VSSI) has created a brand-new online portal that any Century Village Association can now use to obtain their investigations reports within 48 hours!

By the way, there is a common misconception that the $150 fee is used only to complete the investigation screening report by the investigations committee. In reality, the $150 is used to investigate all aspects of the application, including reviewing the information on the application, providing answers to estoppel requests, reviewing information on the purchase documents AND the investigation screening report. The report itself is just a small part of the whole investigations process, which is why Florida statutes allow for a $150 fee.

It’s a very simple process. Here’s how it works: 

1. The applicant pays the Association Board $125, or whatever amount the board usually requires, minus $25 less than the amount that the board usually requires.

EXAMPLE: If the board normally requires a check for $150, the board will now ask for a check for $125. They will put this check into their bank account.

 2. The APPLICANT goes onto the following website (see flyer below):  www.applyfastnow.com .

3. The applicant enters the following code: CV450774.

4. The applicant is taken to the beginning of the online application.

5. The applicant will complete the online application.

Very Important! During the process, the applicant will be asked for the name and the email address of the board member who is to receive the report. Be sure to give the applicant this information before they go online to submit their online application.

6. The applicant will pay $25 using a credit card to pay for the online application. That’s where the other $25 went that was subtracted from the $150.

The board member whose name and email were entered on the application will receive a completed, detailed report with all of the information relating to the investigation. For a list of the sections that will be on the report, see my earlier post explaining Investigation fees charged by your current investigations committee. Why does UCO charge $150 to do a screening investigation when everyone charges 133% less? (sheff-d.com)

The board can request additional options for the screening reports, such as County database searches, international searches, etc. I would recommend that you have the applicant complete the rest of the paperwork first so it can be reviewed by the board prior to the applicant completing the investigations application. This will allow the board to determine whether any additional screening searches would be necessary. If a board has questions on what should be screened in addition to the basic application, you can contact the phone number and email listed at the bottom of the Verify Screening Solutions flyer below.

Also, you can also reach me to answer questions. If I can’t answer the questions, I’ll get you an answer. Enjoy all of that windfall of extra money to spend on your patios, grills etc., instead of giving it to UCO! YOU ARE MOST WELCOME!

By the way, don’t let any organization or vendor bully or intimidate you into paying more than $25-$35 for a basic investigation, which is 99% of what you’ve been receiving from your current investigations resource. You are the Association Board of Administration. You are the ultimate authority for what happens in your Association.

If you feel afraid or concerned that you might be doing something wrong by going to someone other than your current investigations company, then this is what you do:

1. Request the rate sheet of the investigations company which outlines prices for each of type of search, i.e. Basic, Advanced, International, County Searches, etc.

2.Tell them which of the searches you wish to pay for. Pay only that amount!

3. Ensure that you get a receipt for payment at the time you pay, which should also indicate the type of search that you paid for.

By the way, if you’re told that you need to do an international search, be aware that international searches could cost up to $1000, which will only search the immediate area or locality where the person lived, and no other area in that country. So, in essence, you’re paying $1000 for something that will probably not even come back. Most companies will not do the international search for that reason unless there is evidence of ties to terrorism or other major negative indicators for that person. When is the last time you had someone like that apply for residents in your Association?

Also, keep in mind that if you are told that you must pay $40 extra because the applicant lives in one of the five boroughs of New York city, a County database search cannot be done à la carte in the state of New York. If you want to do a County database search, it covers all of the counties in New York. The cost for the County database search is $98.00. I’ve never requested a County database search for an applicant from New York City. But that’s just me. It’s your choice.

Here’s a copy of a recent report. Use the controls at the bottom to customize your view. The highlighted areas are all of the sections that will be searched.