In this article, you'll learn about the results of credit checks from Certn. This article is part of a set. To learn more, read our overview article for this check and our article about ordering this check.

Open the report

When a credit check is completed, you can view the report results. The way you access your report results depends on how you order Certn background checks:

• Using Certn's web application: From your dashboard, select an application to view its report. 
• Using Certn's API: Refer to our API documentation for help requesting report results. 
• Using your applicant tracking software (ATS): Check our Integrations section for instructions.

Explanation of results

On the report you receive, the overall score the credit check will be one of the following:

• Clear
• Review

The result is determined by comparing your applicants’s provided information such as name, date of birth, address, and the information available through credit reporting agencies.

Clear

If the check’s result is Clear, then all of the following are true: 

• Certn was able to return results from the credit reporting agency. 
• The credit history retrieved by Certn did not include any notable warnings or review flags based on collections, bankruptcies, judgments, non-sufficient funds, deposit alerts, tax liens or other risks identified by the credit reporting agency.

In addition to above, for Property Management (PM) clients:

• The applicant’s credit score is higher than 700.

Review

If the check’s result is Review, then one or more of the following are true:

• Certn was unable to return results from the credit reporting agency. 
• The credit reporting agency has been asked to freeze the account. 
• The financial information retrieved from the credit reporting agency shows notable warnings or review flags based on collections, bankruptcies, judgments, non-sufficient funds, deposit alerts, tax liens or other risks identified by the credit reporting agency. 

In addition to above, for Property Management (PM) clients:

• The applicant’s credit score is lower than 700.

Next steps

After you receive the check results, you may have all you require to continue with your hiring or tenancy application process. In other cases, you or your applicant may want to follow the results with additional steps. 

If a credit check returns a No Hit, No Records Found or ERS Not Available result, Certn recommends the following:

1. Confirm the applicant has a reportable credit history through a credit reporting agency. For example, confirm with the applicant they have a phone or utility bill in their name, credit card, or loan with a creditor.
2. Confirm with the applicant they have provided the correct name and it matches the name available through the credit reporting agency. For example, if the applicant provided a married name through the application but a maiden name is still being used with the credit reporting agencies. 
3. Confirm with the applicant the address provided matches at least one address available through credit reporting agencies (the address is attached to the applicant’s credit history).

Once you confirm the applicant has a reportable credit history and the applicant has identified a better name or address to include in their application, Certn recommends ordering a new credit check and asking the applicant to complete it with the updated information.

If ordering a new check with the updated information did not return results, please contact us for next steps.

In some cases, Certn may ask the applicant to follow up directly with the credit reporting agency to resolve the issue.