I am writing this as a former employee of this company. I should have figured something was wrong when I was hired on the spot to work for the company, but I needed a job, so I accepted.
This company lists ads in places like the pennysaver for rental homes and properties that are SUPPOSEDLY for rent. If a potential customer calls the company and ask about the properties, we are to give the person one of 4 addresses in the area for them to go and "look at the outside and the neighborhood." We are also told to tell the callers that "they are NOT to go up to the house and speak to the current tenants due to liability issues" when in fact, they have us say it because the PROPERTIES ARE NOT, NOR HAVE THEY EVER BEEN AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL AND PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE!
When the callers call back after seeing the "home for rent" they are instructed that they need to come into the office and sign up to become clients with our firm so that we can turn in their application to the owner of the house that they looked at. The application process consists of a $150 fee which includes a $50 credit check (which is done over the phone with Experian FOR FREE!!!), a $20 "application fee" and an $80 hold on the property.
The common story is that only 2 applications have been taken for the property and we won't turn in any apps until there are 4.. But again, those properties are not available to these applicants nor any others! When the (now) client calls about the rental, we are to tell the customer that the owner decided on renting to someone else but here's a list of current open properties—only these are more expensive and NOT exclusive to Renters Choice; they are just taken off the MLS website.
There is a "no refund for 90 days" policy in effect, also, so when people find out that they cannot get the home they looked at, they still have to wait 90 days, IF they remember to send a letter in writing to request the refund.
This is a blatant ripoff!
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