I have a tenant that did not pay his rent. I took him to small claims court and got a judgement in my favor. I turned it over to a collection agency that did not do anything and have since been fired. I want this on the tenents credit reports as well as collection advice.

State Specific Question About: IDAHO (ID)

How much money? Is it worth the headache and heartache? If just a few hundred $$ forget it and move on.

Are they collectible- as in working? Can you find them?

Collections is an an entire weekend seminar!

The colection process starts when they apply. Get real, usable info.

Examine your app and give it teeth for such collections sin the future.

Preparation: get with your local LL assoc. lay this out to an experienced, happy, wealthy LL and ask for direction.

First step: gotta find them - a real home or work address - to serve with court papers. Our group networks - they rented from SOMEONE. We can send out emails to members "Help me find my skipper".

To avoid this in the future, at lease signing, we get 4+ Emergency Contacts per adult with their signature stating "persons listed are authorized to accept notices on my behalf." If they skip, I can serve 8 other people. I now have a court hearing.

Start with their app and start poking around. It's not rocket science - just phone calls, asking neighbors/friends, former LLs...

They must be collectible:

Ideally - a job to garnish

Disability and SSI is not garnishable

Social Security is workable thru court but they probably don't make enough.

Be prepared that some people are just broke or deadbeats and you'll never see a penny. At that point make a decision to invest MORE energy and life or spend your energies making more money rather than chasing non-payers.

I usually feel like the dog chasing and barking at a car moving away. The dog feels like he's in charge but it does nothing except wear him out. Better to chase a tasty squirrel.

Credit report: a court judgment usually shows on the report. But people in this boat have such a lousy score they don't care about another hit.

I thought there was a link on MR. LL where you could report bad debt yourself... so it would be on their credit report?