Landlords face major headaches from fraudulent applications and tenants who don’t pay rent. With an increasing number of reports, staying safe during the rental process is crucial.
Because of this, landlords often turn to tools like Snappt to identify these red flags. But is Snappt truly effective? Does it benefit both tenants and landlords?
Reports show that Snappt is often criticized for inaccurate results and lacks government regulation. Essentially, it makes its own rules, which can be challenged under the Fair Housing Act.
This guide will explore Snappt’s effectiveness, user experiences, and how to navigate around them.
Keep reading!
What is Snappt, and Why Was It Created?
Snappt is an online tool started in 2016 to fight the growing problem of fake documents in rental applications. As more people applied online, it became easier to fake financial documents like pay stubs and bank statements.
This made it difficult for property managers to determine whether someone could really pay rent or might cause problems.
Snappt’s creators developed a system using AI technology to address the situation. It checks digital documents for signs of forgery.
How Does Snappt Work to Verify Documents?
How this tool works can be broken down into several key steps:
1. Document Submission
When applying to rent a property, you, as a prospective tenant, typically need to provide various documents. The documents are to show your financial status and rental background.
These often include:
⦿ Bank statements displaying account balances and transaction history
Read More: What Counts as Proof of Income?
After submitting these documents, landlords or property managers upload them to Snappt for detailed analysis.
2. AI-Powered Document Analysis
Snappt then employs computer programs to examine the submitted documents. This involves checking:
⦿ Font styles, sizes, and formatting to ensure consistency
⦿ Hidden metadata in digital files to reveal any differences in creation dates or other unusual things
For instance, Snappt might detect alterations in a pay stub where the font and layout don’t match the employer’s standard template.
3. Reporting and Decision Support
After completing its analysis and database comparison, Snappt generates detailed reports outlining its findings. Property managers use this information to decide whether to approve or reject an applicant.
Snappt doesn’t outright deny applicants.
Instead, it informs property managers if it suspects documents might be edited, prompting the property to request additional documentation.
Reliability and Accuracy of Snappt
Snappt positions itself as a reliable solution for landlords, boasting of reducing bad debt and evictions by over 51% for its clients.
However, some worry about the system’s accuracy in flagging legitimate ones.
This makes us wonder: does Snappt’s high eviction rate really show it’s accurate, or could it mean there’s a problem with reporting inaccurate information?
Potential Issues With Accuracy
Several online reports claim Snappt mistakenly flags legitimate documents as fraudulent or “edited.” This creates unnecessary friction for applicants who might feel their applications have been unfairly denied.
Here are a few examples:
⦿ Overly Sensitive Editing Detection:
Snappt might flag even minor edits to a document, such as minor formatting changes or corrections, as signs of tampering. This can confuse and frustrate applicants who did not intend to submit fraudulent documents.
Below is an example from an online review.
⦿ Paystub Incompatibility:
Reports suggest Snappt sometimes flags pay stubs generated by legitimate payroll providers like ADP, Gusto, or Quickbooks. This can be particularly problematic for applicants who rely on digital paystubs.
An example from Reddit shares the experience of how Snappt doesn’t allow paystubs from QuickBooks. The comments follow, with people supporting this claim.
Below is an image for illustration.
What does this mean?
These examples highlight the potential for Snappt to create a frustrating experience for both applicants and landlords. Legitimate applicants face delays and uncertainty, while landlords might lose out on qualified tenants.
This discussion is important for potential Snappt users to understand the potential downsides alongside the advertised benefits:
Have you experienced Snappt flagging a legitimate document?
If so, what type of document was it?
Did Snappt provide clear explanations for the flag?
Sharing your experiences in the comments below can help illustrate Snappt’s reliability and accuracy.
This information helps both landlords and applicants to make informed decisions.
Why Does This Flagging Happen?
AI algorithms learn from large amounts of data to identify patterns. In Snappt’s case, the goal is to identify patterns that indicate a document might be fake. However, these algorithms can be influenced by biases in the data they are trained on.
They can also have trouble noticing small differences or details in documents, which can make them less accurate.
Here’s how this translates to Snappt:
⦿ Overfitting:
Snappt’s AI might focus too much on certain types of fraudulent documents. This happens if those types are overly represented in its training data. As a result, the AI could mistakenly flag documents with minor similarities to these patterns.
Even genuine documents might be marked as fraudulent.
⦿ Lack of Context:
Snappt’s AI algorithms might struggle to understand the reasons behind document changes. For example, it might flag a pay stub with a small correction as “edited” without considering why the change was made.
This can lead to mistakes where valid documents are marked as suspicious.
⦿ Evolving Tactics:
Fraudsters are always developing new methods to evade detection. While Snappt can update its algorithms, there’s often a delay before these updates catch up with new fraud tactics.
This delay means legitimate documents with new, unfamiliar characteristics might be incorrectly flagged as fraudulent.
It’s also important to note that AI used for fraud detection, like Snappt, isn’t regulated by the government.
This lack of oversight can lead to several issues, including:
➡ Limited Transparency:
Like many AI companies, Snappt keeps its algorithms secret. This lack of transparency makes it hard to understand how the system makes its decisions.
Without knowing the reasons behind the flags, it’s tough to fix mistakes or improve accuracy.
➡ Accountability Concerns:
When Snappt flags a legitimate document, there might not be a clear way for applicants to challenge the decision. Without proper oversight and accountability measures, users can become frustrated and confused.
This is especially true for those experiencing false positives.
Examples of False Positives
Here are some examples of false positives you might encounter:
⦿ Scanned Documents:
When you scan a document, it can have tiny flaws or changes due to the scanning process. These small issues can cause Snappt to flag the document as fake.
This means that real applications using scanned copies might get rejected, even though they are genuine.
⦿ Custom Paystubs:
Some companies create their own unique paystub formats. Snappt’s AI might not recognize these custom formats because they look different from what it expects. In turn, the AI might think these paystubs are suspicious just because they don’t match the usual pattern.
This can lead to real paystubs being wrongly flagged as fake.
⦿ Foreign Documents:
Documents from other countries can look very different from those in the country Snappt is used to. They might have different layouts or security features. Snappt might not recognize these differences and flag these documents as fake.
This can be a big problem for people who use documents from foreign governments, even if the documents are completely legitimate.
What to Do if Snappt Flags Your Documents
Here are some important steps to take if Snappt flags your documents:
1. Contact the Leasing Agent
The first step is to address it directly with the leasing agent. Here’s how you can get in touch:
⦿ By Phone
Calling is often the fastest way to connect. Look for the leasing office phone number on the property website, rental listing, or a sign outside the building. Call during business hours and introduce yourself.
Briefly explain that Snappt flagged your application documents and that you’d like to discuss them further.
⦿ Send an Email
If a phone call isn’t convenient, sending an email is a good option. Find the leasing office email address through the same channels as the phone number.
In your email, keep it brief and professional. Mention your name, the apartment you applied for, and that Snappt flagged your documents.
Then, briefly explain your situation and express your willingness to provide additional information.
⦿ Face-to-Face Meeting
Visiting in person shows initiative and allows you to explain the situation directly. If the leasing office is nearby, consider stopping by during business hours. Introduce yourself and politely explain the Snappt flag.
No matter which method you choose, be clear and professional.
2. Provide Alternative Proof of Income
Another option is alternatives. It’s best to be prepared with alternative documents to solidify your application.
Here are some commonly accepted documents you can gather:
⦿ Offer Letters: A recent offer letter outlining your starting salary and employment details can strongly indicate future income.
⦿ W-2 Forms: If you’re currently employed, your W-2 forms from the previous tax year will serve as official documentation of your income.
⦿ Tax Returns: Your latest tax return, including all schedules, gives a complete overview of your income for the year.
⦿ Bank Statements (showing regular deposits): Bank statements can be useful, especially if they show regular deposits that match your income.
What if you are self-employed?
If you’re self-employed, it’s important to gather documents like 1099 forms and business bank statements to show your income. Additionally, if you receive other sources of income like Social Security or child support, gather documentation for those as well.
This approach will provide a clear overview of your financial situation and strengthen your rental application.
However, if you are a small business owner and have one or more employees, you can create your own pay stubs.
Also Read: How to Prove Income When Self Employed
Tips for Submitting Documents
➡ Double-check everything: Ensure all documents are clear, legible, and up-to-date.
➡ Maintain copies: Make copies for your records before submitting anything.
➡ Ask about preferred format: Some leasing offices might have preferred methods for submitting documents (e.g., online portal, email, or physical copies).
By providing a variety of income verification options, you demonstrate transparency and strengthen your application.
3. Know Your Rights and Advocate for Yourself
We’ve already discussed how to contact the leasing agent and provided other ways to verify your income. Now, let’s focus on your rights as an applicant and how they give you the power to advocate for yourself.
Throughout this process, keep in mind the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
This federal law stops discrimination in housing based on things like where your income comes from. This means landlords can’t say no to your application just because Snappt found an issue with your documents.
Snappt is widely used but not perfect. Sometimes, it might cause technical problems or misunderstandings of real documents, as we talked about earlier.
Knowing your rights is important for a few reasons:
⦿Confident Communication:
When you talk to the leasing agent, knowing your rights lets you explain the situation calmly. You can remind them about the FHA and your right to fair treatment based on your ability to pay rent.
⦿ Open Conversation:
Knowing your rights encourages open talk with the leasing agent. You can ask questions about what happened and suggest other ways to prove your income that follow the FHA.
Note: Even though the FHA protects you from income-based discrimination, it doesn’t promise you’ll get approved. The leasing office can still look at your whole application, like your credit score and rental history.
How to Obtain Alternative Income Verification Documents
One of the easiest methods to obtain financial verification docs is to use services like Paystub Hero, ADP, QuickBooks, or Gusto.
Generate Income Verification with Paystub Hero
➡ Enter Your Information: Simply provide details like your company name, contact information, income amounts, and pay period.
➡ Generate Your Document: Once you’ve entered your information, our platform will create a professional and error-free document in minutes.
➡ Download and Print: Easily download your document and print it for physical use, or share it electronically as needed.
Other Options: ADP, QuickBooks, and Gusto
In addition to Paystub Hero, there are other popular platforms like ADP, QuickBooks, and Gusto that can help you generate income verification documents.
⦿ ADP:
ADP is a comprehensive payroll service used by many businesses. Employees can access their pay stubs through the ADP portal. Log in, navigate the pay statements section, and download the required documents.
Why Paystub Hero is Our Top Choice
While the name might suggest a focus on pay stubs, Paystub Hero offers much more. We are your comprehensive solution for all income verification needs. Whether you’re a freelancer, self-employed, or have multiple income sources, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s what makes us stand out:
⦿ Quick and Professional Documents: Generate high-quality income verification documents in minutes.
⦿ User-Friendly Interface: Our platform is easy to navigate, making the process smooth and stress-free.
⦿ Exceptional Customer Support: Our team is available 24/7 to assist you.
⦿ Accurate Calculations: Your income information will be precise and reliable.
⦿ Customizable Options: You can customize your documents to suit your specific needs.
FAQs
Here are the most commonly asked questions about Snappt.
