RentNoho.com, Inc

This agency had a house listed I wanted to rent and I told them I will only file an application with them if I had a guarantee for this house only, and given first option, since I was the first to view it, and first to apply. I was assured I was first on the list, and that there was a $35 non-refundable fee for them to do a 4-step check on me. They insisted I add another $35 to that fee for my fiancee, which I knew was unnecessary, but didn't want to lose my chance at getting this rental, so I complied. I was told it takes 2 business days to process my application, which I submitted to them on Tuesday, July 23rd. I received an email on Wednesday, July 24th, at 4:21 p.m. saying once again it would take 2 business days and to please let our references know that they would be contacted, so as to speed up the process. By Friday afternoon, when I didn't hear anything, I contacted them and was told that the owner agreed to all my requests, but couldn't give me a time on when my application would be complete. On Saturday,I happen to see them having an open house at the same house I applied for, I called the agent to express my concern since they made me feel like I was going to rent it. I also learned the owner had no knowledge of the open house. On Sunday, I talked to my present landlord to ask if she was contacted as a reference, and she said no. I then discovered they sent me an email on Sunday morning, stating I was denied for credit reasons, and they didn't even proceed any further, or even work on my fiancees application. I requested them to return my fees, especially my fiancees since they never completed the application process on either one of us, and they refused to do so. I know they rejected us because I caught them having an open house and questioned them on it, and they didn't like it because the owner of the house found out they did and was very upset, but I had nothing to do with that.Desired SettlementSince I was misled into thinking I was first on the list to apply and then became vague when questioned after they received my checks, never checked references or finished processing either application, would not return my calls, and denied me after I questioned them having an unauthorized open house, and sent me an email at 7 a.m. the next morning denying me I feel they did not give me a fair application process, and won't now, I think it's only fair they refund me the $70 fee they requested. Business' Initial Response Dear [redacted]:This office represents RentNoho.com and all RentNoho.com employees, agents and licensees. You contracted with RentNoho.com to assist in finding housing accommodations for rent on July 22, 2013. As per the Agency Fee Disclosure, signed by you on July 22, 2013, there is no guarantee RentNoho.com will find a rental through said services. RentNoho.com provides listings to assist and aid in your search for housing; RentNoho.com does not guarantee a property owner will green light a potential renter based on services provided. Rent Noho.com qualifies potential renters in four areas, Credit Scores, Criminal Background, Rental History and Current Income. In your case a bankruptcy filing this year has caused concern and therefore your application was not accepted.While RentNoho.com sympathizes with your situation, RentNoho.com stands by The Agency Fee Disclosure. Therefore RentNoho.com is in the process of returning the Broker's Fee. However, due to the work done on your behalf, the application fee has been processed and is non-refundable.Please forward all complaints, concerns or issues regarding this matter to this office. Do not engage RentNoho.com with any further communications. Also, feel fre: to contact me to discuss any of these. matters. I will be happy to assist you further.Sincerely,[redacted]Consumer's Final Response After reading the attachments they submitted along with their response to my complaint, There is an email they wrote amongst each other that CLEARLY states they were going to deny us right up front!!! Shouldn't I be entitled to a full refund in light of this fact? Please read the sixth page of their attachment, where the email states the landlord said NO to everything, even the rent reduction, which is why we applied to begin with, but if you look at the most discriminating part of that email, you can clearly read the part about them saying if they run a credit check, they're pretty sure they can deny me on that. This whole conversation happened before they even started working on my application, and even sent me an email stating they were doing so! How can they justify what they are saying to me then and refusing to give my money back when it's very clear they were set to deny me right from the beginning. After reading that email they submitted, accidently, I'm sure, they prove they did not do their job. After seeing this, I stand by my request for the total refund of my application fees of $70.00. Thank you.