[techweenie]

I am only recently a renter, and bypassed all the places that asked me to pay for a credit check.

I printed out my own report from online and brought a reference letter. Not sure the landlord really read the letter after seeing my credit score... I had the place I wanted on the spot.

All the other places (mostly operating through agencies or property managers) seemed to have too many rules and hoops for me to jump through just to earn the right to give them money. YMMV.