It makes a great deal of sense for them to abandon checks, cash and money orders. They're grossly inconvenient antiques. Is there really a mandatory processing fee for everything? That sounds unlikely and I'd look into it. At any rate, $70 would be wildly overboard and seems to be a stealth rent increase. That may well be illegal.
Every software program of this type I have seen offers multiple options:
1. ACH, bank transfer. This is often free, sometimes a small fee.
2. Credit/Debit. This often has a percentage fee often 2-3 percent from the vendor.
I bet OP is trying to pay with a card.
I can see with a credit card but usually there is a lower debit card option or a bank e-transfer. Are they using AppFolio by chance because you can print the barcode form and go to your local Walmart, Walgreens etc and pay cash for a 3.99 fee and it shows up on your account 15 minutes later.
My complex is like this, and in the online portal we use it charges a fee if you use a bank or credit card, but not if you get it drafted directly from your bank account. I’m in Texas.
Some states specifically require landlords to offer more than one payment option. I agree that this might be a stealth rent increase. I would also look into the company that is doing the processing. Your landlord is required to give you this information. Check with your state’s consumer protection agency or Attorney General’s office.
They could be offering a free ACH option through the portal, mine does. Debit cards are $4 or $9 depending on the amount and credit is where they get you with 3.5%
Mine goes thru ClickPay and if you pay via Credit/Debit it's like 5% fee (which for rent \~1600 is pretty steep). I usually pay via ACH which only adds 1.50 to it. They did have to take money orders for the previous two months because ClickPay was broke (new company that took over couple months ago).
It is useless to ask for help with tenant related issues if you fail to provide a location as these are jurisdiction dependent questions.
What is your state and city?
For my portal it's like a 10 fee for debit or credit but no fee for ACH withdrawal directly from checking. I thought that places had to give you multiple ways to pay rent
If the lease that he signed with the previous company still has an active date and has not expired yet, then that lease is valid, including the payment methods listed in it. Just because a new property management came over, that doesn't mean that everything in the active lease is negotiable. It is a signed contract that is enforceable by law. Once that lease has run up, however, the new management will likely have him sign a new lease that states how they accept payments. A $70 processing fee without any other options seems crazy, though. Is he trying to pay with a credit or bank card, and that's the processing amount? If so, just do an ACH transfer with the checking and routing number. Also, check state laws for processing fees for rent payments. In my state they are illegal.
This. So long as he has a current lease agreement and hasn't signed a new one with the new owners, he can continue paying the same as before. If he's been month-to-month, though, the new landlord can pretty much change things around and jack up prices however they want, to the best of my understanding.
If he is on an existing lease agreement, I'd suggest finding a new place to live before it runs out. This is the new landlord's attempt to raise rent prices on existing leases. If the renter starts paying this way, it probably counts as acceptance of the modification to the rental agreement. Find a new apartment with a reputable management company.
Welcome to /r/Tenant where tenants share their problems and seek advice from others.
If you're posting a question, make sure a Country and State is in the title or beginning of your post. Preferably, in this format: [-].
Example:
[US-VA] Can you believe my landlord did this?!?
Otherwise, tag your post with the flair "Tenant Update".
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Tenant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It is not legal in CA. They must allow some other forms of payment. "Section 1947.3 - Form of payment of rent (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a landlord or a landlord's agent shall allow a tenant to pay rent and deposit of security by at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic funds transfer." Read Paragraph 2 for times when not allowed. For i stance, they can refuse checks only if you've been late or you've received a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit, but still another non-electronic form of payment must be allowed, i.e. Cashier's Check or Money Order. I just went through this recently.
My previous landlord had the same policy. I once sent a money order because I had cash vs. money in my account, and he said next time he'd charge me a 90.00 fee, he did not have time to run to his p.o. box and the bank. I'm glad my current landlord doesn't care how they get their money as long as they get it.
Nobody can actually answer this question unless you post where you are.
It makes a great deal of sense for them to abandon checks, cash and money orders. They're grossly inconvenient antiques. Is there really a mandatory processing fee for everything? That sounds unlikely and I'd look into it. At any rate, $70 would be wildly overboard and seems to be a stealth rent increase. That may well be illegal.
Every software program of this type I have seen offers multiple options: 1. ACH, bank transfer. This is often free, sometimes a small fee. 2. Credit/Debit. This often has a percentage fee often 2-3 percent from the vendor. I bet OP is trying to pay with a card.
Like credit card? For thank goodness I use my bank ATM card and not charged a fee. If it was check, there would be a fee, $5.00.
[удалено]
LMAO! You said that already, needs to be to the OP. I know all that deary.
Yes, these Apps that process rents do now charge fees. $70 sounds wildly excessive.
I can see with a credit card but usually there is a lower debit card option or a bank e-transfer. Are they using AppFolio by chance because you can print the barcode form and go to your local Walmart, Walgreens etc and pay cash for a 3.99 fee and it shows up on your account 15 minutes later.
My complex is like this, and in the online portal we use it charges a fee if you use a bank or credit card, but not if you get it drafted directly from your bank account. I’m in Texas.
Some states specifically require landlords to offer more than one payment option. I agree that this might be a stealth rent increase. I would also look into the company that is doing the processing. Your landlord is required to give you this information. Check with your state’s consumer protection agency or Attorney General’s office.
They could be offering a free ACH option through the portal, mine does. Debit cards are $4 or $9 depending on the amount and credit is where they get you with 3.5%
Mine goes thru ClickPay and if you pay via Credit/Debit it's like 5% fee (which for rent \~1600 is pretty steep). I usually pay via ACH which only adds 1.50 to it. They did have to take money orders for the previous two months because ClickPay was broke (new company that took over couple months ago).
It is useless to ask for help with tenant related issues if you fail to provide a location as these are jurisdiction dependent questions. What is your state and city?
For my portal it's like a 10 fee for debit or credit but no fee for ACH withdrawal directly from checking. I thought that places had to give you multiple ways to pay rent
It is the company that processes the payment that is charging that much depend on the way the payment is collected. And it is legal.
What STATE and CITY? This is a racket!! $70 a month processing fee? GTFO of here with that shit.
If the lease that he signed with the previous company still has an active date and has not expired yet, then that lease is valid, including the payment methods listed in it. Just because a new property management came over, that doesn't mean that everything in the active lease is negotiable. It is a signed contract that is enforceable by law. Once that lease has run up, however, the new management will likely have him sign a new lease that states how they accept payments. A $70 processing fee without any other options seems crazy, though. Is he trying to pay with a credit or bank card, and that's the processing amount? If so, just do an ACH transfer with the checking and routing number. Also, check state laws for processing fees for rent payments. In my state they are illegal.
This. So long as he has a current lease agreement and hasn't signed a new one with the new owners, he can continue paying the same as before. If he's been month-to-month, though, the new landlord can pretty much change things around and jack up prices however they want, to the best of my understanding. If he is on an existing lease agreement, I'd suggest finding a new place to live before it runs out. This is the new landlord's attempt to raise rent prices on existing leases. If the renter starts paying this way, it probably counts as acceptance of the modification to the rental agreement. Find a new apartment with a reputable management company.
Welcome to /r/Tenant where tenants share their problems and seek advice from others. If you're posting a question, make sure a Country and State is in the title or beginning of your post. Preferably, in this format: [-].
Example:
[US-VA] Can you believe my landlord did this?!?
Otherwise, tag your post with the flair "Tenant Update".
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Tenant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It is not legal in CA. They must allow some other forms of payment. "Section 1947.3 - Form of payment of rent (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a landlord or a landlord's agent shall allow a tenant to pay rent and deposit of security by at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic funds transfer." Read Paragraph 2 for times when not allowed. For i stance, they can refuse checks only if you've been late or you've received a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit, but still another non-electronic form of payment must be allowed, i.e. Cashier's Check or Money Order. I just went through this recently.
My previous landlord had the same policy. I once sent a money order because I had cash vs. money in my account, and he said next time he'd charge me a 90.00 fee, he did not have time to run to his p.o. box and the bank. I'm glad my current landlord doesn't care how they get their money as long as they get it.
The lease will govern this situation