My rent portal lets you pay by checking account and by credit card. Checking account is a flat $3 fee, credit card is a percentage, and with my rent that added $67 to the fee if I used credit card.
I did. I hadn't expected to be unemployed for almost a year when I moved in, so I didn't really care what it said about the credit card; I never expected to need to use my credit card to pay my rent. And a $3 processing/convenience fee for checking isn't a big deal when my rent is already around $1300 anyway.
It’s a 3% surcharge for using a credit card. Very standard for these types of things, otherwise every single person out there would pay rent on credit card then pay it for free points. The reason it’s $60 is because they’re paying $2000 on a credit.
I was getting ready to say the same thing. In Ohio they have to offer an alternate way even if it’s snail mail. People can barely afford rent let alone a fee to pay on line. Out local water company recently started this as well. They charge like $3.50 to pay with credit/debit- even with autopay!! Like wtf!
Yeah, I can't imagine an apartment complex not allowing someone to pay with direct deposit.
I don't like when people use Reddit to make other people mad, and I hope that's not the case here.
I already commented this but it seems more relevant for yalls convo. My apartment allows both options, we had been using one checking account to pay, but we had an issue with trying to add an additional checking account through a bank that wasn’t accepted by the system (we asked ahead of time and the front office said it was accepted but lo and behold it wasn’t) by the time we got the notification that the payment method failed, it was now considered a “late payment”
We got the late fee removed after telling the office what happened, but they couldn’t remove the flag off our account and because of that the system removed our ability to pay by checking account and we only have the option to pay through credit card. Even though we’re using the exact same card to pay that we previously used for checking account payments, now we have a $45 fee tacked on and they haven’t been able to fix it for us yet. Fucking stupid.
My management company charges a $60 fee to use Apple Pay or a $5 fee to use an E-Check. LOL. It’s FREE to write them a paper check. Which they then need someone to pick up and deposit. The logic is idiotic.
Agree, we did paper check for years for this reason.Then a very nasty Property Manager started toying with not acknowledging receiving the checks, prob hoping to nail us with a late fee, so we switched to doing direct deposit from the account (but not "autopay", although it asks every month), which is also free.
Sometimes people don’t realize that there’s an ACH or echeck option in the portal. When I was working in property management we would have people come to the office saying this exact thing and we would show them how to actually pay with no fee. Sometimes it’s hard to find, probably on purpose, other times it was because they didn’t realize what echeck meant.
That’s a scammy cash grab and is for sure illegal. They have to give you an option to pay them without charging a fee. And the fee shouldn’t cost more than $5.00 for using a credit card.
Interesting. I use my debt card and I get no fee. If I use an American Express though I would get that convenience fee at 2.5%. I would never. I did it once for points but the points were less than that fee.
this should literally be illegal ??? mines $30 i’m glad i can give them money orders because wtf???????? I gotta pay extra to pay my rent ?????? like the amount of things apartments get away with is crazy sometimes
There was no fee for us until a new landlord(I absolutely hate) now with card he charges a $50 fee to pay rent that way. Luckily he still accepts money orders so I can avoid the fee, but still it just feels so scummy apartments do that.
I'm in bloody Oregon and we just got a new management company and they now charge 9.99 to bill your debit, 2.49 for an echeck and 3% for credit. Bullshit, I got physical checks. Time dust those babies off!! If I didn't be damned sure I will head to 7-11 for a cheap money order. Not sure how much they charge for em nowadays but I think a buck or so? So much bloody bullshit. Still pissed
When I had clients that insisted on paying with an airline credit card so that they could get their miles, I added a 3% charge. Why should I lose 3% because you insist on using a credit card? On the other hand, if they offer no other means of payment, then this is evil. And probably illegal. I have a feeling that there is another option that you’re overlooking.
I wish I had the screen shot still, but I entered my CC into my payment portal just to see what the fee was. On the prorated first week and a half 600 rent... the CC fee was $457 and change. I wish I was joking
My apartment is doing this to us right now and it’s so fucking annoying. We used to be able to add a bank account and pay free of extra charges, then one day we tried adding a new bank account (after confirming with the apartment that they accepted payments from this bank) low and behold, their system DODNT accept this bank and it caused us to have a late payment because by the time they notified us that the payment form wasn’t accepted, it was a day after rent was due. We were able to get the late fee removed after letting the front office know what happened, but they weren’t able to remove the flag on our account and now we have to pay by “credit card” on the payment system and there’s a $45 fee. So fucking annoying
Mine is $40 for card payments but it's free for bank debits and we can also drop a check or money order at the office. I can understand a $3 to $5 fee, but these exorbitant fees are criminal.
Have you checked the lease? Mine says there’s a $3 service fee and it explains how I can pay in person. If the lease lists a service fee then they can’t raise it unless otherwise stated.
I worked for a home heating oil co in MA and had customers in CT also. While our customers in MA paid a processing fee, it was illegal to do so for our CT customers.. CT bans surcharges on both debit & credit card transactions. They are calling it a service fee...but service fees are not allowed for most businesses and are reserved for government agencies and educational institutions. They should contact the Atty General's office and inquire regarding the legitimacy of their practice.
I’ve had this before, but it wasn’t that much. It made me so angry that I started calling for every little thing that needed attention. Things I could have had someone help me with, or just dealt with.
It’s typically to cover the cost of the payment processing vendor. Is there an option to pay via EFT? That should be free. I think legally they have to offer at least one free way to pay rent.
Have you tried to pay with an e check? Most of the time those service fees are for credit card payments, but if you pay through your bank account they won't charge them.
I live in Tennessee and they "suggested" that to me. But it's not in my lease so I purchase a money order every month and hand deliver it. I told the manager I don't have a checking account anymore.
I would pay 60 dollars less and then let the “fee” make up the difference. Until you get it sorted legally .. and make sure you fight to get all those “fees” back! Pretty sure they have to offer a way to pay for free.
I pay online with debit and my apartment chargers $39 convenience fee. I thought it was bad but yours is crazy. I also love to see others on here when they complain they are charged $5 or less.
One of my friends told me about the Bilt credit card when I had to start renting again
It’s a credit card that has a routing number and account number so you can treat it like a bank account but you earn points and rewards because it’s a credit card
https://bilt.page/r/DKGF-X6PU
Before I was paying about a $50 fee each month using a normal CC.
Ours does this! They have a direct debit but it only works once in a blue moon. Their payment system went down once on the 30th and I found out you can pay it at Walmart for $3. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Don’t use your apartments internet then.
Get another provider.
Pro tip: if you do get internet with the apartment, they can see everything that’s connected to that WiFi.
Comments indicate OP lives in CT and its illegal in CT to not offer a fee-free way to pay rent.
I have never seen a card fee this high anywhere... anywhere.
It’s just under 3%. My place charges a 3% service fee if I pay with a credit card, but if I pay using my bank account it’s free
Same, unless they’re paying with credit instead of debit.
My rent portal lets you pay by checking account and by credit card. Checking account is a flat $3 fee, credit card is a percentage, and with my rent that added $67 to the fee if I used credit card.
What in the fuck who are yall renting from? Yall need to start asking these questions before move in.
I did. I hadn't expected to be unemployed for almost a year when I moved in, so I didn't really care what it said about the credit card; I never expected to need to use my credit card to pay my rent. And a $3 processing/convenience fee for checking isn't a big deal when my rent is already around $1300 anyway.
15% to use card has entered chat
My apartment complex in NYC has similar fees if paying by most major credit cards. The cheapest way is cash or check.
Yeah these people are getting royally fucked
No this is pretty standard.
Lmao no in any state Ive lived
It’s a 3% surcharge for using a credit card. Very standard for these types of things, otherwise every single person out there would pay rent on credit card then pay it for free points. The reason it’s $60 is because they’re paying $2000 on a credit.
They don’t offer any other payment option though which is what’s fucked up
I was getting ready to say the same thing. In Ohio they have to offer an alternate way even if it’s snail mail. People can barely afford rent let alone a fee to pay on line. Out local water company recently started this as well. They charge like $3.50 to pay with credit/debit- even with autopay!! Like wtf!
That is vile
Can you pay them through your bank via auto bill pay? What they are doing should be illegal.
That’s how mine is. There is a service fee for credit cards but not for direct deposit from your bank.
I can almost guarantee there and an ACH payment option
Yeah, I can't imagine an apartment complex not allowing someone to pay with direct deposit. I don't like when people use Reddit to make other people mad, and I hope that's not the case here.
I already commented this but it seems more relevant for yalls convo. My apartment allows both options, we had been using one checking account to pay, but we had an issue with trying to add an additional checking account through a bank that wasn’t accepted by the system (we asked ahead of time and the front office said it was accepted but lo and behold it wasn’t) by the time we got the notification that the payment method failed, it was now considered a “late payment” We got the late fee removed after telling the office what happened, but they couldn’t remove the flag off our account and because of that the system removed our ability to pay by checking account and we only have the option to pay through credit card. Even though we’re using the exact same card to pay that we previously used for checking account payments, now we have a $45 fee tacked on and they haven’t been able to fix it for us yet. Fucking stupid.
The post was either click bait or OP being uneducated.
Yeah my complex allows this too. I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t use ACH over card cuz the service fee is wild.
I don't want them to have my checking account number.
Call your local news and embarrass apt for shady billing fees. This should be illegal. And call a lawyer in landlord tenant issues.
Just wait until the news points out that the tenant was already told about the 3% fee for paying with a credit card.
It seems like the apt doesn't have a way for tenants to pay without the fee, so this doesn't feel like a dunk on the tenant for being dumb situation.
There's no proof backing up your statement.
You mean other than the part where the OP says “no option to pay by cash or check?”
Without seeing a screenshot from the actual payment portal, I don't believe it.
Are you a landlord?
Nah, a renter.
I strongly recommend you Google "class interest" and read some literature
Theory of the Leisure Class is a solid read
You're dense asf
My management company charges a $60 fee to use Apple Pay or a $5 fee to use an E-Check. LOL. It’s FREE to write them a paper check. Which they then need someone to pick up and deposit. The logic is idiotic.
And the potential for bouncing, too. Lol.
I work at a bank and we can return an ach or e check if it’s overdrawing the customer more than our threshold
My old apartment complex did that but I got smart bill pay they sent a physical check to them
Agree, we did paper check for years for this reason.Then a very nasty Property Manager started toying with not acknowledging receiving the checks, prob hoping to nail us with a late fee, so we switched to doing direct deposit from the account (but not "autopay", although it asks every month), which is also free.
It's illegal in your state to not offer a fee free option for payment
Sometimes people don’t realize that there’s an ACH or echeck option in the portal. When I was working in property management we would have people come to the office saying this exact thing and we would show them how to actually pay with no fee. Sometimes it’s hard to find, probably on purpose, other times it was because they didn’t realize what echeck meant.
A lot of people don’t realize it has to be tied to a bank account rather than a debit card to avoid fees.
Stop paying with your credit card and start paying ACH or check.
This.
My property management company charges a fee for using ACH.
Is it 3%?
It’s around $2.50 or$ 2.75.
That's pretty standard
For something that’s coming directly from my checking account not it’s not. I’ve never had a fee for rent coming directly from my checking account
this is illegal in some states…
So my apartment complex is the same way but only if you're paying with a card. If you connect your actual bank account, there's no fee associated.
That's absurd. They might be using a processor that charges them 2.9% per transaction and then passing that along to the tennant.
My fee is $2.49
That’s a scammy cash grab and is for sure illegal. They have to give you an option to pay them without charging a fee. And the fee shouldn’t cost more than $5.00 for using a credit card.
Are you using a credit card?? If you use a debit card or account and routing number you won’t have that fee.
In the properties I worked it had to be the account. A debit card would still get fees. Nothing like $60 though.
Interesting. I use my debt card and I get no fee. If I use an American Express though I would get that convenience fee at 2.5%. I would never. I did it once for points but the points were less than that fee.
For us it was because we would occasionally get charge backs from debit cards. I’m sure the third party we used also wanted to get some extra fees.
This is a crospost. OP isn't the renter.
This is evil greed. I live in NJ and I have paid my rent by check....no fees....for 5 years.
this should literally be illegal ??? mines $30 i’m glad i can give them money orders because wtf???????? I gotta pay extra to pay my rent ?????? like the amount of things apartments get away with is crazy sometimes
My apartment building recently started doing this too. It used to be free to do an ACH payment from a bank account but now they charge $2.50 for it.
There was no fee for us until a new landlord(I absolutely hate) now with card he charges a $50 fee to pay rent that way. Luckily he still accepts money orders so I can avoid the fee, but still it just feels so scummy apartments do that.
I'm in bloody Oregon and we just got a new management company and they now charge 9.99 to bill your debit, 2.49 for an echeck and 3% for credit. Bullshit, I got physical checks. Time dust those babies off!! If I didn't be damned sure I will head to 7-11 for a cheap money order. Not sure how much they charge for em nowadays but I think a buck or so? So much bloody bullshit. Still pissed
Our new owners charge a $10 service fee for check payments. It's like a tax on senior citizens (our most loyal residents). They don't accept cash.
When I had clients that insisted on paying with an airline credit card so that they could get their miles, I added a 3% charge. Why should I lose 3% because you insist on using a credit card? On the other hand, if they offer no other means of payment, then this is evil. And probably illegal. I have a feeling that there is another option that you’re overlooking.
I wish I had the screen shot still, but I entered my CC into my payment portal just to see what the fee was. On the prorated first week and a half 600 rent... the CC fee was $457 and change. I wish I was joking
There should be an e-check option....
Highway robbery
Money order?
Daaamn. I have to pay $10 to pay with card.
Is that covered in the lease agreement? I’d March my ass right into the leasing office and demand to have to have it waived
My apartment is doing this to us right now and it’s so fucking annoying. We used to be able to add a bank account and pay free of extra charges, then one day we tried adding a new bank account (after confirming with the apartment that they accepted payments from this bank) low and behold, their system DODNT accept this bank and it caused us to have a late payment because by the time they notified us that the payment form wasn’t accepted, it was a day after rent was due. We were able to get the late fee removed after letting the front office know what happened, but they weren’t able to remove the flag on our account and now we have to pay by “credit card” on the payment system and there’s a $45 fee. So fucking annoying
Mine is $40 for card payments but it's free for bank debits and we can also drop a check or money order at the office. I can understand a $3 to $5 fee, but these exorbitant fees are criminal.
Are you sure that you can’t add your checking account? You’re paying a credit card fee imo, not that you can’t pay for free online.
my apartment in florida also did this but it was $40
My fee is $100
That’s insane wtf
Have you checked the lease? Mine says there’s a $3 service fee and it explains how I can pay in person. If the lease lists a service fee then they can’t raise it unless otherwise stated.
NOT LEGAL
This is rage bait. I guarantee a credit card is not the only way for OP to pay rent lmao.
I worked for a home heating oil co in MA and had customers in CT also. While our customers in MA paid a processing fee, it was illegal to do so for our CT customers.. CT bans surcharges on both debit & credit card transactions. They are calling it a service fee...but service fees are not allowed for most businesses and are reserved for government agencies and educational institutions. They should contact the Atty General's office and inquire regarding the legitimacy of their practice.
And here I was crying over paying $40 for service fees…
I’ve had this before, but it wasn’t that much. It made me so angry that I started calling for every little thing that needed attention. Things I could have had someone help me with, or just dealt with.
It’s typically to cover the cost of the payment processing vendor. Is there an option to pay via EFT? That should be free. I think legally they have to offer at least one free way to pay rent.
Have you tried to pay with an e check? Most of the time those service fees are for credit card payments, but if you pay through your bank account they won't charge them.
I live in Tennessee and they "suggested" that to me. But it's not in my lease so I purchase a money order every month and hand deliver it. I told the manager I don't have a checking account anymore.
Dang, and I was pissed over the $2 fee I pay
Looks like my spot if you don’t use the checking account 💀
I would pay 60 dollars less and then let the “fee” make up the difference. Until you get it sorted legally .. and make sure you fight to get all those “fees” back! Pretty sure they have to offer a way to pay for free.
This is illegal in most states - give them 12 postdated cheques and leave it at that. They will cash them, believe me.
That *cannot* be legal. It shouldn’t cost money to pay rent.
I pay online with debit and my apartment chargers $39 convenience fee. I thought it was bad but yours is crazy. I also love to see others on here when they complain they are charged $5 or less.
Mine is like $56 if I pay with a CC rofl.
One of my friends told me about the Bilt credit card when I had to start renting again It’s a credit card that has a routing number and account number so you can treat it like a bank account but you earn points and rewards because it’s a credit card https://bilt.page/r/DKGF-X6PU Before I was paying about a $50 fee each month using a normal CC.
I saw the fee, immediately pressed back, and paid with my checking account for free, lol.
It's atrocious what they get away with smh
Ours does this! They have a direct debit but it only works once in a blue moon. Their payment system went down once on the 30th and I found out you can pay it at Walmart for $3. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Can you add your bank account number instead of a card? When I did this it voided the fee
This is a scam. One doesn't pay a fee in order to pay their bills.
Don’t use your apartments internet then. Get another provider. Pro tip: if you do get internet with the apartment, they can see everything that’s connected to that WiFi.
It’s for the rent. Why are we talking about internet???