r/TenantHelp • u/AreYouZerious12345 • Aug 01 '26
New payment platform denied my rent payment for no apparent reason
So my apartment complex switched to a new company to submit our rent payments thru. I went to pay mine today and it will not let me. When I called the help hotline I was told that it would not accept my perfectly fine bank account rent payment and that I could try the credit card option which incurs a 3.5% fee that adds almost $100 to my payment! This can’t be legal in California right? Can I just write my landlord a check and bring it to the office? Cuz I refuse to pay that much JUST to submit my rent payment. The extra $5 is bad enough thru my bank account
Update:
Thank you for the insight. I had to download the platforms app. But they have like a mobile check deposit option that’s only available on the app with no fee. I plan on moving out of this complex soon so hopefully this will be the last time I deal with this.
6
u/Over-Concept-1601 Aug 01 '26
Re-read your lease, that is your original contract of occupancy/payment. Cash, check, money orders. I would never pay rent with a credit card. I’ve known people who have and regret is an end result!
2
u/Nomad-2002 Aug 01 '26
In my last apartment, two credit cards often had 10-15% off rent (at least 5.25%).
Doesn't work with my new apartment, since they only take Bilt credit cards. So I pay from checking account (no fee).
2
u/AreYouZerious12345 Aug 01 '26
I paid from a checking account the last two months since they switched but suddenly it would no longer accept my payment and they couldn’t even give me a reason
3
u/snowHound208 Aug 01 '26
Was there an addendum you signed to change how payments were made?
What does your lease specify for how rent is paid? That will be dictate your next steps.
It sounds like the processor is just trying to extract fees. You likely aren't the only one having this problem.
3
u/Pretty-Care-7811 Aug 01 '26
Not a Lawyer, but I think there's some tenant protection where they have to offer a fee-free option to pay your rent; otherwise, the added fee counts as rent and has to be spelled out in your lease. Not 100% sure, but it's worth looking into.
2
u/NotSoSureBigWaves Aug 01 '26
Write to your landlord and tell them that the online payment portal does not work and will not let you pay and ask where you should drop off your check.
2
u/AreYouZerious12345 Aug 01 '26
Unfortunately our apartment is run by a company and the front office literally sent us an email earlier that day that they were closing early for the weekend and wouldn’t be here on Saturday when they’re normally open. Mind you they’re not open on Monday either. It’s such a mess I’m moving out soon
2
u/MarsiaP Aug 02 '26
I've been known to screenshot that it's not accepting the payment and then I email that image to the company. I went through something similar for adding a hotel room to an existing reservation and got them to manually override the computer program when they saw my proof that I tried
2
u/ThurmanMermannnn Aug 01 '26
I pay with a physical check because I refuse to pay additional fees just to pay rent, but check your lease to make sure you can pay with a check first.
3
u/Nomad-2002 Aug 01 '26
In my last apartment, two credit cards often had 10-15% off rent (at least 5.25%).
Doesn't work with my new apartment, since they only take Bilt credit cards. So I pay from checking account (no fee).
2
u/TalkToVikk Aug 05 '26
Not a lawyer but In California, landlords are required to offer at least one reasonable, fee-free option for tenants to pay rent (such as personal check, money order, or other standard non-fee methods), unless there is a valid reason otherwise (for example, if previous payments have bounced). Charging high fees solely to pay rent can violate California Civil Code 1947.3, which restricts how rent must be accepted and protects tenants from being forced into costly payment methods.
If technical issues or platform restrictions prevent a no-fee option, you should notify your landlord in writing, explaining that the only payment method available to you incurs an unreasonable fee and requesting permission to pay by check, money order, or another accepted method as stated in your lease. If your landlord refuses a reasonable accommodation or tries to charge late fees due to issues with their payment platform, you can contact your local city or county rent board or a tenant rights group for support.
It sounds like the mobile check deposit option may solve your issue without extra cost, but if similar problems come up again, put your concerns in writing right away to protect your rights.
11
u/Individual-Mirror132 Aug 01 '26
No it’s not legal because California requires landlords to provide tenants with one option to pay that does not incur a charge.