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fuck_all_you_people t1_j2e28dc wrote

Reply to comment by OutlyingPlasma in Website for HOA payments clearly states a $3.25 fee, but has been charging me 3.25%. Is this worth fighting over? by Melodic_Language_890

My property management company charges a $50 rent processing fee every month like it takes teams of people to get my money electronically

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TinCupChallace t1_j2e2ozj wrote

Unless it was disclosed in the lease, it's not legal

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fuck_all_you_people t1_j2e45et wrote

I already tried to take them to court because they failed to disclose an active cockroach infestation that I discovered the first day I moved in. Spent $400 on consulting fees for three different lawyers who all told me the same thing: in my state the property management companies basically write the laws and pay teams of lawyers to the extent that it would cost me far more to fight it

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ThePretzul t1_j2e917l wrote

Mandatory fees not disclosed in the lease are an open and shut small claims court case in all 50 states in the US, with the property management company themselves paying your filing costs in addition to the amount they’ve illegally charged in fees (with some states tacking on additional punitive damages for good measure).

That said they’re allowed to charge fees for various “convenient” forms of payment. Mailed or hand-delivered cash or check are always fee-free unless otherwise specified in the lease (and fee-free regardless of what the lease says in most states which require at least one fee-free option to pay rent).

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fuck_all_you_people t1_j2e9tul wrote

And then the property management company doubles my rent to the point that I have to move out because there are zero laws against it here. So now I'm stuck looking for another rental in my kids school district but now every time a rental company does a background check for a history of evictions they see I had a civil suit against my previous landlord so I can't find a new place to live in the 30 days I have to move.

No thanks. Not worth the $600 I'd get back from the bullshit fees.

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themoslucius t1_j2e4jqa wrote

My building's payment portal charges $75 if I pay by card. I never once used it and have my rent check mailed in via my bank. They rolled out a new app for paying as well, similar fees - didn't even install it.

Don't pay rent in wonky ways. They can supply an address for snail mail and there's no fee

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Notwhoiwas42 t1_j2e9osl wrote

The really funny thing is that it costs them a LOT more in labor to process a physical check that it would an electronic payment.

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nivek_c t1_j2eb01o wrote

even with my current landlord who is by far the best landlord anyone could ask for (completely absent but SUPER responsive when texted with an issue, only raised rent 1% per year), I still mail in checks via certified or priority mail and send her the tracking number ahead of time. Costs me like 2$ in postage, i can live with it.

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S_204 t1_j2e7fb2 wrote

So you pay by cash or check right?

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fuck_all_you_people t1_j2e7vt5 wrote

No, electronic xfer from a checking account.

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sold_snek t1_j2e8me5 wrote

He's saying you should start paying by check. If they're going to charge $50 for making it easier to pay, then use checks and make them have to drive to the bank or have to scan and submit each check.

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[deleted] t1_j2e96ft wrote

[removed]

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ThePretzul t1_j2e9ksi wrote

Most states require a fee-free payment option to be available by law, and you absolutely can mail a check to their business address to pay your rent. Send it via registered mail and retain the receipt, the company cannot claim that rent was unpaid or they didn’t receive it because you then have proof of payment that is valid in all 50 states.

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dclxvi616 t1_j2eavbx wrote

Certified mail w/ return receipt requested is so much cheaper and faster than registered mail and offers similar proof of mailing and delivery. It's a rent check not some kind of irreplaceable item.

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