I have a set of roommate residents who are starting to stumble. Three months ago, the didn't transfer money into their Clear Now account in time. They reached out to me and said the money order would be on their door. It was and they paid the extra $20 for not using Clear Now. I waived the late fee and the Bad check fee.

Fast forward to today and I get the same text. I let them know that the late fee will be waived but not the Bad check fee or the non-ACH fee

The tenant isn't at all happy. I explained that they going down the wrong path. She works as a teller at a local credit union. It is my opinion that she should know better. But I am not sure from a Fair Housing Perspective, if we should hold to a higher standard because at her job she routinely deals with the exact same issues. Employment isn't a protected class, but this is an inter-racial couple.

With the exception of the payment errors which they bring up to my attention and fix right away, they have been solid residents. He does landscaping for a living and the place looks awesome.

What are your thoughts - would you hold tenant to different standards based on their jobs?.

No.

No.

Hold them to the standard set out in the Rental Agreement.

After rereading this posting I can see why I am getting the specific answers that I am getting.

If someone says the money order will be outside their door the evening money is due, is it to be considered late? I don't consider it late.

I suspect a bank teller deals with problem children who forget to transfer money on a daily basis. I would typically give folks a stern warning saying with two mess up in such a short amount of time, perhaps now is the time for you rethink your housing plans. But if someone has a specific background, in the field, in this case banking, should a second strike be the last strike. I typically give folks only three strikes - should they get axe at two?

Being lazy or uncooperative is not a Protected Class.

Late fees and returned check or ACH fees get added automatically via the software to their ledger so I don't bring it up and expect them to pay it. So far, I really haven't had anyone bounce anything in 2 years and it only took 1 tenant one time to get a late fee before they were more careful.

Wallet training is working for me.

The headache is not that you are not getting paid, it is that you are not getting paid the way you prefer.

If memory serves me correctly, you do have some tenants who don't want to do Clear Now, and that is okay with you as long as they pay the $20 extra for not using it. If that is correct, then the only person causing Ray a headache is Ray.

That said, let's ask a few questions and analyze a little.

Is there a possibility that they no longer want to use Clear Now?

If so, Why?

Is Clear Now costing the tenant anything?

If Ray does allow folks to pay without using Clear Now, as long as they pay an Extra $20 for punishment, then why is this bothering Ray so much?

If they are otherwise great tenants as you stated, is it worth getting rid of them because they want to change how they pay?

Have they mentioned they want to change how they pay?

Have you asked them?

If this is troublesome, then should Ray only accept payment through Clear Now across the board?

Does Ray want to turn down money from a paying costumer because they prefer a certain method?

Do your commercial tenants pay through Clear Now?

If not, how do they pay?

Will Ray find another set of tenants as good as these if you boot these?

Will the place be as well taken care of?

If not, is it worth it just to get a tenant who uses Clear Now?

A review of these questions should give you your answer. If not, ask yourself more questions.

To add, after reading your original post again.

If Ray does allow some folks to pay not using Clear Now or any other form of an ACH transaction, as long as they pay the extra fee of $20, then why does Ray charge a bad check fee if you are charging them the no ACH fee?

To answer Rays question, no, it would not matter to me what their job is. Everyone should pay as agreed.

I did get paid yesterday. But at this point in the game it is more about ease of use and time savings.

We did combine trips and got ice cream along with a money order from these folks. If a tenant really wants to get me spun up, they say something like - if I bounced a check with Clear Now, why am I paying you? I asked= if you bounce a check to the power company, why do you a fee from your credit union.

So great news ahead - if you time to make a statement like that and you are also saying you have time to volunteer to rent a U-Haul. Ease is my priority. I will not charge anyone a late fee if they pay me on the due date. Honestly, I will not get money from Clear Now for another 3 or so more days.......but if they want to try my patience's and my systems, my competitors deserve such a valued prize. I suspect there is more going on behind closed doors that adds to the reason why steeler residents of 17 months are turning sour.

I do not chase the money. Going to their place and picking up a money order would not be on the table unless I was putting a notice on the door when I did it. (Ice cream or not)

I have a couple right now that are struggling again. I think he job jumps. He should have stayed in the Navy. She asks me about changing the due date, but doesn't seem to get the fact that I have to get paid on time. Late fees are becoming a norm, which I do not like either.

Ray, seems you are handling it correctly in NOT charging a late fee, BECAUSE they were NOT late but rather just paid in a different manner. Perhaps others missed that?

What had me puzzled was charging both a bounced check fee AND a no ACH fee. I don't use Clear Now so I presume that technically Clear Now tried pulling the rent from the tenants' account and it "bounced" or didn't go through thus acting as a bounced check? I guess that would make sense of the bounced check fee.

" ....If a tenant really wants to get me spun up, they say something like - if I bounced a check with Clear Now, why am I paying you? I asked= if you bounce a check to the power company, why do you a fee from your credit union."

Very quick thinking and a great answer, Ray. How did they respond to that?

I agree that someone working for a credit union should know better. However, so should anyone. Who is training and raising folks these days?

"But at this point in the game it is more about ease of use and time savings."

That answers the question then. I don't blame you either. So, do you make everyone across the board use Clear Now, or do you still allow some to pay in a different manner than ACH, as long as they pay a fee?