Member of the Month

profa_212
July, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Paying rent in the US in 2016 - More like 1816.

profile picture
Monsieur_Patate
Posts: 1393 - Karma: 4,308
So I have to pay rent for the first time in the US this month, and the only way to pay my rent is by check apparently. Yes, actual middle-age paper checks.

And I am not paying rent to an old lady in Iowa neither, we are talking about a property management agency (or whatever it's called) in Manhattan. I wanted to set up an electronic transfer or something to pay automatically each month, I can't be bothered with this shit. But when I asked it was like I was speaking latin and 'this is not the way it works in the US'.

You are telling me that american people actually write a little check and put it in an enveloppe each month? In 2016?

How do you guys pay rent? There is no way I am going to do that each month, I need a workaround.
10 years ago
38 6
profile picture
nugblazer
Posts: 66 - Karma: 425
PAYING RENT IS BULLSHIT
10 years ago
5 0
profile picture
Sam__M
Posts: 389 - Karma: 610
C U R R E N T Y E A R
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
sneakywhitelegs
Posts: 51 - Karma: 177
I pay rent by paper check each month and it's suuuch a hassle. In fact, it takes less than a minute out of my day! An entire 60 seconds! How can a person possibly be expected to put in that time and effort on a monthly basis???

OP, grow up.
10 years ago
8 0
profile picture
sneakywhitelegs
Posts: 51 - Karma: 177
sorry OP that was mean

Checks are a pretty common way to pay for things in the US though fyi
10 years ago
1 1
profile picture
robbinJAHood
Posts: 1202 - Karma: 3,077
This made me giggle #firstworldprobs
10 years ago
5 0
profile picture
Monsieur_Patate
Posts: 1393 - Karma: 4,308
sneakywhitelegsI pay rent by paper check each month and it's suuuch a hassle. In fact, it takes less than a minute out of my day! An entire 60 seconds! How can a person possibly be expected to put in that time and effort on a monthly basis???

OP, grow up.


I get your point, it's not even really for the time it takes, it's just that you have to remember, make sure you don't forget, pay on time, and then you rely on the postal service to make sure you check is delivered, etc.

It's just more hassle that could very easily be avoided in 2016. You probably can't understand if you've never tried it before but where I come from I set up my payment method once for everything, and then I never have to worry about missing a payment or anything, it's all taken care of. I do my finances each month and I keep track of how much I pay for everything, but I know for sure all my bills are paid on time without having to worry about it, so going back to the good old paper check and having to make sure I paid and the check has been delivered is clearly a hassle for me.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,944
sneakywhitelegsI pay rent by paper check each month and it's suuuch a hassle. In fact, it takes less than a minute out of my day! An entire 60 seconds! How can a person possibly be expected to put in that time and effort on a monthly basis???

OP, grow up.


Fine and dandy if you have checks...
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Casey
Posts: 8033 - Karma: 27,128
Its really not that hard to write someone a check once every 30 days. But no your one experience has no national implications, my tenant has an automatic transfer on the 1st of every month through chase bank quick pay. We used to use williampaid which was a third party website that facilitated rental payments but they went under.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
the.hellion.
Posts: 861 - Karma: 698
Give them 12 post dated cheques. Bam, they have their cheques, you don't need to think about it for a year.
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
the.hellion.Give them 12 post dated cheques. Bam, they have their cheques, you don't need to think about it for a year.

you will get charged the check bouncing fee should the rental agency accidentally try to deposit the check.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
the.hellion.Give them 12 post dated cheques. Bam, they have their cheques, you don't need to think about it for a year.


not to mention, you are now on the hook for paying the entire years worth of rent even if they stop providing services you legally can take out of rent, or you leave early etc.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
the.hellion.
Posts: 861 - Karma: 698
californiagrownyou will get charged the check bouncing fee should the rental agency accidentally try to deposit the check.


californiagrownnot to mention, you are now on the hook for paying the entire years worth of rent even if they stop providing services you legally can take out of rent, or you leave early etc.


Fair enough, in Toronto, I give the first year's rent in post dated cheques -- if you make enough money it works out pretty well and I figured this could be a solution.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5713 - Karma: 20,652
Apologies, OP, from Americans. In this country, we tend to pull our heads out of our ass and realize that not everyone living in a shitbox in Manhattan can afford Internet or a computer.

Hopefully when you go back home you don't get a TSA agents fist up your ass.
10 years ago
3 2
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
the.hellion.Fair enough, in Toronto, I give the first year's rent in post dated cheques -- if you make enough money it works out pretty well and I figured this could be a solution.


yeah the issue is you are paying the entire year upfront. The person can legally cash all the checks immediatley upon you signing them. Then, if you end up breaking the lease, or have an issue with the apartment the landlord has little reason to fix the the problem quickly or give you money back in a timely manner.
10 years ago
0 1
profile picture
japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
californiagrownyeah the issue is you are paying the entire year upfront. The person can legally cash all the checks immediatley upon you signing them. Then, if you end up breaking the lease, or have an issue with the apartment the landlord has little reason to fix the the problem quickly or give you money back in a timely manner.


Except if the checks are dated for say, 3/1, you cannot cash it until then. Thats the whole point of dating the checks for future times.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5713 - Karma: 20,652
japanadaExcept if the checks are dated for say, 3/1, you cannot cash it until then. Thats the whole point of dating the checks for future times.


But then if you terminate the lease early there's the problem on your end of a potentially shady landlord having a valid check.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
CaptainObvious.But then if you terminate the lease early there's the problem on your end of a potentially shady landlord having a valid check.


Simple, cancel the checks through your bank. Takes 5 mins of time. Plus if he does try to cash em its a felony.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5713 - Karma: 20,652
japanadaSimple, cancel the checks through your bank. Takes 5 mins of time. Plus if he does try to cash em its a felony.


True. I don't know about you, but my old landlords were morons and would have been coming to me every month "I lost your checks"
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
skierman
Posts: 8621 - Karma: 9,457
californiagrownyeah the issue is you are paying the entire year upfront. The person can legally cash all the checks immediatley upon you signing them. Then, if you end up breaking the lease, or have an issue with the apartment the landlord has little reason to fix the the problem quickly or give you money back in a timely manner.


You don't understand the concept of checks, do you? I mean you have no clue how they work.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
japanadaExcept if the checks are dated for say, 3/1, you cannot cash it until then. Thats the whole point of dating the checks for future times.


nope. look up the law. the check is legal tender to cash immediately once you have signed it.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
skiermanYou don't understand the concept of checks, do you? I mean you have no clue how they work.


wrong. You do not. You learn something new everyday!



http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/967/can-bank-or-credit-union-cash-post-dated-check-date-check.html
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
japanadaSimple, cancel the checks through your bank. Takes 5 mins of time. Plus if he does try to cash em its a felony.


No its not.


http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/967/can-bank-or-credit-union-cash-post-dated-check-date-check.html
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
the.hellion.Fair enough, in Toronto, I give the first year's rent in post dated cheques -- if you make enough money it works out pretty well and I figured this could be a solution.


youre right, i guess in canada banks cannot cash post dated checks.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
californiagrownNo its not.


http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/967/can-bank-or-credit-union-cash-post-dated-check-date-check.html


Well through my hiring and running background checks on perspective employees, i can say it is. Ive seen many a person with a record for trying to cash a 'bad' check, do it enough times and they come after you with a felony.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
jca
Posts: 4186 - Karma: 6,390
ive done it by post dated cheque, automatic bank transfer, and currently cash. all in the past few years.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
japanadaWell through my hiring and running background checks on perspective employees, i can say it is. Ive seen many a person with a record for trying to cash a 'bad' check, do it enough times and they come after you with a felony.


that is the customer writing a check to buy goods that the store cannot then cash.


In this case the customer would be the renter, the store would be the landlord, and the onus would be on the renter to make sure there are sufficient funds. See what im saying?
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
californiagrownthat is the customer writing a check to buy goods that the store cannot then cash.


In this case the customer would be the renter, the store would be the landlord, and the onus would be on the renter to make sure there are sufficient funds. See what im saying?



Check your sources bro or get learned on ohio law. If you knowingly cash a check that you've been told is invalid, you can face a fine or time. Simple as that.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Wheaty214
Posts: 1687 - Karma: 841
I gave my landlord checks for four of the 12 months, but my bank I have my checks through is over an hour away, so I just give him cash now. He lives 10 minutes away so it's not a big deal at all.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
japanadaCheck your sources bro or get learned on ohio law. If you knowingly cash a check that you've been told is invalid, you can face a fine or time. Simple as that.


Who the fuck mentioned Ohio, bro? lol. we are talking about NY haha.


In any case, unless you have a contract stating that the landlord is not to cash each month's check until a certain date, that landlord is free to cash them all immediately- "the dates show which months the checks were paying for" and now your bank account is drained, or you are responsible for the bounced check fees.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
californiagrownWho the fuck mentioned Ohio, bro? lol. we are talking about NY haha.


In any case, unless you have a contract stating that the landlord is not to cash each month's check until a certain date, that landlord is free to cash them all immediately- "the dates show which months the checks were paying for" and now your bank account is drained, or you are responsible for the bounced check fees.


Sucks to live in NY i guess!
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
Haha I used to get money orders to pay rent... they're just cheapskate lazy ass holes
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,494
What? Its not like writing a check is hard or inconvenient. Quit being fucking lazy
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Monsieur_Patate
Posts: 1393 - Karma: 4,308
CaptainObvious.Apologies, OP, from Americans. In this country, we tend to pull our heads out of our ass and realize that not everyone living in a shitbox in Manhattan can afford Internet or a computer.

Hopefully when you go back home you don't get a TSA agents fist up your ass.


Apology accepted. I was not saying you shouldn't be able to pay rent with a check, I am just saying it seems a little bit unreal that you can't also have the option of doing an electronic transfer if you want to. I am not saying forbid people from paying in checks.

Fred_BearWhat? Its not like writing a check is hard or inconvenient. Quit being fucking lazy


Read up, I explained why I have no problem with the time it takes. But paying via checks means you rely on the postal system for once, and you also might forget to send your check. (let's say you are out of town for a week when rent is due, or special events in your life may make you forget about it for any reason, etc.)
Both these risks can now be easily mitigated by setting up an automatic electronic payment is all I'm saying.

I'm sure people had the same argument when the remote came about "But the TV is just 5 feet away, raise your ass from the couch, you lazy fuck!".

I know technology can be scary, but it's called progress fellas, embrace it.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,494
So set up a reminder on your phone every month about a week before rent is due. There problem solved
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,317
LOL rent checks are easy as fuck.

one of my landlords from college wanted money orders, so I'd have my roommates send it to my bank account, then on the day rent was due, I'd call my bank and lift the max daily withdrawal, go to like 4 ATMs and withdraw the max from each until I had the amount for rent, THEN go to a grocery store with the cash and get a money order.

After like the third month I told her it was bullshit and just started giving her checks. It is simply laziness on their part.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,018
i pay rent every month with a check..
10 years ago
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 9:58PM