Topic: End of cheques means there’s a surcharge on top of rents

This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years ago by .

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11/09/2023 at 8:39 pm #70182 Reply | Quote
nimrod23
Flatchatter
I’ve been renting my unit for several years now. The owner changed agent and now the new agent is charging surcharge for paying via their ezi debit. I asked to do a direct deposit, and they said they only accept the following

The other payment methods we accept are:
– Personal cheques
– Money order
– Bank cheques
– Payments over the phone which incur a 1.5% surcharge
– Payments in office with debit card which incur $1.50 charge.

I asked to pay by cash. They said ” the office has a no cash policy. ”

What are my options? Do i need to pay the surcharge just because they don’t want to do direct deposit? Can they refuse cash?

thanks in advance
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12/09/2023 at 10:48 am #70190 Reply
TrulEConcerned
Flatchatter
As I understand it, in NSW, for instance, a tenant must be offered at least one way to pay the rent for which the tenant does not incur a cost and that is “reasonably available to the tenant“.

So for instance, if an agent offers you to pay by chq and does not place a surcharge on such pmts, then it would seem that he is complying with the law.

If you don’t have a cheque account, it could be argued that the agent is being reasonable asking you to get one given they cost no more to have than non chq transaction accounts.

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13/09/2023 at 10:25 am #70202 Reply
chesswood
Flatchatter
If you don’t already have a cheque account, better get your running shoes on. I’ve heard bank announcements that they won’t open new cheque accounts. Cheques are almost extinct.

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13/09/2023 at 9:20 pm #70210 Reply
Ciriaco L.
Flatchatter
chesswood wrote:

If you don’t already have a cheque account, better get your running shoes on. I’ve heard bank announcements that they won’t open new cheque accounts. Cheques are almost extinct.

Wow, when did that happen? I mean, the cancellation of cheque accounts.
And this is just the banks’ wish?
What’s the solution to that? Payment by cheque at the agency is available, but a cheque account can’t be opened….

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15/09/2023 at 1:07 pm #70287 Reply
strataact
Flatchatter
Its been coming for a while, and a recently (June) announced Govt Policy. See
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/modernising-payments-infrastructure-phasing-out-cheques

Reported widely at the time – eg see the ABC
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-07/australian-government-to-phase-out-cheques-by-2030/102449560

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Reply To: Reply #70190 in End of cheques means there’s a surcharge on top of rents

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