- This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 1 year ago by .
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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
- This topic was modified 1 year ago by .
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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.
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.
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….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-chequesReported 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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