Can they really do this???

M

melmos75

New member
We recently fell upon the website of our landlord and noticed that they have a link to pay your rent online. Wow, how convienient!! So, at the beginning of this month, we paid it online instead of driving all the way across town to drop it off. The way they have it set up, it goes through paypal.

Yesterday, we get a bill in the mail for $22 for paypal charges. WTF!?!?!?! Nowhere during the process of paying online did it say that extra charges will apply. I will be calling to complain, but can they really do this?? If they didn't disclose that there will be extra charges, can they really charge me for them?

I am so glad that we are buying a house and will be giving our notice to them at the end of this month. What a rip!!!
 
Is it a paypal fee or a charge from your landlord. If it's a paypal fee, yes. They charge a percentage I think.
 
it needed to be disclosed.

I would be LIVID.

My landlord would be eating that charge, one way or another. But that's how I roll.
 
LenaBrandenburg said:
it needed to be disclosed.

I would be LIVID.

My landlord would be eating that charge, one way or another. But that's how I roll.
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Believe me, I am livid. I am going to fight it, however, since we will be moving out in a month, I don't want to make too much of a stink because I do want my deposit back.
 
It's definitely not cool that it was not disclosed somewhere.

But, speaking from experience with idiot landlords (we went to court over our security deposit), if they don't drop the bill I would pay it and let it go. It's SO much easier to move into your new home with no worries or issues on your mind.
 
They are supposed the disclose that. But, I would fight it too. THEY are the ones that set that up - why should YOU pay the fee for it. That is something they should accept since it's for their convenience as well as yours.
 
Melissa, they can't keep your deposit over that. It's not legal. I C&Ped the following from Wisconsin Rental Law.

When can a landlord refuse to return a security deposit?

The landlord has a right to withhold a security deposit for any of several reasons, such as if the tenant:

* damaged the premises beyond ordinary wear and tear;
* caused waste or neglect of the premises (such as leaving hot water running in the bathtub for days);
* didn’t pay rent;
* didn’t pay for utility services, whether the landlord provided these or the tenant paid the utility companies directly; or
* didn’t pay mobile home parking fees that the local government assessed against the tenant.

The landlord must give reasons in writing for refusing to return all or part of the security deposit. State law requires the landlord to provide this information within 21 days of the tenant vacating. The tenant must give the landlord his or her new address.
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That fee is not part of your rent, so they cannot keep any of your deposit if you refuse to pay it.
 
If I were you, I'd do print screens of the web pages, before they go and add the extra charge information on there.
 
Well, I called. He claims that there should be a disclosure and he will check on this. He also said that it should be 2% of the amount paid, which for me would have been $14.70 not $22.

I just went through the whole process as if I was going to pay again and just didn't hit pay now. I took screen shots and nowhere did it say anything about extra charges. Now I have the screenshots to prove it if he comes back and says that it is on there.

Little weasels.
 
Wow, I'd be really annoyed, especially if it wasn't disclosed anywhere. Sadly I think this type of thing is pretty common. The apartment complex we lived in here while our house was being built was charging a 5% fee for anyone paying with credits cards, which is NOT legal. We reported them but since we were moving out, we never checked to see if they ever changed their policy or not.
 
I also believe you can contact PayPal over this. As far as I know, sellers on PayPal are NOT allowed to charge these fees to the purchaser. It's a violation of the PayPal agreement. I would send an email to PP and ask if he's allowed to do this.
 
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