Does any one use this add deposit feature-i am trying to figure how it works with a credit card

jimbo1956

Does anyone here use this feature ?

GM_SJ_BSS

jimbo1956 said:

Does anyone here use this feature ?

Who ever set up your sitelink, has included this as a feature.  If you were to click on it, depending on if they entered a deposit amount to automatically apply or whether you have to manually enter the deposit amount.  It would appear as a charge on the account.   If you pay the charge with a credit or debit card, when they move out, the only options to refund the deposit would be on the same card it was paid with or your facility would have to issue a refund check.  Keep in mind, if the customer's card expires or lost/stolen and is issued a different card number, you will not be able to refund it onto the new card at that point, the only way to refund it would be by company check.  I would not recommend doing cash refunds.  If you accept a cash deposit, I would explain the form the refund would be returned as.

jimbo1956

What I am trying to streamline is a second deposit. If we have a customer go delinquent and we work out a payment plan or if they pay it up we collect a second deposit. Currently I track it manually if they use a card.
It's easy to do if they pay by money order but haven't got it to post correctly using a card.

If their card changes - I have been sending deposits back by money order, I will not send a check-too much risk and too many scams
Thanks for your response-I will mess with it some more

GM_SJ_BSS

In my opinion, I would not let tenants use their deposits to put toward delinquent rent.  Most of the time deposits are mainly to insure the unit doesn't get damage and nothing is left behind for the facility to dispose of.  Totally agree with the money orders verses business checks.  We don't deal with deposits, to much hassle.  Good luck, hope you find a solution to make things easier.

jimbo1956

We are not letting them use the deposit towards delinquent rent. We collect it for security against them paying it off and then doing the "smash and grab" and leaving a bunch of junk for us to deal with. Anyone with a history of leaving stuff in the driveway or constantly in default we collect an extra deposit in addition to their original deposit. It's a fine line on deposits in our market- in our area initial deposits run 15-20 $. It doesn't take much junk left behind to eat that up in labor and landfill fees. Additionally, if there is anything that has " any apparant commercial value " we have to hold it for 45 days and send them a certified letter. 

GM_SJ_BSS

Jimbo1956  oh wow, your deposits are low.  I'm in CT, we don't do deposits here.  We have been open about 5 years and I have had only two tenants leave stuff behind and it was small stuff the staff was easily able to place in the dumpster.  Those people just get added to our Do Not Rent To List.  It would drive me nuts if I had a bunch of tenants leaving stuff behind.  Even at the other 3 locations I worked at for a different company, we just didn't have a bunch of smash and grabs and garbage left behind in units or outside the units.  I totally see why you do the deposits now.  We only have to hold an item of value left behind in a unit for 30 days with a certified as well, anything left outside the unit obviously would be a dump and run.  Good Luck, I hope you figure this out.