Online Payment Processing - Overview

Rentec Direct's online payment processing service allows our clients to receive rental payments from their tenants electronically via ACH or debit/credit card.  

It also allows property managers and landlords to accept online rental application fees from prospective tenants via debit/credit card transactions. 

Lastly, a payment processing account (also known as a merchant account) also provides the capability of sending and receiving ACH transactions to pay out owner distribution (owner payments), receive owner contributions, and send vendor payments.  

We recommend that you apply for this service if: 
  • You process more than 5 transactions a month. 
  • You are wanting funds to deposit quickly. 
  • You need to transmit funds to the owner's accounts via ACH (monthly disbursements for example).
  • You want to pay vendors and contractors electronically by ACH.
  • You want the flexibility to charge your own convenience fees for ACH and CC payments.

Important Note: Although you can accept tenant and prospective tenant payments, and forward funds to pay owners, there are some transactions that are not allowed in the system at this time: 

  • It does not allow clients to send payments to themselves.
  • It does not allow clients to refund online payments back to tenants nor applicants.

Online Payment Processing Details

Larger national banks typically show the funds the same day as they are transmitted as 'pending', and fully cleared the following day. Smaller banks do not have the same connections to the federal reserve and therefore can take anywhere from 1-3 business days (excluding holidays/weekends) to post the transaction to your account.  

You will be able to accept all US-based ACH   checking and savings transactions and optionally accept all major credit cards. Having your own merchant  account gives you the flexibility to set the convenience fee for credit cards, as well as the ACH processing fee  your tenants pay. 
The fees associated with this type of account are:
  • $0.00 one-time setup fee
  • $0.00 a month
  • ACH Transactions: $0.00 per transaction received (rent payments) and $0.50 per transaction paid out (owner disbursements and vendor payments) 
  • CC Transactions (VISA/MC/DISC): 2.95% (AMEX) 3.5%

Notes: 

  • You must have an established business checking account to qualify for a merchant account. Other criteria from the merchant service provider (Forte) may be required. 
  • Charges to a tenant's bank account will show up on their statement with your company name. 

Multiple Deposit Accounts for ACH and Credit Card 

Rentec Direct includes up to 5 merchant accounts free of charge with a current Rentec Pro or PM subscription if you manage 200+ properties. If you have less than 200 properties and are setting up more than 5 merchant accounts, there is no additional fee for the first merchant account, additional accounts are billed at $15/each per month. 

Information on multiple deposit accounts can be found here: Multiple Deposit Accounts For ACH and Credit Card Payments

More information is available here: User Agreement and Terms of Use  
See Also:  Important Information Regarding Debit/Credit Card Processing and PCI Compliance  

Note: If you came to this article looking for information on how to convert your money order, personal check, and cash-paying tenants to a solution that eliminates in-house processing, we offer a solution for that as well. 

Information on electronic Cash payment tools can be found here: Electronic Rent Collection For Cash Paying Tenants

Get Set Up for Online Payment Processing Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions to help you start setting up a merchant account for online payment processing can be found here:  Payment Processing Setup | Enrollment

Need to cancel your merchant account?
You may close your merchant account at any time by sending an email request to success@rentecdirect.com. The request must be sent from the primary account holder's email address associated with your Rentec Direct account.

In order to verify the validity of the request, please provide your contact information, including a daytime phone number and the last four numbers of the bank account that is associated with the merchant account that you are asking us to close.
The email will not be deemed delivered until you have received confirmation from us that it was received. Alternatively, you can close your account by sending a letter via first class mail to Rentec Direct, 231 SW I St, Grants Pass, OR 97526-2814. Upon Account closure, all unpaid fees must be immediately paid in full and any pending payments will be canceled.
If your merchant account is closed within 12 months of the date it was opened, there will be a $150 early termination account closure charge.
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