Rent check missing

[Tanya F.]

This has just come up for the first time in 14 years of landlording.  The tenant pays us through their bank auto-bill pay.  They are usually right on time, we get a check in the mail from their bank on the 1st or 2nd of each month.  This month, no check.  We contacted them and they checked with their bank right away. Their bank claims the check cleared on the 4th. This means that someone took our rent check and deposited it or cashed it fraudulently.   So now it's the 11th and we still don't have rent from them. The tenant's bank's fraud department is looking into it.  

Do we just sit and wait the 5 business days (or whatever) for them to investigate? This is the tenant's problem, but also our problem, should we ask them for another check now? Has this ever happened to any of you? I noticed that the darned envelopes from the auto-bill pay say boldly on the outside  "Payment enclosed".  That's trouble waiting to happen in my opinion. Then we wonder was someone rummaging through our mailbox on the 1st? Or did the USPS mis-deliver? All kinds of possibilities for trouble.

We did just create a Dwolla account, and now accept payments online. But if whoever committed the fraud has figured this out- this could happen again next month.  

Has this happened to any of you? Should we get a PO Box? Or only accept online payments? File something with the USPS?

[Curt Davis]

Technically they have not paid their rent. I would ask them for another check and let the tenant and their bank to figure it out.  This should not be your issue. 

On the other hand is does effect you and if they have been good tenants with no issues I might consider a little leniency.