What Does My Tenant Need to Do If He Renews His Lease With Me?

Your tenant does not need to do anything if he is renewing his lease. If he is already enrolled in ClearNow, all you need to do is update the lease end date in our system so that his debits continue. We do not need a copy of the tenant’s new lease or new ClearNow enrollment materials. We only need you, as the landlord, to log into your account and update the lease end date. You may do so by logging into your ClearNow account, select “Rents”, input the tenant’s new lease end date, and click “Save”.

I Don’t Have Checks. Can I Still Enroll?

Yes, you may still enroll in ClearNow even if you do not have permanent checks. Other bank documentation that we can accept include a page from your bank statement or online bank account with your name and complete account number preprinted, a direct deposit authorization form, OR a bank letter on your bank’s letterhead that confirms your name and full account number. Just in case the document you submit does not list your routing number, please make sure to list it on your enrollment agreement form.

Can My Tenant Prepay a Few Months of Rent With ClearNow?

No. ClearNow’s process includes an automatic debit to the tenant’s bank account for the rent each month. Whether it is monthly, semimonthly, or biweekly, it is a scheduled debit, and the rent cannot be prepaid. Once a tenant is enrolled in ClearNow, our service is designed to help them pay their rent by automatically debiting their bank account on a monthly, semimonthly, or biweekly schedule.

FREE Tenant Screening for ClearNow Landlords

Landlords using ClearNow to collect rent electronically now have access to a powerful and FREE tenant screening service. After much research, we believe this tenant screening service is superior to most other tenant screening services for a few reasons:

  • It is FREE to you. Rental applicants pay a fee when they submit their credit report to you.
  • Designed for landlords – Easy to use, No site inspection, No paperwork.
  • You will receive a complete report in seconds – credit score, criminal background check, eviction report, and an easy-to-understand recommendation!

Getting started is quick and easy:

  1. Set up your tenant screening account here. Once set up, you will add your rental property address along with the applicant’s contact information and indicate if you or the applicant will pay the fee (via credit card). Most landlords have the applicant cover the fee as part of the application process.
  2. The applicant authorizes screening.
  3. Almost instantly, you will receive the applicant’s complete report so you can make a decision! It is that simple!

Why should I use ClearNow for rent collection?

ClearNow has been enabling landlords to collect rent from their tenants electronically since 2000 with a flawless (A+ rating) record with the Better Business Bureau.

We have lots of experience with online rent collection and provide superior customer service support to every landlord and tenant enrolled. ClearNow makes the rent process efficient thus saving you time. Rents are automatically withdrawn from tenant bank accounts and directly deposited to your bank account three banking days later. You eliminate waiting for checks and trips to the bank.

ClearNow is also innovative. Tenants can establish credit history by having ClearNow furnish their ClearNow rent payment data to Experian RentBureau. Landlords can track income and expenses and generate a Schedule E helper report. Property managers can directly deposit rent to owners’ bank accounts.

Customer service is available via telephone or email Monday through Friday 9am-5pm ET. Call us at (919) 680-4500 or email us at Support@ClearNow.com.

Why am I charged ClearNow’s service fee when the tenant fails the debit?

You are still charged ClearNow’s service fee because ClearNow is still charged a fee for attempting the debit even if it fails. If you or your tenant know beforehand that the debit will not be successful, we suggest that you do a one-time block. That way, ClearNow does not attempt the debit, and you are not charged our service fee. The tenant will need to make arrangements to pay you directly, and the autodebits will continue for the next payment period.

Can ClearNow Accept Partial Payments of Rent?

No, a tenant cannot make a “partial payment” of rent with ClearNow (www.ClearNow.com).  When ClearNow automatically debits a tenant’s bank account, either the entire amount of rent is successfully debited or nothing at all.

ClearNow’s prevention of “partial payments” is superior to other methods of payment that landlords employ.  For example, if a landlord provides deposit slips to their bank account to tenants or has tenants pay when they choose through bill payment, the tenant has the ability to make a partial payment of rent.

Can I Debit Multiple Tenants on Different Debit Days?

Yes, you can. Each ClearNow accounts debits on a specific day and deposits to a specific bank account. If you have multiple tenants who you would like to debit on different debit days, you will need to set up a ClearNow account for each debit day. However, the pricing will be different than if all of the tenants were in the same account. The first tenant in your first account is $14.95. Each additional tenant in that account is $2. The first tenant in each additional account is $7.95 and each additional tenant is $2.