New: Pay Rent with a Debit Card for a Very Low Fee

If you’re able to pay your rent every month using a credit or debit card, it’s possible to amass a lot of points, simply by the virtue that your rent is probably one of your highest expenses.

Paying rent by credit card is challenging – all rent paying services pass the credit card processing fee onto you, which can sometimes hover around 3%, which is quite hefty. However, paying by debit card can be a great option since there are a few point-earning debit cards still out there.

Radpad, a service that offers both credit card and debit card payments for rent, offers a monthly check-cutting service to landlord that only charges a $4.95 fee when using a debit card. So, if you have a one mile/point per dollar card, you’re effectively buying 1,000 points for $4.95, if, for example, your rent is $1,000, which is common for many.

Interestingly, the site encourages payment by credit card for rewards:

For example, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard has a 2.2% rewards rate on every purchase. Paying $1,000 a month in rent on your card would net you $22 a month in rewards.

I’m a little confused how a $1,000 rent payment, which costs about $30 in credit card fees and generates $22 in rewards is worth it, but to each his own, I guess.

Prior to making a large payment with your debit card, test it first. Some debit cards, especially from smaller, “home-town” banks, will charge the credit card fee.

There appears to be verification of landlord once you set up an account, so you’re aware. For larger payments, they charge $5 for up to $5,000, and $10 for up to $10,000 (that’s the maximum allowed).

You can visit Radpad’s website here for more information.