Best methods of collecting rent

[John Reid]

BP Friends,

How do you guys collect your rent? Do you have an automated way for your tenants to pay or do you accept checks or cash. I am closing on my first duplex in a couple weeks and I am trying to get all of my ducks in a row. I thought I heard of some websites or apps or something that tenants can use to pay their rent. 

I heard on one of the podcasts that you should not accept partial payment if your tenants are late with rent, if you have an automated process of accepting payments cant your tenants say they paid you and you accepted it. 

What are your thoughts?

[Samantha Klein]

@Gregory Hall If a tenant uses a credit card to pay, they can file a chargeback even months later and Paypal 99% of the time sides with the buyer/payer. Having them pay by invoice is a bad idea in itself because invoices are for tangible goods, if a buyer claims they didn't receive an item, you will lose your money and most of the time it doesn't matter if you have evidence, they will still side with the buyer. 

I've used Paypal before for accepting rent and I didn't have a problem but I have seen on many occasions online of horror stories of tenants filing claims on months of rent and getting refunded, leaving the landlord SOL, you can take the tenant to small claims but you may never see the money.