Apartment.com: Collecting security deposit from future tenants

[Deirdre Cullen]

We are currently using apartments.com for rent collection and it has gone very smoothly and cut down so much time vs having rent checks mailed to our PO Box. New tenants are about to sign a lease that will not start for several months (student housing) and apartments.com won't let me collect the security deposit or 1st months rent through them.  I thought it was a glitch and called to verify this was the case.  Has anyone found a work around for this?  If not, any suggestions on another site that is free for both the landlord and tenant with a ACH payments? Thank you!

[Andrew B.]

I would never consider getting first month's through any non certified means. No check, no online payments, etc. Only cash or money order is accepted. ACH payments can be reversed after they move in.