WilliamPaid Offers Group Pay Feature for Renters and Roommates

CHICAGO, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for students heading back to school, WilliamPaid announced today its Group Pay feature, which allows roommates to share, manage and pay their rent online without typical rent collection hassles.  According to the National Multi Housing Council, the more than 38.3 million rental households average nearly 2.5 people per rental unit, creating many uncomfortable roommate rent collection problems.

"For many students heading back to school, this will be the first time they will be responsible for making a monthly rent payment.  We've heard time and again about the headaches and drama that surround monthly rent payment for students," says Evan Silverman, CEO of WilliamPaid, the online rent payment and credit-building service. "Our Group Pay feature reduces that monthly stress by allowing each roommate to confidentially schedule their payment using one of several payment types, with alerts being sent to the other roommates.  WilliamPaid takes those individual payments and sends one collective payment to the landlord."

Silverman said that roommates can pay their rent from a bank account or use a credit or debit card or even have another individual, such as a parent, pay their share.  Each roommate receives alerts and notices when payments have been scheduled, allowing each person to know who has paid.

"Group Pay eliminates the need for the roommate 'in charge' to have to track down everyone's payment," said Silverman.  "Plus, do you really want one person being responsible for your rent payment?"

"Collecting rent from roommates is a hassle.  Conflicting class schedules, extracurricular activities, and life in general can mean that some off-campus college roommates don't ever really see each other," said Jessica Nunemaker, Director of Social Media at mycollegeguide.org.  "Trying to track down various members of your off-campus household can definitely make it a lot more difficult and stressful to collect the monthly rent."

Silverman also noted that parents can breathe a little easier with Group Pay.  Now, parents who pay or subsidize rent for their student-children can know that the payment actually went to the landlord.

"When my daughter and son shared rent with roommates during college, it was always an issue of concern that the rent wouldn't get paid on time, or go directly to the landlord after payments were gathered," said Suzanne Shaffer, parent and founder of ParentsCountdowntoCollegeCoach.com.  "If roommates have disagreements and they will, this service will assure that no one has an excuse for not paying their rent on time."

About WilliamPaid

WilliamPaid is an online resource for renters and roommates, providing flexible rent payment options, including paying rent online with a credit or debit card, group rent payment tools to share, manage and pay rent and credit building services such as having rent payments and past rent and utility payments reported to a credit bureau. WilliamPaid is headquartered in Northbrook, Ill. Learn more: www.williampaid.com.

SOURCE WilliamPaid