apartment want account number

[Trainwreck20]

Garnishing a paycheck is only something that is done if you owe a debt of some kind, and even then it is limited to very specific situations - the most common that I know of is back child support.

An account number does not allow (nor give them the ability) to take it out of your paycheck. If you decide to open a new account (either at the same bank or elsewhere), then they cannot access that money via the direct withdrawal. The direct withdrawal contract language, though, probably has some penalties for failure to pay and they MIGHT be able to direct withdraw those penalties directly (not sure). Also, the bank MAY have some kind of overdraft penalty if the complex tries to withdraw and you do not have the funds to cover it.

[sezzam]

A judge may order garnishing wages, quite often for child support and for debt owed. Do you owe back rent to this particular property manager?

A property management company can ask you to pay directly from your pay check (they can ask whatever they want), but you will need your employer and the payroll processor to agree, and the payroll processor might charge you for it.

My thoughts: OK to let the property management take out rent from your bank account monthly; avoid any situation where you pay rent directly from your paycheck.

[Shredding_Gnar78]

just go open a free checking account somewhere and deposit just enough to cover what you need.

don't give them access to a surplus of cash. once money is exchanged this way, its incredibly hard to get it back if need be.

[CptnRn]

It is not entirely uncommon in situations like yours. They will set up a draft, with your approval, that automatically deducts the rent amount from your bank account each month. You have to sign an authorization for them to do this. It will be your responsibility to make sure you have enough money in the account to cover the draft, otherwise you will be hit with over draft charges.

[parasitius]

Seems absolutely silly to me. If you opened a new account with the sole purpose of paying rent and gave them that, then if you didn't feel like paying one month you just emptied it out... their transfer would fail (must turn overdraft off)