Past Features (Based on Previous Design/Functionality)

Based on the provided previous application design, the Resident App offered the following core payment and billing features:

• Payment History Display: Residents could view a list of their past payment transactions under a "Payment History" section.
  • This included views for "Case 1: Payment Pending," "Case 2: Partially Paid," and "Case 3: Paid."
• Basic Payment Statuses: The system supported tracking payments in various states, as indicated by the "Payment Pending," "Partially Paid," and "Paid" cases.
• Basic Filtering Capability: The presence of "Filters" in the UI implied an ability to sort or narrow down the payment history, although specific filter types might have been limited (e.g., by date). An "Empty state" for filters was also present.
• General Notifications: The app provided alerts related to billing, as suggested by the "Notification" section showing "Bill Number", "Full Payment", "Partial Payment", “Payment overdue” messages and "New Message Sent" view.
• Utility Bill Display: Specific charge types like "Electricity" were represented within the payment view, showing outstanding amounts.

New Features & Updates (Current Enhancements)

Our latest updates introduce significant improvements to make your billing and accounting experience even more seamless and transparent, building upon the past features:

• Comprehensive Online Payment Options:

  • What's New: The app now fully supports diverse online payment methods, including Credit/Debit Card payments, Bank Account (ACH/e-Check) transfers, and the potential for other digital payments (e.g., UPI, digital wallets where applicable), offering residents more flexibility and convenience for immediate or scheduled transactions.

• Enhanced Ledger and Real-Time Accounting:

  • What's New: The "Ledger/Statement View" is now a more dynamic and real-time accounting tool. It provides a continuously updated running balance and a detailed chronological breakdown of all charges and payments. This ensures residents have an accurate and immediate financial overview.

• Advance Payment Capability:

  • What's New: Residents now have the option to make advance payments towards future bills or their account balance, providing greater financial planning flexibility. This can be done via the "Make a One-Time Payment" section.

• Support for Offline Payments:

  • What's New: For residents who prefer or require non-digital payment methods, the app now includes clear documentation and guidance on offline payment options (e.g., where and how to pay by check or in person, if supported by property management). This ensures accessibility for all residents.

• Automated Fine and Penalty Billing

  What's New: The system now automatically calculates and applies fines and penalties based on predefined rules. This includes:

  • Late Payment Fees: Automatically assesses and adds charges for payments made past their due date. These can be configured as a flat fee or a percentage of the overdue amount, with customizable grace periods.
  • Transparent Fine Details: All fines are clearly itemized on your ledger and invoices, with details on the reason for the fine, the date it was applied, and how it was calculated. This ensures full transparency for residents.
  • Other Applicable Fines: Integrates the billing of other specific charges, such as violation fines (e.g., for property rule infractions, if applicable), or service charges, ensuring all associated costs are clearly presented.
  • Automated and Accessible Receipts:
    • What's New: Beyond basic confirmations, the system now automatically generates and provides easily downloadable individual receipts for every successful payment. These receipts are immediately available within the app and via email, enhancing record-keeping.
  • Enhanced Payment Status Visibility:
    • What's New: While "Pending," "Partially Paid," and "Paid" statuses existed, the new system provides clearer visual indicators and more prominent display for these statuses across the app, making it easier to grasp your payment situation at a glance. This includes dedicated screens for each payment status case.
  • Formal Invoice Generation:
    • What's New: In addition to general statements, the app now provides the capability to generate and download formal invoices for specific billing periods or charge types, offering a more structured financial document for residents' records.
  • Streamlined Notification System:
    • What's New: Beyond general reminders, the notification system is now more targeted and informative. You will receive specific alerts for:
      • Bill Notifications: When a new bill is generated or available.
      • Full Payment Confirmations: Immediate confirmation upon successful full payment.
      • Partial Payment Updates: Alerts confirming a partial payment and clearly indicating the remaining balance due.
      • Bill Enquiries: Notifications related to responses or updates on any queries you submit about your bills.
  • Improved Payment History Filtering:
    • What's New: The filtering capabilities have been greatly expanded. You can now perform robust filtering by:
      • Specific Payment Statuses: Quickly view all "Pending," "Partially Paid," or "Paid" transactions.
      • Date Ranges: Easily narrow down history to specific periods.
      • Charge Types: Filter by specific categories like "Electricity" or other defined charges, providing more granular control over your view.
  • Clearer Handling of Partial Payments:
    • What's New: The system now explicitly highlights partial payments and the remaining outstanding balance in a more intuitive way, giving you immediate clarity on what is still owed after a partial payment.

These new features are designed to provide you with greater control, transparency, and ease of use when managing your financial interactions within the Resident App. We are committed to continuously improving your experience.