We have provided some examples of common types of transactions. Each scenario is explained in full and includes a picture of what the completed transaction form would look like.
Example 1: The Electricity Bill
The electricity bill should be split evenly amongst all flatmates.
See example 1Example 2: Telephone Bill With Toll Calls
There are two parts to the telephone bill - the toll calls, which should be attributed to the appropriate flatmate, and the monthly charge, which should be split evenly amongst all flatmates.
Example 3: Lend Money To A Flatmate
A flatmate borrows some money. Instead of having them pay you back, you account for the debt using flatAccount.com.
Example 4: Use Your Credit Card For Other Flatmates
The other flatmates have exceeded the limits on their credit cards so you agree to use yours to purchase items online on their behalf.
Example 5: Refund From Telephone Company
The telephone company overcharged you for the monthly charge and one of the toll calls, so they have issued you with a refund.
Some Notes On Trivial Transactions
Some transactions in your flat won't involve any flatmates other than the one paying.
For example, say your flat makes separate rent contributions. That is, each of you pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord. None of those transactions involve the other flatmates because when you give the landlord your share of the rent you are paying for what only you owe. You are not paying for other flatmates and they are not paying for you.
These are known as trivial transactions and should not be recorded on flatAccount.com.
This is because they are - as their name suggests - trivial, in that they have no effect on the balances of other flatmates.
Although it may not be obvious at first, this is no different from you paying for something for yourself that is totall separate from the flat (such as visiting the doctor).
On the other hand, if your flat nominates one person to pay all the rent, then indeed that transaction should be recorded on flatAccount.com because it is non-trivial - the person paying is doing so on behalf of other flatmates and therefore their balances will be affected.
