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My landlord who is a court clerk said that there was a landmark judgement that allowed courts clerks (or courts) to serve summons to people by WhatsApp message and that as a result house receipts can also be given by WhatsApp message. Because of that he did not issue me a physical receipt the last time I paid my rent, all he did was sent me an acknowledgement of receipt of payment for a rent at a specified address and the duration of the rent by WhatsApp message. His name and signaure was not there. Only his picture (and possibly his phone number. I don't remember rightly because I don't have the WhatsApp message again) was there. He said that that WhatsApp message is a valid receipt based on that landmark court judgement. I told him I needed a physical receipt. He said I should go and print out the WhatsApp message. His son described where I could print it out to me. Its about time to pay my house rent again. I am not comfortable with the WhatsApp message receipt concept. Can lawyers and experts in the house educate me on why a WhatsApp message is acceptable as a house rent receipt. If on the other hand, I have good grounds to ask for a physical receipts, lawyers and experts in the house should also let me know. I plan to show him this thread. Please, I will appreciate it if relevant laws are quoted. Besides a believe a receipts should be formal. Is a WhatsApp message formal enough?

Mind44, kindly help move this to front page for large response.

I am not a lawyer, but I know that receipts basically serve as a proof for something. So as long as the WhatsApp message has all the details that can proof what it is meant for, then it should be valid. But just as it is for paper receipt, you have to make sure that you do not lose it. Besides I've also seen these foreign courts they show on TV, they can even use text message chat's as evidence to proof a case.

Try and get the physical/paper receipt if not for anything but for record purposes.

It doesn’t sound right.
What’s going to happen if you lose your phone or WhatsApp messages? Then you will have no proof whatsoever.
I suggest you make your next payment using your bank app and explicitly state the purpose of the transaction before sending.
No loseguard oh

Tokskob2008:
Try and get the physical/paper receipt if not for anything but for record purposes.

I told him that. He said I should print out the WhatsApp message for record purposes.

Mood11:
It doesn’t sound right.
What’s going to happen if you lose your phone or WhatsApp messages? Then you will have no proof whatsoever.
I suggest you make your next payment using your bank app and explicitly state the purpose of the transaction before sending.
No loseguard oh

I told him that too. He said I should back up my WhatsApp message.

Please, lawyers. Your input is needed. What are the relevant laws.