I've been with my girlfriend 10 years now and some times we've rented things from Rent a Center. She has always been a good customer; obtained items with no problems. Some late payments but shame on her for paying extra money. Dec 2006 we picked up two computers and a bunk bed to give the kids for Christmas. Times have been tough but here it is 18 months later and 9 thousand dollars poorer and the kids are still on the internet. Now Rent A Center wants them back. We are supposed to pay 116.00 dollars every Saturday, and they have a late fee of 5.00 dollars per item. The policy is in writing in the contract. Now I really hate paying an extra 15.00 dollars a week but the late fee is in black and white on the contract.

So when I bring a payment in on Monday or Tuesday (or Wednesday or Thursday...) I bring in 132.00 dollars. Shame on us for being late but thats what the late fee is for. Add up 15.00 dollars a week and stick that in someones gas tank! Now is it a breach of contract when they refuse to take a payment? Thats right. I've come in during the week (many times) and have been told that they wont take the 132.00 unless i also pay the 116.00 for the next week that isn't even here yet. (248.00 total). If I could pay a week in advance I would. But I don't think they can force me. (Extortion).

They should take the 132.00 (that I owe) and then see me next week for next weeks pay. If I can't make it on Saturday with the 116.00 then they will get another 15.00 dollars in late fees when I come in during the week with 132.00.

I was taken aback the first couple times that i walked in with 132.00 and was told they would only take 248.00. 'how on earth is it 248.00?' Because they demanded next weeks money now. When i explained that I only had the money that i actually owed (132.00) I was shocked when they refused the payment and demanded 248.00. This has happened 5 or 6 times and sometimes they give in and take their money and other times we hold the 132.00 until the following Saturday and bring in 248.00.

This last week on May 31st (Saturday) I did not have the 116.00 until I was paid, late. (after they close for the night) so on Monday I went to work and had a friend drop off the 132.00. When I came home that night my friend said they refused the payment (that I actually owed) and would only accept 248.00. So I sent another friend in on Tuesday to drop off 132.00 and that payment was refused too. (I didn't know it could be so hard to pay a bill)

On Wednesday I called from work and was told by Hope that the manager, (Kirk or Kurt) wanted next weeks pay now because he just didn't think we would be in on Saturday. but Hope said that if we brought the 132.00 in now she would accept it. I explained that I was at work and didn't have access to the 132.00 and that now they would get the whole 248.00 on Saturday when 248.00 would be due.

On the next day, Thursday, my neighbors said they spent a half hour banging on our door. Now today is Friday. I called again to assure that the 248.00 that they want will be in on Saturday WHEN 248.00 IS DUE. And then i was told that they want the computers back. But not the (USED) bunk bed.

Nowhere on the contract does it say that after a specific number of late days the property must go back. I never breached the contract. as far as I'm concerned they breached it when they refused to take my payment (numerous times). And I think it's extortion to demand future payments.

I got a laptop and digital camera from Rent A Center. About 3-4 months after renting the items... the items were stolen by my brother in my apartment he lived there... in the contract it does state 'Insurance does not cover a non breaking and entering theft.' But it also states that 'as long as I paid for my items up to date of loss I no longer have to pay up to date of loss.' So I stopped paying for something I no longer had. I started paying more attention to my other bills... more important... I gave them my Police Reports about 4 months ago and still haven't heard anything about it. I just stopped paying 3 weeks ago and they have continually harassed my friends and family members everyday for 2 weeks... I got yelled at from my friend saying that I really need to pay for it because she's getting sick of the calls... my sister called them back after they called her and this is their conversation.

'Hello I'm the Sister of Seth (LAST NAME) he has already given you a police report.' The Rent A Center Rep said 'We never got a police report he just gave us a business card.' What the hell? I have given them the report those a**holes never faxed them to their main office. They lost my f*cking report. They finally took 'The Last Step' by coming to my place of work and Harassing me there... they are lucky they came right before I started... they wouldn't have heard anything from me.

My customers are more important than they will ever be. Anyway... he kept saying that I have to keep paying or they will file 'Theft Charges' hello you idiots... I already did. So I argued with the man and he then continued to speak to me calling me a 'Faggot' and that 'I probably looked up gay porn with the laptop anyway.' I will soon be filling out a Restraining Order against the Employee and the Company and if they try to sue me I will be counter suing for Harassment and Discrimination so obviously I will win that. But what do you think about this... this is wrong taking advantage of me because I'm 19 and a Bisexual... they would never harass my mother if she did the same thing... they would drop the whole case.

So her along with a Attorney (Family Member) and her boyfriend and also me... will be going down to Rent A Center tomorrow to have a uneasy conversation with them... I'm sick of being harassed and being called names for my sexuality. I have decided to Record My Phone Call's between me and Rent-A-Center until the restraining order has been issued. I feel I was slandered and feel abused.

My daughter rented a tv. They called and asked for payment asked them to wait for 2 days when she got paid.
This was on Thurs. Her daughter got sick and she had to take her to the ER 2 days later which was Sat. 11/24,
while she was gone the manager called and spoke to my 73 year old mom with no respect. He told her he wanted the tv.
She told him she couldn't let him go get it because there are dogs in the basement (this is where the tv was).
He told my mom that he would bring the police and have them shoot the dogs. Now, this is very unprofessional on a
manager's part. He also said he didn't care who was there it was HIS and he wanted it back. This is NOT his it belongs
to the rental agency not him. He also told her other things and wouldn't let her say a word. When she did try to say
anything he totally ignored her and continued to talk over her. He was taking it out on her when she had nothing to do
with it. Then Tues. my sister called the costumer service, they put her in touch with the district manager and she
left a message for him to call her back. She never heard from him. So, today I called 11/29 and spoke with a woman
give my mother's, daughter's, and sister's name. She then came back and said that the district manager tried to call
a few times but the phone rang in busy. That was a lie, no one has been on the phone due to waiting for his call, then
she hung up on me. I called back and said that I wanted to speak with someone and I told her I had gotten hung up on and
she did it again. I have already contacted the BBB, the FTC, and the Attorney General and waiting on a reply.