Rent A Center Is RAC dishonest? Many ways yes. Worked many years, Internet

I worked for Rent A Center for many years and it is high time that someone tells the truth about what really goes on with pricing, harassment, Benefits Plus, Waivers and so much more.

First of all, the pricing. Many people think they are paying twice what the product is worth or costs which is far from being the truth. You are charged 4.5 times the amount of the item. This is the standard formula for Rent A Center. For example, if the actual cost is $350. You will pay $1,575. They will try to convince you that if you pay it off in 90 days, you are getting a huge deal. Not true. Your 90 day price is going to be $775, a little more than double the cost. This do not just include new items.

This is the same on used items also. Some of these used items have had roach infestation. I have seen used condoms. Even items coming back smelling like urine. We were trained to use markers to cover up scratches and scrub items. I personally have used garbage bags and set items in the bags and set off roach bombs. Then they are wiped down and sold for 4.5 times the remaining value or as much as the store can sell it for. You are trained to get a customer to focus on the 90days same as cash amount instead of the full amount of the item. Most customers cannot pay off the amount in 90 days. 90 days same as cash dates are set in stone. Even if your final day of your 90 days end on on a day the store is closed. Your price will go up dramatically.

For example, if you had paid down to $10 on your 90 day same as cash (using the example from above) your balance will go from $10 to $785. This is where it gets really sticky. Once your 90 days is over, only a small percentage will go to your balance with your payment. For example, if you pay $100. Only $20 comes off your overall balance. All of this can be verified by getting a terming matrix, a form that all RAC employees have to follow. And doing a simple walk through of the store. Every store has to have roach bombs. Then there is items that are called "gold nuggets" These items have made 4.5 times the amount of cost. Meaning anything that is collected is straight profit. If you can earn another $1k from it, then you are celebrated.

The next thing is the contract. We were trained to engage the customer and do a "slide and sign," Making sure that they signed the benefits plus page which is an additional cost each week. The hope is to get the person to sign without reading it. It is two boxes on that back page. To accept or decline. Once that customer signs their name, many times the employee will go back and check that box to accept. I, personally could never get myself to do that. This can be verified by sending anyone in to rent an item. Also what is not told on most occasions that if you do not continue to pay for the benefits plus after the item is paid in full, then if anything breaks, then it will not be fixed.

I have seen many complaints about harassment and that Customer support does little to nothing to help. The reason is because the employee works with a constant threat of termination. The collections side of the business is required to have 94% of their customers to pay by close of business on Saturday. If they are unable to do that, then they will loose their jobs. The references that are used when you get your items, will be called when you pay late. When you pay off an item, it is required that the sales manager have you to re rent something else. If they cannot get a certain percentage to re rent items, they could loose their job. 

Here is where things get very wishy washy. Due to the pressure that is put on store manangers, many of them fudge the numbers to make it appear that the store has more accounts than it actually do by leaving accounts on the books that are not real accounts. I brought this to the attention to the "brass" several times and they all but ignored me. I did not know all of the ramifications but with a public traded company appearing larger than it actually is, I knew this was bad news. Simple audits would verify what I said as the truth.

The treatment of the employees is even harsher. We were told in not uncertain terms that if we did not punch out for lunches, whether we took them or not, we would face disciplinary action, possibly termination. Over the years, there were countless lunches that I was punched out for but actually worked those lunches. Another audit will verify this and you would see the countless times that managers have manually clocked employees in and out. Especially for lunch breaks.

In dealing with this company. Know your law. If you tell them not to call you at work, and they continue to, they are breaking the law. They will also "try" you to see how much you do know. I personally know of an employee that caused a woman her job by calling her work over and over. He had been told to stop. The woman ultimately lost her job and car. I watched the DM get a chuckle over this. I was sickened. This can be verified through customer service records.

The thing many people may not know is that many politicians want to stop rent to own and the way they do business. Rent A Center not only encourage their employees to not vote for those people but ask for donations from employees to support the campaign of politicians that will not close rent to own or change how they are run.

I have so many things that I could say, and they can all be verified through documentation. From this previous employee. I apologize because I know what you are saying is the truth. I came home and cried every single day. In my opinion the only people that can stay with this company is a person that is able to snuff out their conscience.

I hope people do read this. I know in my heart that Rent A Center is going to come after me powerful strong, but I speak the truth and will put my hand on a stack of bibles. I have even kept some documentation.

Thanks