Aaron's Rent To Own - Tried To Break Inot My House! The person sent out by Aaron's rent to own tried to break into my house when coming to pick up a freezer. Jacksonville Florida

That the people that post about a Rent to Own place "Breaking" into their house NEVER actually seem to call the police. At most this would have them getting caught in the act, or at a minimum get it documented??????

Is it really that crazy of a thought that if someone is trying to break into your house, the first numbers you should be dialing are 9-1-1? Or could it be that they actually do owe the money and are afraid that the police might require them to hand over the merchandise?

no one was EVER "behind in payments" when this happens. Aaron's, RAC, whoever....we just harass good paying customers for fun.

that this happened 'a few years ago' and you are just now feeling the need to post something?

i've read quite a few of these complaints against aaron's and found that in many cases the people have just not told the whole story or are completely unbelievable

Dear U.S. Congress, (The Rent-to-own Industry's Message to Congress)

The logical first question you ask is why the rent-to-own industry a Congressional issue. The simple answer is because of you – Congress. In 1993, 2006 and 2007, powerful members of Congress introduced federal legislation that would eliminate the rent-to-own industry in America.

ALERT: Rent-A-Center, Inc. (RAC) will pay $7 million in restitution to thousands of California customers under a settlement with Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

S. 738 and H.R. 1744 (the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act) was introduced in March 2009. H.R. 1744 is once again sponsored by Rep. William Lacy Clay from Missouri and Sen. Mary Landrieu from Louisiana. The bills have been referred to the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee pending hearings and votes.

ALERT: Attorney General's complaint alleged RAC, in violation of state law, engaged in unfair competition and illegally misrepresented the cash price of certain merchandise.

The rent-to-own transaction is the most flexible transaction in the market …Many other industries will follow therefore it is important for the U.S. Congress to finally define the rent-to-own transaction as a lease and, in return, provide meaningful consumer disclosures and reinstatement rights that will improve consumer protections in 33 states.

ALERT: Dealer Services president, John Fuller, says his 'Ren'T'Own' automobile financing “can separate a delinquent 'renter' from his beloved car in a New York minute–no sticky consumer-protection laws to slow things down".

For more information on APRO's federal legislative effort, please contact APRO Public Affairs Director Richard May by e-mail or phone at 512/225-1051.

I lived with a person who was avoiding Aaron's like it was his job. They came by every couple of weeks, and the reason he was not paying wasn't lack of money- it was because they changed their '90 days same as cash' policy, and attempted to charge him $600 for a playstation 3 he'd only owned a few weeks. He had been making payments on that and a television until that point.

This man is not a saint.

However, Aaron's entered his house without permission to repossess the materials, while he was at a neighboring apartment with the door unlocked.

A fight ensued, and the Aaron's repossessor ended up with a broken face, and my former roommate with a bad infection where the repossessors' teeth broke his knuckles open. The cops were called for unlawful entry and probably assault as well, although the Aaron's man had since jumped in his truck and left. They're pressing charges on each other.

The repossession was not the problem- it was the unlawful entry. Even IF someone shuts off their lights and avoids the payments, Aaron's only course of action in that case should have been to send him into collections for the full amount + 49% for collections fees.

So my consumer suggestion would be to avoid rent-to-own like the plague, since even chimps know it's a rip off plain - and - simple. Just buying into American Greed and the OH MY GOD I HAVE TO HAVE IT mentality. Be a normal human being. You want a TV? Save your money, then go to the store and buy a TV. Be responsible for yourself and taking time to read the fine print. You don't NEED anything from a Rent to Own store, you NEED to get a job and save your money for the things you want. Want =/= Need. Separate the two and you should be golden. Or go to Salvation Army and scoop up a $10 floor model TV from the 1980's instead of the 60" plasma HDTV that is yours for only $50 a week for the next 5 years.

Finance a car, finance a house, finance your education... and finance through a financial organization. A little common sense saves a big headache.