RAC Rent-a-Center Basic fraud took extra money for coverage won't honor contract Columbia South Carolina

Mr. Anonymous has been an on-time payer from same local rentacenter RAC for several years, on time with most payments, and successfully bought products and received confirmation and certificates for those products. Based upon his experience with this RAC, we needed a washer and went and picked one out. He also bought on time a dryer, which was fully paid for, so we were satisfied with the delivery of the new washer. Within the next six months to a year, that washer had something wrong with the sensors and he was offered, and I witnessed, a slightly used washer, a more basic washer, which we all agreed would be best. Mr. Anonymous filled out the new application as a formality RAC said, with no problem for assured delivery the next day. It was delivered and hooked up also without any problems. I'm his companion, and usually the one who used it the most, and it worked OK. About the time Mr. Anonymous's last few payments were being made, on time, the washer wouldn't go into the second cycle. We tried changing settings, which seemed to take care of it, but it continued to lock up about once a week.

Last payment was made and concurrently, the washer was konking out. When Mr Anonymous made his last payment and received his certificate of paid and proud owner of said washer, he was asked by the salesman, Marquis, if he'd like to purchase"Benefits Plus," for only a few dollars more per week. It would cover cost for broken parts or repair and a loaner would be furnished until said washer was either repaired or replaced. Since last week, I've spoken to Marquis, who said RAC would come out the next day between 3pm and 5pm to look at the washer. Nobody showed up and it was irritating as I had plans but nobody called to say they weren't coming, so I waited and called the following day. The next day I called, Marquis answered and I realized I had met him and thought he'd have a good reason for not at least calling. I reminded him of our dirty clothes situation, Mr. Anonymous's working needs, and Marquis went silent. I asked at that point what was going on. He said, "You weren't put on a schedule, I forgot." I then reset a time for Saturday, the next day, at 1pm.

At 1:30pm when there again was no call or RAC truck outside, I called and insisted something be done. Enter the stage, Lance, who did show up that same afternoon and told me and my son it was the agitator, and there was nothing he could do as the washer was just paid in full I told Lance that Mr Anonymous had "Benefit Plus Insurance" and I had papers in the house to let me show him, and Lance politely said that it was okay, he could get the information on the insurance payments Saturday, but not get back to Mr Anonymous until the following Monday to let us know what could be done. Today, I waited and phone didn't ring and no RAC personnel came out so I called RAC again. Enter "Phillip," who must be the new manager, with a very thick accent that got thicker with his answers to me. The first thing Phillip said to me after I explained the situation again was, " I know, I know about your problem and I have your answer." I said,"What is my answer?" He said, " This is a bought and paid for washer, and it can't be helped now." At this point I began "losing my religion," and tried to speak over him that Mr. Anonymous had insurance, only purchased because of the way it was offered but mainly, because I'm reading it now, and it says this washer should have parts covered and a loaner.

He wouldn't let me finish which left me only saying " bring him a washer, bring him a washer." I understand maybe they(RAC) as Phillip "might" have been saying, that the Corporate office would need to look at the paperwork, and could take months. I realized we had been taken. I did manage to also ask him for something to pay Mr Anonymous and myself for the cost of the laundromat, and I don't like seeing him working 6 and this season, 7days per week, 12 hour days, and a good payer, be treated this way. It's unacceptable behavior by a company, especially a company this large. Based out of Plano, Texas, and Corporate run by CEO Mr. Mark Speese, I have to wonder if he is aware of the nationwide(based on forums I've read today) of not only situations such as ours, but I also found out it's"protected" by an outdated bill passed in 1977, which not only allows RAC to use scare collection tactics, but successfully arrest and jail unknowing consumers for not making payments on time; to the extent of even some who were never even told they were only to lease or rent, and when a set of furniture was paid for by one woman, happily thinking her product was paid in full, was jailed with no warning and had to re-rent her set and double the $5,000.00 paid or give back. I guess, in dealing with this corporation, we got out lucky. I'm hoping there's a huge class action suit that may get the attention of the CEO! Anonymous . Thank you for this site, and God bless.