I am being Ripped OFF by Rent a Center in Bennington, VT!!

well i dont want to offend you becase you seem like a very sweet person, with a nice family.

and i have no doubt things went down exactly as you say.


the big problem is you though, you didnt fallow through, i would never take someones word for anyhting no even yours and i believe you.

it isnt just rac it is every company out there they are trying to make a profit, and mistakes get made, after working for rac for many years and i do mean many, i have even made a mistake like this, i did fix mine at the store level.
the people involed werent most likely trying to screw you(though the they may have been one never knows) they just didnt know how to fix it
or were afriad of loosing there ability to feed their children. you just happen to be caught in the middle, i am not in this long run on sentence telling the original mistake was yours but the lack of closure an the willingness to except a less the satisfactory solution is you fault. so please be more careful in the future and if the deal isnt set up right in the begining dont stop until it is in writing and correct to you satisfaction. it is a shame we as a society dont take responseablity for our action and expect companies to always be right and when they are not we accuse them off ripping us off

best of luck to you and your family
i hope your life is full of happiness

an rent a center employee who cares

I am the original author of this report on RAC. First let me say, about a year after everything went down I recieved a check from the company for my troubles. I do not currently rent from RAC nor do I intend to, for me personally it is more trouble than it is worth.
Second let me say NOT ALL MANAGERS OR STORES ARE LIKE THE ONE I DEALT WITH. I am certain there are some wonderful managers and great stores, but one would be a fool to say there are NONE like what I dealt with. Each store is different just as each manager and sales person is different.
Third my hope is that everyone who reads this will be more alert and informed. Check everything, just because someone is smiling to your face doesn't mean they are not capable of a mistake. If someone tries to push you through paperwork....WALK, don't do it, don't risk it...just walk away. If they are honest and want your business (and trust me these companies DO) they will back off. Go with your gut instinct, if something smells like bad fish, you will get sick. *just laugh...its only humor*

I read the initial post here, and as a former store manager, felt I may be able to shine some light on the subject. First of all, if you actually rented the refrigerator for 12 weeks and returned it, you are ENTITLED to the 12 weeks being applied under the "Lifetime Reinstatement" policy.

Second, when you approached the manager about it, the reaction was textbook. By offering to "write-off" the merchandise, the manager was employing an old "rental cash" technique. Meaning, for a while, RAC rented merchandise and along with the contract would give the customer a rental cash voucher which stated the number of discounted weeks off of the end of the contract. Sounds good, huh? Not so fast. In doing so, the manager knows that the vast majority of accounts are returned or picked up within the first few months, meaning the voucher was useless and cost the company nothing.

Also, the amount of the "write-off" would be minimal, because as the customer pays, the amount the company owes on the item drops (depreciation).

The other point here is that the fact that your agreement was actually written for the 92 or so weeks hurt you alot more than the "write-off" could have helped. The 90 days SAC amount is based on the amount of weeks multiplied by the weekly (or monthly) rate.

That number is divided by 50% to give the 90 days SAC amount. Example: if the refrigerator was $19.99/wk at 92 weeks, thats $1839.08, and $919.54 90 days SAC. At 82 weeks, the numbers drop to $1549.19 and $774.59. You lost that chance to ever pay that small amount for the fridge. You would basically be resigned to paying the 82 week total of $1549.19 and waiting for the item to be written off.

Return it, and go somewhere else. Or, complain to the market manager. Or, call home office at 1-800-275-2696 and complain. This actually does work most times. The H.O. will fax the "customer opportunity" to the Regional director and the market manager etc. Hope that helped.

Some people are never happy. You know them, the ones that would be pissed if you gave them 100 dollars instead of 150. Truth of the matter is, that the majority of rent-a-center customers are satisfied and happy with the service and product they receive. Unfortunately, you have a small percent that are going to complain about getting ripped off. HERES A THOUGHT...Rent-A-Center does not hide their prices or how much you will pay on a full rental agreement...all you have to do is look at the price tag or the agreement..it is all right there in black and white..in my store we pride our-selves on treating people with respect that would normally be snubbed at other places trying to get merchandise they are entitled to..so bash our company if you want but we know who our real customers are...

Some people are never happy. You know them, the ones that would be pissed if you gave them 100 dollars instead of 150. Truth of the matter is, that the majority of rent-a-center customers are satisfied and happy with the service and product they receive. Unfortunately, you have a small percent that are going to complain about getting ripped off. HERES A THOUGHT...Rent-A-Center does not hide their prices or how much you will pay on a full rental agreement...all you have to do is look at the price tag or the agreement..it is all right there in black and white..in my store we pride our-selves on treating people with respect that would normally be snubbed at other places trying to get merchandise they are entitled to..so bash our company if you want but we know who our real customers are...

I have rented from RAC and have had nothing but good experiences. I was not "rushed" through the paper work as one of you put it. It was explained thoroughly and I READ what I signed.

The manager was nothing but nice. When I ran into problems and lost my job, he was there the whole time and would let me have an extension on my payments without having to pay extra. When I finally did get another job and my pay checks came after my due dates he would make sure that I didn't have late charges.

So I have had nothing but great experiences with RAC and I don't think you should beat down all of them because you have a problem with one. I can honestly say that if you read the paperwork before you signed it and actually talk to the managers and not just let time go by, then you will have no problems.

Rent A Center has been in buisness doing alot of things for people that most companies wouldnt do for customers, In fact just yesterday (Sunday) we werent even open and one of my customers got ahold of me and asked if I could fix her computer for her. I went there at 930pm on a SUNDAY and fixed it for right now until could get into the store today with the right disks and go back to her house.

Anyways enough of that. To the person looking to wait and buy the TV with cash, yes thats a great idea but think of this, we have 90 days same as cash on everything. Think of it as a 90 layaway but you have the product. EVERY penny you put into the TV from the day you sign the paperwork till 90 days goes right on the total of the TV. Also while you are renting it we have a great service which we go to your house and fix the TV if there is something wrong with it, and if we cant fix it we will bring another one of the same size if not bigger.

Yes one person was right in saying that we do threaten to p/u our stuff if you dont make a payment. Which we wont right away. They are right in an aspect but let me tell you a story about one guy who did that to me. Some guy had rented a TV from me and was almost done making payments. I think he had 14 weeks left to pay and he just stopped showing up. I called like I always do on a monday morning wondering where he could be. He didnt answer the phone I called again at 330pm and the number had changed to a non published number. OK not cool. I called a few refrences and got his new number I guess he had caller ID and didnt answer still.

This went on for a few weeks almost 30 days with no contact to him at all, ( he didnt have an answering machine) Finally one day I told my manager we need to "hit" him (blunt terms for visit his house) I went there and he threratened to kick my a$$ if I didnt leave so him being all of 5'3" i wasnt too worried about him and said ok 2 can play at this game and went to the police department and filed a report on him.

I not only got my merchandise back but got him arrested for breach of peace and a few other fun things like having drug paraphanillia and marajuana in his house. The bottom line is dont mess around and be late. We totally understand if you are late trust me I have let more then a few people float until they can get paid or get the money. But dont make a commitment and not follow through thats when we get nasty.

Rent A Center has been in buisness doing alot of things for people that most companies wouldnt do for customers, In fact just yesterday (Sunday) we werent even open and one of my customers got ahold of me and asked if I could fix her computer for her. I went there at 930pm on a SUNDAY and fixed it for right now until could get into the store today with the right disks and go back to her house.

Anyways enough of that. To the person looking to wait and buy the TV with cash, yes thats a great idea but think of this, we have 90 days same as cash on everything. Think of it as a 90 layaway but you have the product. EVERY penny you put into the TV from the day you sign the paperwork till 90 days goes right on the total of the TV. Also while you are renting it we have a great service which we go to your house and fix the TV if there is something wrong with it, and if we cant fix it we will bring another one of the same size if not bigger.

Yes one person was right in saying that we do threaten to p/u our stuff if you dont make a payment. Which we wont right away. They are right in an aspect but let me tell you a story about one guy who did that to me. Some guy had rented a TV from me and was almost done making payments. I think he had 14 weeks left to pay and he just stopped showing up. I called like I always do on a monday morning wondering where he could be. He didnt answer the phone I called again at 330pm and the number had changed to a non published number. OK not cool. I called a few refrences and got his new number I guess he had caller ID and didnt answer still.

This went on for a few weeks almost 30 days with no contact to him at all, ( he didnt have an answering machine) Finally one day I told my manager we need to "hit" him (blunt terms for visit his house) I went there and he threratened to kick my a$$ if I didnt leave so him being all of 5'3" i wasnt too worried about him and said ok 2 can play at this game and went to the police department and filed a report on him.

I not only got my merchandise back but got him arrested for breach of peace and a few other fun things like having drug paraphanillia and marajuana in his house. The bottom line is dont mess around and be late. We totally understand if you are late trust me I have let more then a few people float until they can get paid or get the money. But dont make a commitment and not follow through thats when we get nasty.

Rent A Center has been in buisness doing alot of things for people that most companies wouldnt do for customers, In fact just yesterday (Sunday) we werent even open and one of my customers got ahold of me and asked if I could fix her computer for her. I went there at 930pm on a SUNDAY and fixed it for right now until could get into the store today with the right disks and go back to her house.

Anyways enough of that. To the person looking to wait and buy the TV with cash, yes thats a great idea but think of this, we have 90 days same as cash on everything. Think of it as a 90 layaway but you have the product. EVERY penny you put into the TV from the day you sign the paperwork till 90 days goes right on the total of the TV. Also while you are renting it we have a great service which we go to your house and fix the TV if there is something wrong with it, and if we cant fix it we will bring another one of the same size if not bigger.

Yes one person was right in saying that we do threaten to p/u our stuff if you dont make a payment. Which we wont right away. They are right in an aspect but let me tell you a story about one guy who did that to me. Some guy had rented a TV from me and was almost done making payments. I think he had 14 weeks left to pay and he just stopped showing up. I called like I always do on a monday morning wondering where he could be. He didnt answer the phone I called again at 330pm and the number had changed to a non published number. OK not cool. I called a few refrences and got his new number I guess he had caller ID and didnt answer still.

This went on for a few weeks almost 30 days with no contact to him at all, ( he didnt have an answering machine) Finally one day I told my manager we need to "hit" him (blunt terms for visit his house) I went there and he threratened to kick my a$$ if I didnt leave so him being all of 5'3" i wasnt too worried about him and said ok 2 can play at this game and went to the police department and filed a report on him.

I not only got my merchandise back but got him arrested for breach of peace and a few other fun things like having drug paraphanillia and marajuana in his house. The bottom line is dont mess around and be late. We totally understand if you are late trust me I have let more then a few people float until they can get paid or get the money. But dont make a commitment and not follow through thats when we get nasty.

Rent A Center has been in buisness doing alot of things for people that most companies wouldnt do for customers, In fact just yesterday (Sunday) we werent even open and one of my customers got ahold of me and asked if I could fix her computer for her. I went there at 930pm on a SUNDAY and fixed it for right now until could get into the store today with the right disks and go back to her house.

Anyways enough of that. To the person looking to wait and buy the TV with cash, yes thats a great idea but think of this, we have 90 days same as cash on everything. Think of it as a 90 layaway but you have the product. EVERY penny you put into the TV from the day you sign the paperwork till 90 days goes right on the total of the TV. Also while you are renting it we have a great service which we go to your house and fix the TV if there is something wrong with it, and if we cant fix it we will bring another one of the same size if not bigger.

Yes one person was right in saying that we do threaten to p/u our stuff if you dont make a payment. Which we wont right away. They are right in an aspect but let me tell you a story about one guy who did that to me. Some guy had rented a TV from me and was almost done making payments. I think he had 14 weeks left to pay and he just stopped showing up. I called like I always do on a monday morning wondering where he could be. He didnt answer the phone I called again at 330pm and the number had changed to a non published number. OK not cool. I called a few refrences and got his new number I guess he had caller ID and didnt answer still.

This went on for a few weeks almost 30 days with no contact to him at all, ( he didnt have an answering machine) Finally one day I told my manager we need to "hit" him (blunt terms for visit his house) I went there and he threratened to kick my a$$ if I didnt leave so him being all of 5'3" i wasnt too worried about him and said ok 2 can play at this game and went to the police department and filed a report on him.

I not only got my merchandise back but got him arrested for breach of peace and a few other fun things like having drug paraphanillia and marajuana in his house. The bottom line is dont mess around and be late. We totally understand if you are late trust me I have let more then a few people float until they can get paid or get the money. But dont make a commitment and not follow through thats when we get nasty.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with ONE
rent a center , but don't take it out on the
whole company. I deal with a rent a center in
Tennessee, and I'm very satisfied. It is true I'm
paying more for what I have , but I am able to
have nice things now and that's very important.
Rent a center is giving me the chance to enjoy
the finer things in life, which I would not be
able to enjoy unless I struck it rich. They are
truly great to me, they helped me get approved for my house due to my payment history with them.

If you think they are rip offs then technically any one who does business is a rip off because everyone is trying to make a profit. Do you have a credit card? They charge interest. Are they rip offs? Do you have a loan of any kind?? Guess what they charge interest to.

My point is in order for some people to get
ahead thank god there is a place like this to
help!!

We were considering renting to own a big screen TV. We have just paid everything off and are doing pretty well. I went online to check out the website for Rent A Center and was not happy that none of the important information is posted, such as what the payment range is on an item. I would think that retailers post prices yet they do not. I happened to go into this website and have read all the information that everyone provided. We have made up our mind to save the money and buy the TV out right from a department store. I hate to pay twice the amount for something. I would rather wait and pay it in full than rent to own. Thank you for all you information it has been helpful in making up our minds as to the best way to get what we want! PAY CASH!

i am a former employee of rac i just thought i would let you know that yes they rip u off if u rent a dvd player for say 10.99 a week u now u can buy one for 99.00 the total you pay them is 4 1/2 times the value of the items if u rent full term and that is on all items and yes they change contracts in the store all they do is go into the computer change things re print your agreements, rac targets people that are having finacial problems .

also if you are late payin your bill you do not have to pay more than you owe and if they threaten to p/u your merchandise let them come to your home they cant enter with out permission kinda like a vampire they suck you dry for all your money.

how ever they are supposed to call 3 times during the day but if they leave a message on your machine that is considerd contacting you!!dont be fooled by their gimmicks,rac treats customers as 2nd class citizens ,i know they are nice when you are looking to spend money but hey everyone has hardship once in a while they dont care!!

the reason the employee turn over rate is so high is they pay account managers 13-14.00 per hr now its not the managers its the regional managers who pressure them to rent & collect each week to meet their projections so the employees are the puppets,anytime they tell u oh you can return it and keep money in your account what they do is they use that to get you to give up your merchandise so they can take it off their weekly reports then if u go to get it back u may have to pay back rent if it wasnt currently paid up when they picked it up also you may not get your original merchandise back because what they do is they will try to rent you something similiar if not exact but it will be an item that someone else rented and was also in your situation but they owe lots less on it their fore rac will up the term and make you think you r getting a deal. sorry to blab but i though i could help and last but most important..

when you rent these items compare to store prices if u notice rac pays cheap money for these which means you know how they say u have to keep it for 90 days or they try to get u too. well, the items are paid for i n those 90 days the next 120 payments of 19.99 or what ever that is all profit , all i'm sayin is if u dont need it dont rent if you do be carefull thanks for your time -

I agree with the guy in Vermont. They do talk in circles and they get u by promising you this and promising you that. They have gotten me with a stove. I can't go to Sears and get one due to credit problems. I needed one so I could cook dinner for my family. They take advantage of people like us who use them as a way to get things. So i agree with the guy 100% they screw you every turn they get.

What's another thing you pay insurance on the stupid item and they never fix it right or just dont fix it.

I can relate to the guy from Vermont. Maybe others can't like homeowners who have good credit don't need places like rent a center. but those of us who do we need protection against companies like them!!!!

Finally after getting an attorney they have written off my fridge. But I have a few comments for you smart ASSES out there. First off the nature of these companies is to suck dry the people who struggle to build or rebuild credit.
I do read all of my contracts! What happened was when the contract was signed the carbon messed up and made the minus sign look like a plus. The total number of weeks was not even visible. AND they had a coupon from the company in my file (which of course NO ONE could find once the new manager took over) for the 12 weeks to be taken off.

Anyone who has ever rented from RAC knows they PUSH you through the paperwork. I even had an employee of that store snatch paperwork from me, so that I couldn't read it. I was smart enough to NOT rent that item.

FINALLY we contacted an attorney and the attorney general here in Vermont...and WOW how quickly they corrected the mistake. Suddenly it was "Oh we're so sorry, it was overlooked" "We value you as a customer, and would like you to come back."
I am now a VERY HAPPY customer of Rentway, the old manager from RAC is there. She has taken wonderful care of us. That RAC store has had 4 managers since she left, less than a year ago. What does that tell you????

Oh and to you MR. MORTAGE MAN....how would you like to pay that house down to just a few years and walk away with nothing from it. A house is different from the items you rent from these places. We had paid so much into it that it would have been STUPID to just walk away. But I guess that is what someone as Smart as you would have done.

You have another smart a*s comment .....email me!

im a cosnumer to but i care enough to read what i sign and keep copies i bought a house and mogaged 78000 but if i take 30 yrs to pay it off i will pay 247000 approx 3 times what i borrow 300% interest( and you call rent-a-center transactions price gouging,over pricing,etc.) you don't have a clue my suggestion are to read what you sign,and keep copies,and keep your receits and in a file name rent-a-center after all rac is an investment also just like a house or car Maybe rent-a-center has made it to d**n easy for people to get merchandice.



No body apreciates the fact w/o rent-a-center(renters choice) their would not be the service of rent to own. They are the company that started the consept(Mr. T's-Ernie Talley) next time quite crying about youre stupitity,and dry your eyes and read the d**n agreement.



P.S. remeber their is no long term obligation meaning you can get out at anytime!!!!!! Dummy!!!!

Most of the time customers are so anxious to recieve the merchandise that they do not pay attention to the agreement that is being covered. Too many times I have covered a contract while the customer is constantly saying "I already know all this...I've done business here before" and sign the papers. I always stop the customer in their tracks and continue because I know this is a common problem. It doesn't matter if you come to an agreement over the phone because you still have to sign the new terms. REMEMBER, whether it is a refrigerator or a house, always know what you are signing and how much you are paying. If there is a conflict, go into the store and personally take

care of the issue immediately.

Most of the time customers are so anxious to recieve the merchandise that they do not pay attention to the agreement that is being covered. Too many times I have covered a contract while the customer is constantly saying "I already know all this...I've done business here before" and sign the papers. I always stop the customer in their tracks and continue because I know this is a common problem. It doesn't matter if you come to an agreement over the phone because you still have to sign the new terms. REMEMBER, whether it is a refrigerator or a house, always know what you are signing and how much you are paying. If there is a conflict, go into the store and personally take

care of the issue immediately.

Most of the time customers are so anxious to recieve the merchandise that they do not pay attention to the agreement that is being covered. Too many times I have covered a contract while the customer is constantly saying "I already know all this...I've done business here before" and sign the papers. I always stop the customer in their tracks and continue because I know this is a common problem. It doesn't matter if you come to an agreement over the phone because you still have to sign the new terms. REMEMBER, whether it is a refrigerator or a house, always know what you are signing and how much you are paying. If there is a conflict, go into the store and personally take

care of the issue immediately.

first and for most i want to say that i am currently renting from rent a center and have had a simmular situation. but check this out in august 2001 rent a center in ny was charged with price gouging. so what dos ethat tell u about this company? they take advantage of people who may not have the means to purches high end items with cash or on credit. but here is my sugesstion first contact your market manager. NOT the Store Manager. tell him the situation and if hes not willing to clear up the situation contact the home office. in contacting one of these people u should be able to get your bill reduced.

Rent-A-Center doesnt change an agreement once you have signed it. You should have a copy of the original agreement. If not, ask for a signed copy from the store. You should have talked about taking the 12 weeks off BEFORE the agreement was typed up and then gone over w/you and then signed by you.

Rent-A-Center doesnt change an agreement once you have signed it. You should have a copy of the original agreement. If not, ask for a signed copy from the store. You should have talked about taking the 12 weeks off BEFORE the agreement was typed up and then gone over w/you and then signed by you.

Rent-A-Center doesnt change an agreement once you have signed it. You should have a copy of the original agreement. If not, ask for a signed copy from the store. You should have talked about taking the 12 weeks off BEFORE the agreement was typed up and then gone over w/you and then signed by you.

Rent-A-Center doesnt change an agreement once you have signed it. You should have a copy of the original agreement. If not, ask for a signed copy from the store. You should have talked about taking the 12 weeks off BEFORE the agreement was typed up and then gone over w/you and then signed by you.

did you read the aggreement when you signed it? Was the original term for 105 weeks...can you post a copy of the aggreement? rent a center does not up customers terms.