Rent A Center refusing to take a 1 day late payment unless it includes the next week's payment in advance with it. Lowell Massachusetts

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.

Dennis
lowell, Massachusetts
U.S.A.