rent-to-own stores
Question
Help! Aarons Rent To Own Drama!?
What can they do to me??? I know I shouldn't of gone with a rent to own company, but I started school and I have like no money to put towards a laptop. But I work full time too so I thought I would just have to swing the payment. However recently my laptop was stolen. I only got one payment in too. I asked if they had insurance since I had a feeling something bad might happen. They said there was nothing they offered. So I got broke into and my laptop and cash was stolen from my room. I'm 15 days behind and I've filed a police report and the detective told me that the laptop was under investigation and that they had a suspect who tried to pawn it. The cops told me they would speak to aarons and that to not pay anything until they got more info. The manager of the store called me tonight and threatened me and my family. He was very rude and wouldn't let me get a word in. Then out of nowhere he hung up on me. I didn't get any time to say nothing, didn't blow up and now I'm really scared First off, I am not trying to get out of my debt. Simply put I Have kept the store up to date of everything. AT THIS TIME, I don't have the money for the payment as that was stolen from me as well. I do not have any plans to get out of this debt. I am simply speaking from a legal point, what could they do? I don't have the money to pay them at this time. Not until payday. I've told them this. The detective has even spoken with them. And money or not, they don't have the right to curse at me, call me a liar and harass my family and friends in a non-professional way. Simply put they have made some pretty harsh threats and if I had the money or item, I would give it up. But I don't and I've made them aware of this. What could they do to me? Arrest me? Garnish my property? Report me to the credit agencies? Get me fired? I need to know.
2 years ago - 5 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
OK... Aaron's does not have any form of rental insurance against theft, they cover acts of god, weather... They may sue you for either theft of rental property, theft of rental services, or whatever is the terminology in the area.. the rental agreement says you are responsible for the merchandise. You should have put rental insurance on it. Depending on the judge he may have you pay for the fair market value of the laptop (about 65% of total rental balance remaining)probably in 30 days or put you in jail... now depending on how much is left in it you can get anywhere from 1mths to about 9mths. I have had a customer go to jail for 3yrs for theft of 1 laptop,61" bigscreen, living room, and a washer/dryer... Best thing for you to do is go in person and speak to the manager avoid all the "minions" and setup payment arangments. Now if the police have the guy who tried to pawn it see if the police have the laptop and just make a payment to get them off of your back and when the police release it just take it back and end the lease. Now as for talking to the higher ups in Rent to Own/Lease to Own the district managers and regional managers all have been store managers in the past and will side with the managers 100% of the time unless you are a valued customer (paid off lots merchandise, paid really good for a long period of time) So it will probably be a waste of time to call them. And for the Police to tell you not to pay is illegal... they are not supposed to give you legal advice. Not paying could make it look like you are trying to defraud a company and make it look like you had intent on stealing the merchandise. What makes it look worse is you only made 1 payment(looks like intent to steal and the Aarons lawyer can twist this and make it look like intent.) Just go talk to the manager. Sorry as for report it to your credit... they can they are lease to own not rent to own...
Source(s)
10 yrs wasted at Rent A Center quit a District Manger
by BUGBYTE
2 years ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
Well, for starters I suggest you get renters ins in case this happens again. I don't think the manager can do much to you. He's just a bully!!!! Tell the police officer who is handling your case that this happened and go form there.
by American Girl- 2 years ago
The same thing happened to me, but my laptop was eventually recovered and returned to the store and I gave up on my payments and lost all the money that I had put into it. The employees here were persistent with me too, but that is their job. They SHOULD NOT have been rude however and hanging up on you or threatening you when it was not your fault is wrong. Maybe you can talk to a manager higher up and let them know what is going on.
by lissie- 2 years ago
The rental place did nothing wrong, YOU failed to carry renters insurance. It is also not their fault that it has been stolen and YOU are still very much obligated to pay for thecomputer even though you will not be getting the use of it. They can and WILL sue you in a court of law. A police officer should not be giving you legal advice and how does he figure it getting stolen negates you debt? Why do you think it getting stolen negates your debt, I don't understand?
by P J- 2 years ago
It really makes no difference in the overall picture whether or not the rental employee was rude to you--bottom line, you messed up. Although you are inexperienced in these matters, unfortunately you are still obligated for the rent on the laptop. You might get a little relief from the company if you get the police report and show it to them but don't count on it. You had their property, you signed a contract and you didn't protect their property. The best thing you can do is pay the rental and hope that you get the laptop back. Otherwise, you may be liable for the replacement of the laptop as well as rent. Good luck!
by Bromeliad- 2 years ago