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I went in to pay my usual payment for my items here in a store on South Avenue store here in Syracuse, NY. Mind you, I have made several payments and was never told that I missed a payment.

As far as I am concerned, I have not missed a payment and was willing to pay them but the guy said he could not take the payment of $45.66. I pay every two weeks and missed only one payment since I received products. They then took it upon themselves to call ALL my references like they were co-signers. My mother is ill and my sister was highly upset that they called all day long.

My Mom stays in Albany, NY and my sister in Virginia. They have no right and if they call my references again, I will be suing. Once again, they are references not co-signers.

Thank you. Patricia Learry

Location: Washington, District Of Columbia

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Guest

I totally agree with the last letter. They ate friends and not cosigner.

I pay on time and the rent a center did not call my friends. If they call three times a day to each of my friends I would have no problem turning their *** in to the party.

General the federal trade Commission and local police for threatening and harassment and a hefty lawsuit for discrimination. Did they call nonhandicapped people like this too?

Guest

I am a reference for my friend and RAC called me and left a voicemail threatening theft charges on me and other references, this has got me so upset and stressed. What should I do?

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-529920

They are nothing more than threats next time they call put it on speaker and record at this time stay calm n collective ask to speak with owner or shifr manager once they are on the phone state the previous calls being the issue ask then t pur in the system that you are under legal advise to ask them to stop calling that you have over 6 reporred calls that u have told them not to call and if it continues you will be pressing. Horrasment charges.

Guest

I wish to recieve info on the attorney as well. I live in indiana though but i am too having problems with rent a center.

We fell a little behind and when RAC came to get there items me and my wife wasnt present but my 11 year old daughter was. they yelled outside saying "We know your in there" and then after doing that they attempted to open the door. My daughter was in tears when we came back thinking someone was breaking in. They too have been calling all my references and me all the time everyday.

and the manager of this store even came pounding on the door around 9 at night when my children was asleep. Its ridiculous and i wish to help go against them.

If there is anyway someone could help me get in the loop or help me with contacting an attorney i would help with all our info to go against them. please if you can contact me at 574 722 **** or have a lawyer contact me that can help....thank you

Guest

Okay, so I got the whole contacting references and asking them if its ok in the beginning (frankly I dont think most people think of that when they call). I called RAC today and told them I no longer wanted them to contact my references and was told that I signed a contract stating that I would so if I didnt answer the phone thats what they would do.

I dont see how calling my family and friends makes a difference when they have MY number. They are not going to magically make me be able to pay if I am late or something.

This is just a tactic I believe designed to embarras or bully people. If you are truly having financial hardship like me though, all you are doing is causing me emotional stress, but ill still be broke.

Guest

I am currently a Rent-A-Center customer, and share the same concerns and displeasure with the company's customer service skills and handling of customer accounts. Indeed, there are two sides to every story, but as any business student, teacher/professor or business owner will tell you,when it comes to business the customer's satisfaction is the life blood of your company's success.

Furthermore, If you don't have satisfied customers, then you don't have a successful, productive, effective business. It takes money to make money. The equation is simple, no customers = no money, no jobs, nothing. The only reason that I have remained a Rent-A-Center customer is because I have invested too much time and money (my main reason) with this company. I am not about to let all that money I have invested go to waste. I honestly state that I feel for the dog and pony show, the smoke and mirrors, because I was in a vulnerable position at the time. Unfortunately, I was bamboozled by an employee that thought more of his commission(I am not necessarily speaking of money) than the customer.

Furthermore, let this be a warning to all those considering becoming a customer with Rent-A-Center, consider ALL options before making a final decision to buy or rent-to-own from them. Don't go to them or any Rent-to Own company out of distress or desperation. Sleep on and think a little more. An ounce of wisdom and discernment saves a pound of grief.

Guest

Written by cynthia campanale, on 11-05-2010 10:52

We need to unite to file a class action suit. I have spoken with an attorney, please contact his office : RAC has done a great deal from unfair debt collection practices, harassment, deceptive prices . His name and office numbers are below: PLEASE CALL TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A CASE AND CAN BE ADDED .

Tom Holman

1250 Broadway, Suite 3701

New York, New York 10001

212-300-****(Voice); 212-564-**** (Fax)

www.holmanlawoffice.com

Guest

I have contacted an attorney who is looking into a class action suit for us. Please email me: cynthiacampanale@***.com or

contact Mr. Thomas Holman Esq., 1250 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10001 .. 212-300-****

He is considering this suit against RAC for unfair collection actions, misrepresenting and taking advantage of poor people. RAC works very hard getting legislation passed to protect their exorbitant prices for new and used merchandise. By getting laws passed to protect RAC and keep rental companies from having a limit to the interest and prices they charge their demographic financially challenged or in otherwords they are marketing and exploiting the poor and folks with " bad" or no credit. We too must ban together, references, customers of RAC who ended up abused, coerced and overcharged, then subjected to unfair debt collection methods.

Guest

Frustrated,youรขโ‚ฌโ„ขre right! Asking to be taken off a call list and continuing to hear that phone ring will drive you crazy!

Itรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs weird that the store continued to call after you requested they stop, since you told them that you wouldnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt contact your friend. Not that itรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs any excuse, but I wonder if they werenรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt communicating to each other or if it was some clerical error? Maybe your number was removed in one place and not another because I donรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt know why anyone would continue to call, otherwise. When the employee made that reference call to you when your friend first rented, they were supposed to ask if you were willing to let them contact you if they couldnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt reach your friend.

Sounds like for some reason this didnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt come across in the call, though.

Good for you, escalating the issue and getting the DM involved. I bet that will help.

Guest

I was used as a reference for a friend and now I am the victim of RAC's harassing calls every single day 3 and 4 times a day. My friend has requested that my name be removed from RAC's contact list and so have I.

I have even spoken directly to the manager of the Alabama Avenue, SE, Washington, DC store who assured me that I would not received any further calls. THAT WAS A LIE!! I was never asked if it was ok to contact me in the event that they couldn't reach her; the answer would have been NO. This situation is more frustrating than you could ever imagine.

It is not my account RAC should not be harassing me. I even resorted to answering the calls and hanging up without say a word so no voicemail messages could be left and still they continue to call. I've asked serval times for them to stop calling me becuase I refuse to call my friend every time and still the calls continue. There is no end to their madness.

Today I left the district manager a voicemail message. Hopefully I will get a response & a resolution.

Guest

Rent a center is horrible, if you give them references on the application. they will call the references you posted, call your neighbors, harass you for payment days earlier.

Up to 8 calls within two days before payment is due. I advise anyone not to ever rent from rent a center stores, they do not do fair debt collection acts.

They bully, coerce and never should be used under any circumstances. Everyone should get together and file a class action suit against them and then they will respect people, their rights, their references and act like human beings with dignity, compassion and start respecting the debt collection practices, let's all get together and file a class action suit.

Guest

there is always 2 sides to every story people. " as far as i am concerned, i have not missed a payment ".. of course she only missed one payment, if she only missed one payment, rac would not be calling.

tell the whole truth there ms learry, not just your side.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-124980

What a *** they will call over 1 missed payment they called my the day before it's due to remind me like I'm a child I missed a payment recently so they call my references and my job looking for me saying I missed my payment

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-124980

LOL!!!! You're too funny!

RAC does call for any 1 missed payment. I was 1 day late and they called all my references, my job and my landlord.

Guest

I was reading the complete bs from #1...Forgot to mention how we will eventually harrass their references for sales, did ya?

Guest

Patrica, I'm sorry to read about what happened (especially given the stress your family's under w/your mom being ill), but glad you included your name and the store number. I forwarded this to our customer support team and you should expect to receive a call from the store's district manager.

I don't know the details of your account or exactly what happened but I can give a little background at least as far as our policies go. When the store coworkers call your references when you first apply for a rental, they are to ask the references, "Is it OK if we contact you in the future to get a message to (Patricia) in the event we can't reach her?" If your references said "No" then we should never call them. That said, even if they said 'Yes' the store should only call them if you're late and if you can't be reached and even then, they should not 'call all day' as your sister said they did. Upon reaching your references, they shouldn't discuss account details - only ask that they please ask you to call RAC.

I hope this info helps and that everything gets straightened out with your account and the calls.

Guest

why put up with that nonsense Patricia did you complain to the manager or the district Manager and if so why not just return the property and move on. You have NO obligation unless you feel that you have invested too much money into it so far.

If you can't find it in yourself to do that then you will have to deal with the problems of rent to own just like employee's have to deal with problem customers in rent to own. You seem like a nice customer if your payment history is that good, it sounds like the store is trying to set standards. Being the rent to own industry for 10+ years I ave seen the good and bad. I have to tell you that there are good and bad to both sides of the industry and I am not just saying one company in particular.

Rent to own is still debt no matter what way you look at it but one positive thing is you ave the ability to return it however if you never go back and get the property you invested money in then you will be throwing that money away. Look into other options if you can and get out of debt. You don't need to throw away all that money. If you have to rent then pay it off early.

Otherwise get ready to pay 3-4 times what its worth. Good luck to you.

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