Rent-A-Center, Washington AG reach agreement, avoid trial on collections case
Rent-A-Center and the Washington State Attorney General’s office late last week, reached an agreement on a case that was headed to trial March 23.
The Washington AG’s Consumer Protection Division filed claims against Rent-A-Center in July 2009 asking King County Superior Court to declare Rent-A-Center’s collection practices and rental contracts in violation of the state’s Consumer Protection Act and Lease-Purchase Agreements Act.
Rent-A-Center consistently denied the allegations.
As part of the consent decree, Rent-A-Center agreed to "enhance what’s already on the books regarding collections practices and training," said Ron DeMoss, Rent-A-Center general counsel.
In addition, the world’s largest rent to own company will reimburse the AG’s office $243,000 for fees and court costs and pay an additional $100,000 to a fund for monitoring and enforcement of collection practices.
"We maintain that our collection practices and policies are better than anything in the business, and we’re proud of our track record," DeMoss said. "We’re relieved to have this resolved and to be able to put it behind us."