Get A Refund From Rent-A-Center The Stress-Free Way
Rent-A-Center (abbreviated as RAC) is a rent-to-own retailer that offers furniture and electronics on lease. Founded in 1973, the company is the North American leader in the rent-to-own market with over 2,700 locations in the United States. Rent-A-Center collects over one-fifth of the entire revenue in the electronics and appliance rental industry.
Though what happens if you want to return something back to RAC? Can you get a full refund, or does the company keep a portion of the money? Read this comprehensive guide to find out how to get your money back from Rent-A-Center and more.
Does Rent-A-Center Allow Refunds?
Rent-A-Center typically doesn’t grant refunds on rented electronics or furniture, as you’re leasing the product rather than purchasing it outright. While the company doesn’t hand out refunds, you can return the item to the store so you won’t have to make any more payments. Furthermore, Rent-A-Center doesn’t report your transaction history to credit bureaus, so canceling a plan with RAC won’t affect your FICO or credit score negatively. As stated by the company itself, you’re not binded by a loan agreement.
Does Rent-A-Center Give Me Anything For Returning An Item?
Rent-A-Center can give you a payment protection voucher. With this voucher, you can resume your payment plan any time within the next two years.
For example, you can rent a Samsung 50” UHD 4K Smart TV for $95.28 per month for 15 months. After the fifth month and spending $476.40, you can decide to return the TV to save money, and should you want the TV again in a year, you can resume the plan and pay the remaining $952.80 in 10 months.
If two years have passed since you received the voucher, it will become void, and you will likely need to start the plan over.
What Else Can I Do With A Rent-A-Center Payment Protection Voucher?
There are two other things you can do with a payment protection voucher if you have one. They are as follows:
- Rent a different item: You can use your voucher on a different item. For instance, if you want to return a tan Ashley-Furniture sofa, you can use the voucher to rent another sofa.
- Give the voucher to someone: You can transfer the voucher to another person, such as a friend or family member. So if you’ve rented a Playstation 5 on behalf of a family member, you can give that family member a voucher so he or she can pay off the rest.
What Happens If I’m Denied From Renting At Rent-A-Center?
If Rent-A-Center denies your application, you should get an email that explains the reasoning and rationale behind the decision. Here are some common reasons applications for renting goods at RAC get denied:
- A transaction that was refused or rejected by your bank
- Insufficient funds in your bank account
- A history of missed or late payments
- A criminal record
If you’ve been denied a plan by RAC, you can fortunately re-apply in 30 days. This gives you plenty of time to change your finances so you can get a better outcome when applying.
About Returned Item Fees
According to Rent-A-Center’s Terms and Conditions page, you might be subject to a returned item fee if you use AutoPay to make payments, but there isn’t enough money in the account. Not only do you need to pay this fee, but you will also have to return the item in question to Rent-A-Center. Perhaps you can work something out with an RAC associate, but you might have better luck if you still have time to make the payment before it’s due.
Rent-A-Center Customer Care Phone Number
You can escalate matters to Rent-A-Center customer service. Phone is the primary way to contact a service representative. Here are some notes to take into account before you call:
- Rent-A-Center’s customer service number is 1 (800) 422-8186.
- Customer service hours are from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST on weekdays.
- Customer service isn’t available on Saturdays or Sundays.
Other Rent-A-Center Contact Methods
In addition to phone support, Rent-A-Center’s customer service is also available on social media. Send a direct message to Rent-A-Center on X, Instagram, or Facebook. Alternatively, you can write a letter to Rent-A-Center customer service with the following address:
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
ATTN: Customer Service
5501 Headquarters Drive
Plano, TX 75024
Should I Consider Paying For Goods With Klarna Over Rent-A-Center?
Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Paypal Pay in 4 and other Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) services offer payment plans like Rent-A-Center. However, there are key differences to take into account before considering one of these services to help pay for goods.
- Loans: Whereas RAC payment plans are flexible leases, BNPL plans are outright loans where a financial company pays for the goods and the payment is a type of debt you owe to that company. These loans may also affect your credit score and there might be more severe ramifications if you can’t pay on time.
- Low purchase limit: Most companies like Paypal have a purchase limit of just $1,500 per transaction, which might not be feasible for most appliances and furniture sets. Affirm is one company willing to work on purchases over $17,000, but you may need to put money down at the start of the plan.
- 4-Step plans only: BNPL plans aren’t flexible — almost all of them are 4-part plans that must be paid in full in 2 months or less. With Rent-A-Center, leases can last up to a year or longer.
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Register with aRefund.com to get started on your first chargeback, and take a look at other companies and how they handle refunds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Email My Rent-A-Center Store?
If you’d like to send a message to your local Rent-A-Center location instead of call or visit, you can click here to fill out an email form. You can have your complaint in writing and give the store the option to either call or email you back when they’re available.
How Can I File A Rent-A-Center Complaint?
You can file a complaint towards RAC on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Click the “File a Complaint” link to get started. An RAC employee will read and review the complaint, and will reach out to your personally regarding a resolution.
Can I Email Rent-A-Center Customer Service?
As of this writing, Rent-A-Center currently doesn’t have a known customer service email address. However, you can visit this link to write an email to a local Rent-A-Center store and have an associate email you back.
What Do I Do If A Rent-A-Center Employee Visits My Home?
Rent-A-Center doesn’t allow employees to visit customers’ homes to collect payments. According to Rent-A-Center on X, the ideal response would be to have your attorney write a letter to the company’s legal department at 5501 Headquarters Drive, Plano TX, 75024. You can also consider calling the police and report the incident to them.
Can I Still Apply A Payment Protection Voucher At Rent-A-Center If I Lose It?
Rent-A-Center can help you get a new voucher in the event your old one is lost or misplaced. Simply visit or call your local RAC store and they should issue you a new voucher with your store credit.
