0
1

How to deal with Rent-A-Center (California) (self.legaladvice)

nofolinger が 投稿

Four months ago I started a rental agreement with Rent-A-Center for a living room and dining room set. I had made all my payments on time up until a month and a half ago when I was served with a deportation notice. The past month and a half have been hell for me.. But this is not the case to be discussed here. To pay for a topnotch lawyer, I pretty much sold everything I had: my car, electronics, stocks, washer/dryer and the living room and dining room set I had gotten from RAC. YES!! I know I should not have, but to me the threat of being deported is MUCH bigger than the threat of RAC. I had to get a lawyer immediately by all means necessary.

Now fast forward to the present I am dealing with the RAC workers. After countless demand letters, harassment calls and visits at my door, now they are threatening to file charges of theft against me to get me arrested. I have already explained my situation to them, that it was not my intent to keep their things without paying for them. I told them I could not return the items because I had sold them to pay for my lawyer. I explained that I would be more than happy to pay off the remaining balance and close my account once I am able to but as of right now all my money is being thrown into my deportation case.

Of course none of this matters to them. All they want is their money. My case with deportation is going to take no less than a year to settle according to my lawyer. Meanwhile RAC says they can have me arrested for theft once they file with the DA. I'm sure that process is much faster than my deportation case.

My question is.. what can I do to protect myself against RAC? Is this really felony theft and can I go to jail? Honestly RAC is the least of my worries right now. I'm being threatened with deportation for crying out loud. The only reason I'm worried now is because they told me they were going to have me arrested, and that's the last thing I need while I've got pending court dates for my deportation case.

(Note: I am not an illegal immigrant or someone who just crossed the border, so please don't assume and start with that. Thank you.)

全 59 件のコメント
並べ替え:
ベスト
トップ新着論争中古い順Q&A

[–]Napalmenator 16ポイント17ポイント  (7子コメント)

what can I do to protect myself against RAC?

Pay them. That's it. You sold their property. They are right that they can file a police report against you. Depending on how much it cost, it could be a felony.

If you are charged with a crime, it will effect your deportation case. Ask your attorney.

[–]nofolinger[S] 1ポイント2ポイント  (3子コメント)

No money right now. If i had it, it would have been already. They refuse to work with me on a long term plan.

[–]kosif 13ポイント14ポイント  (0子コメント)

You signed a contract with them, didn't live up to your end, and they can't even get their property back. Sorry buddy... you're stuck with this one.

[–]Napalmenator 6ポイント7ポイント  (1子コメント)

Because you some their product. Your option then is to wait and see if they contact law enforcement then pay for a criminal attorney.

[–]Brad_Wesley 11ポイント12ポイント  (26子コメント)

Yes, RAC goes after people criminally. Personally I think it's debatable but my opinion doesn't matter. What RAC wants it to be paid back. You should try to enter into a payment plan with them. Do anything you can to pay this off. Get a second job at 7-11. Work weekends digging ditches, etc.

[–]psuedonymously 11ポイント12ポイント  (1子コメント)

Personally I think it's debatable but my opinion doesn't matter.

I never thought I'd be on RAC's side about anything, but I am on this one. If OP sold my couch, I'd be going after him criminally too.

[–]Brad_Wesley 5ポイント6ポイント  (0子コメント)

Right and I don't disagree with that. My problem is that I think this is a line on criminal vs. civl that RAC gets away with due to their size and corporate power that you and I would not get away with as individuals. That is, if you went to the police over this issue they would tell you it's a civil matter.

[–]FoghornLawhorn 4ポイント5ポイント  (5子コメント)

How much was all of RAC's stuff you sold worth?

Does your immigration attorney also handle criminal defense?

[–]nofolinger[S] -4ポイント-3ポイント  (4子コメント)

No his practice is immigrantion. And it was $2000 altogether but the stuff was probably not even close to worth that value

[–]FoghornLawhorn 4ポイント5ポイント  (2子コメント)

For shits and giggles, I just checked Rent A Center's history on my state's website (not CA). There were over 300 open cases, and a ton more closed ones. So clearly, corporate policy there encourages the use of the civil court system. Which is, I suppose oddly enough, the bright side to all this for you.

The rub is that if RAC can bend the ear of the local police (and some of these stores do have good "connections" in that regard), this can potentially qualify as a felony due to the amount at issue. (I believe the felony cutoff is $950). Whether RAC can actually pull off the criminal charge is a mystery, but it's well within the realm of possibility.

[–]nofolinger[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

I asked them what i had left to pay if i bought my stuff outright. They said $866, so i wonder if thats the same number if they filed charges. Or if it would be the original value. Because one puts me under the cutoff and the other puts me above.

[–]ritchie70 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Neither number matters afaik. I'd expect it to be the actual fair market value.

[–]Suppafly 3ポイント4ポイント  (5子コメント)

(Note: I am not an illegal immigrant or someone who just crossed the border, so please don't assume and start with that. Thank you.)

So how are you getting deported then?

[–]911Throwawy 2ポイント3ポイント  (1子コメント)

Maybe because he's a legal immigrant who commits felonies like selling property that isn't his?

[–]secretssssssssss 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

oops, replied to wrong comment.*

[–]secretssssssssss 2ポイント3ポイント  (1子コメント)

Likely someone who's legal stay period expired, making him a technical illegal immigrant. He probably wanted to distinguish himself from, you know, those other kinds of dirty illegal immigrants.

[–]nofolinger[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

No, not the case at all. It was a good guess though.

[–]nofolinger[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Id be happy to disclose that in the proper thread, but this isnt about my deportation case.

[–]secretssssssssss 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I think you need to discuss with your immigration attorney because even if they don’t do criminal defense under the immigration law umbrella, they should know someone who does. You have committed a theft according to your story- this is not up for debate as you have pretty much all the legal requirements of theft. Whether or not it’s a felony is up to CA law. However, your case is complicated by the fact that you are a non-citizen. Apparently your theft, even if it wasn’t considered a theft in CA (which it is) is considered an aggravated felony by the federal government within the definition of immigration law, which you are subject to as a legal alien. If you are convicted of this theft/aggravated felony the US gov’t has the right to deport you. If you consistently refuse to pay RAC and they decide to have to arrested (which, again, they are now within their rights to do) and you are subsequently convicted, they may make you serve your sentence in CA jail and then be transferred to ICE jail to be held until your deportation. You are apparently in deportation proceedings already. Don’t give DHS further reasons to deport you and complicate your case for your lawyer.

[–]SoySauceSuperstar 1ポイント2ポイント  (8子コメント)

You really didn't think this through... if RAC does decide to go after you criminally (and they find a DA willing to presses charges) it's going to bone your whole deportation case, even more-so if it's a felony....

[–]nofolinger[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (7子コメント)

I dont think so. My parents are American born on American soil. This deportation case isnt your typical illegal immigrant story. My lawyer is confident we will win, its just a lot of hurry up and wait and obtaining records from agencies that take up to 30 days to process paperwork.

[–]SoySauceSuperstar 2ポイント3ポイント  (6子コメント)

Keep thinking that. You're obviously smarter than us. :)

[–]nofolinger[S] -2ポイント-1ポイント  (5子コメント)

Oh i wouldn't say all of you.. just you and a few others probably. i just find it amusing that no where have i asked for legal advice on my deportation case and that clearly seems to be the topic of iinterest here. If there was any doubt in my deportation case, rest assured ill be posting on reddit legal advice :)

[–]SoySauceSuperstar 4ポイント5ポイント  (4子コメント)

Oh i wouldn't say all of you.. just you and a few others probably.

You sold shit you didn't own and asked us how to get away with it. you're also about to get deported....

Newsflash, no matter how solid your case is, a felony will put a stop to that when it comes to deportation.

But hey, you're smarter than me. :)

[–]nofolinger[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (3子コメント)

Where did i ask how to get away with it? Please, do show me. I simply asked for advice on how to deal with it, and while others have given me tough advice, its solid and will help me with resolving this issue. You, on the other hand, have failed to uphold the purpose of this forum. Therefore, you are irrelevant. If my deportation case was as shoddy as you made it out to be, i wouldn't be here to respond to your useless remarks.

[–]ooh_de_lally 2ポイント3ポイント  (2子コメント)

Four months ago I started a rental agreement with Rent-A-Center for a living room and dining room set.

I pretty much sold everything I had: my car, electronics, stocks, washer/dryer and the living room and dining room set I had gotten from RAC.

My question is.. what can I do to protect myself against RAC?

That is where you asked how to get away with it. You fluffed it up a bit, but essentially what you're asking is how to get RAC off your back after selling something of theirs that you never actually paid for.

[–]nofolinger[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (1子コメント)

If i wanted to know how to get away with it, I would have asked how to accomplish that without any of the fluff. Hell, i wouldnt even ask i would just pack the little i have left and move across states to stay with my sister. Highly doubt Cali would prosecute me if I was living in Michigan. but that was not my question or my meaning behind asking my question. Im not looking to get away, Im asking for possible solutions to resolve this problem. I cant help you understand the question if you dont know how to read. Lastly, responding to you is a waste of time. I keep checking to see if you have posted something useful but as usual its just the angsty bitching of someone seeking attention.

[–]ooh_de_lally 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Your solution to resolve the problem is to pay them. Short of that, there is nothing you can do to get them to relent. They're attempting to recover stolen property, or be reimbursed the cost of said property. Good luck with that

[–]911Throwawy 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

You committed a crime, there's not much to do other than get a criminal lawyer or pay Rent-A-Center back. You won't find any magical advice or some secret get out of jail card here.

Why are you being deported if you aren't an illegal immigrant anyways? Also, why does it surprise you that RAC doesn't care about your immigration case? They're a business that makes their money renting unnecessary stuff to financially irresponsible people. What do you expect from them?

[–]nofolinger[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

  1. Im not surprised. Why do you assume that i am? Weird. 2. This isnt about my deportation case, otherwise id be happy to disclose the details. Thanks for your advice.

[–]Username_Detective 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

The best way to deal with Rent a Center is to not deal with them. It's a great way to wring out money from people who just don't understand that if they purchased the product it would cost them in the long run 1/10th the money as it would going to RAC. In the future, go through Craigslist, never get into financial obligations unless you absolutely have to.

Anyways, you signed a contract, and then broke it. You did not own the furniture, you were renting it, and you sold it. My advice to you would be to check how much they value it at, which is what you will legally be required to pay since it was probably specified on the contract you signed. This number will probably be exorbitant. Therefore, I'd recommend that you track down the people you purchased the furniture from and attempt to purchase it back. Then give it back to RAC and hope they accept it and leave you alone.