I rented a television and a keyboard from my local Aarons store. I chose to pay for my merchandise monthly in one payment on the 15th of every month. I made my initial payment and everything was fine. A couple of months went by, and then a collections person was on my front porch telling me my payment was late, though it was not yet the 15th. I explained that my payment was not late because my due date is the 15th. He told me I had signed a contract for the TV to be due on the 1st and the keyboard on the 15th.
What sense would it make to rent two things on the same day, pay a full month's payment on each, and have the payments due on different days? I was getting ready for work, so I did not want to argue with this man, and I did not have time to search my file cabinet for my original contract.
The collection person continued to insist that I signed a contract for the first, and that this was the date I told the salesperson to put me down for, or that I did not pay attention in the store when the salesperson went over the contract with me.
I found my contract the next day and sent them a copy. It clearly states that I signed a contract for both items to be due on the 15th of each month. They came back with the fact that in one month I made a payment on the 23rd, which was late, and they changed my due date from the 15th to the 1st. In essence they were saying that even though I made a full month's payment on my merchandise on the 23rd, I was due for another payment on the 1st. I do not think so. My contract says nothing about them changing due dates, only that I would have to pay late fees.
I paid the late fees and collection fees on my account (they charge $10 any time they knock on your door). Thinking everything was going okay, I started making half payments, one on the 1st and one on the 15th of each month, instead of a full month's payment on the 15th. Would you believe they came and knocked on my door again? They claimed that I had missed a payment. I had started using the night drop box since I work at night. I told the man at my door that I had made each payment twice a month, and he said I had not.
I decided to go in and talk with the manager in person. He insisted that I missed a payment back in June, even though they came to my house in August about an alleged missed payment in June. I have both of my money order receipts for June. No matter, I still missed a payment, they said.
It seems as if they count on customers throwing away their contracts or receipts, but I did not. I will never do business with Aarons again. I would have returned the items a long time ago if I had not purchased both as gifts.
Stay away from this store in Albany, Georgia, or make sure you keep all contracts and receipts.
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