I have had several accounts with Aarons in the past with no problem. Payments were never a day late. UNTIL, I leased a riding lawnmower in April. For whatever reason they could not schedule delivery of the mower for several days, so my boyfriend and I opted to take it home with us. The store employees loaded it on to our truck. We got about half of the way home when he noticed that the hood of the mower was 'flapping in the wind'. It had not been properly secured.
After an arguement about how it was our responsibility, they agreed to repair the mower. We took it back to the store. Then it took almost two months after repeated phone calls to get the item back. The store manager at that time (there seems to be a change in management often) agreed that we would not have to make payments until the mower was returned in working order. Then the phone calls started daily, sometimes recorded messages several times a day.
Each time to be told that my acct was delinquent, and payment was needed that day. Each time I would explain that we didn't have the mower, it was in for repair, and the agreements made between myself and the magr. Since the mower was finally repaired and returned, the payments have been made on time every month. Well, in my statement for Nov. There was a offer to make half a payment on this brand of mower as a holiday courtesty. I opted to do that... BIG MISTAKE!
Three days in a row I got calls to say that the acct was in arears. Three days in a row I told the person on other end that I was not! After the third call, I requested to speak to the magr as I had the day before. I am ashamed to say, I became as rude as Tom and his employee had been. Since the call was using up my cell phone minutes I asked to call back, which I did immediately from my home phone. I requested to speak with Tom. I could not believe it when he didn't seem to remember talking to me, a matter of a couple of minutes before.
Memory restored, he insisted that my payments were due on the 15th and I begged to differ. I took exception with being in as much as called a lair! I provided for Tom the information on my acct reading directly from my contract. Then proof of payment when due, right down to the date the money was taken from my checking acct. Still he insisted that I was two weeks in arrears. Finally he checked his computer and found that, "oh my goodness, I see what has happened'... I was right. He offered an apology that I did not accept.
It is one thing to get a collection call for a debt I owe, but to be harrassed for one that I don't is inexceptable to me. I realize mistakes can be made, but after three calls in three days, it should be corrected. I will not deal with harrassement... And I hope it doesn't continue, as I will take action. I have read many of the reports posted and this seems to be the norm for Aarons.
I had planned to purchase with cash a living room suite in this store when the mower is paid for, because I haven't seen one like it anywhere else. Naw, I think not. Not that they care, it is not like loosing my business will close their doors. But I am telling everyone I know to be very careful when dealing with Aarons. You have to stay one step ahead of them, keep accurate records! You know, I absolutely adore Michael Waltrip, and I can't believe that he would put a sponsor on his car with this reputation. Wonder if he knows about their business practices?
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