I currently lease some living room furniture from Aarons Sales and Lease in Neptune City. I have leased this merchandise for app. 1 year. Since the beginning I have nothing but problems. Problem #1: when I signed the lease I was given a delivery date, the day of delivery they called to confirm. I paid someone to stay in our new apartment on moving day to make sure someone was there for delivery because they would not give you a time frame.By 8 oclock pm I had called Aarons because no one had shown yet, they told me by 9 they would be there they were just running behind. 10 pm another phone call and I was told they were coming still just late. 11 pm NOTHING!
Next morning they called and stated they ran late the day before and would be there that day. Eventually they did arrive. A day and a half late!!! Problem #2: When I signed my lease they promised BRAND NEW furniture. A few weeks after furniture had been delivered my husband needed to move the furniture, when he did we got a very big surprise! We had leased a sectional, the middle piece, largest piece of the sofa, was covered in pen on the entire back, like a child had sat behind it a drew all over it. Also the wood underneath was completely broken in one section. Now we did not have children so we knew this furniture was not new!
Yes it was partially my fault for not inspecting the furniture upon delivery, I guess I was just too trusting of people I thought were a good company! When contacting the company, they first told me I received a discount when signing the lease because I knew the merchandise was used. Then when I told them this was untrue, they told me that there was a mix up on delivery and I received the wrong section. They promised me someone would be out in the next few days to pick up the piece and replace it. MONTHS went by and NOTHING!!! But they had no problem calling as soon as I was 1 day late with payment. So eventually I stopped paying to get their attention. This it did, and when contacted I told them I refused to make payment until it was replaced, they stated they had changed management so they were unaware of any problems. That week they came and switched the furniture out.
Problem #3 HARRASMENT, as soon as the due date comes the calls start. Payments are due on the 1st and 15th of the month, if they do not have your payment on those days they call my cell phone, then my work. Then also an automated message also calls my cell phone shortly after an employee does. Now I work for a government run business, where these calls are unacceptable. Also the employees are extremely rude. One time they even told an employee at my place of business that she was a liar when she stated I was not in the office. Now on the lease agreement we are aloted vacation payments twice during your lease term.
In May an employee had called me numerous times stating my payment was late, I told them I had already paid it and that I had my reciept. They called me a liar and told me I had to come in with my reciept. Then they called me back the next day and told me my payment was received but I had aquired $20.00 in late fees, so I immediately paid it to bring my account to date. Then in June I went in to make my payment and the employee told me I did NOT have a payment due at the time but they would take my payment and applied it to the next payment due. The following payment period I had requested to use my first payment holiday. 2 days after that payment was due they had called me and told me my payment was late.
They than told me I had to come in and sign a paper. Then they called back and told me that I was not allowed a payment vacation because I had used one in May, which was untrue. I then collected my reciepts and went into the store to speak to the manager. When I went to the store, I spoke with Fernando whom was a little rude and unprofessional but he was willing to help me. He told me that in May they had automatically given me a payment vacation in May without my knowledge. I told them that this was their mistake because they did not tell me, they told me I was up to date on all payments, and when I went in the store in June you will recall they even told me I was ahead by one pay period. He then told me he would fix it, for me to make my next payment and then he would put in a vacation payment to take me to September 1st.
Now yesterday I received a phone call from Aarons stating my Aug. 15th payment was late. When I explained the whole situation to them, they put me on hold and then came back on and told me the vacation payment was denied. I stated to them that they needed to tell me this PRIOR to payment due date and he stated no they didn't. I told him I did not have the money at the moment because I was under the impression that payment was not due, he said to bad and that I better make a payment or they would come and get the merchandise from my home. (Remember at the time of conversation I was only 2 days late) He was very RUDE and unprofessional, and at no time did the manager come to the phone. I then told him by law there is a 10 day period by law, (which there manager had explained to me a few months prior) before they could even collect a late fee or take action. He told me I didn't know the law and that I better make a payment! I then told him I was in the middle of work and could no longer continue the conversation at the time. They have called my work and cell 3 times since this conversation.
This business has no clue on how to conduct business properly!!! I have contacted the Better Business Bureau 2 times, and also have contacted the local newspapers, and have even contacted my lawyer. Its time to stop this business!
Michele
Ocean, New Jersey
U.S.A.
0 comments