Is Rent-a-Center a SCAM?

TL;DR

Rent-A-Center charges nearly double retail price for electronics with predatory terms, has settled multiple state lawsuits, and denied the host after collecting his most sensitive personal data.

Key Points

• 1.Rent-A-Center's pricing is nearly double retail. A $650 PS5 has an $800+ cash price and costs over $2,000 if rented through all 82 weekly payments of $23.99.
• 2.The application demands invasive personal data. The store requested employer name, address, pay stubs, landlord info, four personal references, and a photo ID just to rent a game console.
• 3.Sister brand Acima is equally predatory and rejected the host. After collecting his full SSN, bank account number, and income details, Acima — fully owned by parent company Upbound Group — denied his application despite marketing 'no credit needed' approvals.
• 4.California sued Rent-A-Center for $15.5 million in 2022. The state alleged bait-and-switch advertising, forced auto-renewals, restricted returns, and deliberately inflating cash prices by 15% across the board.
• 5.Massachusetts fined them $8.75 million in 2023 for targeting low-income communities. Alleged misconduct included filing criminal charges to collect debt, harassing phone calls, and threatening repossession over missed payments.
• 6.Upbound Group spent $460 million acquiring Brigit in January 2025. Brigit offers 'earned wage access' — effectively a payday loan product — despite Upbound's stated mission of 'elevating financial opportunity for all.'