Complaint Review: Rent a Center - RAC - Bellingham Washington

I am a current employee of Rent-A-Center in Louisiana. I work in a completely different district, region, and even division, so I may be covered by different laws. Though, I can not condone nor support either parties of this story without complete knowledge, I do know a few things about this situation. 1) Did you actually bring in a copy of the actual police report, or just tell them it was stolen? 2) Did you accept the Optional Liability/damage waiver? It's the extra waiver that covers you from paying for the merchandise if it is lost, stolen, or otherwise destroyed. 3) Were you past due on your rental payments even 1 day? 4) Did you accept the optional Benefits Plus program? It's the Health/dental/merchandise replacement program. It's extra, and 100% optional. If you answered no to any of those questions, RAC does have the right to pursue legal actions to recover their costs left in the laptop. You agreed to it when you signed the paperwork. Though, I find it odd that they would attempt to press charges immediately since you at least told them it was stolen. They usually wait about a month before anything legal occurs.

Maybe if you hadn't irresponsibly left your laptop in your unattended vehicle, it would not have been stolen. Regardless, you are still required to fulfill the terms of your rental agreement. There is no clause that states you are allowed to stop payment due to stupidity. Maybe next time you will take better care of your rented belongings.

The ex employee could not be more wrong. In the state of Washington, items left in the car are not covered. It requires you prove forced entry at the address you have on file in the police report. Depending on the circumstances, you could be prosecuted and/or pay restituation. RAC does not like to charge off merchandise, and will do whatever it can legally to recover the cost.

Michael, RAC has their own insurance that covers their merchandise when it gets stolen (as long as you have a Police Report) They might tell you that the merchandise has to be stolen out of your home for it to be covered, they are right....but, the company has many peices of merchandise that are considered "portable".....(Laptops, PSP's, Ipods, Video Cameras, and there are a few other ones. Well since these items are "portable" they are covered everywhere you go, but you do need that police report. That is the Bottom Line. You should be O.K. if all else fails try to talk directly to the Market Manager or the Regional Director

We had a fire in our garage and our two collector cars were destroyed. Everything I had in mine I had to claim on homeowners insurance. They said the auto insurance only covered the auto - not what was IN the auto. Unfortunately, my husband didn't feel the need to insure his '72 vette stingray - he felt he didn't drive it enough to pay the insurance. '72 vette - $28,000 modifications - $5,000 car cover - $100 Insurance - PRICELESS

My SUV was broken into and a laptop plus several thousand dollars worth of music equipment was stolen... I had full coverage insurance and they wouldn't touch it... Said I had to go thru my Homeowner's policy. However, if I did that, it probably would've been cancelled, since they don't like comprehensive claims. So I had to replace all the stuff out of my pocket.

not trying to ruffle any feathers but I had a claim aboout 4 years ago for personal effects stolen from my truck...tools, cd's, etc. My carrier, American Family, paid the claim through my homeowners but they also advised that if I hadn't had homeowners, my auto policy comprehensive would've paid as well. It just was secondary to my homeowners. They even paid for the broken window on the truck through the homeowners which shocked me. My agent advised they actually did it that way so I didn't have to handle two deductibles. Needless to say, I'm very loyal to Am Fam.

not trying to ruffle any feathers but I had a claim aboout 4 years ago for personal effects stolen from my truck...tools, cd's, etc. My carrier, American Family, paid the claim through my homeowners but they also advised that if I hadn't had homeowners, my auto policy comprehensive would've paid as well. It just was secondary to my homeowners. They even paid for the broken window on the truck through the homeowners which shocked me. My agent advised they actually did it that way so I didn't have to handle two deductibles. Needless to say, I'm very loyal to Am Fam.

not trying to ruffle any feathers but I had a claim aboout 4 years ago for personal effects stolen from my truck...tools, cd's, etc. My carrier, American Family, paid the claim through my homeowners but they also advised that if I hadn't had homeowners, my auto policy comprehensive would've paid as well. It just was secondary to my homeowners. They even paid for the broken window on the truck through the homeowners which shocked me. My agent advised they actually did it that way so I didn't have to handle two deductibles. Needless to say, I'm very loyal to Am Fam.

not trying to ruffle any feathers but I had a claim aboout 4 years ago for personal effects stolen from my truck...tools, cd's, etc. My carrier, American Family, paid the claim through my homeowners but they also advised that if I hadn't had homeowners, my auto policy comprehensive would've paid as well. It just was secondary to my homeowners. They even paid for the broken window on the truck through the homeowners which shocked me. My agent advised they actually did it that way so I didn't have to handle two deductibles. Needless to say, I'm very loyal to Am Fam.

If you have Renter's Insurance, or a homeowner policy, you can submit a claim, and they will cover the cost of the laptop, minus deductable. Car insurance doesn't cover stuff in the car, unless it's attached. If you don't pay RAC, they will go after you, it's not their fault it was stolen. Unfortunately, you are solely responsible for the unit.

If you have comprehensive on your auto this should be covered. Also, by extension your homeowners should cover this as well. Deductables will apply however and if there is no insurance coverage, you will have to pony up the money due RAC. If I picked up a sofa from them and it blew out the back of my truck on the way home, I don't think RAC (or any company) would say "ah, don't worry about it...we'll just write it off."

You lost the LAPTOP (it's spelled with a "p" not a "b"). It's your responsibility to pay for the item, even though it was stolen.