Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this Settlement about?
- What is a Covered rent-to-own transaction?
- How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
- What do I have to do to get my payment?
- If I receive more than one Notice of Settlement, do I have to file a Claim Form for each one?
- When will I receive my payment?
- Will my credit report be impacted?
- What does the Settlement provide?
- How do I get more information?
- What happens to any funds remaining after the distribution to consumers?
- If I leased more than one item, do I have to file a Claim Form for each one?
- What is this Settlement about?
The California Attorney General's Office and Aaron's Inc. stipulated and consented to a Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction ("Judgment") regarding the company's alleged business practices in California, without the taking of proof and without trial or adjudication of any fact or law, without this Judgment constituting evidence of or an admission by Aaron's Inc. regarding any issue of law or fact alleged in the Complaint on file and without Aaron's admitting any liability. The Judgment and Complaint can be found on the Court Documents page.
Top - What is a Covered rent-to-own transaction?
A Covered rent-to-own transaction is any transaction in California where a consumer enters into an agreement for the purchase or rental of any consumer product where the consumer's contract or rental agreement provides for payments over time and an option to purchase the product where the transaction is not subject to the Unruh Act, Civil Code section 1801 et seq.
Top - How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
You are part of the settlement if you leased something from Aaron's Inc. or one of its franchised stores in California between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2014.
Franchised Stores Include (but are not limited to):
TopAH&H Investments
DP Crane Enterprises, Inc
Five Star Financials
J.M. Darden and Company
Michael Gilner
Nicco, Inc
Pacific Furniture
Sewart Company
Simonton and Bland
Siri Financials, LLC
Snoraa, LLC
Sultan Financial Corp.
Tri-Han Enterprises - What do I have to do to get my payment?
To receive your payment, you must either sign and mail the prepaid postcard you received or file an online claim on the File a Claim page.
If you filed an eligible claim, you should have received your restitution payment by the end of December 2015.
Top - If I receive more than one Notice of Settlement, do I have to file a Claim Form for each one?
Yes, if you received more than one Notice of Settlement, the Claim Form for each notice must be signed and returned or filed online to receive the payment listed on that notice.
Top - When will I receive my payment?
Please be advised that the distribution of restitution funds to eligible claimants has commenced and will continue through the end of the year. If you filed an eligible claim, you should receive your restitution payment by mid-December.
Top - Will my credit report be impacted?
In connection with this restitution program, Aaron's Inc. has instructed each consumer reporting agency to whom it sent a negative report concerning any person eligible to receive restitution under paragraph 12 of the Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction to delete its tradeline. Aaron's Inc will also send a letter to each person about whom it made a negative report to a consumer reporting agency stating that is has removed that report.
Top - What does the Settlement provide?
Aaron's Inc. ("Aaron's") will offer restitution to each consumer of an Aaron's corporate-owned or franchised-owned store in California who, between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2014, entered into or made payments on, a Covered rent-to-own transaction. Aaron's will offer consumers eligible to receive restitution under paragraph 12 of the Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction $25,000,000 in the aggregate. Each consumer eligible to receive restitution under paragraph 12 will receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount based on the total number of eligible consumers and the total amount paid by the consumer in connection with the Covered rent-to-own transaction, including but not limited to lease payments, Aaron's Service Plus fees, late fees, and collection fees. If the Covered rent-to-own agreement or a re-write of that agreement, remains in force on February 10, 2015, or an eligible consumer defaulted on a Covered rent-to-own agreement between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2014 and failed to return the merchandise, Aaron's or the Franchisee, as applicable, may offer the amount of restitution for that agreement in the form of a credit toward the amount remaining for the consumer to acquire ownership of the consumer product subject to the Covered rent-to own transaction. If the amount of restitution exceeds the balance remaining for the consumer to acquire ownership of the product, then Aaron's or the Franchisee, as applicable, will offer to transfer ownership of the product to the consumer at no additional cost and Aaron's will offer the consumer additional restitution, such that the total of all restitution offered to that consumer equals the consumer's pro rata share of the aggregate restitution amount.
Top - How do I get more information?
This website summarizes the settlement. More details are in the Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction found on the Court Documents page. You may also write with questions to Aaron's Inc. Restitution Fund Settlement Administrator, PO Box 43362, Providence, RI 02940-3362 or call 1-877-449-8548.
Top - What happens to any funds remaining after the distribution to consumers?
The Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction state that unclaimed restitution funds will be paid to the California Attorney General’s Office who will distribute the funds to the California Community Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, for the specific purpose of supporting programs that benefit California consumers in the areas of consumer lending, consumer finance, debt collection, or the sale or lease of consumer goods and services.
Top - If I leased more than one item, do I have to file a Claim Form for each one?
No, unless you received more than one Notice of Settlement. Each Notice of Settlement may cover multiple items that you leased so it is possible you will receive only one Notice of Settlement. But, if you do receive more than one Notice of Settlement, the Claim Form for each notice must be signed and returned or filed online to receive the payment listed on that notice.
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