JUSTICE PREVAILS
AARONS
RENT TO OWN
SMACKED
WITH $1.2M VERDICT
'SA
Debt Collector Gone Wild'
SAL
POLITICAL SNITCH 1-31-2008
Mega-corporation Aarons Rents got its
collective hiney spanked to the tune of a $1.2
million verdict yesterday, after a pitched battle in
San Antonio.
Aarons has been using thuggery and
violence to collect late charges from many of its
customers when they fall behind on payments for
over-priced merchandise, which Aarons rents to folks
with bad credit.
The verdict in Judge Martha Tanner's
courtroom was a stunning blow to the armada of
top-tier attorneys who tried to defend the
indefensible.
Adding to the stun-gun pop was the fact
that local attorney John Dwyre and his small staff
were forbidden by the court to tell the jury of other
Aarons tactics, which included purposely hiring
convicted felons as collectors, the stalking of
children, knifing one customer, and other evil
practices. (See stories below.)
Dwyre is representing Melisa G Mendez
and her kids, who were put through years of fear and
intimidation by Aarons.
"Had the jury been told the entire
story (about Aarons) we think they would have reacted
(more)."
Dwyre also warned consumers to be aware
of the sharp practices of such predators, and should
report them to the proper authorities.
* * *
You may be wondering why many local
media outlets have ignored this story.
Aarons spends hundreds of millions of
dollars nationwide on advertising.
Perhaps some of the media are also in
the Rent-To-Own business, themselves.
(See archives below.)
* * *
 |
|
RENTERS BEWARE!
Aaron Rental Collectors Can
Be Dangerous To Your Health
Knives, Stalking In 'Payup
Playbook'
The Documents They Don't Want
You To See!
SAL POLTICAL SNITCH - COMMENTARY
- DISCRETION ADVISED - Copyright 2007 By SAL |
If you rent from Aaron's, and owe them
money, DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR!
More on that later, but first...
* * *
Riddle: What's the difference between
Aaron's rent-to-own and the Mafia?
Answer: The Mafia is not listed on the
New York Stock Exchange.
Revenue
for the publicly traded rental company in 2006 was
$1.44 billion, and in 2007 revenues have been
increasing.
Sources,
formerly with Aaron's, say whatever you rent is paid
off in the first 4-5 months. The rest is profit.
* * *
The huge national rental company has
lost its attempt to block information that shockingly
outlines the so-called "playbook" of the
outfit's collectors.
It's not a written book, but in Texas it
consists of taught procedures, according to sources
familiar with the practices.
Including violence.
Example:
Close to 700 pages of similar documents
were released last week after a failed bid by Aaron's
attorneys to keep them "confidential."
The documents have been obtained by the
Lightning.
* * *
Locally,
Aaron's Rents is in hot water over collections
procedures, including these doorknob hangers used to
intimidate one San Antonio customer.
The trial
on this specific action is set for January. (See
previous stories below, archived in Reverse Order.)
* * *
Printed
here, exclusively, by the Lightning are 36 pages of
the documented practices of Aaron's rent-to-own.
They show
the company targets single moms, stalks children,
disrupts lives and, in fact, is not shy about using
terror and violence to force its victims to pay.
Click here to read the documents. Discretion is
advised. PDF
reader is required.
* * *
Aaron's
officials have said they don't use these practices.
If you've had dealings with Aaron's and
would like to share them, please write the
Lightning.
More to
follow.
-
Developing -
* * *
Previous stories below
(Editor's note: This is the text of an
email statement by Aaron Rents. It Is offered in
response to the stories found below.)
Aaron is a publicly traded company .
Click here for financial
information.
If you have had dealings with Aaron and
would like to share them, please write the
Lightning.
* * *
THE SHAKEDOWN
'The
Valachi Papers - Part 2'
Confessions
Of An Aaron Rents' Bill Collector
SAL
POLITICAL SNITCH - Copyright 10-24-2007 San Antonio
Lightning Newspaper
You must
remember this.
A kiss is
just a kiss.
A smile
is just a smile
* * *
His name
was Joseph "Joe Cargo" Valachi. His
testimony before Congress in 1963 introduced the
world to the existence of the Mafia in the US.
We
mention this only because the Lightning has obtained
documents that indicate the Aaron Rents organization
styles itself on a somewhat similar blueprint; even
to the extent of calling their superiors "The
Boss of all bosses."
As you
will see from the documents linked here, Aaron Rents
hires "tough guys" as collectors and tricks
the San Antonio Police Department into intimidating
customers. (See previous story below.)
They even prefer collectors with
criminal records.
Here is
another excerpted bit of the lengthy sworn affadavit
by a former Aaron's manager, Brad Bollier. (Click for
entire document.)
It is part of a lawsuit against Aaron
Rents over such practices as described below..
As you might guess, the SAPD is not
amused.
Spokesman Gabe Trevino indicated it is
an abuse of police services to make use of the
officers in the manner alleged.
At this writing he is awaiting this
story, so he can see the whole affadavit. We expect
official comment after that.
Aaron's management has not responded to
these allegations, though they have been contacted by
the Lightning.
All persons mentioned in this series are
offered free, unedited space to respond.
More to follow.
- Developing -
* * *
Previous Stories
SAL EXCLUSIVE
Aaron
Rents Your Soul
Over
Zealous Bill Collector Goes Bonkers
Spawns
SA Law Suit
SAL
POLITICAL SNITCH - Copyright 10-22 - 2007 San Antonio
Lightning Newspaper
This is a horror story worthy of the
Halloween season.
* * *
The following commentary is prefaced by
the fact that if it were not for rent-to-own
services, many low income and credit unworthy persons
would never be able to afford furniture, electronics
and other products which our modern world deems
necessary.
Certainly the price of
"rented" items is exorbitant in the long
run. But it is a source to replace bad or no credit
for those who otherwise would be left out. It is
virtually their only chance.
But there are problems with the system.
Some operations prey on the very people
they serve, for the very reasons outlined above. They
take the chance that their customers wont be able to
engage the services of a lawyer.
* * *
Enter Aaron's Rent To Own.
This is the story of Melisa G Mendez, a
San Antonio mother of three.
She rented home furnishings from Aaron.
But in 2003, when she fell behind on her payments
Aaron's collectors went to work.
According to Mendez she was stalked,
threatened and harrassed by Aaron's employees.
The details are outlined in her suit
filed in District Court, and scheduled for trial
early next year. (Click for
complete details.)
Here is an excerpt.
Mendez has evidence to back up here
claims. Besides numerous phone calls, and other
harassment, the following door-hangers were left at
her home.
* * *
And Mendez was not the only victim.
In April of this year the Texas Attorney
General entered into a "voluntary"
agreement with Aaron Rents, in which the rental
company paid $250,000 in fines and court costs,
following numerous complaints and a lengthy
investigation targeting the company. (Click for
complete details.)
* * *
The Mendez suit does not specify any
dollar amount of damages. But if she prevails it may
be an eye-popping number.
Meanwhile, parties to the suit have been
tight-lipped.
San Antonio lawyer John Dwyer has said
only that Aaron's actions were "plain not
right."
* * *
Oh, did we tell you that the Aaron's
collector in question is an ex-convict, knowingly
hired as a "bull-dog?"
Did we tell you this? At the time of his
hiring he was on parole and wearing a prisoner's
ankle bracelet?
Well, we'll tell you more about all of
that on Wednesday. Stay tuned.
More to follow.
- Developing -
*
* *
