Complaint Review: Rent A Center - Sparks Nevada

In June 2014,I contracted to purchase a chaise lounge from Rent A Center on Prater Way in Sparks. A few weeks later, I noticed some bugs, but not being familiar with the look of bedbugs, dismissed it as just an anomaly.  Shortly thereafter, I started itching and breaking out in a rash.  I then went online and researched and discovered that those were indeed bedbugs. 

I immediately went to Home Depot and purchased a 3-pack of bedbug bomb, along with a gallon of Ortho Home Defense multi-bug spray. After using both products as directed, the problem multiplied.  I had my son-in-law go back into my apartment to re-spray with the Ortho Home Defense.  He tipped the chaise up on its side, and quickly called me in to see.  I have video of the disgusting horror.  There were bedbugs of all sizes pouring out of the partially open seam in the bottom of the chaise, as well as a plethora of eggs around all four legs and the top roll of the chaise.  After thoroughly soaking the entire chaise with the Ortho Home Defense, we encased the chaise with black plastic trash bags taped down with duct tape.

I then called Rent A Center and advised them of the issue.  They took their time coming out to pick up the chaise (I believe 3 days), and then accused me of causing the infestation.  I was at work when they came out, so my son-in-law showed them the video (the store manager Sean came out) and advised him that this problem had never existed before the presence of the chaise in my apartment.  They took the chaise and disposed of it at the dump in Reno.

I called them shortly thereafter, and Sean said he would have to file a claim with Corporate in Plano TX before he could make a determination.  Interestingly, as soon as the chaise was removed, and we sprayed one more time with the Ortho Home Defense, the bedbug infestation dropped dramatically. On or about August 20^th, Rent A Center sent out an exterminator from Terminex to inspect my apartment.  By then, the infestation had migrated primarily to my mattress and box springs.  The inspector also accused me of previously having had bedbugs.

I informed him as well that this problem had not existed until the introduction of the chaise lounge from Rent A Center into my apartment.  I contacted Rent A Center Corporate office in Plano TX, and after a number of calls playing “phone tag” I received a claim number.  Then just yesterday, September 15^th, I received a letter from Corporate stating that they had determined that the chaise was not the cause of the infestation, and my claim has been denied.

My Landlord brought in a different extermination company, who had to exterminate several units in the building as Rent A Center had taken so long to deal with the issue the infestation has spread.

My request to Rent A Center is to reimburse me the cost of cleaning all of my clothing and bedding, and replacing items, such as suitcases and my Great-Granddaughter’s stroller, which are so infested that they are no longer usable. I have also requested, as until this incident I was a long-time customer of theirs, that they write off the Dell Tablet I contracted to purchase on June 24^th, the day my Great-Grandson was born.

It is apparent to me that Rent A Center is doing its best to cover up a terrible situation.  I have done some research, and Rent A Center has numerous complaints against them in other states for this same issue.