Can a Rent-to-Own Store Call My Job or Harass Me?

Aggressive phone calls are one of the most stressful parts of falling behind. The calls can feel relentless, and the threats can sound official. Here’s what’s actually allowed, and what isn’t.

Threatening arrest is almost always a bluff

The most common scare tactic is a threat to “send the police” or “press charges.” Falling behind on a rent-to-own agreement is a civil matter, not a crime, so you generally can’t be arrested for it (see whether you can be arrested for not paying). A false threat of arrest to collect a debt is exactly the kind of conduct that consumer-protection law treats as improper.

Federal limits on collectors

When a third-party collector (a separate collection agency, rather than the store itself) handles the account, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies. In broad terms, it bars collectors from:

• Harassing, oppressing, or abusing you, including repeated calls meant to annoy.
• Using threats of violence, or threats to take actions they can’t legally take (like having you arrested).
• Making false or misleading statements about the debt or the consequences.
• Calling at unusual or inconvenient times, or at your workplace after you’ve told them you can’t take such calls there.

The federal law mainly covers third-party collectors, not always the original store collecting its own account, but many states have their own debt-collection laws that also cover the business itself. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains your rights in plain language on its debt collection pages.

Repossession still can’t “breach the peace”

Phone pressure is one thing; showing up is another. No matter who is calling, a store generally can’t force its way into your home or use threats to take the item back (see whether a store can enter your home). If someone tries, that’s a safety issue you can report to local police.

What you can do

• Ask for everything in writing. You can tell a collector to contact you only in writing, which creates a record and stops the calls.
• Keep notes: dates, times, who called, and what was said. Save voicemails and texts.
• Report it. You can file a complaint with your state attorney general, the CFPB, or the FTC.

A local legal-aid office can help you respond to a collector who won’t stop.