Not only did I not receive any welcome email indicating how much would be taken after my 1.50 (seven) day initial fee which came to 49.50, I was only offered a 25.00 refund when I called them on the 9th day complaining about the insane amount I never expected.
As I was looking into Section 8 housing, reviewing options, when I found them, this practice feels very predatory and unethical. As it is, the entire process of renting to own is suspect (https://digs.co/rent-to-own/) the policy of https://www.getrenttoown.com/ solidifies my suspicions.
I was offered a 25.00 refund.
The process: They email me the refund form and I then have to (get this) fax it or snail mail it back to them. This is very suspect, given the fact that refunding in this day and age of the computer doesn't have to be so time-consuming.
It's classic sleight of hand. Take the customer's money quickly and make it more arduous to return it.
I should have done more research. I would have had not the interaction occurred via a link on a. Gov site.
This has caused a bit of a temporary cascade failure to my finances, messing up my health club payment, but it's a lesson learned.
I'm going to my bank first thing this morning to cancel and replace my credit card.
https://www.getrenttoown.com/ is one of those quiet (apparently government-sanctioned) scams.
DO NOT USE THEM.
Be diligent and avoid the rent-to-own business model...
Before hanging up, I told the young lady (politely of course) that I would be posting this review, and guess what, I received an email indicating I'd get a full refund in 1-4 business days. (see attached photo)
We will see.
I will wait before changing my credit card just in case cancelling it now causes a problem with that transaction.
Lesson learned: Just because a link is on a. Gov site doesn't mean its practices are legitimate.