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Contingencies (Notes) | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies | Contingencies From time to time, we, along with our subsidiaries, are party to various legal proceedings and governmental inquiries arising in the ordinary course of business. We reserve for loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. We regularly monitor developments related to these legal proceedings, and review the adequacy of our legal reserves on a quarterly basis. We do not currently expect these losses to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements if and when such losses are incurred. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future developments affecting our claims and lawsuits, and any resolution of a claim or lawsuit or reserve within a particular fiscal period may materially and adversely impact our results of operations for that period. In addition, claims and lawsuits against us may seek injunctive or other relief that requires changes to our business practices or operations and it is possible that any required changes may materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations or reputation. Unclaimed Property. We are subject to unclaimed property audits by states in the ordinary course of business. The property subject to review in the audit process includes unclaimed wages, vendor payments and customer refunds. State escheat laws generally require entities to report and remit abandoned and unclaimed property to the state. Failure to timely report and remit the property can result in assessments that could include interest and penalties, in addition to the payment of the escheat liability itself. We routinely remit escheat payments to states and believe we are in compliance with applicable escheat laws. Acima Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation. Prior to the execution of the definitive agreement to acquire Acima Holdings, Acima Holdings received a Civil Investigative Demand dated October 1, 2020 (the “CID”) from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) requesting certain information, documents and data relating to Acima Holding’s products, services and practices for the period from January 1, 2015 to the date on which responses to the CID are provided in full. The purpose of the CID is to determine whether Acima Holdings extends credit, offers leases, or otherwise offers or provides a consumer financial product or service and whether Acima Holdings complies with certain consumer financial protection laws. We are fully cooperating with the CFPB investigation. The CFPB has not made any allegations in the investigation, and we are currently unable to predict the eventual scope, ultimate timing or outcome of the CFPB investigation. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the definitive agreement to acquire Acima Holdings, the former owners of Acima Holdings have agreed to indemnify Rent-A-Center for certain losses arising after the consummation of the transaction with respect to the CID and certain pre-closing taxes. The indemnification obligations of the former owners of Acima Holdings are limited to an indemnity holdback in the aggregate amount of $50 million, which was escrowed at the closing of the transaction, and will be Rent-A-Center’s sole recourse against the former owners of Acima Holdings with respect to all of the indemnifiable claims under the definitive transaction agreement. Other than with respect to any pending or unresolved claims for indemnification submitted by Rent-A-Center prior to such time, and subject to other limited exceptions, the escrowed amount will be released to the former owners of Acima Holdings as follows: (i) in respect of the CID, on the earlier of February 17, 2024 and the date on which a final determination is entered providing for a resolution of the matters regarding the CID and (ii) in respect of certain pre-closing taxes, on August 18, 2022, the first business day following the date that is 18 months after the closing date of the transaction. There can be no assurance that the CID will be finally resolved prior to the release to the former owners of Acima Holdings of the escrowed funds reserved therefor, or that such escrowed amount will be sufficient to address all covered losses or that the CFPB’s ongoing investigation or future exercise of its enforcement, regulatory, discretionary or other powers will not result in findings or alleged violations of consumer financial protection laws that could lead to enforcement actions, proceedings or litigation, whether by the CFPB, other state or federal agencies, or other parties, and the imposition of damages, fines, penalties, restitution, other monetary liabilities, sanctions, settlements or changes to Acima Holdings’ business practices or operations that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or reputation. California Attorney General. The California Attorney General (the “CAG”) issued an investigative subpoena in 2018 seeking information with respect to certain of our Acceptance Now business practices (now part of the Acima segment). Since receiving such demand, we have cooperated with the CAG in connection with its investigation and made several productions of requested documents. In March 2020, the CAG put forth proposed settlement terms to address alleged violations of California law. The CAG’s allegations include those with respect to certain consumer fees, charges and communications in connection with our lease-to-own transactions. In November 2021, the parties reached an agreement in principle regarding the resolution of this matter. On August 2, 2022, the parties finalized the settlement of this matter, which includes a proposed final judgment for approval by the Superior Court of the State of California. In the agreement and in consideration of the final resolution of this matter, we agreed to pay a total of $15.5 million in restitution to consumers and civil penalties along with certain injunctive provisions, including (1) in the case of rental-purchase transactions in California originating through a third-party host retailer, not to charge a cash price on the rental-purchase agreement that is greater than the cash price offered to the consumer by the host retailer, and (2) to implement certain additional customer disclosures, employee training and other compliance requirements and restrictions as set forth in the stipulated agreement. We did not admit to any violations of law or any wrongdoing. Although we disagree with the CAG’s interpretation of the relevant California statutory language regarding the definition of “cash price”, we entered into the agreement to avoid the expense, risk and distractions associated with potential protracted litigation. As of December 31, 2021, taking into consideration the agreement in principle reached in November 2021, we reserved the amount of $15.5 million as a loss contingency for this matter in our consolidated financial statements. Massachusetts Attorney General. The Massachusetts Attorney General (the “MAG”) issued a civil investigative demand in 2018 seeking information with respect to certain of our business practices, including regarding account management and certain other business practices in connection with our lease-to-own transactions. Since receiving such demand, we have cooperated with the MAG in connection with its investigation. In June 2021, the MAG provided us with proposed settlement terms including a monetary payment, injunctive provisions regarding certain business practices and compliance requirements. We are continuing to cooperate and discuss resolution of the inquiry with the MAG. We are currently unable to predict the ultimate timing or outcome of the MAG investigation. State Attorneys General Investigation. On November 1, 2021, Acima received a letter from the Nebraska Attorney General’s office stating that the Attorney General of Nebraska, along with a coalition of thirty-eight state Attorneys General, initiated a multi-state investigation into the business acts and practices of Acima and that a civil investigative demand(s) and/or subpoena(s) pursuant to respective state consumer protection laws will be forthcoming. Since receiving the letter, we have held multiple discussions with officials at the lead attorneys general offices and, based on those discussions, it is our understanding that the investigation is looking at business practices within the virtual lease-to-own industry and includes or will include multiple companies. In April 2022, we received a request for information and documents. Acima is cooperating with the investigation and is currently in the process of producing requested information. No specific allegations have been made against Acima pursuant to the investigation. We are currently unable to predict the eventual scope, timing or outcome of this matter.

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