Can I go to jail for not returning rental furniture? (2025 Legal Answers)
Can I go to jail for not returning rental furniture? Failure to return rental furniture can lead to misdemeanors (30 days to 1 year) or felonies (1 to 10 years). Companies like Rent-A-Center may treat non-return of furniture as theft, pressing charges that result in fines, lawsuits, or jail time.
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Mary Martin
Published Legal Expert
Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
Published Legal Expert
UPDATED: Jan 15, 2025
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We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.
UPDATED: Jan 15, 2025
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
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Can I go to jail for not returning rental furniture? Yes, if you don’t return rental furniture, you could face serious legal issues. Companies like Rent-A-Center or Buddy’s Furniture can charge you with theft if you keep their items and don’t pay for them.
Depending on how much the furniture costs, you might face fines, a lawsuit, or even jail time. It’s important to keep up with your rental payments and return items on time.
If you’re having trouble paying, talk to the company to avoid getting into bigger legal trouble. Understanding your rental agreement can help you avoid these problems and keep things from getting out of hand. Enter your ZIP code above to get legal help for rental furniture issues in your area or to connect with a lawyer for free.
Read more: What are the differences between petty offenses, misdemeanors, infractions, and felonies?
- Not returning rental furniture can result in theft charges and jail time
- Jail time penalties may vary based on the value and intent
- Companies like Rent-A-Center can press charges against you
Understanding the Legal Consequences of Not Returning Rental Furniture
Not returning rental furniture can have serious legal consequences. If you fail to return company property, like furniture from rental places, you could face legal action. Pressing charges for failing to return company property is common, and companies like Rent-A-Center or Aaron’s take this seriously.
Kimberly DelMonico Licensed Attorney
Rent-A-Center can press charges against you and may even take you to court if items are not returned. Additionally, Aaron’s can take you to court for not returning rental furniture and unpaid debts.
Failing to return rented furniture can lead to lawsuits and potential criminal charges. You can go to jail for not paying Aaron’s, especially if legal action is taken. It’s important to understand these potential consequences when dealing with rental agreements to avoid unnecessary legal troubles.
Read more: Who is a tenant?
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Rental Agreements Play a Key Role in Legal Outcomes
Rental agreements matter a lot when it comes to legal issues, especially with furniture rentals. These agreements spell out what you need to do, like making payments on time or returning the furniture.
Understanding the Risks: Legal and Financial Consequences of Not Returning Rental Furniture| Consequence | Description |
|---|---|
| Legal Action | May lead to lawsuits for breach of contract |
| Financial Penalties | Late fees or penalties for not returning furniture |
| Loss of Deposit | Security deposit may be forfeited |
| Damage Charges | Charges for repairs or full replacement if damaged |
| Credit Damage | Unpaid charges may hurt your credit score |
| Loss of Rental Privileges | May be banned from renting in the future |
| Collection Agency Involvement | Unpaid bills could be sent to a collection agency |
| Difficulty Renting in the Future | Poor rental history may prevent future rentals |
If you don’t follow the rules, like not paying Buddy’s Furniture or failing to return items, it can cause big problems. For example, Buddy’s can file criminal charges, and Rent-A-Center can charge you with theft if you don’t return what you rented. Even worse, a furniture store can press charges on you, and that can lead to serious trouble.
People often ask, can you go to jail for not returning rental furniture, or can rent-to-own press charges? The answer is yes, and it’s possible if you break the agreement and don’t return the items.
Some people have ended up going to jail for not returning rental furniture. To avoid legal trouble, it’s important to pay on time, follow the agreement, and return what you rent when you’re supposed to.
Read more: How Much Can a Landlord Charge for a Security Deposit?
Understanding Civil vs. Criminal Consequences for Rental Furniture Defaults
If you do not pay for rental furniture, the consequences can be civil or criminal, depending on the circumstances. Companies such as Rent-A-Center and Aaron’s have policies regarding these issues.
For example, Rent-A-Center’s policy for non-payment often starts with trying to repossess the furniture. But if they think you’re keeping it on purpose without paying, they can use Rent-A-Center’s theft policy to treat it as theft.
Likewise, Aaron’s can file theft charges if they believe you’re not following the rental agreement. Most civil cases involve the company suing you to get their money or furniture back.
Criminal consequences come up when the company feels there’s intentional wrongdoing. For instance, Rent-A-Center can sue you in civil court if you break the contract, but under Rent-A-Center’s non-payment policies, they might also involve the police.
If you don’t pay furniture rentals on time, it can lead to lawsuits, fines, or even jail, depending on the situation. Staying on top of payments helps you avoid these issues.
Understand your rights as a tenant when your lease ends to protect yourself when it’s time to move out.
Steps to Take If You’re Unable to Return Rental Furniture
If you can’t return rental furniture, don’t ignore the problem. It’s important to handle it right to avoid legal trouble. Companies like Rent-A-Center and Buddy’s take these situations seriously, and acting quickly can save you from bigger issues.
- Call the Rental Company: Reach out to the rental company and explain what’s going on. Most of them are willing to work with you if you’re upfront. But if you ignore it, things can get worse. For example, Rent-A-Center can file theft charges if they think you’re keeping the furniture on purpose. People often ask, can Rent-A-Center have you arrested? Yes, in some cases, they can report it as theft.
- Fix the Issue Quickly: Waiting can lead to legal problems. Can you go to jail for not paying furniture rental payments? Yes, it’s possible if the company presses charges. Also, what’s possible that will happen if you don’t pay Buddy’s Furniture? They could sue or involve the police. Handle your furniture on rent responsibly to avoid fines, jail, or lawsuits.
Taking quick action and staying in communication with the rental company can help you avoid serious consequences and resolve the issue peacefully.
Read more: Tenant’s Right of Privacy and Landlord’s Right of Access
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Not Returning Rental Furniture Can be Considered Felony Theft
Whether or not returning rental furniture is felony theft depends on your state’s laws and how much the furniture is worth. If the value meets your state’s limit for felony theft, it could be considered a felony.
In many states, anything worth $1,000 or more might fall into this category. Rental companies take this seriously. For example, can Rent-A-Center press charges? Yes, they can if you don’t return the furniture or stop paying for it.
The same goes for other companies. Buddy’s Furniture can press charges on you if you violate the rental agreement, and can Aaron’s press charges? Absolutely. They can consider it theft. In some cases, there might even be a Buddy’s Home Furnishings lawsuit filed to get their property back.
Whether it’s a felony or not, not returning rental furniture can lead to legal trouble, including fines, jail time, or both, depending on the case. Learn more about state felony trials to better understand how felony charges could impact your legal situation and the actions you can take to safeguard your rights.
Case Studies: Liability for Unreturned or Unpaid Rental Furniture
When you rent furniture, you are expected to abide by the rules. If you do not pay or return the items, you could get into legal trouble. Let’s look at a few examples to see how this can happen.
Case Study #1: John’s Rental Furniture
John rented a couch but didn’t keep up with the payments. The rental company saw this as theft and decided to press charges. This case shows how the company took legal action after John didn’t pay for the furniture.
Case Study #2: Lisa’s Situation
Lisa couldn’t afford to pay for the furniture she rented. But since she lived in a state with different laws, the charges weren’t the same. In her case, the local laws changed how things worked out for her.
Case Study #3: Mark’s Issue
Mark rented some high-priced furniture, but he didn’t return it or pay for it. Because the furniture was expensive, the company charged him with felony theft. This case shows that the value of the item can change how serious the charges are.
These cases show how important it is to follow rental agreements. Ignoring them can lead to big legal problems.
Read more: Felony Child Endangerment
Keeping Rental Furniture Without Payment May Be Considered Theft
Not paying for or returning rental furniture can lead to serious legal trouble because it’s often considered theft. For example, Rent-A-Center can press charges if you stop making payments and don’t return their furniture.
75 days in federal prison, restricted to half of my state for 2.5 years, $5,000 fine, 200 hours community service, 1 year of supervised release, banned from making money for 5 years.
For moving furniture. pic.twitter.com/ge3eqLvsrH
— The Lectern Guy🇺🇸 (@lecternleader) March 9, 2023
This has many people asking, Can you go to jail for not paying Rent-A-Center? The answer is yes, it’s possible. If the company sees it as theft and reports it to the police, you could face charges, fines, or even jail time, depending on your state’s laws.
The same is true for Buddy’s Furniture. Buddy’s Furniture can file criminal charges if they think you’re keeping their property without paying. So, what happens if you stop paying Buddy’s Furniture?
They can seize your furniture, bring you to court, or involve law enforcement. For peace of mind, it’s best to remain in contact with the company to reach a compromise and work it out as quickly as possible.
Read more: Renter’s Rights: Withholding Rent & Repair and Deduct
Enter your ZIP code below to get legal assistance with rental furniture matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you go to jail for not returning equipment from Buddy Home Furniture?
The amount of time you could spend in jail for not returning items depends on your location and the value of the equipment. In some cases, failure to return rental furniture can be treated as theft, and you could face fines or jail time if legal action is taken.
What happens if you don’t pay Aaron’s rental and you don’t return the items?
If you don’t pay Aaron’s rental and fail to return the items, the company could pursue legal action, which could include sending you to collections, suing you for the debt, or pressing theft charges if they consider the items stolen. For immediate legal support, enter your ZIP code to get in touch with an attorney today.
Can a rent-to-own company press charges?
Yes, rent-to-own companies can press charges if they believe you’ve intentionally failed to return the items or haven’t been paying. If the situation is treated as theft, they could involve the authorities and pursue criminal charges.
Read more: What are the penalties and punishments for vehicle theft?
Can you go to jail for not paying Buddy’s Furniture?
Yes, you could face jail time if you don’t pay Buddy’s Furniture and fail to return the items. If Buddy’s determines the situation is theft, they could press charges, which could lead to criminal penalties, including jail time.
Can you go to jail for not returning a leased car?
Yes, if you fail to return a leased car and don’t pay for it, you could face legal trouble. The car leasing company could file a theft charge, which might lead to criminal consequences like jail time.
Can Rent-A-Center press charges in Texas?
Yes, Rent-A-Center can press charges in Texas if you don’t return rented furniture or stop paying. In this situation, they might file theft charges, which could result in fines or jail time, depending on the situation.
Read more: Shoplifting, Stealing, and Theft: A First Time Offense
Can you go to jail for not paying Rent-A-Center in Tennessee?
Yes, you could go to jail for not paying Rent-A-Center in Tennessee. If you fail to make payments and refuse to return items, Rent-A-Center may press criminal charges for theft, leading to serious legal consequences.
What happens if you move and stop paying Rent-A-Center?
If you move and stop paying Rent-A-Center without returning the items, you could take legal action, including filing a lawsuit, reporting you to collections, or, in serious cases, pressing theft charges against you.
Can Rent-A-Center press charges in Ohio?
Yes, Rent-A-Center can press charges in Ohio if you don’t return rented items or stop paying. If the company believes the items were intentionally kept without payment, they may file theft charges against you.
Read more: Child Endangerment Charges
Will the police get involved if you don’t return a rented item?
In some cases, if you don’t return rented items and the rental company treats it as theft, the police may be involved. This can lead to legal consequences, including the possibility of jail time.
Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.
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Mary Martin
Published Legal Expert
Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
Published Legal Expert
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.