Massachusetts consumers of rent‑to‑own firm Acima will see more than $11 million in relief after Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced a settlement on Thursday, Nov. 12. The agreement includes $10.7 million in lease‑balance forgiveness for eligible renters and $830,000 in restitution, plus a $163,000 payment to the Commonwealth.
National settlement backdrop
Acima Digital LLC and its parent, Acima Holdings LLC, reached a multistate deal that provides $183.5 million nationwide to resolve allegations that the company misled shoppers about the cost and terms of its rental‑purchase agreements. The settlement, joined by 42 other state attorneys general, calls for $130 million in lease‑balance reductions, $43 million in consumer restitution, and $10.5 million in payments to the participating states.
Consumer‑protection concerns
State officials said Acima marketed its agreements as “90‑day pay‑off programs” while automatically enrolling customers into 12‑month terms that could double the advertised cash price. The company also used the term “credit” in ways that suggested traditional financing, marked up merchandise above retail prices, obscured contract terms during electronic signing, and made it difficult for customers to end agreements without penalty.
“When consumers trust companies like Acima, they deserve to know that they won’t be misled about the terms of their purchase,” Campbell said in a statement.
What the settlement requires
Acima does not admit liability, but the consent judgment bars the firm from marking up cash prices, requires training for its retail partners, and prohibits reporting rental‑purchase agreements to the three major credit‑reporting agencies for five years. Lease‑balance reductions apply to accounts charged off on or before Dec. 31, 2025 for agreements signed on or after Jan. 1, 2022.
Consumers do not need to take action now; a settlement administrator will contact eligible individuals with instructions on how to file a claim. Acima will notify qualified renters by email or mail if no email address is on file.
Related actions
The District of Columbia reached a separate $4 million settlement with Acima in July. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the company in August 2024, alleging deception of more than 100,000 New Yorkers. The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit in July 2024 but dropped the case in March 2025. Earlier, Campbell’s office settled a $7.8 million case with lease‑to‑own company American First Finance in May.
Original reporting: This Week in Worcester — read the source article.
