09-18-02
RTO Online
Washington, DC
Committee on Financial Services
Chairman, Michael G. Oxley
By vote of 215-201 the House of Representatives approved H.R. 1701, the Consumer
Rental Purchase Agreement Act.
In May of 2001, Rep. Walter Jones (NC) introduced H.R. 1701 in an effort to
create uniform national disclosure standards for rent-to-own businesses. The
bill would provide more cost information to consumers considering rental
purchase agreements.
"This bill is a win for both consumers and business,” Rep. Jones said. “For the
first time, there will be a national set of standards under which consumer
rental purchase dealers can operate, and a national level of consumer protection
across America. It is common-sense legislation."
H.R. 1701 would require total price and fee disclosures at the point of sale for
all products sold via rent-to-own agreements. The legislation also would create
uniform federal regulations while leaving intact the right of states to further
regulate the industry.
The legislation is intended benefit both rental purchase merchants and
consumers, as it would allow for cost savings and greater competition among
merchants. The disclosures will also encourage greater entrepreneurship and the
expansion of current rental-purchase operations.
“This legislation will provide consistent regulation that will improve consumer
disclosures and benefit those who choose to engage in rental purchase
transactions,” Oxley said. “Rent-to-own merchants provide an invaluable service
to an often underserved segment of the population and this legislation will
benefit both those merchants and the consumers they serve.”
end
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