Ohioans to get nearly $6 million back in $183.5 million Acima rent-to-own settlement
Photo: iStock (file photo)Thousands of Ohio consumers are in line for nearly $6 million in lease forgiveness and restitution under a $183.5 million multistate settlement with rent-to-own company Acima Digital, the Ohio Attorney General's Office announced.
In Ohio, the settlement includes nearly $5 million in forgiveness across more than 4,000 leases and more than $900,000 in restitution for over 3,000 consumers, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office. Eligible consumers do not need to file a claim or take any action: those who qualify for restitution will be contacted by the settlement administrator, and Acima will contact consumers who qualify for lease forgiveness.
The settlement, reached with attorneys general in 43 states, resolves a five-year investigation into Acima's rent-to-own financing practices. Nationwide, it includes $43 million in consumer restitution, $130 million in lease-balance reductions and a $10.5 million payment to the participating states.
The states alleged that Acima advertised its agreements as a 90-day payoff program without clearly telling consumers they could automatically be enrolled in agreements lasting up to 12 months — and end up paying about twice the advertised cash price. The states also alleged that Acima misleadingly described its rent-to-own agreements as "credit," made important details difficult to see when consumers signed online, and made it difficult to return merchandise or cancel agreements.
Acima partners with national furniture and auto repair retailers, including Ashley Home Furniture, to offer rent-to-own financing for furniture, appliances, electronics, jewelry and vehicle parts. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office announced the settlement Friday, said consumers were led to believe they were buying goods on an installment plan or on credit, when in fact they were signing rental-purchase agreements with strict payment plans — and risked repossession if they missed payments.
Under the settlement, Acima must end the challenged practices. Among other reforms, the company agreed to make all required disclosures clearly and visibly, to stop marking up the retailer's advertised cash price in its purchase agreements, to let consumers end their agreements by returning the merchandise, and to stop reporting purchase agreements signed after the settlement to the three major credit reporting agencies for five years. Acima must also train its retail employees to answer consumers' questions truthfully and explain the terms of the agreements they are offered.
"Ohioans deserve to know exactly what they're paying for and what they're agreeing to," Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said. "Companies cannot use misleading advertising or hidden costs to take advantage of consumers."
Acima Digital and its parent company, Acima Holdings, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Upbound Group. The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Acima in July 2024, accusing the company of tricking customers into high-cost financing agreements.
Sources: The Cincinnati Enquirer, "Thousands of Ohioans to get money in rent-to-own company settlement" (Nov. 13, 2026, full text verified); Arizona Attorney General's Office, "Attorney General Mayes Announces $183.5 Million Multistate Settlement with Rent-to-Own Finance Company Acima Digital, LLC" (Nov. 13, 2026, full text verified); PYMNTS, "State AGs: Settlement Requires Acima to Overhaul Practices" (Nov. 13, 2026, full text verified).
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