STATE NEWS

How renting furniture in Texas can land you in jail

While other businesses have to use civil remedies when customers don't pay their debts, the rent-to-own industry has a special tool in Texas law that lets them file criminal charges, an investigation by the Tribune and NerdWallet found.

By JAY ROOT AND SHANNON NAJMABADI, The Texas Tribune
Posted 1/1/18

When Melinda Sandlin walked out of Discount Furniture in Austin in late 2014, she was sure the store had put her on a payment plan to buy a new bedroom suite worth $2,750.

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