Reddell said the company doesn’t tell customers about the risk of criminal charges “because that’s too negative.”

“One reason we feel like we need to do this is that we don’t want to get word out on the street that if you rent from Advantage and if you don’t pay for it, don’t worry about it,” Reddell said.

He said the company works with customers who get behind on their payments and are willing to return the merchandise. In Maribel Walker’s case, the retail price of the furniture was $2,770, and she made only two payments of a few hundred dollars.

“In a case like Ms. Walker, she was so far past due and kept the merchandise, so the balance was too high,” Reddell said. “Usually we charge it off if they owe $100 or $200. We tried calling her then sending a certified letter. Finally, out of desperation we contacted the officer.”

Walker, who bought furniture from Advantage in the past, said she intended to pay for the furniture in question. But after she lost her job, she got evicted and put the furniture in storage in her brother’s trailer.