The Consumers' Association of Canada has received dozens of complaints from Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees about furniture rental stores, a spokesperson says.

Association president Bruce Cran said companies like this prey on the vulnerable, but they do operate within the law.

He said it is unfortunately a case of "buyer beware," and a reminder to always read the small print before signing anything.

Single mom Kayla Benoit, 26, is among those feeling like they've been kicked while they're down.

After being forced from her Fort McMurray home due to the wildfire in May, Benoit temporarily rented an apartment in Fort Saskatchewan.

50 per cent off for Fort McMurray evacuees

With her furniture still back in Fort McMurray, she followed the advice of her insurance company and opted to lease home furnishings.

A friend who was a fellow evacuee told her about a company called Easyhome, which was offering deals to those displaced by the fire.

"They were offering 50 per cent off for Fort Mac evacuees," Benoit said.

When Benoit visited the store on 42nd Street in Edmonton, she said she was told there was high demand and items were going quickly so she should act fast.

Furniture that Benoit rented and has now returned

'You have to sign this before we can bring the stuff in'

The customer sales agent was vague on pricing, Benoit said. But when she was given the final tally, Benoit thought it was a reasonable deal, especially considering the 50-per-cent markdown.

For the price of $208 every two weeks, she leased a sectional couch, a queen-size bed frame, two night stands, coffee and end tables, two lamps and a TV.

But Benoit said she didn't learn about an additional fee of hundreds of dollars until the furniture had arrived at her apartment.

"The two delivery guys came into my apartment and he slapped a piece of paper down on the counter," Benoit said. "And he's like, 'You have to sign this before we can bring the stuff in.'

Furniture that Benoit rented and has now returned

Caught off guard by the cost

"So I started reading it and it stated that, when giving the furniture back, I have to pay an extra four weeks without even having the furniture. So that's an extra $416 or so."

Benoit said she was caught off guard by the extra cost.

"I was like, really? How does that even work? They didn't explain any of this to me when I was in the store. If I had known about this I probably wouldn't have gotten the furniture, because that makes no sense."

If I had known about this I probably wouldn't have gotten the furniture because that makes no sense. - Kayla Benoit, Fort McMurray evacuee

But Benoit said she felt cornered.

"I signed it (the sales document) anyway because I needed the furniture."

A manager with the store confirmed to CBC there is a charge when furniture is returned that amounts to about a month's worth of payments. She described it as a restocking fee that gives the company time to have the items steam cleaned and made fit for another customer.

Benoit soon regretted her decision, suggesting that purchasing second-hand furniture was a cheaper option. So she returned the furnishings.

The fees and charges are listed in the agreement that Benoit signed. And while she was aware of them at the last minute, she argues she was desperate and thinks the company took advantage of her.

A manager with the company, who would not give her name, told CBC News she feels they went above and beyond for Fort McMurray evacuees by offering them a 50 per cent discount.

After hearing from the CBC, the manager decided to waive the restocking fee for Benoit, noting the customer had a stressful ordeal with the wildfire and evacuation in Fort McMurray.

Easyhome's pricing not always transparent

It's not the first time there have been complaints about Easyhome's business practices, nor the first time the CBC has done a story on the company.

A CBC Marketplace investigation in 2010 showed that Easyhome's pricing is not always transparent. For instance, the prices you see online only show the weekly charges, not the full price.

The company's website currently lists a 13-inch Macbook Air at a price of $45 a week for 130 weeks. That amounts to a total of $5,850. Apple lists the same model on its website starting at $1,199 - more than a $4,000 difference.

Easyhome lists this Macbook Air at $45 per week for 130 weeks which totals $5,850.

In an email to CBC News, Easyhome spokeswoman Andrea Fiederer said the company lists their payments as weekly to "best help" customers manage their payments within fixed budgets.

"Given that over 70% of our customers chose to lease their product to meet a short term need rather than leasing with the intention to purchase the product, the total purchase price is not their motivation for leasing," Fiederer said.

Perhaps the biggest misconception of the lease-to-own industry is that we are "taking advantage of people. - Andrea Fiederer, Easyhome

Customers can purchase Total Protection Coverage in order to avoid paying a termination fee if they choose to stop the service.

Fiederer said the company's services aren't for everyone, but exist as a way to provide a service to customers with limited access to credit or cash to purchase certain things.

"Perhaps the biggest misconception of the lease-to-own industry is that we are "taking advantage of people," she said.

"Our customers choose to do business with us because we provide access to what they need with no credit checks and the flexibility of returning their items at any time without penalty. Should a customer have the financial resources and motivation to purchase goods at a traditional retailer, we would always advise them to do so."