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The Law Offices of Alan Abergel, P.C. ("LOAA") represents Texas rental-purchase providers in regulatory compliance, contract drafting, and administrative defense matters. Attorney Alan Abergel is licensed by both the State Bar of Texas and the State Bar of California, serving personal property rent-to-own businesses throughout Texas.
Texas rental to own agreements for personal property—including appliances, furniture, electronics, and other merchandise—are regulated under Chapter 92 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, along with other Texas state and federal laws. These agreements allow consumers to acquire ownership of goods only after fulfilling all payment and contractual terms.
Texas Rental-purchase providers such as furniture stores, appliance retailers, electronics merchants, and specialized rent-to-own businesses must comply with detailed disclosure requirements, contract formatting rules, and consumer protection regulations. Legal violations can result in civil lawsuits, administrative penalties, damages awards, regulatory enforcement actions, and potentially criminal prosecution.
One of the first questions Texas rental-purchase businesses face is whether their business model requires registration or licensing with state regulatory agencies, or whether an exemption applies.
LOAA provides legal opinions analyzing specific business models to determine applicable registration requirements. Some rental-purchase providers may need to register or be licensed with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) or other Texas regulatory authorities, while others may qualify for exemptions based on their transaction structures, merchandise types, or operational characteristics.
Attorney Abergel evaluates rental-purchase programs to identify registration obligations and exemption opportunities, helping businesses understand their compliance requirements before launching or expanding rental-purchase operations.
Texas law requires rental-purchase agreements to include specific disclosures and formatting elements.
LOAA drafts rental-purchase agreements and disclosure documents that comply with Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 92 requirements and applicable Texas and federal consumer protection laws. Well-drafted contracts protect rental-purchase providers while satisfying regulatory mandates, reducing the likelihood of consumer disputes and regulatory enforcement actions.
Attorney Abergel also reviews existing rental-purchase documentation to identify compliance gaps and recommend necessary modifications to bring agreements into full compliance with current legal requirements.
Beyond contract drafting, rental-purchase businesses must maintain ongoing compliance with state and federal regulations governing advertising, servicing, collections, and consumer communications.
LOAA provides compliance counseling addressing:
Advertising and marketing compliance for rental-purchase offers
Proper calculation and disclosure of fees and charges
Handling early purchase requests and payoff calculations
Managing late payments and returned merchandise
Complying with debt collection regulations
Addressing consumer complaints and disputes
Recordkeeping and documentation requirements
Proactive compliance counseling helps rental-purchase providers reduce the likelihood of regulatory problems and operate with confidence that their programs satisfy applicable legal requirements.
When regulatory issues arise, LOAA represents rental-purchase providers in investigations, administrative proceedings, inspections, audits, and enforcement actions brought by the Texas Department of Justice (DOJ), OCCC, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Regulatory matters may involve allegations of improper disclosures, misleading advertising, improper fee calculations, or violations of consumer protection statutes. Attorney Abergel develops defense strategies, responds to regulatory inquiries, negotiates with enforcement authorities, and represents providers in administrative hearings and court proceedings.
Effective regulatory defense requires understanding both the substantive regulations governing rental-purchase transactions and the procedural rules applicable to administrative enforcement proceedings. LOAA's focused practice in consumer financial services regulation provides rental-purchase businesses with experienced counsel who regularly handles these specialized matters.
Whether addressing compliance questions before problems arise or defending against regulatory enforcement actions, LOAA delivers practical legal guidance tailored to the rental-purchase industry.
LOAA represents only Texas rental-purchase providers, including furniture and appliance rental businesses, electronics rent-to-own companies, and other merchants offering rental-purchase programs for personal property and merchandize. The office does not represent consumers in rental-purchase disputes.
No criminal defense services are provided. Attorney Abergel's practice is limited to civil, administrative, transactional, and regulatory representation of rental-purchase businesses.
For more information about legal services for Texas rental-purchase providers or to schedule a consultation, contact The Law Offices of Alan Abergel, P.C.
“I engaged Alan to help me through the complexities of obtaining my Lenders License. He was very knowledgeable about the process and provided me with a high level of service.I worked quickly getting him all the information needed and he worked at my pace. He was responsive to e-mails and questions and followed up with the DFPI to make sure everything was filed correctly. I had read online that this process could take as long as 6 months however Alan completed the assignment in less than 3 I will be retaining his services in the future to ensure my company remains in compliance."
--Petroleum Realty Group Inc.
"I hired Alan to represent me as a mortgage broker before the California Department of Real Estate. I couldn't be more pleased with Alan's services from start to finish. Alan was clear and concise. Alan's communication throughout the process was professional. I received the results I hoped for. Thank you Alan. I'll definitely recommend you to ALL and use your services again in the future shall I need anything!"
-Anonymous
"Very helpful in assisting in obtaining an OCCC Texas Motor Vehicle Sales Finance License. Very knowledgeable in answering all questions the OCCC asked for on their questionnaire. Highly recommended and would re-hire for any future assistance regarding motor vehicle and finance business. God Bless!"
-Raul
