Acima $183.5 Million Settlement, Who Qualifies for Refunds, Debt Forgiveness and How Payments Work in 43 States

A coalition of 43 state attorneys general announced a $183.5 million settlement with rent-to-own company Acima Digital, LLC and its parent, Acima Holdings, LLC, on November 12 and 13, 2026. The states alleged Acima misled shoppers about what its lease-to-own agreements really cost. Acima agreed to the settlement without admitting wrongdoing.

The money is split three ways: $43 million in cash restitution to consumers, $130 million in canceled lease balances, and $10.5 million paid to the states.

This is a government enforcement settlement, not a private class action. Eligible consumers do not need to file an initial claim. The settlement administrator contacts people eligible for restitution, and Acima contacts people eligible for lease forgiveness. Not everyone who used Acima qualifies, and no payment date has been announced.

Acima Settlement 2026: Quick Facts

Detail	Verified information
Companies	Acima Digital, LLC and Acima Holdings, LLC
Total value	$183.5 million
Consumer cash restitution	$43 million
Lease balance reductions	$130 million
Payments to states	$10.5 million
States participating	43
Announced	November 12 to 13, 2026
Consent judgment effective date	November 12, 2026
Type of case	State attorney general enforcement action
Initial claim form required?	No
Who contacts you	Settlement administrator (restitution); Acima (lease forgiveness)
Admission of wrongdoing	None
Payment distribution date	Not announced
Court status	Consent judgments filed; court approval may be pending in some states

Why Did States Sue Acima?

Acima partners with retailers. Acima buys the merchandise from the store and leases it to the customer, who makes payments and can eventually own the item. The states’ complaint alleges that Acima:

• Advertised a “90-day payoff” style option without making clear that many customers were enrolled in agreements running much longer, often up to 12 months.
• Let customers who completed the full term pay roughly twice the retailer’s cash price.
• Marked up merchandise above the retailer’s advertised cash price.
• Used electronic-signing steps that obscured key terms.
• Made it hard to end agreements by returning merchandise.
• Engaged in unfair debt-collection and credit-reporting practices.

Example (illustration only, not any real account): on a $1,000 refrigerator, paying early could cost far less than finishing a full 12-month lease, which could approach $2,000.

The companies settled without admitting liability, and Acima has said the payment was reserved in its earlier financial statements.

Who Qualifies for the Acima Settlement?

There are two types of relief. They are separate, and a person might qualify for one, both or neither.

1. Cash restitution ($43 million)

The consent judgment gives the multistate executive committee discretion over which consumers get restitution, how each amount is calculated, how payments are distributed and what happens to uncashed checks. The public documents do not set one refund formula or a complete list of eligible lease dates. The administrator, Rust Consulting, identifies eligible people from Acima’s records. Having used Acima does not guarantee a payment.

2. Lease forgiveness ($130 million)

The debt-relief program applies to certain delinquent or charged-off accounts. Acima has said it applies to charged-off accounts of customers who kept the leased merchandise after defaulting. As described in the consent judgment (paragraphs 82 to 84, per the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s published copy), the three groups are:

Account category	Qualifying conditions
Returned-item accounts	Lease entered on or after January 1, 2022; marked “return initiated, charged off” by December 31, 2025; customer paid less than 95% of the cash price
Certain Experian-reported defaults	Lease entered February 1 to June 30, 2022; charged off by December 31, 2025; default reported to Experian; customer paid less than 95% of the cash price
Other charged-off accounts	Lease entered on or after January 1, 2022; charged off by December 31, 2025; customer paid at least 95% of the cash price

Qualifying balances are reduced to $0. An open lease that is current is not automatically covered just because it began in 2022 or later. Check the exact terms in your notice or the consent judgment.

Can You Keep the Merchandise After Lease Forgiveness?

Yes, for qualifying accounts. Under paragraph 84 of the consent judgment, Acima must transfer ownership of the merchandise on the forgiven lease on an as-is, where-is basis, so you can keep the sofa, television or appliance with nothing more owed to Acima on that lease.

Will Acima Refund Payments Made After May 29, 2026?

For accounts in the lease-forgiveness program, the consent judgment requires Acima to make reasonable efforts to refund payments made after May 29, 2026. The sample consumer notice says payments made before that date are not refunded through this process. That does not decide whether the same person qualifies separately for restitution from the $43 million fund.

Which 43 States Are in the Acima Settlement?

Region	Participating states
Northeast	Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
South	Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Midwest	Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin
West	Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

The seven states not on the list are Alabama, California, Montana, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina and South Dakota. Not being in the settlement does not remove rights you may have under your own state’s laws.

Washington, D.C. residents: the District reached a separate settlement with Acima earlier in 2026 (reported in July 2026 as about $3.7 million in refunds, debt forgiveness and account credits for more than 10,000 residents). It is not part of this 43-state deal.

If you moved after signing an Acima agreement, do not assume the address on your old contract decides eligibility. Ask the administrator or your state attorney general.

Related article: Supreme Court Takes Up Trump Asylum Ban Case, What the November 13 Decision Means for Migrants

Acima Settlement Amounts by State

Several attorneys general have published local figures. These are statewide totals, not individual payments.

State	Cash restitution	Lease forgiveness
Pennsylvania	More than $1.6 million	More than $3.6 million
Massachusetts	About $830,000	About $10.7 million
Ohio	More than $900,000	Nearly $5 million
Virginia	$835,486	$3,330,380
Arizona	$1.56 million	$4.65 million
Connecticut	Not separately stated	About $2.44 million
Washington	About $645,000	About $1.7 million
Colorado	$450,000 (1,631 consumers)	$1.36 million (1,229 consumers)
Delaware	About $230,110	About $511,582

Other examples reported by attorneys general: Pennsylvania expects almost 9,000 residents to get some form of relief (more than $5 million combined), Washington says its restitution averages about $280 and its forgiveness about $1,290 per consumer, and Delaware will also receive $81,875 as a state payment. Those averages apply only to those states. Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina are participating, but I did not find verified state-level breakdowns for them, so do not estimate their totals from another state’s.

Official announcements: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, Delaware, Arizona.

How to Claim Your Acima Settlement Benefit

You do not need to apply to be considered. Massachusetts has said the administrator may later contact some eligible consumers for information to complete a payment, so follow any official instructions you receive. Here is what to do now:

1. Check that your state is one of the 43.
2. Find your Acima rental-purchase agreement and account number.
3. Save your payment history, including any payments after May 29, 2026.
4. Watch your mail and email for a notice from Rust Consulting or Acima, and update your address with Acima if you moved.
5. If you think your account qualifies and you hear nothing, call Acima at 385-501-4728 and ask for written confirmation.
6. Never pay anyone to “register” you. Relief under this settlement is free.

No public nationwide claim portal or restitution filing deadline appears in the consent judgment reviewed.

When Will Acima Settlement Payments Be Sent?

No distribution date has been announced. Under the consent judgment, Acima must fund the $43 million restitution account within 30 calendar days of the November 12 effective date (by about December 12, 2026), and must reduce qualifying lease balances within the same 30 days. Funding the account is not the same as mailing checks, because the executive committee must still decide how to distribute the money. Do not rely on anyone promising checks by a specific date.

What Happens to Your Credit Report?

For accounts in the debt-forgiveness program, Acima must identify the debt as disputed and request deletion of the tradeline from credit reports where it reported the account. The consent judgment requires this within 60 days of November 12, 2026, which is January 11, 2027. Acima also agreed not to report covered rental-purchase agreements to the three major credit bureaus for five years.

If a forgiven account still appears after that, keep your cancellation letter, get your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, and dispute the entry in writing with the bureau and with Acima. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a bureau generally must investigate a dispute within 30 days (15 U.S.C. § 1681i), and a company that furnishes information must correct what it learns is inaccurate (15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2). Canceling a debt does not guarantee a higher score, which depends on your whole credit history.

For a separate debt-collection settlement with different rules, see Midland Credit Management Debt Collection Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, Payments & Deadlines.

Is Forgiven Acima Debt Taxable?

Canceled debt can sometimes count as taxable income, and creditors can be required to report it on Form 1099-C when it is $600 or more (26 U.S.C. § 6050P). Whether canceled lease balances here are reported, and whether any exclusion applies (for example insolvency under 26 U.S.C. § 108), depends on your facts. I did not find official guidance on how this settlement’s cancellations will be reported, so read your Acima notice and ask a tax professional if you receive a Form 1099-C.

What Changes Must Acima Make?

The consent judgment requires Acima to:

• Train retail partners better and advertise lease costs and payment terms clearly.
• Show material contract terms before electronic signing.
• Stop marking up merchandise above the retailer’s cash price.
• Make agreement termination and returns easier to use.
• Stop reporting covered agreements to the major credit bureaus for five years.
• Follow applicable rules on late delivery, damaged goods and repairs.

Laws Behind the Acima Settlement

State consumer protection (UDAP) laws

Every participating state has a law against unfair or deceptive practices that its attorney general can enforce. Examples:

• Pennsylvania: Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, 73 P.S. § 201-1 et seq.
• Massachusetts: M.G.L. c. 93A.
• Washington: Consumer Protection Act, RCW 19.86.
• Florida: Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Fla. Stat. § 501.204.
• Texas: Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, Tex. Bus. & Com. Code ch. 17.
• Ohio: Consumer Sales Practices Act, R.C. 1345.01 et seq.

These laws let attorneys general seek restitution, injunctions and civil penalties, which is the basis for the $10.5 million paid to the states.

State rental-purchase laws

Many states regulate rent-to-own contracts separately, requiring written disclosures of the total cost, the payment schedule and your right to end the lease and return the item. Examples include Washington’s Lease-Purchase Agreements Act (RCW 63.19), Pennsylvania’s Rental-Purchase Agreement Act (69 P.S. § 1951 et seq.), Ohio’s rental-purchase law (R.C. Chapter 1351) and Texas’s rental-purchase chapter (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code ch. 92). The rules differ by state, and they are why a rent-to-own contract is treated differently from a loan.

Consumer Financial Protection Act

The Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 bars unfair, deceptive or abusive acts involving consumer financial products (12 U.S.C. §§ 5531 and 5536), and state attorneys general may enforce it (12 U.S.C. § 5552). The consent judgment references it. Whether a rent-to-own lease is covered depends on how the transaction is characterized.

Fair Credit Reporting Act

The FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) governs accuracy of credit reporting and disputes. It supports the credit-reporting terms above. Most negative items can be reported for seven years (15 U.S.C. § 1681c).

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

If a third-party collector pursues a debt, the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq.) and the CFPB’s Regulation F (12 C.F.R. Part 1006) bar harassment and false statements and let you request validation of the debt. It is a separate tool if collection continues on an account that should be canceled.

Can You Still Sue Acima Separately?

This is a government enforcement settlement, not a certified class action, so consumers are not automatically class members releasing their own claims. Whether you have a private claim depends on your contract (including any arbitration clause), your state’s law, time limits and your facts. Receiving forgiveness does not necessarily release personal claims, but check any release language in the notice you receive. Consumers generally are not parties to the consent judgment, so questions about enforcing it usually go to your state attorney general.

For a similar state enforcement matter, see Snap Finance $664M Settlement, Who Gets Lease Forgiveness in 17 States?. It is a different company with different eligibility rules.

What If Acima Is Still Collecting on an Account That Should Be Forgiven?

First check whether your lease meets the criteria above. Then call Acima at 385-501-4728 and ask for written confirmation of the account’s settlement status and the effective date. Keep records of any payments after May 29, 2026. If a collector keeps demanding money on an account confirmed as canceled, save the messages and file a complaint with your state attorney general and the CFPB.

Acima Settlement FAQ

Is the Acima $183.5 million settlement real?

Yes. Forty-three state attorneys general announced it on November 12 and 13, 2026, and several published the filed complaint and consent judgment.

Is the Acima settlement nationwide?

No. It covers 43 states. Alabama, California, Montana, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina and South Dakota are not included, and D.C. had a separate settlement.

Do I have to file a claim?

No initial claim is required. The administrator or Acima will contact eligible people. Some may later be asked for information.

How much money will I get?

There is no fixed amount. The administrator decides who gets restitution and how much. Some states have published averages, like about $280 in Washington.

Will Acima cancel my balance?

Only if your lease meets the charged-off account rules above.

Can I keep my merchandise after forgiveness?

Yes. Acima must transfer ownership of the item on a forgiven lease.

Does the settlement cover leases from 2023 or 2024?

Possibly. Forgiveness applies to certain leases entered on or after January 1, 2022 that were charged off by December 31, 2025 and meet the payment tests.

What if I already paid off my lease?

You would have no balance to forgive, but you could still be considered for restitution.

Will I get my money back for payments after May 29, 2026?

If your account is in the forgiveness program, Acima must make reasonable efforts to refund those payments.

Will my credit score go up?

Not necessarily. Acima must request deletion of covered tradelines by January 11, 2027, but your score depends on your whole file.

Is the forgiven debt taxable?

It can be in some situations. Read your notice and ask a tax professional.

When will checks arrive?

No date has been announced.

Is there an Acima settlement claim deadline?

No initial consumer claim deadline appears in the official materials reviewed.

Does the settlement mean Acima admitted fraud?

No. Acima settled without admitting wrongdoing or liability.

Official Contacts and Documents

Settlement administrator: Rust Consulting

Acima Leasing account assistance: 385-501-4728

• Consent Judgment and Settlement Terms (PDF)
• Filed Complaint (PDF)
• Pennsylvania Attorney General Announcement
• Delaware Attorney General Announcement
• Oregon Department of Justice Announcement
• Arizona Attorney General Announcement
• Washington Attorney General Announcement
• Ohio Attorney General Announcement
• FTC and CFPB complaint portals via your state attorney general’s consumer protection page

Bottom Line

Acima’s $183.5 million multistate settlement offers cash restitution from a $43 million fund and cancels $130 million in qualifying lease balances, with ownership of the merchandise for those who qualify. No initial claim is required, but you should watch for official notices from Rust Consulting or Acima, keep your records, and confirm that any forgiven account is updated on your credit reports by January 11, 2027. Nobody should promise a specific payment or date. This page will be updated when distribution details, court approvals and administrator instructions are confirmed.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the multistate consent judgment and complaint published by the Pennsylvania Attorney General and the announcements of the Delaware, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut and other state attorneys general, as of November 14, 2026. Last Updated: November 14, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or tax advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.