[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25044-25045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11941]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Survey of Rent-to-Own Customers; Proposed Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

ACTION: Proposed information collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The FTC invites comments on a proposed telephone survey before 
submitting a request for OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Comments on the proposed survey must be submitted on or before 
July 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Elaine W. Crockett,

[[Page 25045]]

Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, Room 598, 6th Street & 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20850. Telephone: (202) 326-
2453. E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Signe-Mary McKernan, Economist, Federal Trade Commission, 6th Street 
and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. Telephone: (202) 
326-3480. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FTC seeks comments concerning a proposed 
telephone survey of consumers in order to: (1) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the FTC, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of 
the FTC's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Title: Survey of Rent-to-Own Customers.
    Type of review: New.
    Frequency: Once.
    Affected public: Consumers.

Response Hour Burden:
    Pre-test questionnaire: approximately 10 minutes  x  50 people=8 
hours.
    Screening question: One initial question within a survey of 20,000 
people (other topics are also submitted from third party entities). 
Approximately 30 seconds  x  20,000 people=167 hours.
    Questionnaire response: Approximately 300-500 consumers  x  10 
minutes=83 hours.
    Total burden hours: Approximately 260.

    Abstract: The FTC proposes to survey rent-to-own customers in order 
to evaluate their experiences with rent-to-own transactions. This 
information will be used to assess reported consumer protection 
concerns and in consideration of possible future Commission actions. 
All information will be collected on a voluntary basis and the 
identities of respondents will remain confidential.
    If OMB approves, the FTC will contract with a survey firm to 
identify 300 to 500 rent-to-own consumers and to briefly obtain 
information about their experience with the rent-to-own industry. 
Survey respondents will be identified through screening questions 
included in a preexisting random digit dialing survey of a nationally 
representative sample of approximately 1,000 individuals. The screening 
survey will include routine demographic questions as well as specific 
questions contracted by other firms and organizations. Given the low 
(roughly 2%) incidence rate of rent-to-own customers within the general 
population, the FTC estimates that approximately 20,000 people will be 
screened in order to obtain a sample of 300 to 500 customers.
    The survey questionnaire will be pretested on approximately 50 
respondents to ensure that all questions are easily understood. The 
pretest will take approximately 10 minutes apiece, for a total of 8 
hours. The final survey will involve 300-500 respondents, again for 
approximately 10 minutes apiece, for a total of 83 hours.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-11941 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M