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NZXT agrees to $3.45M settlement over predatory PC rental scheme
Image: Primary PC hardware maker NZXT has agreed to pay $3.45 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging predatory practices in its Flex PC rental program.
The settlement provides up to $5,000 in debt relief to affected customers and grants ownership of rented PCs to eligible renters. Plaintiffs accused NZXT of engaging in deceptive business practices, including targeting children and using the Rent-A-Center model to lock customers into unfavorable agreements.
The lawsuit alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Under the settlement terms, NZXT will forgive outstanding balances for qualifying customers and transfer ownership of rented hardware to those who have paid above certain thresholds.
NZXT launched its Flex program in 2023, offering gaming PCs through a subscription model. The company marketed the service as an affordable entry point for gaming, but critics alleged the total cost of ownership far exceeded retail prices.
The settlement awaits court approval.
Sources
Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business.
This story was sourced from Tom's Hardware and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.