[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
