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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                -----------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

                                DECEMBER 4, 2001



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                               RENT-A-CENTER, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)




DELAWARE                             0-25370                   48-1024367

(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission               (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                  File Number)            Identification No.)



                              5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY
                                   THIRD FLOOR
                               PLANO, TEXAS 75024
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


                                 (972) 801-1100
                             (Registrant's telephone
                          number, including area code)


                                    NO CHANGE
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

        In its press release, dated December 4, 2001, the Registrant announced
        that it proposes to make a private offering to qualified institutional
        buyers of $100 million in principal amount of 11% Senior Subordinated
        Notes due 2008. The securities proposed to be offered will not be and
        have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
        and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration
        or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The
        Registrant intends to use the proceeds of the offering to repay
        approximately $30 million in term loans, repurchase approximately $34.7
        million of its common stock from its former Chairman and Chief Executive
        Officer and for general corporate purposes.

        A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form
        8-K.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

        (a)      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED.

                 Not applicable.

        (b)      PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

                 Not applicable.

        (c)      EXHIBITS

        99.1     Press release, dated December 4, 2001.


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                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       RENT-A-CENTER, INC.




DATE:  December 4, 2001               BY: /s/  MITCHELL E. FADEL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Mitchell E. Fadel
                                          President



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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<Table>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER         DESCRIPTION
- -------        -----------

            
 99.1          Press release, dated December 4, 2001.
</Table>