AAFES Military Star Violating the Soldier Sailor Relief Act and not logging payments made toward balances. Dallas Texas
AAFES has targeted soldiers as a serious form of revenue for many years. I had a military star card in the past and paid it off in 2005. I transitioned out of active service to National Guard for about 8 months. During this time AAFES deemed it necessary to change my account number without my knowledge, and also conveniently forget about the payments I made to pay off my bill with them. Now, it is 2007 and I have recieved a no pay due.
AAFES has taken my entire paycheck, that is used to provide for my family, in order to pay an outstanding balance that was paid off years ago. I am currently deployed overseas to germany, and back on active duty. This is a obvious violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Not only have they put a deployed soldier in collections but are charging well above 6% interest.
This has become a serious issue with not only my family, but it seems like this is a growing trend. What can soldiers do? We are not allowed to sue the army while on active duty, and if I am not mistaken I sure the army has a hand in AAFES cookie jar. We need someone to fight for soldiers, while the soldiers are fighting for them.
Brendan
APO
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Karon
Ft. Meade,Maryland,
U.S.A.
Soliders & Sailors Civil Relief Act
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, June 27, 2007
Hi Brenden,
I'd first like to say I feel bad for you and your family in this situation that AAFES offset your pay. I used to work for AAFES in Spangdahlem, Germany.
Next, if you can recall the bank you were using see if you could possibly get a copy of the check where you paid the account off and provide proof to AAFES it was paid.
Secondly, if I am not mistaking you would not have been exempt under the Soldiers & Sailors Civil Act for this debt because there is no way that the debt was incurred before you were active duty or active/reserve guard. The reason I know this is because you cannot have a military star card if you are not in the service, active or reserve. The Soldiers & Sailors Relief Act only affects the debts you incurred prior to coming into the service.
Last, AAFES does give you the option of having the account set to a zero % interest or 6% interest upon providing orders for deployment. That could be initiated by either your spouse (with POA), yourself or whoever is in charge at your shop (we are AF so I do not know what the ARMY calls it, batallion?) If you choose the 0% option, you cannot use the card down range and if you choose the 6% option you still have use of the card. This is not automatic, you have to request it and it must be an open account in good standing. If the account was already closed/paid or a collection account before orders it would not qualify. Once you have taken advantage of the lower interest rates, it is your responsibility to inform AAFES of your return from deployment and the rate returns to normal.
You can log into the aafes site and click on the star card then put in your account number and request live chat to discuss the matter in realtime. I am not sure if that feature works if the account is no longer open.
Karon in Maryland