Question for any military guys... money/legal related

[Rogue Leader]

Ok so let me preface this with my sister is an idiot.

Long story short a few years ago she ended up unknowingly (shady dealer) co-signing a loan for some "friend" who wanted to buy a new car and had no credit. WTF this kid needed a new Acura for we will never know, but basically he proceeded to lose his crap job, never pay the loan, car got repoed, sold, when all was said and done my sister got left holding the bag for $7000.

Over the past few years he has been "promising" to pay it back but never comes through, he always has an excuse. Well now he has joined the Marines and I'm pretty sure they gave him a signing bonus, yet he still has every excuse in the book.

So heres my question. Is there any simple recourse we can take through the military to get the money from this kid? We realize that this may require a lawyer and whatnot, but just was wondering if anyone knows or had experience with this. I would assume (maybe wrongly) that the military would frown upon a situation like that and try to make him straighten it out before taking him in. Any ideas?

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

Ok so let me preface this with my sister is an idiot.

Long story short a few years ago she ended up unknowingly (shady dealer) co-signing a loan for some "friend" who wanted to buy a new car and had no credit. WTF this kid needed a new Acura for we will never know, but basically he proceeded to lose his crap job, never pay the loan, car got repoed, sold, when all was said and done my sister got left holding the bag for $7000.

Over the past few years he has been "promising" to pay it back but never comes through, he always has an excuse. Well now he has joined the Marines and I'm pretty sure they gave him a signing bonus, yet he still has every excuse in the book.

So heres my question. Is there any simple recourse we can take through the military to get the money from this kid? We realize that this may require a lawyer and whatnot, but just was wondering if anyone knows or had experience with this. I would assume (maybe wrongly) that the military would frown upon a situation like that and try to make him straighten it out before taking him in. Any ideas?

I don't know of any way to get the military to just give you his sign-on bonus. My best suggestion would be to take him to court. Get a lawyer and discuss your options.

And yes, the military checks to make sure you're not in any litigations before they enlist you.
- X

[SwedeandBlondie]

I'd get an attorney to go after the kid. Since this was pre-military, I doubt that his new leadership will care about this discrepancy on his record unless he's working toward a job that involves a security clearance of some sort.

If he was employed by someone other than the military, would you contact his new bosses to see if they'd help? I only ask because nothing has been done up to this point to persue any recourse toward him. To go after him now on the off chance that his Commander might help seems pretty crappy.

Your sister made a bad decision in cosigning with the kid. If there was a question as to whether or not the kid needed the car or would ever not make a payment, she shouldn't have cosigned.

[garcmol]

Do you know where he's stationed/unit? You can contact the servicing SJA (Staff Judge Advocate) for that base and explain the situation. If you get the unit and phone number, you could talk to the commander and explain the situation. Hopefully she still has some paperwork for this loan??????? Otherwise it's just talk.

Marine commander's frown (heavily) on any misconduct of their Marines.

[mickss]

Write to his base commander and state exactly what you did in your post and yes your right, the military takes a very dim view of delinquent loans or at least they use to. If that doesn't light a fire under his ass then there is always small claims court or Judge Judy.

[CamaroCowboy]

Take him to court. If the court rules in your favor then yes the military will require him to make an allotment to her account until debt is paid.

[mth35115]

Take him to court, if you when a judgement you can garnish his wages just like any other job, and you know he can't just quit his job.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by mickss

Write to his base commander and state exactly what you did in your post and yes your right, the military takes a very dim view of delinquent loans or at least they use to. If that doesn't light a fire under his ass then there is always small claims court or Judge Judy.

That'll take care of it right there. If you need help finding out which base he is at and who to talk to, find a recruiting station and see if the Marines there can help you out. The Marines DEFINITELY do not allow that kind of crap to happen, there were a few guys I knew of that got their butts chewed for not paying child support on time.

[Rogue Leader]

Thanks everyone for the tips. She has contacted him and advised him we will be contacting a lawyer who we at this point are just looking for him to send a letter. While that happens I will find out his base and base commander and send the commander a letter and copies of the proof of this issue.

Part of me feels bad to do it to a serviceman, but when he did this he wasn't, and I don't even know if this kid has made it to basic yet so hes the same as any shlub as far as I am concerned.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

Thanks everyone for the tips. She has contacted him and advised him we will be contacting a lawyer who we at this point are just looking for him to send a letter. While that happens I will find out his base and base commander and send the commander a letter and copies of the proof of this issue.

Part of me feels bad to do it to a serviceman, but when he did this he wasn't, and I don't even know if this kid has made it to basic yet so hes the same as any shlub as far as I am concerned.

There's bad apples in every bunch, this guy needs to own up to his responsibility. Good luck!