2A AUGUST 9, 2012
THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
BaseLegal Base Legal By M.S. Archer
Buying, financing overpriced electronics Did you just purchase a computer, flat screen television or other consumer electronics item from a little known store that pops up only in military towns? Did you look online only to find out you could have bought the item for a heck of a lot less elsewhere? After listening to a sales pitch focusing almost entirely on monthly payments, did you take out a high interest loan to buy the item? Did you have to sign a consent form allowing the creditor to call your commanding officer in the event you default on the loan? Were there extra, incomprehensible fees added? Did you experience any issues concerning merchandise delivery or quality? If so, we need to talk. Over the years, I saw businesses hawking all kinds of products to troops, principally because they want to lend money at terrible terms and conditions for the purchase of expensive items. Sale of the product, typically a grossly overpriced computer, may just be the means of selling a loan. The focus is on making a loan and then selling that loan to another, related company. Though the products change over the years – the pitch used to be for buying clubs or for fancy cameras, and photographic development services – the business model remains the same: target junior troops, crank up the base price of the product sold, rope the troop into an unfavorable loan, add various junk fees, misleading statements concerning warranties, hidden commissions to financ-
ing companies, and sell the package to some third party financer. Tie it all up in a bow with required payments by allotment, authorization to raid your bank account if the allotment fails, and permission to call your CO if you default. Occasionally, when sufficient information concerning abusive activities of a business is collected, they are sued by the state attorney general and designated off limits by the installation commander. It’s what happened with a business called Smart Buy, which sold computers, IPODs and televisions in military towns including Jacksonville, N.C., until they were put off limits by several installation commanders around the country and successfully sued by the Attorney General of New York. Another company, Rome Finance, was sued by the Attorney General of Tennessee and ordered by a Tennessee Court to pay over $10 million in damages for ripping off service members at Fort Campbell. Rome Finance declared bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying. Sometimes, businesses change their name and continue to operate as before. Here are some warning signs: - The same item can be found elsewhere for much less as many large retailers list prices on-line - Targeting of junior military personnel - Ads emphasizing monthly payment but failing to disclose the annual interest rate
- Failing to disclose a large portion of the fee is going to a third party financer. - Failing to make disclosures about the loan required by the Truth in Lending Act. TILA requires disclosure of all the costs of financing, including any mark ups in the base price and fees to third parties. TILA also requires lenders to tell consumers, in writing, the real annual interest rate, the cost of financing over the course of the loan, the amount financed, and, in closedended contracts for a one-time purchase, the total price after all the payments are made. This last number can be so large it can scare away potential customers. Accordingly, some vendors pretend to give you open-ended credit, a line of credit for other purchases, which may be quickly taken away after the purchase. -High interest rates -Additional required fees especially if accompanied by a contrary written acknowledgment the consumer isn’t required to buy the extra items -Requirement to sign a statement purporting to allow the creditor to contact with CO. Such consent, given prior to any default, is unlawful and ineffective under North Carolina law. -A requirement to sign a Statement of Understanding contradicting the sales pitch of the terms of the contract you just signed. If any of this sounds familiar, we need to talk. Contact me for confidential interview at Michael. archer@usmc.mil.
with Randy Reichler
Returning to roots in retirement The two Armed Forces Retirement Homes located in Washington, D.C., and Gulfport, Miss., are available to retirees with a slight wait to be accepted. The requirements include retirees with at least 20 years of service, those who are unable to earn a livelihood due to a service connected disability, and those who served in a war theater. They must be able to care for their own needs, attend a central dining facility for meals, and keep all medical appointments at time of admission. If their health diminishes after arriving, assisted living and long-term care are available at both sites. These are safe and beautiful facilities with many accommodations available such as dining facilities, shopping, barber shops, various recreation facilities onsite, medical attendance and much more. The newly reconstructed site in Gulfport provides an average room of 430 square feet to each resident. The cost is very reasonable at both sites. Independent-living residents must contribute 35 percent of total current income but not to exceed $1,238 each month. Assisted-living residents must contribute 40 percent but not to exceed $1,856 each month. Long-term care residents contribute 65 percent but not to exceed $3,094 each month. The rates are very good when compared to
civilian facilities, which charge between $3,400 and $5,200 per month. The true intrinsic value at these facilities is the companionship of the fellow residents. All are retirees with similar life stories of dedication, challenge, and resourcefulness to continue through life after serving as protector of this nation and its people. Both sites were visited by the Retired Activities Office coordinator, and the care and love shown to the residents by the staff is impressive. There is a thriving, alert, and progressive population not often seen in local civilian-care facilities. The difference lies in the fact the residents have a common background and a bond to motivate each other, along with a staff who honors the resident’s service and sacrifice made. Potential applicants should tour the sites. Schedule a visit by simply calling 800-332-3527 or 800-422-9988. Individuals visiting the Washington site are entitled to complimentary lodging in guest rooms and a limited number of meals. For those interested, there will a representative from the AFRH at the 2012 Camp Lejeune Retiree Appreciation Day Sept. 29 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune at Marston Pavilion.
Retired Military Breakfast Located at the Ball Center (Old Staff NCO Club) Aug. 25 Social hour will begin at 7 a.m., with breakfast at 8 a.m. All retirees, active duty, reserve, veterans and community friends are invited to attend the breakfast. For more information, contact Retired Sgt. Maj. George F. Meyer at 938-1610. Report crime anywhere in your community
• Cash rewards up to $2,500 • Caller never reveals his/her identity • Information must lead to arrest or apprehension • Reward is collected through code system
24 HOUR HOTLINE 938-3273
MCO 11000.22 PROHIBITED DOG BREEDS Marine Corps Installations East – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is enforcing the Marine Corps order on banned breeds and pet registration. This is not a new implementation and not specific to only Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Marine Corps Order P11000.22, specifically chapter 6, released in August of 2009, mandated all installations ban any breed of pit bull, Rottweiler or wolf hybrid dog from residing on base. It also prevented visitors from bringing banned breeds on base. At the time the order went into effect, owners of these breeds were not forced to get rid of their dogs. Residents had one year to submit for a waiver of prohibited pets. Owners seeking a waiver were required to certify their animal with a nationally recognized temperament test before being eligible for the waiver. Currently, MCB Camp Lejeune is required by the order to enforce the policy that banned breeds must be removed from base housing by Sept. 30. This stipulation has been in the order since its inception and families residing on base were made aware of the deadline upon implementation of the order, moving into housing with a banned breed or prior to acquiring one.
Additional hour of nighttime training during summer months Residents aboard base and in the surrounding community may hear artillery, mortar and aircraft noise an additional hour past the normal midnight cutoff time Aug. 20 through 24. Officials at Camp Lejeune have granted the one-hour extension to allow specific ground and air combat elements to complete their nighttime training objectives. The community’s patience and understanding is appreciated as the base strives to provide the best possible training for deploying Marines and sailors.
Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations East — Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Gorry Public Affairs Officer Capt. Joshua Smith Public Affairs Chief Staff Sgt. Theresa Seng theresa.seng@usmc.mil Publisher James M. Connors jim.connors@pilotonline.com Managing Editor Ena Sellers ena.sellers@pilotonline.com Assistant Managing Editor Amy Binkley amy.binkley@pilotonline.com Layout Editor Sarah Anderson sarah.anderson@militarynews.com Sports Editor Jessie Heath jessie.heath@pilotonline.com This Department of Defense newspaper is an authorized publication of the DOD. Contents of The Globe are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the DOD, or the Public Affairs Office, Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Globe is published by Landmark Military Newspapers of N.C., a private enterprise not connected with the DOD or the U.S. Marine Corps, under exclusive written contract with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of these products or services by the DOD, the U.S. Marine Corps, or Landmark Military Newspapers of N.C. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Any questions may be directed to: Commanding General, (Attn: Public Affairs Office), Marine Corps Base, PSC Box 20004, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 28542-0004. For distribution and advertising inquiries, call 3479624. Mail subscribers: Any notices to report a change of address need to be sent to: Landmark Military Newspapers - NC, 1122 Henderson Dr., Jacksonville, N.C. 28540. For advertising questions or to submit free trader ads, call 347-9624, ext. 101.