Comments on: Army's debt collection adds insult to injury http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/ Protect yourself from government gaffes, bureaucratic blunders and incumbent incompetence Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:25:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nick http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-20413 nick Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:44:54 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-20413 I'm getting billed over 4000 because my seperation date is under a month by 2 days. I still am having trouble understanding this. I’m getting billed over 4000 because my seperation date is under a month by 2 days. I still am having trouble understanding this.

]]> By: KaySJO http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8504 KaySJO Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:49:33 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8504 The Army is a joke. I served for 4 years. I went to my brigade EO rep and filed a complaint against my NCOIC who after he was briefed and counseled charged me with assault and recommended I be chaptered. I was an above and beyond soldier so I decided since he was making it up to try to get back at me I would just go to the article 15 hearing and explain that. Well haha guess what I was demoted all the way to E1 and discharged within 2 weeks. No witnesses, no police reports or anything. And he said me a 5ft 115 pound female beat him up, he was 6ft and Im sure alot stronger then me. Anyways I recieved a general under honorable and was never paid for my leave and recieved a letter after 6 months saying I was overpaid BAH for those last 2 weeks???? As far as I know BAH is the same amount for e1-e5!!! It is just so strange to me, I mean my BAH was the same throughout my enlistment. Hasnt changed once, it was just prorated the last month I was in. So how do I owe $1200? The Army is a joke. I served for 4 years. I went to my brigade EO rep and filed a complaint against my NCOIC who after he was briefed and counseled charged me with assault and recommended I be chaptered. I was an above and beyond soldier so I decided since he was making it up to try to get back at me I would just go to the article 15 hearing and explain that. Well haha guess what I was demoted all the way to E1 and discharged within 2 weeks. No witnesses, no police reports or anything. And he said me a 5ft 115 pound female beat him up, he was 6ft and Im sure alot stronger then me. Anyways I recieved a general under honorable and was never paid for my leave and recieved a letter after 6 months saying I was overpaid BAH for those last 2 weeks???? As far as I know BAH is the same amount for e1-e5!!! It is just so strange to me, I mean my BAH was the same throughout my enlistment. Hasnt changed once, it was just prorated the last month I was in. So how do I owe $1200?

]]> By: Peter Pournaras http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8503 Peter Pournaras Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:23:14 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8503 I too was medically discharged and overpaid. I have been out for three years now and have still not recieved my monthly disability checks because I was overpaid the VA has to pay off my debt. The government made a mistake by overpaying me and now it is my fault. My credit is so horrible I can not even get a job and the Army has me red flagged because of the overpayment. I asked the VA to audit my account two months ago and they still told me I have to wait for the other 1 million veterans who are auditing their accounts too. I feel I am never going to have good credit ever again and wont be able to escape the doom the Army has put on me. This is a big thanks for your service right in my face. I feel ashamed to have served in the military and regret my service, for if I never would have signed the dotted line I would not have such a shitty fincial life. Any ideas on what to do about an overpayment? I have called the VA hundreds of times and the credit collection agency about this and they tell me to call the person I just called. I just get a run around and nothing gets done. I am not sure if this situation will ever get resolved. I too was medically discharged and overpaid. I have been out for three years now and have still not recieved my monthly disability checks because I was overpaid the VA has to pay off my debt. The government made a mistake by overpaying me and now it is my fault. My credit is so horrible I can not even get a job and the Army has me red flagged because of the overpayment. I asked the VA to audit my account two months ago and they still told me I have to wait for the other 1 million veterans who are auditing their accounts too. I feel I am never going to have good credit ever again and wont be able to escape the doom the Army has put on me. This is a big thanks for your service right in my face. I feel ashamed to have served in the military and regret my service, for if I never would have signed the dotted line I would not have such a shitty fincial life. Any ideas on what to do about an overpayment? I have called the VA hundreds of times and the credit collection agency about this and they tell me to call the person I just called. I just get a run around and nothing gets done. I am not sure if this situation will ever get resolved.

]]> By: angiephnx http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8502 angiephnx Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:37:18 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8502 I have been going through pretty much the same thing as all of you...I received an honorable discharge, Apr 08, due to lack of family care plan (my father died of cancer so I had no one to replace him), which is an involuntary discharge and according to the regulation involuntary discharges do not have to repay bonuses, etc. I received my first notice in Dec 08-balance for my reenlistment bonus due, according to DFAS, approx. $22,000. My actual bonus was for $22,500 tax free for 6 years which I completed a little over two years. Wrote DFAS first disputed that I even owed, second if I did owe it wouldn't be for $22,000. They responded a month later and pretty much said "you owe" and gave me some jacked up worksheet trying to explain why i owed that amount. So I sent my own spreadsheet along with my enlistment contract & my first honorable discharge (given to you prior to reenlistment) & my reenlistment contract. No response to letter but received more bills. Then I received my W2 in Febuary 09 showing that my pay for only a week over 3 months was like $27,000 (E5 when i got out). So I called them to let them know of the mistake so they could reissue a new one and they said no that extra $20,000 was for me to pay taxes on, wtf?? Didn't file taxes for 09, finally filed 09 taxes with the 2010 taxes...basically I showed the IRS that I made an extra $20,000 for the 2008 tax year. Throughout the past two years I've kept all of their statements. One month it may say I owe $25,000, another $32,000, another $19,000...it is totally random amounts. Also I had never had an explanation on the "bill" for reason and about 6 months ago they put on there "overpayment for" I can't think off the top of my head but they referenced a DD form. I looked up the form, pulled my records and it was for my DITY move from Apr 08 which was for like $2500?? So I wrote them another letter (I have wrote several) with no response. The interest and administrative fees rack up to be about $150 a month by themselves. So, I already paid taxes on it now the interest they want me to pay will probaly be as much as the tax free bonus itself. So, I started thinking I'm never gonna be able to pay off this debt so I decided to file bankruptcy in May 2010. I did the bankruptcy myself and printed off and studied the part about "priority" vs "non-priority" debts. Priority you have to pay back, no matter what to include some (not all) government debts. I listed DFAS, dept of treasury and all of their other thugs all under non-priority debts. Went to my meeting of the creditors where anyone you owe will show up if they dispute you filing bankruptcy...no one was there. Received my bankruptcy at the end of August. First week of September, got a letter from DFAS. Said something about they knew my bankruptcy was final but I was supposed to wait 5 years from when I got out and I only waited a little over 2 years from when I got out to file bankruptcy...so pay me. 3 weeks after that I received another letter from DFAS accepting my "payment terms" and they credited my account a little over $1300. I never made no agreement and I never sent any money. October 2010 faxed (i got my confirmation!) my local congressman over 20 pages of documentation and my story (way more detail than this) no response as of today. I filed bankruptcy basically for nothing, I have no one to help, lawyers around here don't even know where to begin or how to proceed. I'm going to write this congressman one more time and send it in the mail this time after that I have seriously thought about taking my story to the local news. I have been going through pretty much the same thing as all of you…I received an honorable discharge, Apr 08, due to lack of family care plan (my father died of cancer so I had no one to replace him), which is an involuntary discharge and according to the regulation involuntary discharges do not have to repay bonuses, etc.

I received my first notice in Dec 08-balance for my reenlistment bonus due, according to DFAS, approx. $22,000. My actual bonus was for $22,500 tax free for 6 years which I completed a little over two years.

Wrote DFAS first disputed that I even owed, second if I did owe it wouldn’t be for $22,000. They responded a month later and pretty much said “you owe” and gave me some jacked up worksheet trying to explain why i owed that amount. So I sent my own spreadsheet along with my enlistment contract & my first honorable discharge (given to you prior to reenlistment) & my reenlistment contract. No response to letter but received more bills.

Then I received my W2 in Febuary 09 showing that my pay for only a week over 3 months was like $27,000 (E5 when i got out). So I called them to let them know of the mistake so they could reissue a new one and they said no that extra $20,000 was for me to pay taxes on, wtf??

Didn’t file taxes for 09, finally filed 09 taxes with the 2010 taxes…basically I showed the IRS that I made an extra $20,000 for the 2008 tax year.

Throughout the past two years I’ve kept all of their statements. One month it may say I owe $25,000, another $32,000, another $19,000…it is totally random amounts. Also I had never had an explanation on the “bill” for reason and about 6 months ago they put on there “overpayment for” I can’t think off the top of my head but they referenced a DD form. I looked up the form, pulled my records and it was for my DITY move from Apr 08 which was for like $2500?? So I wrote them another letter (I have wrote several) with no response. The interest and administrative fees rack up to be about $150 a month by themselves. So, I already paid taxes on it now the interest they want me to pay will probaly be as much as the tax free bonus itself.

So, I started thinking I’m never gonna be able to pay off this debt so I decided to file bankruptcy in May 2010. I did the bankruptcy myself and printed off and studied the part about “priority” vs “non-priority” debts. Priority you have to pay back, no matter what to include some (not all) government debts. I listed DFAS, dept of treasury and all of their other thugs all under non-priority debts. Went to my meeting of the creditors where anyone you owe will show up if they dispute you filing bankruptcy…no one was there. Received my bankruptcy at the end of August. First week of September, got a letter from DFAS. Said something about they knew my bankruptcy was final but I was supposed to wait 5 years from when I got out and I only waited a little over 2 years from when I got out to file bankruptcy…so pay me. 3 weeks after that I received another letter from DFAS accepting my “payment terms” and they credited my account a little over $1300. I never made no agreement and I never sent any money.

October 2010 faxed (i got my confirmation!) my local congressman over 20 pages of documentation and my story (way more detail than this) no response as of today. I filed bankruptcy basically for nothing, I have no one to help, lawyers around here don’t even know where to begin or how to proceed. I’m going to write this congressman one more time and send it in the mail this time after that I have seriously thought about taking my story to the local news.

]]> By: Cpl young http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8501 Cpl young Sat, 02 Oct 2010 22:27:39 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8501 I got a bill for $87,000 and I'm getting no pay due until its payed for me that is like 5 or 6 years. Can anyone help me. Please contact me if you have any info that can help (912) 202-0095 I got a bill for $87,000 and I’m getting no pay due until its payed for me that is like 5 or 6 years. Can anyone help me. Please contact me if you have any info that can help (912) 202-0095

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8500 Anonymous Thu, 27 May 2010 02:15:12 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8500 I'm in the same boat there telling me I owe 15000. I'm still active duty army I can't wait to be done with this crap. It's no wonder some soldiers do what they do. No one gives a shit about any one these days. The can all fuck themselves. I’m in the same boat there telling me I owe 15000. I’m still active duty army I can’t wait to be done with this crap. It’s no wonder some soldiers do what they do. No one gives a shit about any one these days. The can all fuck themselves.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8499 Stephanie Tue, 25 May 2010 12:27:42 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8499 Well my husband got paid when he had to take an emergency leave for his grandfather passing away. He used that time for his R&R and 2 years after he's out they tell us we owe them for what he got paid then because his unit didn't file his leave until 2 years later. Thats what we were told. They make the mistake and so what we have been told is the Govt. ownsthe money they overpay so basically its a big screw you! I told them so I guess Obama's plan for getting money for the stupid health bill is from our soldiers. Well my husband got paid when he had to take an emergency leave for his grandfather passing away. He used that time for his R&R and 2 years after he’s out they tell us we owe them for what he got paid then because his unit didn’t file his leave until 2 years later. Thats what we were told. They make the mistake and so what we have been told is the Govt. ownsthe money they overpay so basically its a big screw you! I told them so I guess Obama’s plan for getting money for the stupid health bill is from our soldiers.

]]> By: Jay Pries http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8498 Jay Pries Tue, 25 May 2010 05:07:18 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8498 Hello. I'm having a similar issue to many here... Got out last year. Honorable discharge after 8 years of service. I just had a bill hit my credit report for 2500.00 dollars claiming they "overpaid" me for a PCS move from Fort Hood to Fort Knox back in 2005. This is false. I have attempted to dispute the charges, explaining to them that I really DID move from Fort Hood to Fort Knox as a DITY move. I provided all the weigh tickets they wanted. I gave them tons of receipts. There were supposedly no issues at the time. All they would have to do is check my orders, my marital status and measure it up against the 3 other PCS moves I've done. What it comes down to is some lazy S1 not correctly submitting the paperwork and me getting billed for their mistake. I've attempted to reach out to get some advice and/or help and it's like I have the plague.. No one wants to touch it. I am literally 100% helpless unless I want to pay hundreds (or thousands?) of dollars to take them to court. This is wickedly unfair and hard to look at as anything but a straight up betrayal after 2 deployments and putting the Army before my family for 8 years. Anyone out there that's able to suggest some resources to help- Contact me at jaypries@gmail.com Hello. I’m having a similar issue to many here… Got out last year. Honorable discharge after 8 years of service. I just had a bill hit my credit report for 2500.00 dollars claiming they “overpaid” me for a PCS move from Fort Hood to Fort Knox back in 2005. This is false. I have attempted to dispute the charges, explaining to them that I really DID move from Fort Hood to Fort Knox as a DITY move. I provided all the weigh tickets they wanted. I gave them tons of receipts. There were supposedly no issues at the time. All they would have to do is check my orders, my marital status and measure it up against the 3 other PCS moves I’ve done. What it comes down to is some lazy S1 not correctly submitting the paperwork and me getting billed for their mistake. I’ve attempted to reach out to get some advice and/or help and it’s like I have the plague.. No one wants to touch it. I am literally 100% helpless unless I want to pay hundreds (or thousands?) of dollars to take them to court. This is wickedly unfair and hard to look at as anything but a straight up betrayal after 2 deployments and putting the Army before my family for 8 years. Anyone out there that’s able to suggest some resources to help- Contact me at jaypries@gmail.com

]]> By: jonathan avila http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8497 jonathan avila Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:41:30 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8497 join the army in 2006 i grew up in france so Imo pretty fluent in the french language i took the defense language aptitude test and max it out once that was done they told me i was going too be getting a extra 400 dollars a month you can imagine i was happy 4 years later in 2010 after 2 deployment too iraq Imo told they army stop paying for french like 3 years ago i now owe 14400 to the army Imo married and my wife is pregnant i was notify by my finance clerk that the money will be deducted out of my paycheck or at the worst have no pay dues until its completely paid this entire situation is so stress out i have yet too tell my wife about it . that after serving 5 years the army is doing this to me who would thought that a country that you bleed sweat and tears for will do a such a thing join the army in 2006 i grew up in france so Imo pretty fluent in the french language i took the defense language aptitude test and max it out once that was done they told me i was going too be getting a extra 400 dollars a month you can imagine i was happy 4 years later in 2010 after 2 deployment too iraq Imo told they army stop paying for french like 3 years ago i now owe 14400 to the army Imo married and my wife is pregnant i was notify by my finance clerk that the money will be deducted out of my paycheck or at the worst have no pay dues until its completely paid this entire situation is so stress out i have yet too tell my wife about it . that after serving 5 years the army is doing this to me who would thought that a country that you bleed sweat and tears for will do a such a thing

]]> By: Matt http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8496 Matt Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:07:54 +0000 http://www.ioerror.us/2006/04/27/armys-debt-collection-adds-insult-to-injury/#comment-8496 I joined the army - in part - to pay off debt I'd accrued from a business that collapsed due to our wonderful economy. I paid of about $7000 in debt just in IADT. Now the army informs me they overpaid me by $4500 and I'm nearly where I started. I didn't even know I was being paid too much. I had just started! How was I supposed to know what a correct paycheck looked like? In the meantime, they hve failed to pay me my enlistment bonus and I'm having to stay with friends, effectively homeless. And going to drill doesn't help because the army now seizes all my checks. I'm currently seeking a discharge. I wanted to serve my country, but I can't trust the army in even the most basic ways. I'm supposed to go on deployment and still watch my check like a hawk so that some pencil pusher doesn't knock me thousands in debt and ruin my credit??? No thanks. I joined the army – in part – to pay off debt I’d accrued from a business that collapsed due to our wonderful economy. I paid of about $7000 in debt just in IADT.

Now the army informs me they overpaid me by $4500 and I’m nearly where I started. I didn’t even know I was being paid too much. I had just started! How was I supposed to know what a correct paycheck looked like?

In the meantime, they hve failed to pay me my enlistment bonus and I’m having to stay with friends, effectively homeless. And going to drill doesn’t help because the army now seizes all my checks.

I’m currently seeking a discharge. I wanted to serve my country, but I can’t trust the army in even the most basic ways. I’m supposed to go on deployment and still watch my check like a hawk so that some pencil pusher doesn’t knock me thousands in debt and ruin my credit??? No thanks.

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