She Who Waits

06/12/08

by Stephanie

Categories: Day to Day, Military

Discrimination (Updated)

:mad: I am so mad for my friend K right now. The last thing you need when a spouse deploys is added stress, and she certainly has her share of that right this moment.

Her husband bought a new Jeep shortly before he deployed (oops) and now the finance company is giving them problems. They want to re-negotiate the contract and put her on the title/loan because her husband is deployed.

Yes, you read that right. :wait: They aren't honoring the signed contract because of his occupation as a Marine and his current status as a deployed Marine. They told her that if he died in Afghanistan, they would have trouble getting their money and would have a better chance of it if she were on the loan. |-| They already took the car home, transferred the tags, even set up the allotments. Now the company wants to renege on their end of the contract because he chose to serve his country.

I tracked down the company President's email address. :innocent: She talked to the legal department on base. Her husband has mailed a letter addressing it and threatening legal action if the contract is not upheld. I'm urging her to contact the company President to discuss his company's blatant discrimination and its possible ramifications when the newspapers and other avenues are notified of the deplorable way they are conducting business.

Any other suggestions are welcome. Updates will be posted as I have them.

Update: She took the Jeep back because Westlake Financial wouldn't budge. Now the old Jeep's check engine light is on, to add another flame to the fire. :censored:

Update #2: She did indeed write the president of Westlake and apparently touched a nerve. He replied and asked her not to do anything, that he was looking into the matter and would get back with her on Monday. The dealership received a call stating they'd honor the contract, on top of that. She'd already taken the Jeep back by this point, so she told the dealership that she had no intention of doing business with them after all of this. I hope the person who made that decision is in some serious trouble when the president of the company gets hold of them.

Tags : Car Loan • Westlake Financial

• 7 comments Permalink

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Comment from: Sis B [Visitor]

· http://sissyben.blogspot.com

I know that businesses near Army posts that do not treat soldiers well become "blacklisted," so that Army personnel who do business with them anyway have the potential to get in trouble. Most area businesses depend on military support, so they are loathe to get on that list. I don't know the name of the on-post authority who deals with that, but legal should be able to point you in the right direction, I would think. They can't renege a contract anyway, unless the contract had inclusive language about things like deployment. No matter what, I would report the business to whatever on-base authority would be interested.

Permalink 06/12/08 @ 19:57

Comment from: Susan [Visitor]

· http://www.potandkettle.wordpress.com

I don't have any suggestions, but I know that sucks and sounds so absolutely absurd. Anyone who dares gives me the "If he dies..." speech when my husband deploys will have a sweet 'ol can of Southern Whoop-azz opened on 'em.

The thing is, if she were to call and inquire on the loan, they will tell her nope..nada..nothing b/c she's not on there - privacy laws. Yet they want to dig up her business and try and force it on her. I'd be inclined to tell them the keys are in it, come get it before it gets stolen. Be sure to bring me a cashier's check for the money I'm out.

Legal seems to be the way to go and tell her not to be afraid to use it...that's what they are there for.

Good luck to her.

Permalink 06/12/08 @ 21:54

Comment from: Jodi [Visitor]

What a load of BS. I would be suprised if they were able to renege on the contract. Hopefully the threat of bad pub will stop their idiotic actions.

Permalink 06/13/08 @ 11:05

Comment from: HH7 [Visitor]

I'd be surprised if it's determined that the dealer has a legal right to renegotiate for the reason given. Considering the amount of "we support the troops" advertising the Jeep brand does in military publications like Army Times (and I'm sure Marine Corps Times as well) maybe this is just a local dealer trying to take advantage & be shady and difficult? Either way, it may not bode well for Jeep in the military community if word gets around. :secret

I don't have any other suggestions other than notifying Jeep corporate, JAG, post authorities, and possibly the media. Good luck to your friend, I hope it all gets straightened out without much more fuss.

Permalink 06/13/08 @ 12:52

Comment from: slightly Salty [Visitor]

· http://slightlysalty.wordpress.com

That is absolutely unreal!!!!! What is ironic is the fact that people are always saying it's best to have everything in their name for various reasons and then something like this happens where they say it shouldn't be. I'm sorry for your friend's situation. :mad:

Permalink 06/14/08 @ 08:48

Comment from: Lacey [Visitor]

BBB? Good luck.

Permalink 06/15/08 @ 17:50

Comment from: laurie [Visitor]

· http://savorysolutions.blogspot.com

If he purchased it, they have no reason to ask her to put her name on the loan. It's a bullying tactic. It's also one made probably hoping she didn't know about the SCRA - soldiers civil relief act. It protects the servicemember and their families against all kinds of crap when they are deployed. Once her name is on it, then they can go after her for stuff they couldn't go after him for.

Really, legally all she had to do was laugh in their faces and hang up the phone on them.

Permalink 08/15/08 @ 23:23