This one is a real nice scam for the un-suspecting young soldier. I was suckered into this one when I was stationed in Germany. If you know a lot about Germany it is a very expensive place, and yes I got a loan that was more than I could afford. Once I realized the loan was more than I could afford I contacted Omni and told them my problem, like a real good credible company would, they ask how much can you afford? I told them $50.00 a month. I was told that would be fine, and was sent the paperwork to re-do my allotment.
Imagine my surprise a month later when I was called before my company commander who had received a letter from Omni stating my allotment had stopped and that I was indebt to them and requested that he counsel me and make me start the allotment back up. There was two major things wrong here:
Number one, the allotment had not stopped it had changed on verbal agreement. I was always under the impression if you showed to a creditor that you were trying that they would be happy.
Number Two, they went to my company commander to try and get charges pressed against me for indebtedness. This is an Article 15 offense in the military.
Luckily my commander saw through this and did nothing except contact Omni about the situation and it seemed to go away. However once I arrived back state side to a new command the letters started coming again threatening contact with command and everything else. I still have continued to pay the $50.00 a month but they are only paying like $5.00 towards the principal and the rest is to interest. This has been going on for over 5 years! Mr Mullins stated I know owe them more than when I started! Get a load of this trash~ they have this person call me a Mr. Mullins who likes to sign his letters retired CSM like that gives him some special privilege to break the law and contact my employer concerning a debt, yes the military frowns on bad debts, and there are stiff penalties.
However legally he can not do this from my understanding of the laws. At this point I am still paying Omni $50.00 per month by allotment, however when pulling my latest credit report it showed ACCOUNT CHARGE OFF, when speaking with military JAG I was advised that I could stop paying on this item now as it was officially charged off on my credit report and that the company could no longer persue re-imbursement for this and it would fall off my credit report in seven years. I contacted Mr. Mullins concerning this and he stated I was still responsible for this debt and it did not matter what they put on my credit report.
This is written and I plan to publish it in one of the free columns here where I am living now as well as all over the internet. I hope all soldiers see it and are wary and choose a different company if you absolutely need a loan. Even look at AER if I had know I would have went there to start with however I was new and dumb in the service. If you work for Omni SHAME on you! I hope you wind up on every instillation black list the way Pioneer Military Loans did in Fort Lewis! Down there soldiers are forbidden from dealing with them!
Anthony
Tacoma, Washington
U.S.A.
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