Around 20 September I was in need of a small loan. So I searched the net for military-friendly companies and found 'Just Military Loans'. I have received loans through other military loan companies in the past, so I did not think this would be much different. I filled out an application on their website and the very next day they notified me that I was approved. They emailed me a list of instructions on how to begin the loan paperwork process. The instructions dictated that I would need to set up an allotment through My Pay (to pay the loan through monthly payroll deduction) and that I would need to get my loan documents notarized and signed and fax back to them.
I completed my part of the loan process within 2 days. At the time, I was currently home on leave, in between a PCS (military move). Part of the loan process was to give them information on my chain of command and phone numbers where they could reach them to verify my employment. My chain of command was overseas, 14 hours ahead of EST. But then, this being a military loan company, you would not think this to be a problem. But it was. They informed me that they only call overseas on certain days, which were Tuesday and Thursday. And the times they call at are not at all realistic. They would call them early in the morning, when they would not be in the office yet and of course unavailable.
Around 5 October, I finally grew frustrated and fed up. I had done my part of the loan process and these people were not working hard at all to do their part.By then, the payroll deduction had already began, so they had received my first payment on a loan that I had yet to receive. I immediately stopped the allotments so that it would not be taken out of other checks and called Just Military Loans and informed them that I would no longer need their services. I then asked for the refund of the first payment they had received. She stated that I would receive my refund through ACH with a fee of 12 dollars. Does not sound right that I should have to pay the ACH fee for a loan not received for failure to do their part of the agreement. And anyway, the way the loan agreement was set up, they withhold the amount of the 1st payment from the loan amount to be received in case they do not receive my allotment, so I would have been given back that amount ANYWAY. But whatever, I just wanted the whole thing to be done with so I agreed to the ACH refund.
I know you are not supposed to put any money down on a loan before receiving the funds, but I have gone through other military loan agencies and they require proof that you have started an allotment before proceeding with the loan. I never had a problem with this until now.
By 23 October I still had not received my refund. I emailed their company and informed them I had not received my refund and I received a response back asking which account I would like the funds to be deposited into. I gave them the requested information.
By 3 November, I still had not received the refund. I sent them a 'friendly' reminder that they still owed me the refund and that the next email I would have to send would be from a lawyer. I received a response on 5 November asking for my bank account information (once again). The ACH fee also somehow changed from the previous 12 dollars to 16 dollars. I emailed them asking why and she claimed that because it was now past 1 November the ACH fee went up and that she would need proof of all email correspondence with them to prove that I requested my refund prior to 1 November. I forwarded her the information. This shows terrible negligence on their part and I am STILL waiting for my refund. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If you are in the military and looking for a loan, think twice if not three times about dealing with this company.
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