Story Created:
Oct 20, 2009 at 6:37 AM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 20, 2009 at 6:37 AM CST
(October 20, 1009)
Main Topic: The Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides certain protections in the event service members are called for active duty or deployment.
Following the Justice Department's first settlement under the Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) last month, BBB reminds service men and women in Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas of The SCRA is intended to postpone or suspend some civil obligations to enable service members to devote full attention to duty and relieve stress on their family members.
The Service members Civil Relief Act was signed into law by former President George W. Bush in 2003 and enforcement authority was given to the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in 2006. Under the SCRA, members of the military are entitled to the following major protections:
Termination of Residential Leases:
If called to a permanent change of station (PCS) or to deploy, a military member may terminate a residential lease provided they make the request in writing and include a copy of military orders.
Vehicle Leases:
Military members may also terminate automobile leases as long as their active duty time will be at least 180 continuous days. Just like in a residential lease, the request must be made in writing and a copy of orders must be included. The business who leased the vehicle is not allowed to charge an early termination fee, but any taxes, title and registration fees and liability charges may still have to be paid.
Repossession Protection:
If the military member had a contract to lease property or a motor vehicle and made at least one payment before being called to active duty, a creditor cannot repossess it. Additionally, without a court order, the creditor cannot terminate the contract for breach.
Interest Rate Cap:
If a service member's military obligations have affected their ability to make payments on credit cards, loans, mortgages, etc. they had before being called to active duty, the interest rate may be capped at 6% for the remainder of active service.
Schemes of the week: Job seekers are warned to watch out for government job offers from third parties such as to Government Careers, Inc.(GCI), a Tucson-based company.
Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting job seekers to Government Careers, Inc.(GCI), a Tucson-based company that helps “government job seekers assert themselves into the government work.
The Tucson-based company that supposedly helps “government job seekers assert themselves into the government workforce,” according to its Website, www.governmentcareersinc.com.
Since June 2, BBB has received 32 complaints against GCI. Complaints have come from 18 states, including Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Alaska, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland, Connecticut, Washington, Florida, New York, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, and California.
Complainants tell BBB they were unaware they were signing up for GCI’s services when they responded to what they thought were job postings for government positions with the U.S. Postal Service, Border Patrol, and National Park Service at CareerBuilder.com and other job listing sites.
Employment advertisements posted online indicate several government positions are available across the country, but complainants say that once they’ve signed up for GCI services – which costs between $114 and $965 – they learned there were no such government positions available in their area.
Some consumers report they received an invoice for $965 from a third party financial institution, despite being told they wouldn’t be billed until they were hired for a government position. Others report that upon signing up for services, they never received an initial email or had any contact with GCI as promised, until they received an invoice requesting payment for services. Other complainants indicated that the company is either unresponsive or very slow to respond to cancellation requests.
BBB Tips for job seekers:
• Be wary of any company that claims they can guarantee employment with a government agency or guarantee success on government tests for employment. If you have any questions about the government hiring process, directly contact the agency you are interested in applying.
• Study materials for various government jobs are available for free directly through the government agency you’re applying with or at your local library.
• If you are interested in employment with the USPS, Border Patrol, or NPS, all employment opportunities are posted on each respective agency’s website. Government agencies typically will not advertise employment opportunities on Web sites such as Careerbuilder.com.
• Never enter into a contract with a company without reading the contract first; don’t provide payment information until you have a physical copy of the contract in your possession.
• Always request that the business clearly explain or direct you to the refund/cancellation policy prior to signing a contract.
• If something in the contract doesn’t make sense, ask someone you trust to review it before signing anything.
