AAFES Army & Air force Exchange Service ripoff abused & mistreated Dallas Texas

I served in the Air Force for 11 years and never had a problem with AAFES. I got out of the service in 95 and at that time I owed money on a Defered Payment Plan bill. After gettin out, I fell on hard times and the bill piled up. Last May I took out a bill consolidation loan to pay it off.

I called the service center in Dallas, my bank called the service center. The people in Dallas said I owed $1,439.95. The bank cut the check and I went to the local AAFEES (at a Guardbase in Duluth, Mn) and paid the bill. On 20 Sept 02 I get a notice from the govt that my taxes($784.35) are going to AAFES to pay an un-paid debt. I call the dallas office, according to them I still owe them $1,439.95. I tell that this bill was paid on the 22nd of May 2002. I have the receipt. They tell me that they cant find any payment. I ask them for a detailed statment of my account.

They tell me it will be a week to ten days to get it to me. I say O.K. send it to me. Two weeks go by and I hear and see nothing from AAFES. I call them back and again explain my story. I get the same response "a week to 10 days to get you your statment".

This has gone on for almost 3 months. I call them every 2 weeks and can't get an answer. They did eventually find my payment but it doesn't end there. From 22 may 02, when I paid my bill in full, AAFES has managed to steal almost a $1000.00 in back taxes that are owed to me. Two weeks ago I did receive a letter dated 26 NOV 02 saying that my account is paid in full after AAFES received a $784.35 payment on 08 Oct 02. This is the tax payment that was taken in sept 02 that got me calling them. Here is a list of what they took and when:

22 May 02 $1439.95
30 May 02 $75.01
27 Sept02 $724.77
18 Oct 02 $26.28

Its interesting to note that the last payment is a full ten day after AAFES said my account was paid in full. Now I can understand how red-tape can foul-up anything but I've been trying to get this worked out and everytime AAFES says "We'll send it to ya or call ya." They dont. There service is Myth.

They are telling me the extra money they got were for fees and penalties. Thats their other lie. I have a statment from OSI that has my total bill listed on it. It reads:

11 OCT 02
Principle due $1,233.49
Interest & penalties due $213.10
Collection fee $384.55

If you've been paying attention this letter is dated 3 days after my account was paid in full. So subtract the collection fee and three months interest and penalties and the total is $1,439.95, Almost a thound less then they have ripped me off for.

I am not done fighting this yet but thought I'd throw it out the just in case there are others in the same situation.

Karl
Superior, Wisconsin
U.S.A.