Helping Military Families Protect Themselves from Buyer's Remorse

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on consumerfinance.gov as a part of a series for National Consumer Protection Week.

Have you ever bought something online and clicked the box that says “accept” without having any idea of what you’re actually accepting? Or maybe you looked at the fine print but it didn’t make any sense.

Or, you sit in an office with a salesperson who has a stack of paperwork for a product you’re financing. They give you a two-minute explanation of what it all means and ask if you have any questions. You say “no” because it’s embarrassing to say that you didn’t understand what they just said. And when they say “sign here” you do it. Congratulations! You’ve just bought an iPad for… $3,600?!!

So, what can servicemembers do when they’re confused at signing time?

If you can’t make heads or tails of a contract, take it to someone who can: your installation Personal Financial Manager or JAG. If the seller doesn’t want to give you a copy of the contract before you sign, that’s a red flag; so is pressure to sign it “right now, while the offer is still available!&rdquo Don’t be afraid to step away and say you want to take time to think the purchase over.

• Think about the total cost of what you’re buying, not just the monthly payment.
  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen servicemembers sign up for what seems to be an affordable monthly payment, and then realize they’re paying an outrageous total price for the item. The $3,600 iPad I mentioned above is a true story. So is the story of the servicemember who signed a contract to borrow $1,600 – at a cost of $15,000 in finance charges!
• If someone says they only accept payment by allotment, consider walking away.
  Under federal law, a business generally can’t require consumers to make payments by automatic electronic payment, but there’s an exception to this that leaves out military allotments. When you pay by allotment directly from DFAS (Defense Finance & Accounting Service), it may be convenient for your creditor, but it means you miss out on protections that you might have had if the money was deposited in your bank account and then paid out from there (like not being required to pay by automatic electronic payments).
• Never give someone access to or control over your financial accounts unless they are someone you trust completely and there is a compelling reason to do so (like a power of attorney when you are deployed).
  Many scams on servicemembers, veterans, and their families have started with giving a persuasive acquaintance or “advisor” access to their accounts.

The term “buyer beware” goes all the way back to the Roman era: caveat emptor. Take a hint from Caesar and his legions and protect yourself from getting into a bad deal. But if you do feel that you’ve been scammed or treated unfairly, come see us at consumerfinance.gov/Servicemembers. We are here to help!