AAFES

My husband, Walter, served 20 years for this country. Most of which time he had a military star card through AAFES. Upon becoming disabled, he allowed partial payments to AAFES for an outstanding debt. Throughout the disability process, we lost everything and could not keep our bills current. He did not ask to be injured or discharged. 16 deployments later and that was the thank you he received. We have made small monthly payments to AAFES every single month and advised them that we would pay our outstanding debt in full upon completion of his disability claim.

We filed our taxes and AAFES took the entire refund (over $4000.00). We received no letters, no information, no forewarning whatsoever. What AAFES said to us via telephone and what they did are two different things. Our service members are better off to get Visa or MC instead of star cards because the minute they come back with combat related injuries or illness AAFES will run them through the coals. It is dirty and ignorant. I will be writing every government agency I can find regarding this matter.

I hate to beat a dead horse but if Dell/AAFES doesn't reimburse me for the money they stole from me soon, (I say stole because they took it after they told me they were not going to provide me with what I paid for) then I will incur interest fees from my credit card. How is that right? And who is going to pay these fees?

2007 Ford Expedition (EL Eddie Bauer, 4x4; transmission). At 72,000 miles a list of problems occurred with my vehicle. First, 5 parts on the steering/suspension system went bad, including an A-arm on the front right top side. I don't off-road my truck and an A-arm needs to be replaced?! Second, they need to do a test drive after fixing the steering system and they called me to say that there is no fuel in the vehicle and so I come and top it off at 69 liters. It's a 120-liter tank, something is wrong.

They have to end up changing the fuel pump. Third, two days later I am driving home, 12 km, and I get shut down into second gear, limp home mode. I take it back to the dealer and they tell me that the 5th gear is shot. They put in a new transmission. Thank God I bought the extended warranty to bring me to 5 years or 75,000 miles because all this happened at 72,000. Now that it is fixed, I'm selling it before I end up having to rob a bank to get it fixed when the next thing brakes on it! Anyone interested?

I ordered a computer but the price was not honored so the money is being returned on that day. There were no definite timelines given.

Military Star Card Payments. I input for a payment on 01DEC11 to be taken out on 15DEC11, they processed the payment on the 16th and it did not come out till the 19th. I received an email 16DEC11 stating that the payment had been processed. Since the payment didn't come out till the 19th, it caused an overdraft in my bank account costing me an additional $25. When I called they just stated there was nothing they could do about it. Horrible way to thank a Veteran! My payments were$19 a month which I have always paid about $100 a month, normally (anywhere else) when you over pay a payment it pays you up for a couple months in advance. This month it went up to $86. Military Star card billing needs to seriously work on their billing issues. I will never overpay a bill for them again. Every time I pay the balance never seems to go down. I am thoroughly regretting ever applying for the Military Star Card! Is this truly how they treat the Veterans who have given so much for their Country?

Placed an order for a camera in inventory. Received notice it was shipped. Notice included a tracking number. Problem is there is not an active link or information about how to track. Called Customer Services and found out camera was shipped by USPS mail, and there is no way to track package. The only recommendation was for me to visit a local post office and request their assistance.

I ordered a Men's Leather bi-fold wallet order number ** on the November 9th 2011 and it arrived on the 17th of November. It wasn't what I was looking for. I mailed it back on the 19th of November in a flat-rate mail envelope to 3911 S. Walton Walker Blvd. I am still looking for a refund of $42.95 on my credit card.

Earlier this year, around May 2011, AAFES at Ft. Lewis contacted my command violating AR 600-15 Par 1-4 and 1-7. Without consent or court order, they sent letters to my commander and First Sergeant causing undue hardship for myself. Not only was the debt belonging to my wife, but they did not have permission to make contact with my employer. I was forced to pay the debt regardless of my financial situation because I was medically retiring from the army. I had a difficult time transitioning from my unit because of this matter because I spoke out and said I did not agree with erroneous charges.

This complaint is in reference to the Collections Department receptionist and not Retail Customer Service.

For the past four months, I have contacted the Collections Department each month to remind them to stop garnishment of my retirement check. After calling today (10/11/2011) 5 times to kindly speak to a manager to resolve this issue, I was hung up on twice and transferred to voice machine three times. I spoke to Rosalyn, Jalisa, Brenda, and several other receptionists. I have written their names down back at the house.

The receptionist may mean well, however, are they not sensitive to when a customer has been legitimately wronged? After they have given me assurance since June 2011 that my check will no longer be garnished for $141.00, it has not happened. I have already paid my debt in full, and my fear now is that they will garnish my income tax check again. And if that happens, I may have to consult with my attorney, Mr. Ollie **.

How could customer service be so cold toward veterans who had put their selves in harm's way in OIF and OEF? Not to mention, my landlord and bill collectors are very unforgiving.

Today, I was told that a check for $141.00 was sent out on October 4, 2011; however, they told me that on October 1, it was sent out. I wanted to resolve this with a simple conversation with a manager. They put me through to the voice mail last Friday, after leaving a message with a Mr. Bell last week. They did not give me the time of day after it was said he was at lunch last week on Friday at around 16:30.

No one has called or contacted me. After updating my info and giving my social over the telephone each time I called, it seemed someone remembers true customer service. I remember a little. I am only 52 years old. And I have honestly been patient until now. I have served in customer service, and we never treated customers like this. Not to mention, AAFES has always been number one in my book. What happened?

I travel 50 miles each month from Raleigh, NC to Seymour Johnson Airforce Base just to reap the benefits of AAFES. Am I silly for traveling so far? I heard that AAFES has a new commanding general. Has he made changes for the better? How can I be confident that this issue will be resolved? Could someone, outside of the receptionists who have protected their manager so well, contact me with some type of assurance and resolution?

I wrote a check for a payment to my husband's Military Star account using our joint checking account. The payment never arrived at AAFES, so I issued a stop payment.

I am a single airman living in the dorms on a very expensive island. Usually living from paycheck to paycheck and wondering where my next meal will come from towards the end of the month, I often wonder why I cannot use my Military Star Card at our commissary on base? I can use it at our mini mall that serves alcohol and snacks 24 hours a day or I can use it at the Burger King drive-thru on base but not for real food? This baffles me.

Today, I went to the Bolling AFB, AAFES Food Court Subway to get a couple of sandwiches. When I got there, two employees were there. Employee 1 was helping a customer (man) in front of me while the other employee (employee 2) was talking to Employee 1, and I was ignored. As I waited and looked at the employees, Employee 2 finally came to help me. I told her what I wanted, she did not acknowledge me whatsoever. She made the food, put all the condiments and such together, but was waiting on the chicken to be done in the microwave.

While waiting for the chicken in the microwave, Employee 1 was finished helping the customer in front of me so Employee 1 decided to help make my food. This was after Employee 1 had rang up the man in front of me while wearing her gloves. So not only did Employee 1 had her food-making gloves on and handled the money from the man in front of me, but she also took my money and had her hands all over the cash register with her food-making gloves on! Employee 1 then decided to keep the same gloves on, never took them off, and touched all of my food: Chicken and wrapped it all up for me to eat!

That was so disgusting. I was in shock and did not know what to say at the time. I am complaining because this is a health hazard. I know you are not supposed to be touching money then touch the food that someone is about to consume. Also, just the fact that she would make food then touch the register with her gloves on and back and forth.

I was on time for work. The manager opening the store was not. The store opens at 5:00AM. I clocked in at 5:48AM, when the manager finally showed up, and unlocked the doors. I had to fill out a time adjustment sheet, to account for the 48 minutes of "lost" time. I guess it was wrong for me to clock in, because she was going to have me lie by saying I forgot to clock in. Since I did clock in, the only way she could explain the time discrepancy would be to tell the truth about her being late, and opening the store late. Her solution was to throw away my time adjustment sheet, so she wouldn't have to do any explaining. Therefore, I did not get paid for the 48 minutes spent sitting in the parking lot, waiting for her to show up.

The morons don't bother to look at the paperwork, to see the time the store actually was opened. The only way they would know she opened the store 48 minutes late is if someone told on her. I don't want her to get into trouble, I just want to get paid for the time I was there. We are lectured if we are so much as five minutes late, yet we are expected to keep quiet if a manager is, late causing us to lose pay. I lost an hour's pay, not to mention, it makes me look bad, when the "higher-ups" think I was the one who showed up almost an hour late for work!

The purchase of Lexmark ink cartridge is non returnable after 15 days. When my Lexmark printer(X4530) showed ink low, I purchased another cartridge. I did not open or have to install the new cartridge for almost 90 days. I removed the tape slowly as directed and installed the cartridge. It did not work after checking for tape residue and following instructions from manufacturer.

I took the cartridge back to AAFES with the receipts and asked for another cartridge. The management told me if the cartridge was opened, they could not help me. That's a stupid policy. How would I know it did not work otherwise? I asked to speak with another manager who told me if I had it over 15 days, there was nothing they could do. This was the second cartridge I purchased that gave me this exact same problem. And the same AAFES exchanged the cartridge. Neither manager offered a solution, only that I was stuck for $21.95. AAFES really needs to review their policy and management.

We owe a lot on my and my wife's star card. We tried to work out payment plans on both but they refused and have been so rude to us. We have a 2-year old daughter and are having extreme financial difficulties. Military star took the liberty of garnishing our paycheck and we had nothing to eat, no diapers, no milk. It should be illegal to take funds without our knowledge! They need a lawsuit against them and we may do so. There has to be something that can be done. They are still threatening to garnish future paychecks. We are military and cannot afford it. Please help!

On 11/28/09, I placed an online order for a ladder, a ladder work platform and a tape via the Exchange website (AAFES.com). As soon as I submitted it, the ladder became unavailable. Right away, I called AAFES to cancel the entire order because I did not need the work platform if I couldn't get the ladder. A representative told me I might receive some of the items and all I had to do was return them to sender. The only item I received was the platform on 12/04/09 and I promptly called FedEx for a pickup. The package was picked up on 12/10/09. Since 01/05/10, I've been trying to receive a refund for the platform. By now, they should have received the item and the purchase price should have been credited to my account.

I have called AAFES 4 times this month and emailed them twice and every time I am told something different and promised that I will get a call before the end of the day. On every occasion, except the last one, no one has called me back. I even went as far as doing their job and calling FedEx to track the returned package only to find out that they could not track it without either a tracking number, which I did not receive, or the shipping address, which AAFES has and refuses to provide. I called AAFES and asked for the vendor's address. A representative told me they did not have the vendor's address and it would take up to 3 business days to get it. Again, I was told that the matter would be resolved by the end of the day.

A week later, there is still no response and no refund to my Visa account. After I threatened to submit negative reports to the Better Business Bureau and Consumeraffairs.com, they finally called me. On 01/31/10, I received a voice message which, like a broken record, repeated what they already told me before: "The vendor is reporting that they have not received the item and therefore, we cannot give you credit for it." They are either not listening to me or trying to make me mad. All I wanted was a shipping address of the vendor. I can track the package myself if AAFES reps are not competent enough to do it themselves.

We have been fighting with AAFES about our military star card that we have with them. There have been several times where we have made payments and nothing showed on our account. We have had fraudulent charges on our account as well. We were able to dispute those charges in 2007 and got it taken care of. Now we are fighting with them again with the total amount of our balance and our old dispute that they are saying now was never taken care of. They continue to garnish my pay, they are sending my commander letters saying that my account is late. I am in the process of another dispute and instead of them helping me and my family they are putting me in a bind. They have garnished my pay six times since August, there were two times where I only had 500.00 left of my pay to take care of my family and pay my bills. They told me that before letters get sent to the commanding officers a letter would be sent the account holder to notify them of any issues, these letters are never sent to me. All I want is for all of this to be over and to never deal with AAFES every again.

I separated from the Air Force honorably in August 2001. My remaining debt to AAFES was taken from my last pay check. Since then, AAFES has been charging me interest on a closed account. I was told while I was separating that AAFES has the right to charge me a "closed account" fee. They have taken every stimulus payment I was do and continue to charge me interest fees for this account that has been paid off and closed for nine years.

For those servicemembers having problem with the credit card issue, is there is a class action lawsuit: it the Briggs V. AAFES Class Action, Known as Briggs V. united States, NO CV-07-5760, this is the law Office Address: 44 Montgomery Dtreet, Suite 3830, San Francisco, Ca 94104, Tel. (415)901-0500, Facsimile: (415)901-0504

I never received any bills from AAFES while I was deployed to Iraq, but when I was redeploying back in July 2004 I was told by my Commander that I had an outstanding AAFES bill to pay. So while in Kuwait I went ahead to the PX and paid the full amount of over 700 dollars. I told them I did not want to use their card any longer and I never did use it. But when I redeployed to Iraq in March 2005 they started to garnish my pay and I could not understand why. So I had to travel to Mosul to use their main PX where I had to pay another 800 dollars for a card that I NEVER used. But I just wanted it to be over with so I paid it and cancelled the card for good, but by that time my credit was already ruined because they already reported me. I'm so ANGRY because its still on my credit and I never used that card after 2003 and they never sent me anything letting me know what was going on.

But that's not even the real ISSUE here!! I was Honorably Discharged from the Military on July 2007. When I was deployed to Iraq the first time from May 2003 to August 2004 I used the PX at Baghdad International Airport for the 15 months that I was deployed there. I either used cash or majority of the time I used my Bank of America card. I was only 19 with no kids no husband and NO other bills so I had PLENTY of money in my account to pay for ANYTHING that I purchased. Since this was the first OIF we did not have electronic ways to use our cards till later on in the deployment. So what they used was, they made carbon copy of our credit cards/bank cards for every purchase that was made. I dont have a credit card because I dont trust credit card companies so I just use my bank card for everything because I have a Visa logo.

Well I never heard anything from AAFES till July 2006, 3 years AFTER my first deployment, by this time I was a Sergeant stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. I was married, purchased a home, and had 2 car payments and expecting my first child. I noticed that over 800 dollars had been garnished from my pay and I noticed this in July 2006. I found out that it was AAFES that was garnishing my money and I was finally able to contact them in August to figure out what was going on and they told me that I owed them $5,000!!!! They had never sent me anything saying that I owed them any money. They told me that when I was deployed to Iraq from May 2003 to August 2004 the purchases that I had made at the PX had not been paid. I told them that could not be true because when I deployed back to Germany in August 2004 I had over $20,000 in my account so there was plenty of money in there to pay for whatever I had purchased at the time. So I decided to call my bank and ask why they didnt pay AAFES when I had made the purchases. And my bank (Bank of America) told me that when AAFES tried to get paid it was 2-3 years later and they said they didnt pay for anything that was OVER 1 year old. Even so I still asked my bank to send all my transactions starting from 2002 when I first opened the account.

I called AAFES back and told them that my bank had paid the transactions that were not a year old but they could not pay for any transactions that were past due 1 year. And AAFES told me they knew this and they were going to try and get their money any way they could because it was a lot of money. But I told them it was not my fault, and they just simply told me told me that there were many soldiers in my situation. They said they did not receive the carbon copies of our cards (bank cards/credit cards) till 2005-2006 and thats when they started to sort out the paperwork so that they could get paid. But how is that MY fault!??! I told them back when I made the purchases I DID have the money to pay for everything I bought and the whole time I was certain they had taken their money. But now that I had more financial responsibilities I couldnt afford to pay $5,000.00 out of pocket. And I thought they would've known they wouldn't be able to claim people owed them money if was over 3 years later. Even so I still went ahead and tried to settle with them just so I could get it over with; I didnt feel like going through all the trouble to dispute it. They still continued to garnish my pay until October 2006. But then they put the money back when I told them I wanted to figure a monthly payment plan that I could afford. So we agreed to $130.00 a month but they never sent me ANYTHING in the mail for me to pay them and when I would try and call them but the Fraud Manager was never around and no one would EVER help me (it was a Ms. Cox, can't remember her fist name). Why would they do that!?!?!? All I wanted to do was just pay them so they would stop taking my money without permission. I continued to call and still no one could help me, and then one day when I called they just told me that I didnt have to pay them any longer.

I found it strange but I never heard from them again till 2008 when they sent me a letter saying that now I owed them over $6,000.00 because of the interest that had accrued. What am I supposed to do!?!? I dont have this kind of money on hand. I know this is not my fault and I know there are a lot of soldiers going through this and its very painful. I have several fellow soldiers that are not in the military who also owe money to AAFES because AAFES tried to get paid over years later. And what ended up happing to them is that their taxes where taken in order to pay them back. And I just filed my taxes and have not received them and I do believe AAFES has gone and taken my hard earned money without letting me know anything AGAIN!! I know this is WRONG but who can help us?? It is not our fault that AAFES does not know how to conduct their business properly. The questioned I've asked millions of times now is why wasn't AAFES able to send those carbon copies of our cards back to the States just as fast as they were bringing their products in to Iraq to sell to the Soldiers!?!?!? I need someone's help, this cannot be legal.

They have been taking my entire tax return for the last 6-7 years. I am not sure of the date of my honorable discharge, but I am quite sure that the debt is over 10 years old. I read that there was a class-action suit against AAFES.

With no tax return refund every year for the last few years, it has made my finiancial situation tighter and has affected my credit.

AAFES has garnshed my miltary ret pay,they claim I owed more than 3,000 in 1992. I do not agree and have talked to them by phone, still they hold 170.00 per month charging interest and a admim fee of $15.00 and penality of $250.00.

Im unable to work and this causes me a hardship on my family.

The repair cost would cost me very close to half of the dryers cost. Now do you think that is fair.

I bought a $99.00 3.5 HP mower from my local AAFES and had it half a summer and it refused to start, i tried new plugs and filter but the plug just was not getting any spark. I read alot about murray mowers on here and am baffled. The problem seems to be with the Briggs and Stratton mower which in my exp were supose to be very reliable motors. bottom line is i got what i paid for but i did expect atleast 2 seasons out of it. i see many more exspensive mowers out there but most of them run a Briggs motor also so what is there to do? i guess go with a diff brand motor and company

I am retired military, receiving retirement pay from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). On December 15, 2003 I received notice from DFAS that my retirement pay was going to be offset by $354.00 to help liquidate an indeptedness that I had with AAFES/NASCARD.

I immediately called AAFES/NAS at the number provided by DFAS, in an effort to try an determine why they were attempting to collect money from my retirement pay. I explained to the person to whom I spoke with (Tricia) that I did not have an account with The military star network. Apparently someone has opened a Star Charge account in my name and has ran up charges in excess of $5000.00. That person has obviously been making payment on the account, but recently has become delinquent in those payments and is currently $354.00, past due.

The person whom I spoke with asked me for my addres, which I provided. she compared this with the address on file and stated that my address was not the address listed on the account. She stated that the address was also in Woodbridge, but not the same as mine. She further went on to say that one of the authorized users on the account was my ex-wife. We have been divorced for nearly ten years. It is possible that she opened the account. If so it was done so with out my consent or authorization. This was explained telephonically and in two follow-up written communications.

On December 26, 2003 I received a statement from the military star network. The first statement that I ever received. Previous statement must have been mailed to address previously listed on the account. Apparently, they used the address that I provided in my phone conversation or in my written communications to start billing me on an account that I had no knowledge of prior to December 15, 2003, when I received notice from DFAS.

I have never used this alleged account. I did not open it or authorized that it be opened, therefore, I should not be held liable for charges made, thereto. Instead of billing me or attempting to collect money from my retirement pay this agency should investigate my claims. The record will show that what I have stated is true.

While, the monies have not yet been colloected from my retired pay, the notice stated that this would happen within 45 days, to do so would be an injustice. I have legitimate debts that I have to cover. I rely on my retired pay to meet the obligations. Since I received notice of DFAS intent to offset my retired pay it has bothered me considerablely.

I purchased a 97 Ford Windstar through AAFES Car Sales. The engine light has been comming on since 12,200 miles and overheating since 45,000. the warrantee repair facility only now at 94,200 miles has told us what the problem is. I am now looking at having to replace the engine. The Ford warrentee folks said it is not covered because of the milage. It has been overheating intermittantly for over 45,000 miles. I have only driven fords for over 30 years now, but that may soon to stop!