Contact Camp Pendleton Legal Services Support Section-West for Consumer Law Support

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Sept. 9 -- The U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton issued the following news:

The Camp Pendleton Legal Services Support Section-West provides free attorney and paralegal assistance to uniformed service members, their family members, dependents, retirees and other eligible clients regarding personal legal matters.

Legal assistance attorneys are available to assist clients with consumer law issues such as contract disputes, debt and credit problems.

"We've had a number of Marines come in after making a purchase and believed they may have paid too much money," said Maj. Sunny Montas, officer-in-charge of the Regional Legal Assistance office here. "Sometimes they enter into contracts that they don't understand, they think that there is something missing, or sometimes the numbers don't add up."

Montas said that in those cases she encounters Marines that visit legal services for advice on how to appropriately address the issue, but don't always provide the necessary material to have their cases properly reviewed.

"The number one thing consumers can do to help us assist them is bring their contract with them," said Montas. "Just giving us numbers or a general description of what happened doesn't really help us get them what they need. This happens often with Marines that make jewelry and vehicle purchases."

According to Staff Sgt. Lagendrick Boston, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Regional Legal Assistance office, the legal assistance office sees approximately a dozen Marines monthly that have had some sort of consumer issue.

"After getting the contract we can take a look at the situation and, if we find legal issues, we point them toward the right course of action to either rectify or, like in many cases, have the contract cancelled," said Montas. "In some cases we are even able to get them into a better contract depending on the situation, because we know the laws that limit the caps on interest."

Montas also added that a big part of being proactive in large purchases like vehicles is knowing where to look for vital information.

"Another tip I like to give to Marines purchasing vehicles is to visit a site called vehiclehistory.gov," said Montas. "It's a website where they can see if the car has ever been salvaged or in an accident at a minimal cost."

Montas explained that it's a good idea to stay away from someone offering to take you to a dealership because it may be illegal.

"The Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board is under the purview of the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations-West and the base. It is comprised of members from Naval Criminal Investigative Services, Criminal Investigative Division, the Provost Marshalls Office and other law enforcement agencies," said Montas. "If there are service members that have had repeated issues with a business out in town, they can bring it up to the board and have that business considered for placement on the off-limits service list."

According to Montas, there is then an administrative judicial process by which that business is notified and given the opportunity to dispute the allegation.

"After the board convenes and hears all of the evidence, they determine if the business should be placed on the off-limits list," Montas continued.

Boston said, Marines interested in finding the Regional Off-Limits List can find it in their battalion offices and maintained by their commanding officers and sergeants major.

"Marines should check the off-limits list because if a service member visits an establishment on the list, they could be held accountable under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice for the violation of a lawful order," said Montas.

Montas is referring to Article 92 of the UCMJ which addresses the Marine Corps policy on the disobedience of orders or regulations that can be found at www.ucmj.us.

Boston also said that some of the issues that Marines should be aware of and seek legal counsel for are a little closer to home.

"Something that I deal with on a daily basis is Marines coming in to get powers of attorney," said Boston. "The biggest issue is that they are not familiar with whom they are giving a general power of attorney to, and many aren't very familiar with whom they are giving a power of attorney to or the power they are giving to someone with that document."

Boston stresses the importance of being secure with the family the Marines are entrusting with this responsibility because of how much control the document provides.

"I remind Marines that with a general power of attorney, they are giving that person complete power over everything they have," said Boston.

Marines may also seek counsel of attaining a special power of attorney to enable a person to have control of specific items in their absence.

Those requesting assistance with consumer issues such as billing errors, defective goods, theft or fraudulent use of your credit, credit card debt, questionable business deals with car dealerships and jewelry stores, landlord or tenant issues, and contracts may meet with an attorney during walk-in hours every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m. and Wednesday at 1 p.m.

"Anyone looking for legal assistance can contact us be the numbers listed on our website and we have four legal assistance officers available here," said Boston.

According to Montas, many Marines are unfamiliar with Legal Assistance and the services they provide.

"In general we help service members, active duty, retirees and their dependents with their personal civil legal matters," said Montas. "A lot of Marines don't know that their family members can come here and get assistance with things like a will and a power of attorney."

Some of the most frequent civil legal issues office encounters are estate planning, landlord/tenant, family law and consumer.

According to Montas, many of her clientele seek legal counsel from her office for planning estate documents and the second biggest thing is family law, adoption, guardianship, separation and divorce.

Montas also said, the best thing Marines can do to protect themselves as a consumer is to be proactive and seek assistance from those who have already made similar purchases.

"I encourage Marines to consult with either a [noncommissioned office or staff noncommissioned officer] before making a purchase or entering a contract," said Montas. "However, I also warn them to be on the look-out for people who say 'I can take you to this dealership and get you a good deal', because that's against the law if the Marine is being paid by the dealership."

For more information regarding legal support for consumer issues call 760-725-6558 or visit http://www.pendleton.marines.mil/StaffAgencies/LegalServicesSupportTeam/LegalAssistance/ConsumerLaw.aspx.

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