What is the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act? And how does it work?

Question

My friend and I are being deployed to Iraq in May and she told me that we can lower our debts to a lower interest rate since we are deploying by using the Soldiers and Sailors act...trouble is, I don't even know what it is! I've heard something about it before but the military never informed me of this. So basically...what is it and how does it work!? Thanks :o)

Answer 1

The very nature of military service often compromises the ability of service members to fulfill their financial obligations and to assert many of their legal rights. Congress and the state legislatures have long recognized the need for protective legislation. During the Civil War, the United States Congress enacted an absolute moratorium on civil actions brought against Federal soldiers and sailors, and various southern states enacted similar legislation. During World War I, Congress passed the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1918. The 1918 statute did not create a moratorium on actions against service members, but it directed trial courts to take whatever action equity required when a service member's rights were involved in a controversy.

The weblink below will provide you more information.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act is a United States federal law that protects soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from being sued while in active military service of their country.

Despite the act's official title dating it to 1940, its origins can be traced as far back as the Civil War when Congress passed a total moratorium on civil actions brought against Union soldiers and sailors. In basic terms, this meant that any legal action involving a civil matter was put on hold until after the soldier or sailor returned from the war. Examples of civil matters included breach of contract, bankruptcy, foreclosure or divorce proceedings.

Congress' intent in passing the moratorium was to protect both national interests and those of service members. First, Congress wanted service members to be able to fight the war without having to worry about problems that might arise at home. Secondly, because most soldiers and sailors during the Civil War were not well paid, it was difficult for them to honor their pre-service debts, such as mortgage payments or other credit.

Congressional concern about protecting the rights of service members was raised again during World War I when the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1918 was passed. Like the Civil War-era moratorium, the 1918 legislation was designed to protect the rights of service members while they were serving in the war. Although the 1918 Act did not include a total moratorium on civil actions, it did protect service members from such things as repossession of property, bankruptcy, foreclosure or other such actions while they were in harm's way. The 1918 Act stayed in effect until shortly after World War I, when it expired.

The present-day statute, essentially a reenactment of the 1918 law, was passed in 1940 to protect the rights of the millions of service members activated for World War II. The major difference between it and the 1918 version, other than minor modifications, was there was no provision for the Act to expire, as it did after World War I. Thus, since 1940, service members have received uninterrupted coverage under the Act. And indeed, congressional commitment and support for the Act has remained so strong, the Act has been amended more than 12 times since 1940 to keep pace with a changing military and a changing world, with the last amendments added in 2003 through the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act.

The Act may now be found in 50 U.S.C. Secs. 501-593.

Answer 3

Basically is designed for a company to stop any interest on any credit that you have pending. But I wouldn't count on it. A lot of major companies will lie and say they will do it, but they won't. It's best to pay everything off before you leave or have someone pay it for you. Even if you get them to do it, you are going to have to go threw all kinds of loops and struggles to get them to honor there agreement. You will have a hard time to to get these blood sucking companies not to charge you interest for that amount of time. Stay Safe.

Answer 4

Just call your credit card companies and lenders and such. Inform them you are deploying, and some companies such as the Star Card, or(DPP) whatever you call it, will lower or stop any interest you pay for the duration of your deployment

Answer 5

See the above statement and see below. Good luck and stay safe.