First, let me say how much I appreciate your service to this great country. Without people like you and your fellow soldiers standing in the gap for all of us we would not have the freedom we do - the freedom that so many people take for granted. I don't take it for granted, and may God bless you and all your fellow servicemen and women. You're the best this country has to offer.

It really pisses me off to think that a car dealer would take advantage of anyone serving this country. My guess is that the idiot running that dealership is doing such a lousy job that they have serious cash flow problems. Waiting on paying off the trades is a classic symptom of this.

On the other hand, he might just be a rotten crook. I don't know. I can't imagine that he can stay in business for very long if indeed he's done this to very many other people.

Since your friend's name is on the contract he's probably the one who will have to initiate any action. He should contact the Army's legal dept. and try to get someone there to look into the problem. Perhaps an Army lawyer can call the dealership and put pressure on them to get the loan paid off.

If that doesn't work, your friend should contact the Texas Attorney General's office for help. This kind of thing is right up their ally! In any event you need to contact your friend and tell him to initiate some action. There is only so much that you or his fiance can do, because they can just tell you to get lost because you have no legal connection to the deal.

All my very best to you...

Tony Iorio

Some Additional Comments From Joshua:

Mr. Iorio,

Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter. My friend's fiance, Michelle, also thanks you deeply. We are still fighting the issue, but have made some progress, which is better than none. Our next step is contacting the media, and my friend that owns the vehicle is in process of contacting his local JAG to make arrangements to confront the dealership to stir some coals.

Once again, thank you very much for all of your help. If there's anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask, whatever it may be.

Take care and God Bless,

Joshua S. and Michelle M.