Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is intended to provide specific benefits and protections when a Servicemember is called to active duty.

Santander Consumer USA (SC) recognizes the compromises and sacrifices you make for our country as a U.S. Servicemember. That’s why we are committed to serving you by providing a SCRA program that goes beyond the minimum requirements.

If you are a Servicemember, you should proactively notify SC of your active duty military service to ensure that you receive the eligible benefits and protections of the SCRA. Generally, if you entered Active Duty after you signed your contract with us, you are entitled to SCRA benefits and protections. SC also provides SCRA benefits to Servicemembers who are on Temporary Change of Station (TCS) or Temporary Duty (TDY or TAD) orders, even if they were Active Duty prior to the contract.

Benefits of the Santander Consumer USA SCRA program include:

• A maximum interest rate of six percent for the period of active duty
• No servicing-related fees assessed on accounts approved for SCRA protection
• Protection from repossession of collateral unless a court order or written waiver is obtained
• The option to terminate a motor vehicle lease without an early termination fee if:
  1. You enter a period of military service or deployment of 180 days or more, or
  2. You are already in active duty service and receive qualifying orders:
     1. for a permanent change of station from a location in the United States to a location outside of the continental United States or from a state, territory, or possession of the United States, or
     2. to deploy with a military unit, or as an individual in support of a military operation, for a period of 180 days or more.

In connection with the above SCRA program, SC has extended the rights granted to a Servicemember under the SCRA for an additional 90 days after the end of active duty service.

SCRA Eligibility

SC conducts regular searches of the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) to identify eligible Servicemembers. If identified, SC will automatically enroll you in SCRA. If SC does not obtain eligible active duty information from the DMDC, at least one of the following documents must be provided in order to establish eligibility for protection under the SCRA:

1. Deployment orders
2. Letter from a commanding officer that includes the following:
   • Drafted on official letterhead
   • Contact information for the officer writing the letter
   • Your full name and Social Security number or date of birth
   • The period of military service and either that the service is indefinite or the date on which the military service ended or is scheduled to end
3. Guard/Reservists call to duty or active duty orders
4. Enlistment or initial active duty for Training (ADT) orders
5. Annual training orders, including amended annual training orders, for Reservists and National Guard
6. Temporary Change of Station (TCS), Temporary Duty (TDY) and Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) orders
7. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders
8. Extension or continuation orders

If you are an active duty Servicemember and have not already been granted a six percent interest rate reduction, you should submit a request to SC to evaluate your eligibility for the SCRA. Please include one of the eligible documents outlined above. Your request for SCRA benefits must be received within 180 days of the end of your active duty period in order to qualify for SCRA benefits. Benefits will be applied retroactively to your account, if applicable. If you have questions regarding this process, please contact our SCRA team of specialists at 888-222-4227.

Non-contracted spouses or dependents of an eligible servicemember are also eligible for SCRA benefits. Additional documents required for consideration are:

• A marriage certificate and a copy of the military identification or
• A copy of a valid power of attorney

Dependent coverage may also require a copy of current year tax returns, validating dependent status.

How to Contact Us

You may submit a request for SCRA or contact us regarding eligibility by the following contact methods:

Email
SCRATeam@SantanderConsumerUSA.com

Phone
Our dedicated team of SCRA specialists at 888-222-4227 can be reached from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.

Fax
214-615-3999

Mail

Santander Consumer USA
Attn: SCRA Department
P.O. Box 882517
North Richland Hills, TX 76180

Overnight Mail

Santander Consumer USA
5201 Rufe Snow Drive, Suite 400
North Richland Hills, TX 76180

SCRA Credit Bureau Reporting
SC will not report SCRA-protected accounts to the national Credit Reporting Agencies. Upon request, we will provide a letter of good standing to Servicemembers subject to SCRA protections with a transaction history reflecting timely payments. Additionally, customers may request an SCRA waiver which will need to be signed and returned in order to reinstate credit bureau reporting.

SCRA FAQ

1. What is the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)?
   The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), formerly known as the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act, is a federal law that provides protections to individuals in military service. The law’s purpose is to postpone, suspend, terminate or reduce the amount of certain civil obligations so that members of the armed forces and certain other individuals can focus their full attention on their military or professional responsibilities without adverse consequences for themselves or their families. At Santander Consumer, we are proud to provide our Servicemembers with an SCRA program that goes beyond the minimum requirements.

2. If I am receiving SCRA benefits, do I still need to make a payment?
   Yes, payments are still required on accounts receiving SCRA benefits.

3. Who is eligible for SCRA benefits under the Santander Consumer USA SCRA program?
   Servicemembers called to active duty with one of the following branches:

   • Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard (including each respective Reserve Component)
   • National Guard

   In addition, SCRA extends protection to include:

   • Active, commissioned officers of the Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
   • U.S. citizens who are members of an allied nation’s military service
   • Draft inductees ordered to report for induction into the military, beginning on the date they receive their orders
   • Spouses and dependents of eligible active duty Servicemembers, producing the proper, required documentation
4. What documents are required to receive SCRA benefits with Santander Consumer USA?
   Although Santander regularly searches the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) to determine Servicemember status and grant SCRA protections to eligible borrowers, sometimes the DMDC has incorrect or incomplete information. In order to ensure that all SCRA benefits are provided, at least one of the following documents should be provided:
   • Deployment orders
   • Letter from a commanding officer that includes the following:
     • Drafted on official letterhead
     • Contact information for the officer writing the letter
     • Your full name and Social Security Number or date of birth
     • The period of military service, including the start date and either that the service is indefinite or the date on which the military service ended or is scheduled to end
   • Guard/Reservists call to duty or active duty orders
   • Enlistment or Initial Active Duty for Training (ADT) orders
   • Annual training orders, including amended annual training orders, for Reservists and National Guard
   • Temporary Change of Station (TCS), Temporary Duty (TDY) and Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) orders
   • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders
   • Extension or continuation orders

5. Are all of my accounts eligible for SCRA benefits?
   While the SCRA provides benefits and protections for contracts entered into prior to military service, the Santander Consumer USA SCRA program offers assistance with any account where you provide a copy of your TCS, TDY or TAD orders reflecting a temporary change of station after you entered into your contract.

6. Who do I contact to receive SCRA benefits?

   Email
   SCRATeam@SantanderConsumerUSA.com

   Phone
   Our dedicated team of SCRA specialists at 888-222-4227 can be reached from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.

   Fax
   214-615-3999
   

   Mail

   Santander Consumer USA
   Attn: SCRA Department
   P.O. Box 882517
   North Richland Hills, TX 76180

   Overnight Mail

   Santander Consumer USA
   5201 Rufe Snow Drive, Suite 400
   North Richland Hills, TX 76180

7. Will my account be reported to the credit bureau?
   Santander Consumer USA will not report to the credit bureau for all SCRA-protected accounts. Upon request, we will provide a letter of good standing to Servicemembers subject to SCRA protections with a transaction history reflecting timely payments or a SCRA waiver to reinstate credit bureau reporting.

8. What is the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC)?
   A database maintained by the Department of Defense (DOD), the DMDC contains information to help determine a Servicemember’s eligibility for SCRA benefits and protection. Santander Consumer USA conducts searches of the DMDC database to identify and contact customers who qualify for the SCRA benefits and protections.

9. Where can I go to get more information about the SCRA?
   If you have questions or want more information regarding your rights under the SCRA, contact your unit’s judge advocate or your installation’s legal assistance officer. A military legal assistance office locator for all branches of the armed forces is available here. You can also find information at Military OneSource. A comprehensive online resource for the U.S. Department of Defense’s information, Military OneSource can also be reached by phone at 800-342-9647 within the United States Dialing instructions for areas outside the United States are specific to your international location and can be found on the website.