CS-2026-00034 - Tinker Federal Credit Union v. Troy L. Stinson

What's This Case About?

Let’s get one thing straight: no one wakes up and says, “You know what I want today? To be sued by a credit union for $8,225.21.” But here we are. In the hallowed halls of the District Court of Love County, Oklahoma — yes, Love County, where romance presumably dies in small claims court — a financial showdown is brewing. Not over a stolen tractor. Not over a dog named Karen who won’t stop howling during neighborly Bible study. No, this one’s about a credit card. A platinum Visa, to be exact. And the drama? It’s not who used it, but what happens when the bill comes due and someone says, “Uh… I don’t remember agreeing to pay?”

Meet Troy L. Stinson — a man who, as of July 2019, lived in Burneyville, Oklahoma (population: so small it probably has one stop sign and a suspiciously active Facebook group), owned his home, and worked as an operator at Venables Construction. He made enough to qualify for a $7,500 credit line, which, let’s be honest, is enough to buy a very used truck, a lifetime supply of beef jerky, or one emotional weekend in Branson. On July 8, 2019, Troy signed on the dotted line — or, more accurately, DocuSigned — for a Tinker Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum card. The paperwork was clean, the income verified, the mother’s maiden name presumably not disclosed (for security, obviously). All signs pointed to a normal adult doing normal adult things: applying for credit, possibly transferring a balance from another card, and stepping into the glittering world of revolving debt. Fast forward to January 2026, and that shiny new credit line has ballooned into an $8,225.21 balance. And Tinker Federal Credit Union? They’re done playing nice.

So what happened? Well, the filing doesn’t say Troy went on a spree buying designer cowboy boots or funding a secret llama farm. No, the story here is far more mundane — and somehow, more tragic. Somewhere between 2019 and 2026, Troy stopped making payments. That’s it. That’s the crime. He didn’t dispute the charges. He didn’t claim identity theft. He didn’t vanish into the wind like a man fleeing a mariachi band. He just… didn’t pay. And now, TFCU wants its money. They’re alleging breach of contract — a legal way of saying, “You signed up. You agreed to pay. You didn’t. Pay up.” It’s not a whodunnit. It’s a you-didn’t-pay-it. The credit union even did its homework: they checked the Department of Defense database to confirm Troy isn’t an active-duty servicemember, because the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) gives military folks special protections — like lower interest rates and a pause on lawsuits — during service. But nope, Troy’s not in the military. Just a regular guy with a construction job and a growing debt problem.

Now, why are we in court? Because TFCU wants a judgment — a court stamp that says, “Yes, Troy owes this money.” And not just the $8,225.21. Oh no. They also want contractual interest (which keeps ticking like a financial time bomb), attorney’s fees, and costs of collection. Translation: if Troy loses, he could end up owing way more than eight grand. And here’s the kicker — TFCU is also asking the court to order the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to hand over Troy’s employment info. That’s not a typo. They want the state to tell them where he works. Why? So they can potentially garnish his wages. This isn’t just a lawsuit. It’s a financial reconnaissance mission.

Now, let’s talk about the number: $8,225.21. Is that a lot? In the grand scheme of civil lawsuits, it’s not exactly Wolf of Wall Street territory. You could buy a decent used car with that. Or pay off a year of community college. Or, if you’re really fancy, install solar panels on a shed. But for someone working in construction in rural Oklahoma, that’s not pocket change. That’s several months of take-home pay. And while the filing doesn’t say Troy’s unemployed or destitute, the fact that he hasn’t paid in years suggests something’s off. Did he lose his job? Get injured? Fall into a debt spiral? Or did he just decide, “Eh, I’ll deal with this later”? We don’t know. And the credit union, frankly, doesn’t care. To them, this is a contract. A binding agreement. You swipe, you pay. No drama, no excuses.

But here’s where things get deliciously petty. TFCU didn’t just send a bill. They didn’t send a sternly worded letter from a collections department named Debt Vultures LLC. No, they went straight to court. They hired Jeffery S. Ludlam, Esq., of Hall & Ludlam, PLLC — a firm that, let’s be real, probably handles more repossession cases than romantic divorce settlements — and filed a formal petition. They attached an affidavit from Tay Parker, a Collections Legal Specialist, whose sole job appears to be swearing under penalty of perjury that Troy isn’t in the military. They included a payoff statement showing the debt frozen at $8,225.21 on January 16, 2026, like it’s a museum exhibit titled “The Day the Music Stopped.” This is overkill. This is bringing a flamethrower to a campfire. And yet — it’s also completely normal. This is how debt collection works in America. You miss payments, the machine grinds, and eventually, a lawyer in Oklahoma City files a one-page petition in Love County and hopes the judge signs off without asking too many questions.

So what do we think? Honestly, we’re torn. On one hand, Troy signed a contract. He used credit. He benefited from that money — whether it was for groceries, car repairs, or a spontaneous trip to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. You don’t get a free pass just because time passed. But on the other hand, $8,225.21 is a very specific number. It suggests this wasn’t a quick payoff. It suggests years of silence, of ignored statements, of dunning letters tossed into the void. Did TFCU try to work with him? Did they offer payment plans? Hardship programs? Or did they just wait until the debt rotted into legal action? And why Love County? Is that where Troy lives? Where the credit union is based? Or is this just the legal equivalent of throwing darts at a map?

The most absurd part? The affidavit about military status. A grown adult had to swear, under penalty of perjury, that Troy Stinson is not currently defending our freedoms. That’s not drama. That’s bureaucracy with a side of patriotism. And yet, it’s also kind of beautiful. Because buried in this dry, soulless debt collection case is a tiny shred of humanity — the law trying, in its own awkward way, to protect those who serve. It’s just a shame the same level of care isn’t extended to regular folks drowning in credit card debt.

Look, we’re not rooting for deadbeats. But we’re also not rooting for faceless institutions that treat people like balance sheets. If Troy ignored his responsibilities, he should pay. But if he’s struggling — if life happened — then maybe there’s a better way than dragging him into court like a modern-day debtor’s prison. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about $8,225.21. It’s about what happens when ordinary people fall behind, and the system decides to collect — not with compassion, but with a subpoena. And that? That’s not justice. That’s just paperwork with teeth.

Case Overview

$8,225 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court of Love County, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Jeffery S. Ludlam

HALL & LUDLAM, PLLC

Relief Sought

$8,225 Monetary

Plaintiffs

Tinker Federal Credit Union business
Rep: Jeffery S. Ludlam, OBA #17822

Defendants

Troy L. Stinson individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	breach of contract	Tinker Federal Credit Union seeks judgment against Troy L. Stinson for $8,225.21, plus contractual interest, attorney's fees and costs incurred in pursuit of this action.

Petition Text

1,999 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF LOVE COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA TINKER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ) ) Plaintiff, ) vs. ) Case No. CS-26-34 Filed in District Court Love County, OK TROY L. STINSON, ) ) Defendant. ) FEB 25 2026 Wendy Holland, Court Clerk By [deputy name] Deputy PETITION Plaintiff, Tinker Federal Credit Union ("TFCU"), for its cause of action against Defendant, Troy L. Stinson ("Defendant"), alleges and states as follows: 1. On or about July 1, 2019, Defendant executed a credit card open account (hereinafter referred to as the "Contract") and became obligated to pay TFCU for all charges made thereon. See Exhibit "A". 2. Defendant defaulted on the Contract by failing to timely pay and is indebted to TFCU in the amount of $8,225.21 as of January 16, 2026. 3. TFCU is entitled to contractual interest, reasonable attorney's fees and its reasonable costs of collection under the terms of the Contract and under 12 O.S. §936. 4. Pursuant to the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act of 2003, TFCU has reviewed the Department of Defense website and determined Defendant is not in the military. See the Affidavit attached hereto as Exhibit "B". 5. Pursuant to 40 O.S. §4-508(D), TFCU requests an Order that at any time or times subsequent to the filing of this order, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission shall produce, within thirty (30) days of receipt of this order, employment information of the Defendant. WHEREFORE, Tinker Federal Credit Union prays for judgment against Defendant, Troy L. Stinson for $8,225.21, plus contractual interest, TFCU’s reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in pursuit of this action, TFCU’s reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in collection of the Judgment and for such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. Respectfully submitted, Jeffery S. Ludlam, OBA #17822 HALL & LUDLAM, PLLC 210 Park Ave, Suite 3001 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 600-9500 Telephone (405) 871-5403 Facsimile [email protected] Tinker Federal Credit Union Application for Credit Date of Application: 07/02/19 Credit Limit Requested: $7,500.00 Application #: 0004 Mother's Maiden Name: TFCU Heritage Club Member?: [redacted] We intend to apply for joint credit: Applicant [initials] Co-Applicant [initials] Request for: Visa Platinum ☒ Visa Classic ☐ Visa Signature ☐ Select One for Classic Card Option A ☐ Option B ☐ (See rate disclosures. If preference not indicated, Option A will be given.) Applicant Name: TROY L STINSON Date of Birth: 1978 TIN (SSN): Address: 348 S Diamondhead Dr City and State: Burneyville, OK, 73430 Rent, Own or Other: Own How long?: 5Y 0M Home Phone: 870-200-4091 U.S. Citizen?: U.S. PERSON Prev. Address: City and State: , How long?: 0Y 0M Curr. Employer: Venables Construction Cell phone or pager number: 870-200-4091 Job Title: Operator How long?: 2Y 0M Work phone: 575-942-7373 Prev. Employer: How long?: 0Y 0M Co-Applicant Name: Date of Birth: TIN (SSN): Address: City and State: Rent, Own or Other: How long? Home Phone: U.S. Citizen? Prev. Address: City and State: How long? Curr. Employer: Cell phone or pager number: Job Title: How long? Work phone: Prev. Employer: How long? Income Alimony, child support or separate maintenance income need not be revealed if you do not wish to have it considered as a basis for repaying this loan. Employer / Source | Annual Gross Income Venables Construction Name and address of nearest relative not living with you: Name Address Home Phone Income Alimony, child support or separate maintenance income need not be revealed if you do not wish to have it considered as a basis for repaying this loan. Employer / Source | Annual Gross Income Name and address of nearest relative not living with you: Name Address Home Phone I/we certify that everything stated in this application and on any attachment is true and that I/we understand that TFCU will rely upon the accuracy of this information in reviewing my/our loan request. I/we authorize TFCU to check my/our credit, employment history, and to answer questions others may ask about my/our credit record with TFCU in compliance with all Federal and State Regulations. If I/we are accepting a credit card offer, I/we have read and agreed to the terms and conditions given with this application. I/we also agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Cardholder Agreement and Disclosure Statement accompanying the Visa, Visa Standard, and Visa Platinum products and all amendments thereto. The USA Patriot Act requires that TFCU verify the identity of all account holders. TFCU may ask me or my co-applicant to show proof of our identity. DocuSigned by: ___________________________ Applicant Signature Date: 7/8/2019 Co-Applicant / Co-Signer Signature Date: ---/---/---- Referring Employee: MICHELLE BANKSTROM MSA Branch 5420 Closing Employee: MSA Branch 5420 Loan Officer Approval Code: 1854 Transfer Balance (Optional) The amount of transfer will be posted to your TFCU credit card account as a cash advance, subject to the terms of the Cardholder Agreement and Disclosure Statement. The total amount of transfer requests cannot exceed your credit line. TFCU sends either full or partial payment to your creditors in the order you list them. Any changes you make to your other account after you transfer the balance should be paid directly to that credit card center, instead of Tinker Federal Credit Union. If the next payment on your other credit card is due within 30 days, you should make the payment and deduct the amount from the "Amount to Transfer" below. Account Number: Amount to Transfer: Card Name: Billing Address: EXHIBIT A CPO STINSON, TROY L**4 HAMM PL**BURNEYVILLE*OK*73430* PER DAY INTEREST .0000 ACCOUNT PAYOFF 01/16/26 8,225.2100 01/17/26 8,225.2100 01/18/26 8,225.2100 01/19/26 8,225.2100 01/20/26 8,225.2100 01/21/26 8,225.2100 01/22/26 8,225.2100 01/23/26 8,225.2100 01/24/26 8,225.2100 01/25/26 8,225.2100 01/26/26 8,225.2100 AFFIDAVIT STATE OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY OF OKLAHOMA ) ) ss. Tay Parker, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, upon oath deposes and states: 1. I am a Collections Legal Specialist for Tinker Federal Credit Union and I am authorized to make this Affidavit of its behalf. Based on a review of the Department of Defense website Troy L Stinson not in the military. A copy is attached hereto. Signed under penalty of perjury, [Tay Parker signature] Tay Parker Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of December, 2025. [Notary Public Signature] My Commission Expires: (SEAL) EXHIBIT B Status Report Pursuant to Servicemembers Civil Relief Act SSN: XXX-XX-8251 Birth Date: Last Name: STINSON First Name: TROY Middle Name: Status As Of: Jan-16-2026 Certificate ID: MKDT0C0542ML99X <table> <tr> <th colspan="4">On Active Duty On Active Duty Status Date</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Active Duty Start Date</th> <th>Active Duty End Date</th> <th>Status</th> <th>Service Component</th> </tr> <tr> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td>No</td> <td>NA</td> </tr> </table> This response reflects the individuals' active duty status based on the Active Duty Status Date <table> <tr> <th colspan="4">Left Active Duty Within 367 Days of Active Duty Status Date</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Active Duty Start Date</th> <th>Active Duty End Date</th> <th>Status</th> <th>Service Component</th> </tr> <tr> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td>No</td> <td>NA</td> </tr> </table> This response reflects where the individual left active duty status within 367 days preceding the Active Duty Status Date <table> <tr> <th colspan="4">The Member or His/Her Unit Was Notified of a Future Call-Up to Active Duty on Active Duty Status Date</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Order Notification Start Date</th> <th>Order Notification End Date</th> <th>Status</th> <th>Service Component</th> </tr> <tr> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td>No</td> <td>NA</td> </tr> </table> This response reflects whether the individual or his/her unit has received early notification to report for active duty Upon searching the data banks of the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center, based on the information that you provided, the above is the status of the individual on the active duty status date as to all branches of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, NOAA, Public Health, and Coast Guard). This status includes information on a Servicemember or his/her unit receiving notification of future orders to report for Active Duty. The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) is an organization of the Department of Defense (DoD) that maintains the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database which is the official source of data on eligibility for military medical care and other eligibility systems. The DoD strongly supports the enforcement of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 USC App. § 3901 et seq, as amended) (SCRA) (formerly known as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940). DMDC has issued hundreds of thousands of "does not possess any information indicating that the individual is currently on active duty" responses, and has experienced only a small error rate. In the event the individual referenced above, or any family member, friend, or representative asserts in any manner that the individual was on active duty for the active duty status date, or is otherwise entitled to the protections of the SCRA, you are strongly encouraged to obtain further verification of the person's status by contacting that person's Service. Service contact information can be found on the SCRA website's FAQ page (Q35) via this URL: https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#faqqs. If you have evidence the person was on active duty for the active duty status date and you fail to obtain this additional Service verification, punitive provisions of the SCRA may be invoked against you. See 50 USC App. § 3921(c). This response reflects the following information: (1) The individual's Active Duty status on the Active Duty Status Date (2) Whether the individual left Active Duty status within 367 days preceding the Active Duty Status Date (3) Whether the individual or his/her unit received early notification to report for active duty on the Active Duty Status Date. More information on "Active Duty Status" Active duty status as reported in this certificate is defined in accordance with 10 USC § 101(d)(1). Prior to 2010 only some of the active duty periods less than 30 consecutive days in length were available. In the case of a member of the National Guard, this includes service under a call to active service authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense under 32 USC § 502(f) for purposes of responding to a national emergency declared by the President and supported by Federal funds. All Active Guard Reserve (AGR) members must be assigned against an authorized mobilization position in the unit they support. This includes Navy Training and Administration of the Reserves (TARs), Marine Corps Active Reserve (ARs) and Coast Guard Reserve Program Administrator (RPAs). Active Duty status also applies to a Uniformed Service member who is an active duty commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Commissioned Corps). Coverage Under the SCRA is Broader in Some Cases Coverage under the SCRA is broader in some cases and includes some categories of persons on active duty for purposes of the SCRA who would not be reported as on Active Duty under this certificate. SCRA protections are for Title 10 and Title 14 active duty records for all the Uniformed Services periods. Title 32 periods of Active Duty are not covered by SCRA, as defined in accordance with 10 USC § 101(d)(1). Many times orders are amended to extend the period of active duty, which would extend SCRA protections. Persons seeking to rely on this website certification should check to make sure the orders on which SCRA protections are based have not been amended to extend the inclusive dates of service. Furthermore, some protections of the SCRA may extend to persons who have received orders to report for active duty or to be inducted, but who have not actually begun active duty or actually reported for induction. The Last Date on Active Duty entry is important because a number of protections of the SCRA extend beyond the last dates of active duty. Those who could rely on this certificate are urged to seek qualified legal counsel to ensure that all rights guaranteed to Service members under the SCRA are protected WARNING: This certificate was provided based on a last name, SSN/date of birth, and active duty status date provided by the requester. Providing erroneous information will cause an erroneous certificate to be provided.