A returned serviceman has contacted Ray saying he’s been ripped off by a clothing brand claiming to support veterans.

The veteran says an order made five weeks ago to Defence Sporting Apparel (DSA) still hasn’t arrived and emails sent to the company haven’t been answered.

DSA’s Facebook page tells similar a similar tale, with customers claiming they’ve waited up to nine weeks for their orders.

But it doesn’t end there.

Last year in October, Veterans 360 Australia issued a scam warning about the clothing company.

DSA claimed they were donating 10% of every sale to Veterans 360 in the lead up to Remembrance Day, but the charity says it knew nothing about it.

RSL NSW President James Brown tells Ray the veterans charity sector needs more policing.

“A lot of them, unfortunately, are either incompetent or actually malicious, trying to get money from the public on the promise that they’ll give it to veterans, and never delivering.”

DSA has responded to the claims, saying the wait time for clothes is due to a “limited edition” design and donations have been made to veterans charities (full statement below).

“When we launched the campaign we clearly stated on the website that the design was a limited edition collection and was a pre-order.

“Regarding the claim with donations, if you contact Legacy Head Office and the Veteran Centre Mid North Coast they will confirm with you a total amount has been donated from DSA.”

Legacy has confirmed it received $10,075 from the company but says, in light of complaints, they no longer associate with DSA.

Ray is warning veterans and their family members to steer clear “because it appears to me, based on our investigation, you pay your money and you either wait a long time or forever to get the clothing you’ve purchased.”

Click PLAY below for the full interview with James Brown

Full Statement from Defence Sporting Apparel:

“I understand the frustration with the waiting time. When we launched the campaign we clearly stated on the website that the design was a limited edition collection and was a pre-order.

We receive a high volume of Facebook comments, messages, emails and always strive to answer every single comment, email, Facebook message and manage our community and loyal customers the highest standard.

Every day we’re looking out ways we can serve our community better.

Regarding the claim with donations, if you contact Legacy Head Office and the Veteran Centre Mid North Coast they will confirm with you a total amount has been donated from DSA.”

Legacy Australia Incorporated $10,075 in 2017 and Veteran Centre Mid North Coast $10,495.30 in 2018.

Regarding Veteran 360 and the ‘scam alert’ that was in regards to a miscommunication back in 2017. As a measure of goodwill Defence Sporting Apparel donated $1,000 to V360 and they would hide the initial post on Facebook which they posted.

After the misunderstanding, DSA has never contacted, spoken with or made any reference to Veteran 360.

The posts about the page titled “Defence Sporting Apparel/Marty Cornish steals your money” are very hurtful and not correct.

I understand the frustration with some of your listeners, and would like to make this up to them any way we can.”