You should be able to condemn or exonerate the bulk loader by pulling the roll of film out of it, unrolling a long enough piece of film that the loader couldn't have ever touched it, snipping that film off and looking at it.
Almost a year? I'd say it would be pretty gracious of them to take it back after that long.
At one point I bought several boxes of paper from a local supplier, and found many months after I'd bought it that there was a dark line in the emulsion on half the sheets in one of the boxes. I showed some finished prints to the salesperson, who offered to take it back, but I didn't see much point; I'd already used a good part of the box, didn't have the receipt, and would've had to drive a long way. So good of them!