Shipment of Household Effects

An Air Force member protested a settlement by the GAO Claims Division. The settlement held that authorized weights were exceeded in the shipment of the service member's household effects. The record showed that the service member was transferred from Clark Air Base, Philippines, to Travis Air Force Base, California. Moreover, the service member was originally billed for $381.24 for excess weight of 600 pounds over the Administration Weight Limitations. Upon challenge of the excess weight charge by the service member, a review was made by the Air Force of the items shipped, and it was determined that certain items did not qualify as professional books, papers and equipment (PBP&E). After disallowing these items as PBP&E, the service member's indebtedness was increased to $695.13. In his appeal, the service member contended that since the disallowed items were used professionally by him, they should be classified as PBP&E; that the Government should be held responsible for the negligent and erroneous acts of its officers or agents if an error was made in accepting these items as PBP&E at Clark Air Force Base; and that if he had known the items would not be accepted as professional items, he would have shipped them at lower cost. GAO held that the questions of whether and to what extent authorized weights exceeded the allowable weight in the shipment of household effects by members of the military services and the determination of whether or not certain items qualified as professional material were matters for administrative determination. Thus, GAO would not question the matter without evidence showing the determination to be clearly in error. Moreover, in view of all the facts presented, the evidence submitted by the claimant did not show that the administrative determination was erroneous. Therefore, there was no basis upon which to allow the claim, and the action of the Claims Division in disallowing the claim was sustained.