Claim for Storage Expenses

When a military member was released from active duty, he placed his household goods in temporary storage. Temporary storage of household goods at Government expense may not exceed 180 days. Shortly after this period expired, the member requested shipment of the household goods. The goods were shipped, but the carrier was not supplied with sufficient information by the Navy concerning the address of the destination, information which had been provided to the duty station by the member. Consequently, delivery was not possible, and the household goods were placed in storage again. After the member contacted the appropriate authorities, delivery was finally made. However, the member was required to pay the carrier extra storage, labor, and transportation costs. The Claims Group denied his claim for reimbursement of these costs on the basis that Federal regulations limit temporary storage at Government expense to a maximum of 180 days. However, when household goods have been improperly shipped or unavoidably separated from a member through no fault of his own, they may be forwarded to the proper destination at Government expense. Accordingly, GAO held that the member's claim could be paid in full since the household goods had been misdirected because of the service's error.