B-164020, APR. 30, 1968
Highlights
GORDON TUCKER: WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 3. THE ENCLOSED COPY OF A LETTER YOU HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONNECTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM AGAINST YOUR HUSBAND. YOUR LETTERS MAKE TWO ESSENTIAL PLEAS: (1) THAT YOU BE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND ON WHAT BASIS YOUR HUSBAND IS HELD TO OWE THE GOVERNMENT $1. HIS TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS WAS $13. THIS IS WHAT YOUR HUSBAND OWED THE GOVERNMENT. IT IS NOT OUR AIM TO CAUSE YOU UNDUE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THAT YOUR HUSBAND IS GAINFULLY EMPLOYED WITH REASONABLE PROSPECTS OF EARNING MORE IN THE FUTURE THAN HIS CURRENT SALARY PROVIDES. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OUR HANDS ARE TIED IN THE MATTER AND WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF THE AMOUNT DUE.
B-164020, APR. 30, 1968
TO MRS. GORDON TUCKER:
WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 3, 1968, AND THE ENCLOSED COPY OF A LETTER YOU HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONNECTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM AGAINST YOUR HUSBAND.
YOUR LETTERS MAKE TWO ESSENTIAL PLEAS: (1) THAT YOU BE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND ON WHAT BASIS YOUR HUSBAND IS HELD TO OWE THE GOVERNMENT $1,754.82 PLUS INTEREST IN ADDITION TO HAVING LOST HIS HOUSE, AND (2) THAT WE SYMPATHIZE WITH HIS FINANCIAL PLIGHT AND FOREGO COLLECTION OF HIS INDEBTEDNESS IN ORDER TO ALLOW HIM TO OVERCOME THE SERIOUS FINANCIAL AND DOMESTIC REVERSES WHICH BEFELL HIM.
AS WE EXPLAINED IN OUR LETTER TO SENATOR SPARKMAN, TO WHICH YOU REFER, YOUR HUSBAND'S DEBT AROSE OUT OF A MORTGAGE NOTE EXECUTED BY HIM AND HIS FORMER WIFE TO SECURE A LOAN ON PROPERTY PURCHASED FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. AT THE TIME OF FORECLOSURE ON THE PROPERTY BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FOR FAILURE OF YOUR HUSBAND TO MEET NOTE PAYMENTS DUE, HIS TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS WAS $13,917.82. FORECLOSURE COSTS LESS RETURNED INSURANCE PREMIUM TOTALED $87 MAKING HIS TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS $14,004.82. THIS IS WHAT YOUR HUSBAND OWED THE GOVERNMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, HIS HOUSE UPON SALE, BROUGHT IN ONLY $12,250 TO MEET THE DEBT, WHICH LEAVES A BALANCE OF $1,754.82 PLUS INTEREST STILL DUE AND OWING.
AS TO THE FINANCIAL BURDEN WHICH REPAYMENT OF THIS DEBT WOULD CAUSE, WE DO SYMPATHIZE WITH BOTH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND. IT IS NOT OUR AIM TO CAUSE YOU UNDUE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. WE UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THAT YOUR HUSBAND IS GAINFULLY EMPLOYED WITH REASONABLE PROSPECTS OF EARNING MORE IN THE FUTURE THAN HIS CURRENT SALARY PROVIDES.
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OUR HANDS ARE TIED IN THE MATTER AND WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF THE AMOUNT DUE. ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOUR HUSBAND FURNISH US A STATEMENT OF HIS CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS TOGETHER WITH AN OFFER FOR COMPROMISING HIS INDEBTEDNESS FOR A LESSER AMOUNT THAN IS DUE OR A PLAN FOR MONTHLY INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS WITHIN HIS MEANS.
WE WILL CAREFULLY CONSIDER ANY PROPOSAL AND COOPERATE WITH HIM TO THE FULLEST.