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B-139441, AUG. 3, 1959

B-139441 Aug 03, 1959
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FROM YOUR CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FUND ACCOUNT IN SATISFACTION OF THE INDEBTEDNESS WITH WHICH YOU WERE CHARGED INCIDENT TO THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM NORFOLK. YOU WERE ADVISED IN NUMEROUS LETTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AND OUR CLAIMS DIVISION OF THE BASIS FOR THE INDEBTEDNESS. THAT IS. THAT YOU WERE AUTHORIZED TO SHIP 3. THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE SHIPPED FROM NORFOLK. 400 POUND SHIPMENT WAS CONSIGNED TO MRS. 598 POUND SHIPMENT WAS LOST BEFORE THE SHIPMENT WAS DELIVERED. ARE FORWARDING A COPY OF EACH OF THE DOCUMENTS BEARING YOUR SIGNATURE. WE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE WEIGHTS OF THE TWO SHIPMENTS WERE GROSS WEIGHTS WHICH INCLUDED PACKING MATERIALS AND CRATING.

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B-139441, AUG. 3, 1959

TO MRS. FRANCES O. BALDES HANKS:

ON APRIL 1, 1959, YOU REQUESTED RECONSIDERATION OF THE ACTION TAKEN RESULTING IN THE DEDUCTION OF $124.24, FROM YOUR CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FUND ACCOUNT IN SATISFACTION OF THE INDEBTEDNESS WITH WHICH YOU WERE CHARGED INCIDENT TO THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

YOU WERE ADVISED IN NUMEROUS LETTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AND OUR CLAIMS DIVISION OF THE BASIS FOR THE INDEBTEDNESS, THAT IS, THAT YOU WERE AUTHORIZED TO SHIP 3,125 POUNDS AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE AND THE RECORD SHOWS THAT YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS WEIGHED 1,873 POUNDS IN EXCESS OF THE AUTHORIZED LIMIT. THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE SHIPPED FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, BY TWO SEPARATE BILLS OF OF LADING, BOTH ISSUED ON JANUARY 5, 1955, EACH FOR TWO BOXES--- ONE SHIPMENT WEIGHING 3,400 POUNDS AND THE OTHER 1,598 POUNDS. THE 3,400 POUND SHIPMENT WAS CONSIGNED TO MRS. FRED PETTIT, 1111 RIDGECREST DRIVE, S.E., ALBUQUERQUE, AND THE 1,598 POUND SHIPMENT TO SPRINGER TRANSFER COMPANY AT ALBUQUERQUE. YOU CONCEDE RECEIPT OF THE 3,400 POUND SHIPMENT BUT YOU DENY SHIPMENT OR RECEIPT OF THE 1,598 POUND SHIPMENT. YOU FURTHER ALLEGE THAT YOU PAID AN EXCESS SHIPPING CHARGE AT KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, ALBUQUERQUE, ON 275 POUNDS (THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR AUTHORIZATION OF 3,125 POUNDS AND THE 3,400 POUNDS WHICH YOU CONCEDE HAVING RECEIVED).

THE RECORD CONTAINS THE ORIGINAL GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING FOR THE 3,400 POUND SHIPMENT BEARING YOUR SIGNATURE AS HAVING RECEIVED THAT SHIPMENT. THE ORIGINAL OF THE OTHER BILL OF LADING FOR THE 1,598 POUND SHIPMENT WAS LOST BEFORE THE SHIPMENT WAS DELIVERED. HOWEVER,THE UNIVERSAL CARLOADING AND DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC., HAS FURNISHED FROM ITS FILES A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY OF A FREIGHT BILL CONSTITUTING A DELIVERY RECEIPT WHICH ALSO BEARS YOUR SIGNATURE AS HAVING RECEIVED THE SHIPMENT OF 1,598 POUNDS. ARE FORWARDING A COPY OF EACH OF THE DOCUMENTS BEARING YOUR SIGNATURE.

WE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE WEIGHTS OF THE TWO SHIPMENTS WERE GROSS WEIGHTS WHICH INCLUDED PACKING MATERIALS AND CRATING. WE HAVE OBSERVED IN SOME INSTANCES OF OVERSEAS SHIPMENTS THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE PACKING AND CRATING--- WHICH NECESSARILY MUST BE SUBSTANTIAL--- EXCEEDED THE NET WEIGHT OF THE HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS. PERHAPS, THAT IS WHY YOU FEEL THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE SHIPMENTS EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF GOODS YOU OWNED AT THE TIME.

CONCERNING YOUR ALLEGATION THAT YOU PAID EXCESS CHARGES AT KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE ON 275 POUNDS OF THE 3,400 POUND SHIPMENT, WE MUST POINT OUT THAT THE OFFICIAL RECORD CONTAINS NO REFERENCE TO SUCH A PAYMENT. IF YOU HAVE A RECEIPT OR ANY OTHER PAPER EVIDENCING THIS PAYMENT WE SUGGEST THAT YOU FORWARD IT HERE IN ORDER THAT SUCH AMOUNT MAY BE REFUNDED TO YOU.

THEREFORE, AFTER THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE RECORDS INVOLVED WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT THE CHARGE AGAINST YOU IN THE AMOUNT OF $124.24 WAS CORRECT (WITH THE QUALIFICATION CONCERNING THE ALLEGED PAYMENT OF EXCESS CHARGES ON 275 POUNDS, MENTIONED ABOVE) AND THAT THE ACTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AND THE UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IN RECOVERING THE DEBT FROM YOUR RETIREMENT FUND ACCOUNT WAS PROPER.

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