B-162684, DEC. 18, 1967

B-162684, DEC. 18, 1967

TO MR. MAHLON H. BECHTEL:

THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 21, 1967, REFERENCE OCMPSW (MR. M. BECHTEL/5365), REQUESTING RECONSIDERATION OF THAT PART OF OUR OFFICE SETTLEMENT OF AUGUST 14, 1967, WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION.

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT BY CHANGE OF STATION SPECIAL ORDER NO. A-2087, DATED DECEMBER 20, 1965, YOU WERE AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL COMMENCING JANUARY 16, 1966, FROM OLMSTEAD AIR FORCE BASE, PENNSYLVANIA, TO TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA. STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR 60 DAYS WAS AUTHORIZED. ALSO, USE OF GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING FOR MOVEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS WAS DIRECTED. THE GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING NO. C-5405213, DATED MARCH 29, 1966, AUTHORIZED STORAGE IN TRANSIT AT DESTINATION NOT TO EXCEED 60 DAYS. YOU WERE FURNISHED YOUR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ORDERS APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 22, 1965. YOU FURNISHED AN ILLEGIBLE RECEIPT DATED APRIL 2, 1966, SIGNED BY YOUR MOTHER SHOWING THAT YOU PAID $105 FOR STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 19, 1966, TO APRIL 19, 1966. THERE WAS NO WEIGHT SHOWN ON THE RECEIPT.

SECTIONS 6.4D (2) AND (3) OF THE BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED OCTOBER 12, 1966, PROVIDES IN PART, AS FOLLOWS:

"/2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE EXPENSES. WHEN THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM IS USED FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE, THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TABLE OF STORAGE ALLOWANCES IN THE COMMUTED RATE SCHEDULE. HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE STORAGE.

"/3) DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED. CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM SHALL BE SUPPORTED BY (A) THE ORIGINAL OR A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE RECEIPTED WAREHOUSE BILL FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE * * *.'

UNDER THE ABOVE REGULATIONS TO BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE IT IS REQUIRED THAT THERE BE FURNISHED THE ORIGINAL OR A COPY OF A RECEIPTED WAREHOUSE BILL. IN SOME CASES WE HAVE ALLOWED REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE IN OTHER THAN A LICENSED WAREHOUSE WHERE A RECEIPT HAS BEEN FURNISHED SHOWING THE ADDRESS OF STORAGE LOCATION, DATES OF STORAGE AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL WEIGHT. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING SHOWS THAT 7,460 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD IN YOUR POSSESSION OVER 20,000 POUNDS OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS TO DISPOSE OF PRIOR TO APRIL 19, 1966, YOUR MOVING DATE.

IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE SHOWING THE ACTUAL WEIGHT STORED, WE MUST SUSTAIN THE PRIOR ACTION OF DISALLOWING YOUR CLAIM FOR STORAGE.