B-198824: Jan 23, 1981

An employee of the Department of Energy (DOE) on official business in Vienna, Austria, locked the key in his hotel room on the day he was scheduled to return to the United States. The hotel would not release him until he paid a fee for locking his key in his room. The employee paid the fee and claimed reimbursement. The claim was disallowed by DOE on the basis that the fee was not essential to the...

B-198824: Jan 23, 1981

REGULATIONS DO NOT ALLOW REIMBURSEMENT SINCE FEE INCURRED WAS NOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS. THE EMPLOYEE WAS AT FAULT FOR LOCKING THE KEY IN HIS ROOM AND THE FEE IS IN THE NATURE OF A FINE OR PENALTY INCURRED THROUGH NEGLIGENCE. ALEX PERGE - REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES: THIS DECISION IS IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY AN AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER OF THE DEPARTM...