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Request for Reimbursement of Excess Transportation Costs

B-205218 Mar 19, 1982
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Highlights

A retired Air Force Sergeant requested reconsideration of a denial by the Claims Group for reimbursement of money which the Air Force deducted from his retirement pay, prior to his discharge, for transportation costs. The Air Force had advised the claimant that the debt was ineligible for remission because he was no longer on active duty when he made the request. The Air Force had also informed the claimant that he could only appeal its determination of his indebtedness after paying the entire debt. The claimant contended that: (1) the excess transportation costs deducted from his retirement pay were a direct result of an allegedly erroneous transfer and that, therefore, he was entitled to reimbursement of the deducted transportation costs; (2) it was unfair to bar his request as untimely because the Air Force did not demand any payment from him until after he was discharged, making it impossible for him to request a remission prior to his discharge; and (3) he should be reimbursed for tire replacement and wrecker service fees, which should be attributed to the carrier. GAO found that: (1) advice given the claimant that he must first pay an alleged debt before appealing it was erroneous; (2) disputed excess costs had no direct or indirect causal tie to the claimant's transfer; (3) the Air Force does not have the power to grant remissions after a member's discharge; (4) the carrier was negligent and, therefore, the claimant should be reimbursed for the wrecker service charge; and (5) there was no indication that the tire voucher was not supported by proper receipts and correctly billed and paid; therefore, the tire expense should not be reimbursed. Further, GAO has no authority to refund an amount which was properly owed and collected from a member of the Armed Services for excess transportation costs. Accordingly, the earlier decision of the Claims Group was affirmed.

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