B-209747, JUN 28, 1983, OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
Highlights
PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE DOLLAR RENT-A-CAR: WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR "DAMAGE ESTIMATE" STATEMENT (DATED APRIL 9. WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT BASIS FOR THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO ACCEPT LIABILITY. HE WAS ADVISED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT THE CURB OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO THE TERMINAL BUILDING. THE "CAR CONDITION IN" BLOCK ON THE AGREEMENT WAS LEFT BLANK. WALNE STATES THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY SORT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN HIS CUSTODY. NOR DID HE DETECT ANY DAMAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. YOUR STATEMENT CONTAINS THE CARBON IMPRESSION OF A TRAVEL ORDER NUMBER WHICH WAS APPARENTLY HANDWRITTEN ON THE ORIGINAL. WHILE THE NUMBER IS NOT COMPLETELY LEGIBLE.
B-209747, JUN 28, 1983, OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE
DOLLAR RENT-A-CAR:
WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR "DAMAGE ESTIMATE" STATEMENT (DATED APRIL 9, 1982) IN THE AMOUNT OF $73.20. BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AVAILABLE TO US, WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT BASIS FOR THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO ACCEPT LIABILITY.
THE RENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ON YOUR STATEMENT (RA #006) REFERS TO AN AGREEMENT WITH ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, MR. GEORGE WALNE. ACCORDING TO MR. WALNE, HE RENTED A VEHICLE FROM YOU WHILE IN NORFOLK ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS ON APRIL 4, 1982, AND RETURNED IT ON APRIL 8. HE STATES THAT, UPON ARRIVING AT NORFOLK AIRPORT ON APRIL 8, HE WAS ADVISED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT THE CURB OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO THE TERMINAL BUILDING. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO YOUR COUNTER IN THE TERMINAL BUILDING TO RETURN THE KEYS. YOUR PERSONNEL DID NOT CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE "CAR CONDITION IN" BLOCK ON THE AGREEMENT WAS LEFT BLANK.
MR. WALNE STATES THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY SORT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN HIS CUSTODY, NOR DID HE DETECT ANY DAMAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
IN ADDITION, YOUR STATEMENT CONTAINS THE CARBON IMPRESSION OF A TRAVEL ORDER NUMBER WHICH WAS APPARENTLY HANDWRITTEN ON THE ORIGINAL. WHILE THE NUMBER IS NOT COMPLETELY LEGIBLE, THE LAST THREE DIGITS APPEAR TO BE 105 OR 165. MR. WALNE'S TRAVEL ORDER FOR THE NORFOLK TRIP, A COPY OF WHICH WAS PROVIDED TO YOU FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE RENTAL CONTRACT, BEARS THE NUMBER 2150000188. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY OTHER GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE EMPLOYEE WITH A TRAVEL ORDER NUMBER SIMILAR TO THAT ON YOUR STATEMENT DURING THE RELEVANT TIME PERIOD. THIS DISCREPANCY SUGGESTS THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MAY HAVE ASSOCIATED THE DAMAGED VEHICLE WITH THE WRONG RENTAL AGREEMENT AND THEREFORE INADVERTENTLY BILLED THE WRONG AGENCY.
IN ANY EVENT, AS NOTED AT THE OUTSET, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT BASIS FOR THIS OFFICE TO ACCEPT LIABILITY OR TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION WITH RESPECT TO YOUR STATEMENT.