Allegation That Excess Costs of Shipping Household Goods Was Based on Erroneous Weight Certificates

A Navy member appealed a determination that upheld the Navy's collection of excess costs for shipping his household goods incident to his change of station from Virginia to California. The member felt the weights of his household goods were improperly obtained when he noticed that the gross weight on the weight certificates had a lower serial number than the number showing the tare weight. To support his claim, the member also submitted inventory lists of his goods shipped in 1975 and compared the charges with the identical goods which he maintained were shipped in 1978, but which were determined to weigh less. He also noted that the reweigh certificates had different truck numbers. GAO denied the claim, however, because there was not sufficient evidence to challenge the correctness of the weight shown on the certificates that appeared to be otherwise properly filled out.