Investigation of Weight Discrepancy on Return from an out of Canada Posting
Investigation of Weight Discrepancy on Return from an out of Canada Posting
Case Number
- 2015-301 (F&R date: 2016-10-27)
Description
During the review of a grievance, the Committee noted that once a significant discrepancy between the estimated weight of the household goods and effects (HG&E) to be shipped from origin (overseas) and the actual weight scaled at destination (in Canada) came to light, the CAF failed to investigate the circumstances.
The Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation directive prescribes that the HG&E to be shipped, including from long term storage (LTS), in excess of the core component limit of 20,000 lbs, can be funded through the custom and personalized envelopes. It is probable that a circumstance may arise such that a CAF member may have to reimburse out of pocket for excess HG&E moving costs when all the funds have been depleted. A CAF member should never have to bear such expenses out of pocket for reasons beyond their control resulting from an act, omission or decision of the CAF and its agents. As the chosen relocation company and its contractual obligations are entirely under the authority of the CAF, it behooves upon them to investigate discrepancies, if only to provide an adequate explanation to the CAF member, but more importantly to ensure that public funds have not been misused.
Recommendation
The Committee recommended that noted and significant discrepancies between pre-move surveys and actual weight of HG&E be adequately and timely investigated to determine the circumstances and who ought to bear the cost of the excess weight, if any.
Final Authority Decision
The CDS notes that there are now proper scaling facilities in place in Europe, as well as caps on weight estimates for members returning from overseas, and thus he was satisfied that this situation has now been rectified, and that some of the Committee's concerns regarding weight discrepancies and costing methodologies have now been resolved.