If at first you don't succeed in filing a household goods claim, try, try again.
That advice comes from Gregory Hand, claims chief at the Fort Belvoir Claims Office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.
"The (transportation service providers) will sometimes deny a claim, and then we'll intervene," Hand said. "We will go forward in saying 'Here are the rules and here's what we recommend that you do.' That's where we've helped some members and where the TSP has actually reversed its decision."
Last month, the Fort Belvoir Claims Office helped reverse a couple of claims decisions, including one for Col. Daniel McCarthy, who deployed to Afghanistan after his household goods arrived with some damage.
McCarthy filed his damage notice close to the 75-day deadline and the TSP denied his claim, so he visited the claims office about it while he was home for emergency leave, Hand said.
"According to the transportation service provider, he was a day or two late. They went ahead and just denied the claim," Hand said. "I got the information from him and then I followed up with communication directly to the TSP."
Now, the TSP has agreed to pay McCarthy's claim -- a success story that McCarthy attributes to the excellent customer service and expertise at the Fort Belvoir Claims Office.
"The individuals in the office were very helpful in ensuring we knew exactly what to do to make certain the claim would be fairly processed," McCarthy said. "They also contacted the TSP, representing us and providing further information about our situation, and gave us expert advice and experienced viewpoints on how similar claims have been handled."
"The Fort Belvoir Claims Office benefits this community by offering outstanding service so the servicemember can focus more on the war fight and less on unfortunate damages that can sometimes occur during the movement of household goods," he added.
Claims are commonly denied if a servicemember misses the 75-day deadline to notify the TSP of loss or damage, or files a claim for internal damage to electronic items, Hand said, and they should always contact their military claims office when this happens.
The claims office can also help resolve adjudication issues in their dealings with the TSP. For example, if a servicemember claims his DVD player worked before it was shipped, but now it doesn't, "the transportation service providers tend to deny (the) claim and ask questions later," he said.
However, servicemembers reserve the right to have the item checked by an electronic repair technician, in order to prove that it was damaged in transit, Hand said. The TSP is also required to pay for the repair estimate.
"I want Soldiers, civilians and their Family members to know that our office is here to assist them with claims issues," Hand said. "We are ready, able and willing."
For more information, including a list of repair facilities, claims forms and instructions, visit the Fort Belvoir Claims Office webpage at https://www.belvoir.army.mil/sja/claims.
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