Legal office and claims Published March 12, 2007 RAF MILDENHALL, England -- LEGAL OFFICE Walk-in legal assistance is available 2 to 4 p.m.; notaries and Powers of Attorney are available Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a walk-in basis. For legal assistance in the community contact can be made with the Legal Office and they can refer you to the Legal Services in the local community. They can also refer you with a list of Solicitors/Lawyers who could deal with your particular requirement. Remember that the Base Legal Office cannot provide any representation in British courts and can only provide general contact information. Claims Section Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The United States government may reimburse individuals for several types of losses provided no negligence exists on the part of the claimant. You may obtain claims information by calling the claims office on RAF Mildenhall. The majority of claims filed against the government and the type of interest to most personnel are claims during PCS or TDY shipments. 1. Time lines to remember for household goods claims: A. The DD Form 1840 (pink form) should be filled out at delivery. B. The DD Form 1840R (reverse of the DD Form 1840) must be filled out and delivered to the nearest claims office within 70 days after delivery. The 70 days is a definite time period. Only under extreme conditions can you get an extension, such as hospital stay, emergency leave or deployments. You must submit the form to a claims office within the 70 days. C. The claim itself must be filed within 2 years of the date of delivery. The two year statute of limitations cannot be waived because it has been established by Congress. D. The time period for filing the DD Form 1840R and the two year period for filing a claim are completely different things. Filing a DD Form 1840R within 70 days does not have any affect whatsoever on the two years for filing the claim itself. 2. Claim briefings are held individually during normal duty hours. The following tips will help you ensure that if any of your property is lost or damaged in shipment; you can file a well-documented claim and be paid what you deserve. A. The inventory is the most crucial step in the process. You simply must control the packing and inventory of your household goods. If items are not listed on the inventory, you may not be paid for them when you file a claim. *Common Complaints - Too many packers and it was too hard to watch everything. If you are so overwhelmed that you cannot observe your property being packed/listed on the inventory, call TMO and complain. If you cannot be present, make sure your spouse or agent knows what to do. If all else fails, make a statement on the inventory describing the problem. *Make sure that the packers write adequate descriptions of the contents on the boxes and on the inventory. They do not have to list every item, but should write the general category of the items on the outside of the boxes and on the inventory. *Make sure that items that would not logically be packed in a certain box are specifically listed. Examples: tools packed in a box marked clothes; a lamp packed in a box marked garage items. If you later claim for an item that would not reasonably be expected to be found in a certain box, you may not be paid for it. *Make sure the carrier employee describes the condition of your property correctly. If you disagree with his notations on pre-existing damage, write your exceptions at the bottom of each inventory sheet. *High-value items absolutely must be listed on the inventory. B. Prepare your own personal inventory and gather substantiation of your major items. Make a list of the major items you own such as furniture, electronic equipment and art objects. List the purchase prices and dates and collect the documentation to prove it; paid bills, credit card slips, cancelled checks, pre-shipment appraisals, etc. Take photographs (or a video tape) to show the condition of the property. Keep this information separate from your household goods and handcarry this information if possible. C. With good personal and movers' inventories and substantiation of ownership and value, you will be in good shape. After delivery you still must fill out the DD Form 1840/1840R to report any loss or damage. Useful Web Sites: Vehicle Inspectorate www.via.gov.uk VOSA - Vehicle & Operator Services Agency www.vosa.gov.uk UK Parliament www.publications.parliament.uk Highway Code www.highwaycode.gov.uk European Court Human Rights www.echr.coe.int/eng/judgments DVLA www.dvla.gov.uk Crown Prosecution Service on line www.cps.gov.uk Citizen Advice Bureauwww.nacab.org.uk Just Ask ( legal service) www.justask.org.uk The Legal Service Commission www.legalservices.gov.uk The Court Service www.courtservice.gov.uk The UK Home Office www.homeoffice.gov.uk London Congestion Charge www.cclondon.con UK Immigration www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk HM Customs and Excise www.hmce.gov.uk Criminal Justice System www.cjsonline.gov.uk TV License www.tvlicensing.co.uk Air Force Onesource: www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx SITES: www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/sites/