I am not seeking legal advice, just a yes or no answer as to whether I’m legally/financially obligated.
I am a government employee and was given permission to attend an out of state training program. The school is completely free, including airfare and accommodations. Travel arrangements are provided by travel company that contracts with the training school that is, in turn, paid by grant. By way of an e-mail I agreed to the travel company’s Terms and Conditions which included a cancellation policy. That policy allowed for cancellations provided that, within 72 hours of the cancellation, I re-register for the course and then attend it within 60 days. Nowhere in the terms are the consequences of failing to reschedule.
Of course, my employer rescinded permission to attend the training and would not allow me to re-schedule. I cancelled with the school and travel agency. Last Friday I got an e-mail from the travel agency telling me that if I didn’t pay 50% of the airfare by Monday (a legal holiday) and the balance w/i two weeks they would turn me over to a collection agency. I never gave them a credit card number but they do have my date of birth as it was required for registration. I have no idea of the dollar amount as the travel company didn’t provide it.
I’m guessing the travel agency doesn’t get reimbursed for people who don’t re-schedule but don’t know this for a fact. So, am I liable or is the travel agency bluffing?
In my capacity as an acolyte for Uncle Sam, any travel I do, whether on the agency initiative where the government bears the cost, or by invitation where another party is paying for it, I am not allowed to bear personal expenses for official government activities.
However, I never fail to be amazed at how complex these rules are. You can almost be assured that the travel agency does not know that they are dealing with a government customer. I know you aren’t seeking advice, but I would take that warning/collection notice to your agency’s legal counsel ASAP.
What are you doing, trying to Captain Kirk the Board’s hamsters? :dubious:
Lots of avenues to find help if you’re a Fed employee (or there were about tent o fifteen years ago; things may have changed. Or are you a state employee? Please tell us you’re not working for the State of Wisconsin!
Step #1 as I learned the hard way, get the permission in writing.
After that I don’t know but if it’s your word against your boss’ about whether or not permission was given then things will be a lot harder for you.
Sorry. I thought the definition of advice was “recommendation regarding a decision or course of conduct”, which I am not looking for. And no, I don’t work for Wisconsin or Uncle Sam. Its worse - I work in (but not for) New Jersey.