-CITE-

39 USC CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE

PART III - MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-HEAD-

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-MISC1-

Sec.

2601. Collection and adjustment of debts.

2602. Transportation of international mail by air carriers

of the United States.

2603. Settlement of claims for damages caused by the Postal

Service.

2604. Delivery of stolen money to owner.

2605. Suits to recover wrongful or fraudulent payments.

-End-

-CITE-

39 USC Sec. 2601 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE

PART III - MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-HEAD-

Sec. 2601. Collection and adjustment of debts

-STATUTE-

(a) The Postal Service -

(1) shall collect debts due the Postal Service;

(2) shall collect and remit fines, penalties, and forfeitures

arising out of matters affecting the Postal Service;

(3) may adjust, pay, or credit the account of a postmaster or

of an enlisted person of an Armed Force performing postal duties,

for any loss of Postal Service funds, papers, postage, or other

stamped stock or accountable paper; and

(4) may prescribe penalties for failure to render accounts.

The Postal Service may refer any matter, which is uncollectable

through administrative action, to the General Accounting Office for

collection. This subsection does not affect the authority of the

Attorney General in cases in which judicial proceedings are

instituted.

(b) In all cases of disability or alleged liability for any sum

of money by way of damages or otherwise, under any provision of law

in relation to the officers, employees, operations, or business of

the Postal Service, the Postal Service shall determine whether the

interests of the Postal Service probably require the exercise of

its powers over the same. Upon the determination, the Postal

Service on such terms as it deems just and expedient, may -

(1) remove the disability; or

(2) compromise, release, or discharge the claim for such sum of

money and damages.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 744.)

-MISC1-

EFFECTIVE DATE

Chapter effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71-9

of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set

out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.

-SECREF-

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in title 42 section 10601.

-End-

-CITE-

39 USC Sec. 2602 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE

PART III - MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-HEAD-

Sec. 2602. Transportation of international mail by air carriers of

the United States

-STATUTE-

(a) The Postal Service may offset against any balances due

another country resulting from the transaction of international

money order business, or otherwise, amounts due from that country

to the United States, or to the United States for the account of

air carriers of the United States transporting mail of that

country, when -

(1) the Postal Service puts into effect rates of compensation

to be charged another country for transportation; and

(2) the United States is required to collect from another

country the amounts owed for transportation for the account of

the air carriers.

(b) When the Postal Service has proceeded under authority of

subsection (a) of this section, it shall -

(1) give appropriate credit to the country involved;

(2) pay to the air carrier the portion of the amount so

credited which is owed to the air carrier for its services in

transporting the mail of the other country; and

(3) deposit in the Postal Service Fund that portion of the

amount so credited which is due the United States on its own

account.

(c) The Postal Service may advance to an air carrier, out of

funds available for payment of balances due other countries, the

amounts determined by the Postal Service to be due from another

country to an air carrier for the transportation of its mails when

-

(1) collections are to be made by the United States for the

account of air carriers; and

(2) the Postal Service determines that the balance of funds

available is such that the advances may be made therefrom.

Collection from another country of the amount so advanced shall be

made by offset, or otherwise, and the appropriation from which the

advance is made shall be reimbursed by the collections made by the

United States.

(d) If the United States is unable to collect from the debtor

country an amount paid or advanced to an air carrier within 12

months after payment or advance has been made, the United States

may deduct the uncollected amount from any sums owed by it to the

air carrier.

(e) The Postal Service shall adopt such accounting procedures as

may be necessary to conform to and carry out the purposes of this

section.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 744.)

-End-

-CITE-

39 USC Sec. 2603 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE

PART III - MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-HEAD-

Sec. 2603. Settlement of claims for damages caused by the Postal

Service

-STATUTE-

When the Postal Service finds a claim for damage to persons or

property resulting from the operation of the Postal Service to be a

proper charge against the United States, and it is not cognizable

under section 2672 of title 28, it may adjust and settle the claim.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 745.)

-MISC1-

CHARGE AGAINST POSTAL REVENUES FOR SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES

AND FOR LOSSES RESULTING FROM UNAVOIDABLE CASUALTY

Pub. L. 89-57, title II, Sec. 201, June 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 200,

provided in part: "That hereafter settlement of claims, pursuant to

law, current and prior fiscal years, for damages, and for losses

resulting from unavoidable casualty shall be paid from postal

revenues."

-End-

-CITE-

39 USC Sec. 2604 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE

PART III - MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-HEAD-

Sec. 2604. Delivery of stolen money to owner

-STATUTE-

When the Postal Service is satisfied that money or property in

the possession of the Postal Service represents money or property

stolen from the mails, or the proceeds thereof, it may deliver it

to the person it finds to be the rightful owner.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 745.)

-End-

-CITE-

39 USC Sec. 2605 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 39 - POSTAL SERVICE

PART III - MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 26 - DEBTS AND COLLECTION

-HEAD-

Sec. 2605. Suits to recover wrongful or fraudulent payments

-STATUTE-

The Postal Service shall request the Attorney General to bring a

suit to recover with interest any payment made from moneys of, or

credit granted by, the Postal Service as a result of -

(1) mistake;

(2) fraudulent representations;

(3) collusion; or

(4) misconduct of an officer or employee of the Postal Service.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 745.)

-End-