Chapter 6: REFERRAL TO GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

This Departmental Manual release (#2607) revises and updates the Department's policy and procedures to be observed by bureaus and offices in their debt collection practices.  Each bureau and office will develop directives and accounting systems to ensure effective administration of debt collection practices in compliance with this Part.  The principal changes reflected in this revision are: (1) Added Debt Collection Act of 1982 provisions and requirements; (2) Added policy guidance on administrative offset (344 DM 3.1); (3) Added policy guidance for administrative offset against the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (344 DM 3.1); (4) Added procedural changes ensuring due process rights of the debtor (344 DM 2.1); (5) Added guidance on the assessment of interest charges to State and local governments (344 DM 2.11(h)); (6) Added guidance for the use of collection agents and referrals to credit reporting agencies (344 DM 2.3-2.4); (7) Added requirements assessing interest, administrative costs, and penalty charges on delinquent debts (344 DM 2.11); (8) Added requirements for the use of a Claims Collection Litigation Report for debt referral to the Department of Justice (344 DM 6.2). (9) Consolidated Chapters 5 and 7 on delinquent debt referral to the General Accounting Office and the Department of Justice in Chapter 6; (10) Deleted the requirement for routine referral to the General Accounting Office of uncollectible claims (formerly Chapter 7).