[Decision Concerning NPS Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Loan Discount and Attorney Fees]

The National Park Service requested a decision concerning a transferred employee's entitlement to reimbursement for a loan discount fee and attorney fees incident to his purchase of a residence at his new duty station. GAO held that the employee: (1) was not entitled to reimbursement for the loan discount fee, since it was a finance charge and would exceed the customary cost of such fees in the area; and (2) was entitled to reimbursement for the attorney fees, since they were incurred for legal services necessary to receive clear title under a bankruptcy file. Accordingly, one claim was denied, and the other claim was allowed, but limited to the local customary fees.