TSA theft: Washington, D.C., travelers find many of their claims denied
Travelers from the greater Washington, D.C. can't get no satisfaction from the Transportation Security Administration.In 2007, D.C. travelers filed 569 lost-item claims concerning stuff that was pinched from their checked baggage. The TSA denied more than half, according to Beltway TV station NBC 4.
The channel reports that claims denied ranged from a paltry $3.75 to one for more than $10,000. It seems like even when the TSA decides to pay a claim, it is skint on cash: The most the administration shelled out for a claim was a bit more than $1,600 – which turns out to be less than half of what was originally asked for.
The station features an interview with Amber Lewis, who packed a $400 digital camera in her luggage only to have it stolen. After two months of back-and-forth with the TSA, Lewis finally received a check: for $125 (the airline, undisclosed in this report, threw in another $75).
Both the TSA and individual airlines have ceilings regarding how much they will reimburse (few go higher than $3,000 for a claim). And of course, it's not surprising that airlines are usually the last to admit wrongdoing: It's so much easier to generally blame things on negligent TSA screeners.
It seems that the TSA meets claims in full only rarely, if at all. Yet spokesmen for the administration can never seem to explain why this is so. Yes, when making a claim a traveler needs to prove ownership, a receipt proving the item's worth, and a sworn affidavit that it was indeed lost. But given all this -- and the labyrinthine process one must go through to get the necessary paperwork to the right people -- there is no rational explanation for the TSA not to pay in full. To pay someone like Lewis $125 for a $400 camera (I'm assuming she made her case properly) is like the TSA reaching some kind of abstract conclusion as to what really happened to the item. If the TSA acknowledges a hand in an item going missing, what criteria does it use to weigh how significant that hand was?
I wish the NBC 4 report, or at least the written version, named some airports. Alas, no.
(Some of you reading will, with justification, have little sympathy for poor Amber Lewis. I mean, who packs expensive items like digital cameras into their checked baggage these days?)
What strange things have been found on planes?
Click the image to read the bizarre story...
Filed under: Transportation, Airports, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Mar 11th 2008 @ 1:37PM
rrgg said...
why would anyone put a $400 camera in checked luggage?
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 4:52PM
Adam said...
To respond to your question who would pack a $400.00 camrea in a bag. I travel often to hunt in various locations. On these trips I bring mulltiple cameras and video gear. I do not carry them on because of the difficulty getting through security and having to empty and diassemble multiple cameras. This is due inconsistent searches by TSA. Furthermore as I remember the TSA is supposed to be protecting us from terrorists. If we cannot trust them to search our bags without getting sticky fingers how can we trust them to stop a terrorist. Anyone who would steal from someones bag does not deserve a job protecting US citizens. That is the real problem! I have had my very expensive hunting equipment disassembled and shoved back into the travel case without securing the items as they were before the search. is this protecting us or abusing the system. I don't believe a terrorist has ever or will ever send a bomb on a plane in a case declared as a weapon. So why the disruptive search in a protective case with no compartments. Why not re strap the bow the way they found it. i guess velcrow is just a bit complicated to those tasked with keeping bombs off our planes. this sickens me!
Mar 11th 2008 @ 11:01PM
lauren said...
Why would someone put something of value in their luggage? Well quite honestly, I did. I was traveling to spend Christmas with my father who has stage IV Bladder cancer and knowing this was his last christmas I took my entire family home. I have three children so I had to put some of their gifts in my luggage and guess what - someone stole the gifts out of my bag - a bag that had TSA locks on it. The locks were removed the TSA inspection tag was placed in the suitcase and the lock was never replaced. They stole a gift that was worth $750.00. I had the receipt and the box the gift was in. THe box was ripped. TSA did in fact deny our claim because our luggage was delayed. You CAN NOT get anyone to take responsibility. I have given a sworn affidavit with witnesses as to what was in my bag when the luggage was checked.
I feel it is the responsibility of the Airlines and TSA to have honest employees and if their employees break the law then the Airlines or TSA should take responsibility for hiring dishones people. THe fact is, in some circumstances you can NOT avoid packing expensive items when you are going on a trip. THis was one of those times and thanks to that dishonest employee my daughter's christmas gift was stolen. At least she got to spend Christmas with her grandfather one last time
Mar 11th 2008 @ 5:14PM
Ed Svitil said...
This is a sad, familiar story. At Newark Airport they took my cell phone from the tray and as I was rushing to make a connection only realized it was gone just before boarding the next flight. I then ran back to the security checkpoint, they told me to go see the airline who told me to fill out a claim. After months of letters back and forth to TSA when they asked for more and more information they finally denied it. I lost a $80 phone and by the time I was able to cancel the service had racked up $250 in phone calls to Hondouras. Nice people who "do no wrong"!
Mar 11th 2008 @ 6:13PM
Steve said...
I agree that putting expensive items in luggage is not very smart. How about an electric razor? I departed with one in my bag and when I got to my destination it was gone. The charger was still in the bag but razor was gone.
Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:23PM
Lodie said...
Why not. You should be able to have the satisfaction in knowing your luggage is handled honestly and safely. Why protect an employee who commits larceny.
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 4:23PM
shar said...
Funny thing. I was just at the Atlanta airport between Christmas and New year's. I was speaking with an 80 year old WWII veteran who worked for the TSA there. Apparently the powers that be in that location decided that $21.00 an hour was too much to pay for our safety and security and they contracted the jobs out. The employees were told that they could stay--for $8.00 an hour. I wonder how well trained the new employees are and what cut the contractors get? Seems like a great way to get disgruntled employees, paying them about on the level of fast food employees. Baggage handlers and airport security screening was featured on Discovery's dirtiest jobs and was very high stress and hard work.
Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:25PM
sirbebe said...
If they steel, what other things do they do for money? Put a gun in to a bag, or look the other way?
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:26PM
Bruce said...
What a surprise! Especially in the DC area. And take a wild guess why!!!!
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:34PM
Edwin Britt said...
The TSA and airlines should make madatory polygraph tests intermittently on every baggage handler and TSA employee. Its pretty bad when you can't trust government employee's much less the airline personnel too.
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 6:04PM
Kevin Garrett said...
I wholeheartedly agree...... Use the polygraph. And then fire the liars and incarcerate them.
Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:35PM
jdblu1959 said...
So, let me get this straight. Obviously some of the people that we, as airline customers are counting on for our safety and security, are shady.What makes it worse is the fact that they are protected and the customer if they are lucky to get anything only receives a portion of what the item was really worth.There needs to be better screening for those jobs.you know the saying,"power corrupts". It's only human to reach your hands into the pot of gold with no checks and balances.Start arresting some of these people and see how much disappears then.
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:36PM
PaleRider said...
Typical government. When are people going to open their eyes to the many and various ways the governmnet rips them off. 1) tax dollars pay for TSA. 2) tax dollars are used to "repay" these claims. 3) They keep as much of this money as they can. They "bill" the government for the FULL price (which taxpayers pay), then only give a paltry amount to the victim of its own crimes! What a deal!!!
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:39PM
Brad Woodliff said...
Hello,
Well, it seems there is some graft at work. Most companies have enough ability to find the culprit, make corrections and take the money from the thief refunding it to the victim. Maybe a ring of thieves are working form the inside and have the authority to scam the public. Could be they don't have the strength to stand up to nor the power to rectify it. Worse yet, the problem could be it is being ignored. Until enough people go public they hide behind the phrase, "I didn't know about this atrocity, I'll get to the bottom of this, pronto." Speak up and make the thieves pay up their due.
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 2:46PM
Brad Woodliff said...
You know, how are they going to fight the war on terror when they can't find someone within their own ranks who is scamming the public regularly. Unless, of course they are profiting from it. Somebody knows somewhere. Woodward and Bernstein where are they when you need them.
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 3:00PM
jim said...
Funny to see these comments about the stupidity of TSA agents. They are everyday people like you and I. They don't get super human training for years to get the job. Really as long as you can pass a background check for theft and pass the pee test, you have the job. The problem is people in this country are disrespectful and ignorant. No I am not a TSA agent, I work for 411 though. So I deal with idiots all day long. Many people are clueless and have no common sense. They fly off the handle over something minor. Get all upset and probably ruins their day because they have no patience. I've flown and seen many people in line being stupid and then they get called out on it and blow up instead of taking responsibility. Because it is much easier to blame someone else then take fault.
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Mar 11th 2008 @ 3:52PM
DAWN said...
HELLO! you said it right! ESPECIALLY HERE IN NVA AND DC. PEOPLE ARE RUDE AND DONT CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES. I AM NOT FROM HERE,I AM FROM PITTS. PA. WHERE PEOPLE DO CARE AND TREAT OTHERS WITH KINDNESS! START CARRYING ON YOUR EXPENSIVE ITEMS, THATS ABOUT THE ONLY ANSWER.
Mar 11th 2008 @ 4:02PM
Marilyn said...
Just like you and me, well I for one AM NOT A THIEF. Once they check the luggage and prepare to take it from me, why can't i lock it? Why, after they have already checked it at the gate (saw them do it), do they STILL NEED THEM UNLOCKED? Why do i have to trust a stranger?
Mar 11th 2008 @ 4:42PM
Jayna said...
Take a closer look Jim. When the TSA decided that a requirement for the job of screeners was to have a high school diploma or a GED, they would have lost up to 25% or the current employees. This requirement was subsequently changed to 'experience on the screening machines.'
Feel safer now?
Mar 11th 2008 @ 7:19PM
jack said...
Hey Jim How you doing today. I was curious about what you do. You work for 411 thats what i call from my cell to get a phone number.And if you dont work for directory assistance then please dis-regard this comment and except my apology. You say you deal with "idiots" everyday, well how many people out there have called 411 from there cell just to get the wrong number and then be charged again when they call back. I feel that someone so stupid they cant look up a number shouldnt be commenting on tsa security your moronic comments only show your ignorance and the only time i have been rude to the 411 operator is when they were rude with me.