Halliburton to Return $27.4 Million to Government

[kskiska]

The Defense Department said yesterday that Halliburton Co. will reimburse the government $27.4 million for possible overcharges for food services in Iraq and Kuwait.

The amount includes $16 million that a Halliburton unit may have overcharged for meals it never served at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, as well as $11.4 million in previously undisclosed overcharges at four other dining facilities in Kuwait and Iraq.

Lt. Col. Rose-Ann L. Lynch , a Pentagon spokeswoman, said Defense Department auditors also are reviewing billing at 53 other dining facilities that the Halliburton unit, KBR, operates through subcontractors in Iraq and Kuwait.

She said the possible overbillings, which took place over nine months last year, were discovered "during routine evaluation of contract costs submitted for payment."

Halliburton said on Monday that it would temporarily delay billing the government for food services until it can improve counting methods that may have led to the overcharging.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10376-2004Feb3.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Free market = cowboy corruption.

Price gouging was their plan all along. Imagine how much they're getting away with. This is probably just a drop in the bucket.

[Dover]

2. Then ALL thieves serving time for their crimes, should be allowed to

pay back their victim and WALK!!!

[HawkerHurricane]

3. My first question

when I read the headline...

"Where's the rest of it, you thieves!"

[leesa]

4. Trying to get the rules down. You are perfectly free to overcharge

for fuel and other services, but not food. In fact they were encouraged to overcharge for fuel when they were awarded their no cost-estimate, no strings bid AFTER they overcharged for fuel.
Must be kewl to be the number one corrupt corporation in the world.

[priller]

5. I read on some blog, perhaps Atrios, that

Halliburton's yearly statement to shareholders listed as a "potential risk" what it called "increased scrutiny" because of its close association with Cheney. I had to laugh when I read that. I guess they can't silently bilk the government out of extra millions when people are scrutinizing their every move.

[DoctorMyEyes]

6. and we're still getting stuck with the bill

It's a "catch me if you can" kind of scam - where the taxpayers have to pay for the audits, in hopes of being PAYED BACK?

Halliburton is not paying any fines or penalties - or even the costs of the audits themselves as far as I can tell.

[Drifter]

7. Tip of the Iceburg ...

If Haliburton is more than willing to give back nearly 34 million dollars (willingly), you can bet this amount is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount they are actually stealing.

"Halliburton said on Monday that it would temporarily delay billing the government for food services until it can improve counting methods that may have led to the overcharging."

Improve Counting Methods ? They were not counting anything. They were billing the Government based on estimations of the meals they would provide, and not on the actual count of meals provided.

Cancel the contracts NOW.

Cheers
Drifter

[bushisanidiot]

8. Cheney's Halliburton Continues To Steal Tax Payer $ while martha stewart

is strung up by her toes because she "may" have been tipped off on some stock.

friggin' repukes!!!! how can anyone VOTE for these people??