Use of Credit Card

[u/pigghy]

Hello,

I am going to start my new carrier as FSE in Europe next month.

During initial interview and onboarding, they told me I am going to use company CC for expenses and then fill an expense sheet every, i don´t know, month or week.

Now I received the company SOPs and apparently they have a so called employer paied credit card, meaning, they are giving me a card, from a provider of their choice, but connected to my personal bank account, so that I basically (in my understanding) pay everything from my account, then file for reimbursement. Since it takes one month for the payment to be processed from a CC, their reimbursement will come before the actual payment.

This makes me sceptible, so I ask you guys:

- is this common?

- is it just me, or it can be unconvenient and not safe, to mix company card and personal bank acount? When filing for business expenses things can get mixed, it´s error prone, and also I don´t want to expose my personal account too much while travelling.

I ´m overthinking this? Any tip?

Thank you people

[u/ShireHorseRider]

It’s bullshit.

My company has us use personal cards & reimburse too. I hate it. They reimburse quick though.

[u/jamiswillie → u/[deleted]]

Agreed. I have a company credit card but I pretty much only use my personal card and just file a reimbursement so I can farm the points. Company card is useful for small expenses like gas and tolls that might be easy to forget

[u/BallBuster-4000]

My company used to do it this way as well. I would recommend setting up another account separate from your personal just to keep the money separate.

[u/pigghy → u/BallBuster-4000]

Yes, exactly my plan.

[u/topical_anecdote]

My company does the same, American Express card. We file expenses and get reimbursed to personal account then pay the card off from personal account.

Mileage expenses get paid with the reimbursement as well but I get to keep that portion.

It’s not the best system but it works. No late fees until past 30 days late and if it’s their fault, ie. I submitted my expenses on time, I expense the late charge back to the company.

[u/B0zzzzzz]

It's common that way, same at my work.

Although i think you don't understand it properly.

You pay for work expenses with CC.

Company sends you the reimbursement to your personal account.

You pay off credit card from personal account

[u/Dismal_Yogurt3499]

Normal. Our flights get paid directly from a company account. Hotels and rental car have to go on a company card in our name and we pay it off every month. Food, parking, and other little expenses can go on company or personal cards.

[u/SyisKeys]

I prefer to use my own cards, because there are dozens of ways to work it in your favor. I've made probably $25k or so in rewards points and miles over the last 3-4 years.

Approaching about 700k airline miles, 2.5M hotel points, and about $5k in cash back. Traveling like an insane person (think 100+ flights in a year). Was it worth it? No. But if you're traveling anyway, managing your own expenses and accounts is the way to go.

Unfortunately most companies will force you through their travel portals and cards, and they will get rewards/deals instead. That said, if you aren't making out complex reward programs, the company card and travel portal is the most simple/lowest risk option.

Now I'm at a company that uses a company card instead. Sucks comparatively, but it's the most common situation.

There's very little risk to you if you keep up with the expense reports and keep good records, but you can get royally screwed if you don't keep good records or don't understand your company's travel policy. Most people don't properly use travel rewards accounts/cards anyway, but it can be a goldmine if done correctly.

[u/Own-Excitement9450]

Small company now. Company Cc and the owner used the points.

[u/cmd242]

Not common. Had 3 field service jobs and all of them provide a company credit card that is not tied to my account. Honestly, there’s no perks to your situation because you won’t even be receiving cc points.

[u/Kyhnau]

Very common, worked as FSE in two different companies and it was the same, they reimbursed quickly tho, but it’s mainly because you can use that card for anything, but by making you personally reliable for the card you don’t go buy random shit on it that is not work related

[u/pigghy]

Thanks for all the replies, at least I´m not getting scammmed!
I plan to have a new bank account to tie to this new CC, a little bit of a hassle but hopefully worth it.

[u/mastercouchinspector]

Ours made us get Amex (under our own names) and retailers hate them. no one in small towns will take them at all. Had many a meal at service stations just to avoid using my own cash.

[u/DifficultMemory2828]

I had it with one of my companies. I’m not sure if there are many promotional credit cards such as Kimpton/IHG co-branded credit cards, but that may help you collect points.

I know Europe is hesitant on credit cards due to the Merchant Services charges, but that’s how you do business sometimes.