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My boss is 'asking' me to put over $10,000 of work related expenses on my personal credit card every month.

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My boss is 'asking' me to put over $10,000 of work related expenses on my personal credit card every month. I am supposed to expense it, but it is complex, time-consuming and annoying. This does not feel right to me. Is this common?

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  1. Anonymous

    No this is not at all common abd actually very suspect. I would decline. I would also start looking for a new job.

  2. Anonymous

    Any delay on the company's reimbursement could leave you with significant interest charges...even if you do not carry a balance. It is very risky for your personal finances in addition to being poor business practice. If the company is seeking financing for any reason or even reporting to stakeholders, it conceals their real cost of doing business and debt load. There is no upside for you and it does seem at the best lazy, at the worst fraudulent on their part.

  3. Anonymous

    How long have you had the job? Are you sure it’s legitimate? A few years back I “got” a job through Upwork that turned out to be a scam. The company they portrayed themselves to be was legit but the people were using the cover to essentially try to use my credit card account to transfer money over to them. It felt off and I ended up stopping it before they got anything.

  4. Kimberley Ferretti Hammett

    So many questionable things about this. There are many perks to a business with having a business credit card you have to question why they wouldn't have one. If it's because they aren't able to get approved for one then the bank doesn't have confidence they could pay it off which means that's a huge risk for you. And even if they could pay it off, can they do so on time? Any bit unpaid within a month would be subject to interest charges which would leave you potentially paying for hundreds of dollars in interest every month. Not ok! Ask them to get a corporate card so the business can get the benefits and be very very careful with them. This is a huge red flag.

    Good luck.

  5. Anonymous

    Yes definitely request a corporate credit card. This is way too much risk for you.

  6. Anonymous

    $10k????
    I wouldn't do it for $10.

    How long have you been with the organization?

    If it's legit, they should have no problem with a company CC. If it's hard to expense it out, do it anyway. I wouldn't pay a DIME. Something is seriously off here.

    No way. Absolutely not. They can refuse to pay in the future for some crazy "technicality" and severely damage YOUR credit.

  7. Anonymous

    A company I worked for at one point asked me to do the same. I pushed back and got a company credit card. Next issue, the card was not authorized for car rental. I pushed back from the site I was visiting and they added car for me. I was out with clients for dinner, and the card was denied. Wasn’t authorized for food. On and on - very embarrassing. Apparently, this was how they worked. It was a symptom of a greater illness and I eventually left.

  8. Kristie White

    This is an indication of cash flow issues. I would be very concerned about a company expecting me to absorb the interest, charged to me on these charges when they aren’t paid timely. Your expense reimbursement is likely based on receipts for actual expense and doesn’t include that interest and you’re going to be waiting for payment. I wouldn’t do it. And what’s more I would start to prepare for potentially leaving. Financial concerns are a big red flag.

  9. Anonymous

    Agreed!!

    I worked at a place once that had financial issues (I was accounting and knew this first hand).

    They asked me to start volunteering there until..... evidently my predecessor volunteered there 8 weeks!!!! I said "no". Easiest question that day!

    Before they got to that point, I was looking for other work. Plus as company had no DD, I'd deposit at lunch!!

    Job had owner squandering $$ and I was returning after a major illness so I knew it was short term.... but didn't think it'd be THAT short term!!!

  10. Chrissy Regan Smythe

    It’s not an employee’s responsibility to finance company expenses. And $10,000.00 is ridiculous! I wouldn’t do it. Credit card companies don’t care why you charged that much. They care that you are the one responsible for paying it back. There’s no way i would do that.

  11. vanesa velasquez

    Run the other way !

  12. Megan Leasher

    No. Hell no.

  13. Barb Hansen

    I have been asked to cover expenses (mostly just travel expenses and software subscriptions) on my own credit card but only when working as a contractor for early phase startups who didn't have the infrastructure to have their own corporate cards yet.

    I have never been asked to cover corporate expenses for a company where i worked as a full-time employee, or at a larger startup. I would never cover corporate expenses on my personal credit card.

    It's unfair to you for you to add that amount of money to your personal credit cards which limits what you can do with your personal credit limit each month, and it feels shady. Why can't your boss use their own credit card to cover expenses? Why doesn't the company have corporate credit cards? Why hasn't the company set up purchase orders with the services that they use monthly? it feels "not right" to me as well.

    Good luck

  14. Lisa McCartney

    agree with the purchase order system.

  15. Anonymous

    NO, NO, NO. NO! If something happens, it happens to YOUR credit score too! Ask them for their number to use, or ask them to give you a corporate AMX card to use. I was once told to put season BB tix on my corp card and they'd approve. I did. Nothing bad happened, though I never got tix to the games!

  16. Erin Vega

    I would respond with how about you get me a check for $10K now and I will be more than happy to expense it out on company time.

    This is not right and you should definitely refuse.

    What I don't understand is why the company wouldn't want to build its credit?

  17. Anonymous

    Are you a contractor for the company or an actual employee? If you're contracted out, that's pretty normal. My husband used to do contract work for a law firm. He put thousands of dollars on his credit cards (flights, rental cars, hotels, etc.) and they reimbursed him. The bonus was he had a FANTASTIC credit rating because he paid it off immediately.

    But if you're actually employed by the company, then no...I occasionally put small bits on my card and get reimbursed, but the people who regularly pay for company-related things have company credit cards to use.

  18. Anonymous

    If he was a contractor, the expenses have to be approved up front before any payment is made. Also, it needs to be in the terms of the agreement.. I'm an accountant and it's only common when these controls are followed.

  19. Cecilia Holmes

    Unless you are contracting this sounds like your boss trying to get around some rule or something. Very weird behavior. You are lucky you have that much extra credit. This would be an impossible job for someone without it!

  20. Anonymous

    If she has $10k worth of credit on a CC, it not from luck - but from being responsible.Regardless - she should NOT let ANYONE or CORPORATION take advantage. Strictly keep personal from business.Huge red flag here - supervisor has some serious issues

    Has zero to do with performance on the job; 10,000 (monthly) examples of being taken advantage of in a horrible way.

  21. Anonymous

    You know it’s not right.

  22. Anonymous

    Exactly! Trust your gut. As my dad says: "if you have to ask...."

    Nothing wrong with getting some additional insight on your intuition :) Regardless, RUN Anonymous, run!!

  23. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    No, just no for a whole buttload of reasons. The top one being what happens if you charge $10k and something happens and then that $10k of expenses is on your card.

    I would also be concerned about the financial health of the company that they're even asking you to do this.

    Anyone that travels for my company has a corporate AMEX card.

  24. Anonymous

    No. Absolutely not.

    There are company credit cards for a reason or he can expense things on his own.

  25. Anonymous

    Wrong on all levels. That's a hefty amount! Time to have a conversation with your boss. I wouldn't agree to that personally. What kind of expenses are they, your own or something broader? You're fronting your own money, what happens if an issue arises with an expense you submit?

  26. Anonymous

    No grey area here. Literally. You know what to do here.

  27. Anonymous

    Small amounts are not abnormal, but that's a lot. I'm wondering, is this a non-profit or a startup? I would just say that that's over my credit limit and push back on getting a company card.

  28. Anonymous

    Credit limit or not -- just say no

  29. Anonymous

    No. You employer needs to issue company credit cards. Asking employees to put business expenses on their personal cards is not appropriate. Some employees prefer to use their personal cards for the card points, but by no means should it be expected.

  30. Anonymous

    From an accountant... HELL NO! Also, is he trying to commit fraud, as well. This is an indication of a few things.. Company cash flow issues, unauthorized expenses going around accounting controls, fraud, etc. You need to go to someone and report it asap. Report via email and make sure you document all conversations.

  31. Anonymous

    Another Accountant here: ditto!!!

  32. Margo P.

    It's not common, though I once worked in a role that required use of personal credit cards for company expenses.
    I am not sure why they didn't do company cards, but I didn't mind it because I just put it on my AMX and got tons of rewards. The company reimbursed expenses weekly so it felt like they were trying to be fair about it. Ultimately, I left after about a year, as the job involved 100% air travel--a different city every day--and it sounded amazing at first but got old quickly.

    Be careful and make sure you have confirmation in writing that they will pay you back quickly, and if they don't promptly pay you back, that they will pay the interest that is due in addition to the charges.

  33. Ann Miller

    My dad did this and from the time he "turned it in" AP could take up to six weeks to process because that was policy. I told my dad that was BS!!! I have done AP forever, expense reports are ALWAYS a top priority!!

  34. Anonymous

    Be extra careful: don't do it.
    Period.

    Think about if they DON'T reimburse. Banks don't care WHO pays the bills.

    No amount of rewards will convince me to ever allow this. If the company was ethical, this wouldn't be a question in the beginning.

    If they need you to purchase, ask for their CC. If they push back, YOU push farther. $10000 is alot of $$$ YOU are ultimately responsible for if they bail

    Interest is irrelevant. Prompt is relavant. I'd be PROMPT and say no way.

    I'd start polishing the resume immediately

  35. Anonymous

    Having worked for a couple of startups and smaller businesses, I have been asked to use my personal card for business purposes, to be reimbursed. One didn't do corporate cards, one only did them for the C-suite, etc. That being said, we are talking maybe $500/mo. The amount being asked of you is OUTRAGEOUS. I would absolutely push back on this. While the rewards on you credit card are nice, that is a huge risk to take. Additionally, depending on the kind of business, you benefitting financially could be a big problem. Although air miles or whatever aren't cash in hand, it translates into financial gain.

  36. Anonymous

    Just get a card with some mad rewards points and cash in!

  37. Anonymous

    Bad idea. No amount of points will be worth the ruins of your financesDO NOT PAY SOMEONE ELSE'S FINANCES

    Only person that will be rewarded is the corporation

  38. Ann Miller

    Bad advice

  39. Anonymous

    I seriously hope you are joking.
    I worry if you are being serious. I agree with Ann; bad advice

  40. Anonymous

    I wish I could dislike this comment.

    I hope you are joking. Cash in??? You are ASSUMING that she's going to be reimbursed. Very naive assumption. And scary one at that.

  41. Anonymous

    No, it is YOUR card for YOUR needs. What if you had a dental emergency? Speaking from someone who needed to have an emergency root canal and crown (after insurance).

  42. Candace Velez

    They need to supply you with a company credit card at this juncture. If they can make these purchases they can get a biz credit card with AMEX or whomever and utilize it accordingly. Sounds shady like they are using you under the guise of something else. Beware. Also look at company expense policy they may have caps which could mean you are stuck with the brunt of payments.

  43. Anonymous

    Agreed! I worked at a small business of 4 and even they had an AMEX.

  44. Anonymous

    Sounds like you need a company credit card. Annoyances aside, depending on your credit card limit, you could be negatively impacting your credit score if the card company thinks you're overextending yourself. Just something to consider.

  45. Anonymous

    Just say no! Be firm let them know that you cannot float the company expenses on your own credit line and are no longer willing to do this. Be clear about this. If the company were to fail and default on their reimbursing you, your credit would be ruined not theirs. They can provide you with a debit card or other electronic means to pay for things. Speak to someone in the legal department if your boss is unwilling to shift this. Do not continue doing this for any reason, it's unethical. And to make you on top of that do the bookkeeping to get reimbursed is heinous!

  46. Ayian

    It is expected that employees categorize their expenses in expense reports, regardless of who pays for it. That part is not heinous. However, the amount they have to float monthly is.

  47. Anonymous

    Tell your boss NO. You are unable to do that. There is nothing good about this only bad.

  48. Heather (she/her)

    This is definitely NOT common and shouldn't be happening. I'd just say that you can't, or even tell him you've had to close the card.

  49. Helena

    hey basically force you to provide them with a 0%-interest loan each month. It’s not in the job description that you provide interest free capital to finance their business activities. Tell them they need to call AMEX about some company cards for the org. I’m so sorry I didn’t say that diplomatically but I’m tired of companies taking advantage of employees.

  50. Anonymous

    Sometimes it's hard to be diplomatic in a situation like this : ) You said it PERFECTLY!!

  51. Jessica Mezzetti

    No. This is sketchy

  52. Anonymous

    Sketchy, exploitative, and overall wrong. If someone in my office brings in TISSUES from home I want to reimburse them!

  53. Anonymous

    Not sure what size of a company you work for but this is really not ok. As others stated they need a company card if this is travel type expenses. If it is other types - office supplies, etc. they should try to work out a system to pay out of AP - an account with the vendor or maybe cut a check, send electronic payment from their bank account. You should not float the money and this does affect your credit rating as credit rating takes into account how much of your credit limit you are using. Finally, as someone else said, if they have cash flow issues, you are the one that will take the loss. If a larger company, typically there are controls and policies that say this is against the rules. In that event, you could be in trouble for not following policy. I work in accounting and this is absolutely a red flag and you should ask them to solve in a different way. If they don't I'd have some concerns about their ability to do that (cash flow issues) and you should get out so you don't end up with ths on your card and not getting reimbursed.

  54. Anonymous

    I am an accountant- we bought office supplies from Amazon and linked to the company CC.

    Only select people had the login and you had to request from those able.

    I've also seen petty cash used

    The ONLY time I used my personal CC was for a business trip so no need to get me a company CC for a rare occurrence I travel.

    The organization got the room and the flight/car - but it was a one time trip so I used mine on meals/gas $ and submitted the expense report. I think it was $250 max and I was pd back in a week. They offered me cash upfront but I didn't want to take cash and have an iou to the organization - point is, they were decent and professional - not taking advantage

    It was also a situation that I knew of they did default, I wasn't out that much (I enjoyed the meals but was kind of cheap in case I was stuck with the bill with a disapproved receipt - I had some control in the situation) This was in 2017 in NJ. Wendy's meal was $10 at Newark! I was desperate! Lol!! Can't imagine now - the cost

    *Nowhere NEAR what is going on here!!!*

  55. Deb Allen

    Absolutely not. Check the employee handbook or operational guidelines.

  56. Anonymous

    And if the employee guidebook suggests it's ok to allow this - I suggest you look for a new job.

  57. Susan Pickman

    Look for another job!

  58. Anonymous

    Not particularly ethical, depending on the turn-around of expense payments, but not entirely uncommon. I once worked for a company where I did significant travel and quickly put that much on credit cards with the same expense reimbursement policy. They had an agreement with a CC for approval (only) of company business expenses but did not co-sign for the cards or pay the bills.

    Here are the tricks for making this work:

    1 - DO NOT use any personal credit card, as this mixes your company's expenses with your own, which drives up the interest you may have to pay. If your credit allows, get one that allows no limit but expects full payment every month (AMEX used to do this, I don't know if they still do) or one with a credit limit of more than you expect to expense monthly. You may need to get more than one.

    2 - DO - When the bill(s) come(s), pay the amount of the last month's expense check(s). If there is any interest or fees over late or unreimbursed items, expense those interest and fees on the following expense report.

    Whatever you do with this (these) cards affects your credit rating, so it is not realistic for the company not to either reimburse you in a timely fashion or pay the fees when they fail to do so. The plus side is if you get a CC with bonuses (airline miles or cash back), those are yours to keep.

  59. Anonymous

    No and no. Don't do it.

  60. Anonymous

    No. If it's monthly, this is a recurring cost and something that should be budgeted and paid for by the company. I would demand a company card, minimally one in your name and cosigned by the company.

    There are plenty of folks out there who don't even have credit limits that would support this, so it's something the company should really factor into such a request.

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