How does your employer deal with expenses?

Nicknack_2

Hi,
I would be interested to hear how (employed) members deal with expenses.

I've spoken with several people who think running up 30, 40% of net wages in expenses is unreasonable on my employers behalf. I guess the answer is a personal credit card and pay off when refunded. Ive spoken with my employer who said that is how it is and if people don't like it...

LadyMissA

Nicknack wrote: »

Hi,
I would be interested to hear how (employed) members deal with expenses.

I've spoken with several people who think running up 30, 40% of net wages in expenses is unreasonable on my employers behalf. I guess the answer is a personal credit card and pay off when refunded. Ive spoken with my employer who said that is how it is and if people don't like it...

I work(ed) in accounts/payroll and have dealt with expenses. Where I have worked expenses were put on company credit cards and expenses then signed off by the director and the payment made by the company. If there was anything that wasn't deemed an expense the employee then had to refund the company. Only directors or Operations got a credit card as no one else needed one.

Your company dont seemt to want to get a credit card for you as they have to pay charges yet you are provising them with a credit facility which is not on really if they expect you to spend up to 40% of your salary.

Why can the things you buy not be just billed on an invoice to the company?

bristol_pilot

My company provides a company credit card for expenses which is automatically paid off in full each month by the company. Of course we still have to fill in expenses claims justifying the expenditure. The company get a percentage - I think about 2% - of the total spend back from the bank and so makes a return on the arrangement. A handful of people do not have a company card because they hardly ever have any expenses and the amounts are very low. Those people pay out of their own pocket and claim back later, but the amounts are small.

My previous company did more or less the same thing, except that the company credit card was paid from the individual's personal bank account. Expenses claims were paid into the individual's bank account well before card payment became due. This provided a powerful incentive for individuals to fill in their expenses promptly each month!

Nicknack_2

hi,

thanks for the replies. As i thought; most places would provide cards for staff who spend regular money on the companies behalf.
current expenses incurred include:

fuel
car parking fees
train travel (needs to be the card you will go to the station with)
hotel accommodation
parts for customers
parts for equipment belonging to the customer/company

as you say, they are using staff for credit!

Savvy_Sue

We have several ways:

some people have a cash advance of up to £50 - these are workers who regularly incur varying expenses on an unpredictable basis, and dates back to when some of them just couldn't afford to 'sub' the company.

others have a company credit card, paid off in full by the company, receipts to be submitted monthly.

others claim monthly, or more often if it's an unusually large amount (eg I buy stamps at CostCo where I can't use a credit card, so claim for these as and when).

or there's petty cash for amounts up to £10.

There is always the option of saying "sorry, can't afford that until I've had the last lot of expenses refunded" but if your company only does this monthly you may have a battle, so go for one of the other options!

DH used to keep a personal credit card just for work purchases, btw, if you can get one with cashback and get reimbursed before the bill is due then you can make a bit on the side.

MrsE_2

Nicknack wrote: »

hi,

thanks for the replies. As i thought; most places would provide cards for staff who spend regular money on the companies behalf.
current expenses incurred include:

fuel
car parking fees
train travel (needs to be the card you will go to the station with)
hotel accommodation
parts for customers
parts for equipment belonging to the customer/company

as you say, they are using staff for credit!

I've got a plastic card from work but its not for petrol, car parking or transport fees. But you would put hotel accomodation or the rest of your stuff on it.

LadyMissA

Nicknack wrote: »

hi,

thanks for the replies. As i thought; most places would provide cards for staff who spend regular money on the companies behalf.
current expenses incurred include:

fuel - you can get a petrol card - we used http://www.arval-allstar-fuelcard.co.uk
car parking fees - ok prob the same as a train ticket there and has to be paid in cash
train travel (needs to be the card you will go to the station with) - no tickets can be bought in advance on a company card
hotel accommodation - also billed the to company and you oay for meals which then can be claimed back later
parts for customers
parts for equipment belonging to the customer/company - these should be billed on invoice - why not ask the company you are getting parts from to invoice the company?

as you say, they are using staff for credit!

What if you had no £ to pay for all these expenses? How long have you worked there and been doing this?

ohreally

For hotel accommodation and travel, i use an approved booking agent - the employer settles the account directly.

Mileage, i submit every fortnight.

Andy_L

Pay out of your own pocket & claim it back. If that was going to be an issue you could get an advance of the expenses.

getmore4less

Use it to your advantage.

get a cashback, points or zero % interest card for work expences and keep the benifits.

Tesco points on all business expences and 15 month interest free seems to be the one to go for,

http://www.makesenseofcards.co.uk/purchases.php

stick the money in a tesco savings account at 2.9%

When thats full get another one.

or go for airmiles or hotel points

Join the hotel loyalty schemes, Holiday inn group is great and you often get free nights.


I used to Stooze my expences and paid my mortgage off quicker.

GRM

I use a personal charge card. There is an option of a corporate charge card but I would still be liable for it so didn't see much point in carrying another card. Currently running up around 75% of net salary each month on travel and hotels. I submit claims every two weeks and it's paid very promptly.