MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Jack claim cashback at his company's expense?

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This week's Money Moral Dilemma

Jack works as an event planner. As part of his job, he often has to make purchases and already does it via a cashback card, so he gains before he claims back.

Now he's realised that often he could buy the same things at the same price, through web cashback sites too (see Cashback sites article for details) earning even more back. Should he claim the cashback points for himself, since his employer won't be losing anything, or would this be cheating it?

And....

Would it make any difference if Jack had a company credit card instead and used this via the cashback sites?

CLICK REPLY TO ENTER THE MONEY MORAL MAZE

Also read the last MMD:

Should Lisa exchange her gaudy expensive engagement ring?

PS. And remember this is an entirely hypothetical situation.

sambessey

Yes I do this all the time when I book flights/buy books... In fact I use my own credit card to get points too. What's the problem with it? They don't know, I get some points, everyone's happy.

nej

Of course. If it doesn't cost the employer anything then it's fine.

If, however, the employer wants to start using their own cashback site account then naturally he must stop and do as they wish.

nej

sambessey wrote:

Yes I do this all the time when I book flights/buy books... In fact I use my own credit card to get points too. What's the problem with it? They don't know, I get some points, everyone's happy.

Watch this... I was owed about £500 on expenses (mostly a couple of flights) when the company I worked for went down without warning (literally here one day, gone the next)... and I didn't get a penny of it.

sambessey

nej wrote:

Watch this... I was owed about £500 on expenses (mostly a couple of flights) when the company I worked for went down without warning (literally here one day, gone the next)... and I didn't get a penny of it.

Thanks my company has a market cap in the billions and a healthy balance sheet I think (and hope!!) I'm pretty safe

skylight

Yes - Have done this in my last job and with Quidco. I managed £250 last year on company purchases.

I don't see that anyone is screwing anyone else here. Cashback sites offer "freebies" in effect which would be going to waste if no-one claimed them.

Obviously, if the employer decided that they wanted in on the scheme, then it would be a different matter.

nej

sambessey wrote:

Thanks my company has a market cap in the billions and a healthy balance sheet I think (and hope!!) I'm pretty safe

Sounds a lot safer than I was, then! This was only a small company..

Nelski

I have to book a lot of flights and hotels then claim them back from the companies I am working with - I use a cashback credit card, have a BA reward card that upgrades me and gets me into airport lounges and I use Hilton which has meant I get upgraded rooms and points towards weekend breaks (went to prague last year 5* upgraded room for free and have enough to do it again this year) So I think its ok:o dont see theres a problem really - mind you I guess there could be tax implications:rolleyes:

On the other hand if the company wants to arrange it themselves then thats fine too (some get better rates) I may lose on the credit card but I will still get loyalty points.

I take the point that the company could go bust but its highly unlikely in this situation.

Funny really never have thought it could be problem:eek: and I like to think im fairly high integrity with money:o

arthur_dent_2

Absolutly no problem with that what so ever. It is a perk of the job and you would be silly not to. Nobody loses out and you gain, fantastic.

lewt

yes i would do this i thought when i was in the travel agent that they should be doing it.

pinkfluffybabe

I don't see any problem with it whatsoever - in fact I must keep it in mind when booking myself onto flights for conferences and so on.:p