Claiming meals on Business trip

bluenoseam

It might just be me personally, but I'd only be claiming the evening meal as a standard whilst away on business. My thinking would be that breakfast should technically be covered in the room rate & as I normally "eat out" at lunch anyway I wouldn't expect it covered. Further to that I'd also take reasonable steps to minimise the cost - so for example I wouldn't be looking at fancy restaurants that's for sure!

Then again, I'd probably also have checked all that prior to going on the business trip & at the very least have agreed a "reasonable" budget before hand. Easy enough for me to say sitting here, but that's just how my brain works given the relatively expected nature of the problem.

Sharon87

bluenoseam wrote: »

It might just be me personally, but I'd only be claiming the evening meal as a standard whilst away on business. My thinking would be that breakfast should technically be covered in the room rate & as I normally "eat out" at lunch anyway I wouldn't expect it covered. Further to that I'd also take reasonable steps to minimise the cost - so for example I wouldn't be looking at fancy restaurants that's for sure!

Then again, I'd probably also have checked all that prior to going on the business trip & at the very least have agreed a "reasonable" budget before hand. Easy enough for me to say sitting here, but that's just how my brain works given the relatively expected nature of the problem.

Not everyone eats out for lunch, a lot of people bring food from home, which you can't really do when away. If you get your breakfast covered why not your lunch if your away for more than a day?

I work in TV and there's either a policy of getting 'per diems' which is usually £6 for breakfast, £6 for lunch and £13 for dinner, but can vary. Or it comes out of float money. Breakfast is usually included in the room rate.

Alcohol is generally not allowed as an expense! So people just cross that out on their receipt if they have a drink with their meal. The accountants prefer not to have card receipts, they want to claim back the VAT - bit of extra cash for the company!

For the OP I would definitely try your boss again, airport food is so expensive and tell them it's an expense they wouldn't normally have. That's like telling someone they have to pay for a train ticket to somewhere far away and not reimburse them!

sangie595

DKLS wrote: »

Its a right, I expect breakfast, travelling snacks and drinks, lunch and dinner when travelling and a hotel that is the equivalent of my home if not better.

Luckily I work for companies with a decent T&E policy. Only headache is finding restaurants who will adjust the bill so some of the booze is switched for starters.

It isn't a right.

And it is good to see that there are restaurants who do not assist people in committing fraud. You work for a company with decent terms and conditions, and you are still willing to risk your job to get some booze on the boss?

Wayne_O_Mac

DKLS wrote: »

Only headache is finding restaurants who will adjust the bill so some of the booze is switched for starters.

Sounds like someone's defrauding their employer.

ChopsMcgee_2

Sharon87 wrote: »

Not everyone eats out for lunch, a lot of people bring food from home, which you can't really do when away. If you get your breakfast covered why not your lunch if your away for more than a day?

I work in TV and there's either a policy of getting 'per diems' which is usually £6 for breakfast, £6 for lunch and £13 for dinner, but can vary. Or it comes out of float money. Breakfast is usually included in the room rate.

Alcohol is generally not allowed as an expense! So people just cross that out on their receipt if they have a drink with their meal. The accountants prefer not to have card receipts, they want to claim back the VAT - bit of extra cash for the company!

For the OP I would definitely try your boss again, airport food is so expensive and tell them it's an expense they wouldn't normally have. That's like telling someone they have to pay for a train ticket to somewhere far away and not reimburse them!

Don't even get me started on that! she had to travel to london to get the flight, in her own time AFTER a full day at work (leaving at 6pm) having to drive 200+ miles. AND she had to buy her own fuel!

To be fair I am fuming!

getmore4less

ChopsMcgee wrote: »

Don't even get me started on that! she had to travel to london to get the flight, in her own time AFTER a full day at work (leaving at 6pm) having to drive 200+ miles. AND she had to buy her own fuel!

To be fair I am fuming!

That would require business cover on the insurance policy.
(if you don't have it refuse to use the car for future business use)

Put a mileage claim in

Did they pay for the parking.

I would want an evening meal paying for on that trip or I would not be going.

I accept some travel in own time but expect some flexibility in return.

Why did she agree to go on those terms?

Why worry about upsetting the boss when you should be looking for a new job.

OR have they got repay training clauses to trap people.

Carl31

i think their boss needs to speak to his accountant, or scrub up on HMRC guidelines

it would be a tax allowable expense under subsistence rules, ie the company can re-imburse the cost and claim it against their corporation tax bill