Corporate AMEX card - legal position?

inmypocketnottheirs

TimL, sent you a PM

lisyloo

Do you have any type of representation available e.g. union, hr, working group?

If not then it sounds like you need to raise your legitimate concerns about the process via your boss.

I don't think they can force you to do it.

I think I would

a) Raise my concerns via the proper channels e.g. boss, hr etc.
b) want re-asurances that my exoenses will continue to be met whilst this was going on, else make noises about not wanting to travel without those re-assurances.

gwapenut

This may be out of date, but about 15 years ago I saw a worrying article about the differences between a corporate amex card and a corporate barclaycard.

Most significant of these was that if a small company - or indeed any company - went under, the cardholder became liable for the debt to Amex, but would not become liable for the debt to barclaycard.

This was a long time ago, and my recollection may be wrong or the facts may have changed.

More practically, I found myself meeting hoteliers begging me not to use Amex because of the high charges they faced, and almost ran out of petrol abroad because some automated petrol stations would not touch it.

Tim_L

This is not a major industrial dispute, it's really just about pushing back a bit. Unions and legal representation not required. And I'm secure enough in my own position not to worry about repercussions.

Amex is a dreadful card though. There's an element almost of cultishness on their corporate site, where cardholders are requested to report instances of Amex "suppression" by which they mean merchants dealing with corporate customers refusing to take cards or adding surcharges to cover costs. It's bullying at its worst really. I think there are a couple of class action suits against Amex for this sort of thing, but may be wrong.

There is certainly joint liability for payments, which is worrying, but then again personal cards would be subject to the same problem.

ckerrd

I understand your concerns about being out of pocket.

Scenario in my previous place of employment was that advances were allowed so that staff did not have to pay out of their own pocket.

BIG IDEA - give everyone C/cards and then we can do away with advances.

As I mentioned before some people said no thanks to the card, so senior management said no advances.

Staff then said well "we won't travel" - your move.

The upshot of all this was that the majority of staff took the C/Cards. The individuals being liable for the debt (this is B/Card)

All staff, including those with cards, have their hotels booked for them, which the majority prefer. And they can still take advances for meals.
(Although don't tell anyone that, as it is a secret, as advances are not supposed to exist any more but the managers know they can't get rid of them)

Twopints

Tim,

do you know how the cards will be settled i.e. is it corporate or individual settlement?

Is it a "standard" Amex card i.e. a charge card or is it a credit card? The key difference being that the charge card has to be settled in full.

Have you seen the application form and does it mention giving authorisation for Amex to carry out credit checks?

Tim_L

Been digging a bit.

Employees are responsible for settling the bills within 30 days, not the company, and yes, it's a charge card. This isn't significantly worse than a personal credit card though, provided the expenses are paid promptly.

The app form doesn't give authorisation for a credit search, though agencies can be used for ID verification. If you miss a 30 day payment then you need credit and a credit search is allowed.

It's not too bad really, but I'm still going to push back on the basis that this has been badly implemented and communicated. I'll probably end up with one of the cards though.