Business trips on DMP,, am having a nightmare

lowlowlola

Hi all

Am having a nightmare. For the first time I have been asked to go on two trips for work this month, the first to South Africa and the second to Paris… its really brilliant and if all goes well it should mean a step up for me in the future,,, however I am having a real nightmare as whilst my institution will pay for accommodation and flights all other expenses need to be re-claimed back.. food, taxis, client entertainment etc.. as you can see I am currently on a DMP and live on a very tight budget and I simply don’t know what to do,, I have £100 emergency fund but that’s not going to cover it, I reckon I’ll need about £500. I went cap in hand to the Head of Finance and made some excuse about getting a new kitchen (YEAH RIGHT!!!) and having no funds available to which he said that A) it is policy that staff are not advanced cash ( I work in the public sector and we have very strict rules after a bout of fraud last year) and surely I could just put it on my credit card and anyway at my grade they would expect me to be able to cover such expenditure!

I’m at my wits end .. I don’t know what to do,, would CCCS let me drop payments for a month and pay more when I eventually get it back (tahts another problem the money could take six weeks to get back after the fraud they go through receipts with fine toothcomb).. I was thinking of applying for a VANQUIS card but would that be breaking my DMP.. have been doing so well for over a year and this has thrown such a spanner in the works……..i can’t get out of the trips it would be professional suicide as this kind of work is written into my job description but it’s the first time its every happened

Has any one else been in the same situation.. any help greatly appreciated

hitback

I would contact CCCS an ask for advice! Seems a bit mean to expect you to cover client entertainment! I know there is an issue about fraud but even so! Is there a relative who could loan you the money until you claim back?

lowlowlola

sadly no..thats one of the reasons i racked up such a debt in teh first place

and yes they are meanies! our HoF is a right Tight A$$e probably why he's so good at his job:rotfl:

Tiglet

Your finances are none of your employer's business. They can expect all they like but if reality turns out to be a disappointment, then they need to deal with that. Either they need you to go or they don't and, if they do, then they need to pay for you to go.

Sorry - I know that might not be very helpful but some people seem to think that, just because they have a senior position at work, they are entitled to dictate how people live their lives outside work. Grrrrr!

Tell the Head of Finance that you cannot afford to go if you have to pay the expenses up front. Explain that the amount you will need up front is less than a month's salary, so there is no possibility of fraud because they can recover whatever you don't spend from next month's salary. You're not asking for an advance - you are the one who is being asked to spend money in advance for their benefit!

grace

I book all the travel for our engineers...all of them are issued with AMEX Card to cover their expenses while they are away...this is then paid off via expenses by the company... we do not expect our engineers to fund business trips themselves....which is what you are being asked to do... they should provide you with a Company Credit Card...