To take out a personal credit card in my name, to pay for company goods??

[JokersToTheLeftOfMeClownsToTheRight]

I have been asked by my work (a community shop in a village - run mostly by volunteers, but with paid daily management - including me) to take out a personal credit card. I would use this to pay for food orders etc for the shop. And they will pay it off each month. Maybe spending £500 - £1000 a month.
This is because the committee member in charge of finance, says the bank will only issue committee / board members with debit / credit cards - none of which seem to work for paying for goods online (we have tried - the pin doesn't work, and it doesn't even send an authorization code).
My husband says this is ridiculous - and has put his foot down, saying it effects him / our family as well (ie: if anything goes wrong).
For background - the committee are all very well-off retired people, who probably don't understand that it's not quite as easy for me financially! So it's not them trying to pull a fast one, and I am positive I would not be left out of pocket, but I am worried it might effect my credit rating. As well as just not being very professional!
But what justification do I give them for not doing this? Without looking difficult? (And I know I have every right just to say no! But I don't want to offend anyone - and they all think this is a brilliant idea that will solve the issues we are having).
Any advice, would be brilliant! Thanks!

Thank you everyone. I think I have my answer 🤣 I appreciate all the replies - as it gives me an idea of how to justify my 'no'!

And a few options to get round it ...

And then when someone denies sending money to that account, and OP gets accused of embezzlement?

What a great idea - said no accountant ever.

My dsis does exactly the same job as you but with a community cafe added on. She has a work card BUT it’s not in her name, it’s only to be used with approval from the treasurer and if it leaves the premises it has to be back within the same day with the receipt. It’s not allowed out overnight and only the treasurer and my dsis are allowed to use it. Mostly my sister makes purchases in cash , out of her pocket, and claims the receipts back through the treasurer on a weekly basis. She spends maybe £400-800 a month and I personally think she’s a bit bonkers as she’s always losing the odd receipt but she loves her job.

You don’t need to justify yourself, what are you even thinking? You should be angry and insulted that they have put you in this position!

Absolutely not.

No. Don’t be ridiculous. You cannot get in potential debt for them. They can get a company Monzo account or something a preload the cash.

@JokersToTheLeftOfMeClownsToTheRight
Were you actually considering doing this, until your husband said no?
That’s worrying. I’d have a sit down and think through why you would put yourself at risk in such a stupid way, and why you were unable to say no until your husband stepped in to stop you.

They have many options available to them - talking to the bank, paying for a prepaid card, arranging bank transfer payments to their suppliers, or one of them could take the personal risk if they think it’s such a good idea. But you should absolutely never take on personal debt for a company that isn’t even yours! And you shouldn’t need your husband to do your thinking for you and stop you.

On which planet is it impossible to get a company card that works online?

Not on this one, for sure, how do they think all the other companies manage?

Remember this is not your problem to solve, it’s the Treasurer’s issue.

Charity bank accounts are notoriously tricky and can be treated as business accounts with fees. Are they trying to avoid paying a credit card fee for each transaction?

I run a Guide unit. It took us 2 years of going round in circles to get on line banking. I hear of many many others who have similar problems. Our account doesn't allow cards - or that is what we are being told at the moment.

So might be dodgy to try and avoid fees or the bank may just be being diff

Surely it would be easier for the treasurer to get the proper bank card working by calling the bank than faffing around getting every order in writing every single time?

OP - do not accept responsibility in any way. They need to sort out the business account and if they can't then it's probably because the business is about to go bust.

https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/products/business-credit-card

I think this is the issue. People who work for community organisations really love their jobs - and end up doing things they wouldn't be prepared to do for a normal job. Especially when everyone else is volunteers, and giving so much time for free.
So I am sometimes put in awkward situations! As for me, even though I love the job, it is also 'a job' and not a hobby.

Not a chance would I do that, they need to find another solution , just say no.

It's the bank being difficult. The treasurer has apparently tried to get a card.....

Don't say anything other than "No, that is utterly absurd"

Why aren't one of the committee/ board members taking out the card?

Yes but even if you can afford to defend yourself legally, your reputation will be in the toilet. Lots of people are of the where there is smoke there is fire opinion and the ageist attitude of poor pensioners vulnerable to predatory adults abusing funds is going to mean even if OP can technically prove her innocence, public opinion won’t agree.

No this should not even have been suggested. You will be taking out an additional credit product which will appear on your credit file. There are lots of other reasons already covered. You don’t need to justify it. It’s a bonkers idea and would make me concerned about the people in charge!

Basically I agree with you the OP and everyone else

Just dont

Rushing off to work - so, apologies, but I haven't got much time right now to respond properly!
But just wanted to add, most orders are done on account. And our accountant does a great job at paying for all the invoices.
And we have a company card we can physically use in shops.
It's just a few online orders (eg Amazon, pic-n-mix sweets and Morrison's) that won't set up an account for us. So I need a card to pay online for these. Otherwise I have to pay for it myself and claim it back (like the person who held the job previously did).

Absolutely not. Get them to get a Revolut card. That's how the majority of expenses on the go or as preparation for camps in DH's scout group are done. They don't want any of the people out of pocket and don't want to make assumptions about private finances.

If there is an issue like they had to do a payment to Belgium to make a deposit for a campsite and their bank was useless, it meant a long file note signed by two people for their treasurer why it was done via a private account.

I was going to say the same!

You sound really lovely @JokersToTheLeftOfMeClownsToTheRight but you need to give your head a wobble. You said you “don’t want to appear difficult”, well sometimes in life, inorder not to potentially get yourself into very serious trouble, you have to put your big girl pants on, image the MumsNet nest of vipers is right behind you and tell people “No”.

I was asked to do this in front of a whole committee meeting, who all thought it was a great idea 🤣 So I kind of froze, doubted myself in the moment, and went along it with. But I am now a bit ashamed of myself for not being more confident! I should have said no straight away!