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!

Absolutely no! I buy the of thing for my work on a credit card (milk, bin bags) but it's never more than £25 a month.

They need to sort you a debit card, and set it up properly ie ticking all the boxes to permit online purchases

It sounds like some categories of expenditure have been blocked by either the organisation's finance department or the bank.

Whatever the reason, do not get a card in your own name for their usage especially if there's high spend. It's a really unprofessional suggestion.

Maybe the treasurer has a terrible credit report such that the bank refuses the risk. ( I was treasurer of a charity…the bank does do a check )

They can easily get you an AllStar card.

Hard no
Don't spend any of your own money like this

Seriously? The OP sounds naive and gullible enough without needing to use her DH as a fake excuse why she shouldn’t saddle herself with debt because the committee member running a community shop can’t get the credit card working!

I am a trustee of a very small charity and we bank with the cooperative bank and the treasurer has a debit card. I don’t believe we have an overdraft or any credit facilities. All done online although we can pay in funds via the post office as well as branches.

How have you handled this, can’t believe this happened

@JokersToTheLeftOfMeClownsToTheRight But what justification do I give them for not doing this? Without looking difficult?
Oh sorry, I would not be able to keep personal & business payments separate and with the additional intrest charges on top of that would make this very messy.
Or: my CC is maxed out for our new patio to burry the lady who asked this stupid question.

NO NO NO! What would you do if there was a delay in payment? How would you manage if you ended up having to pay it yourself?

As you are a paid employee, just tell them you think it is very important to keep work and home life separate. I refused even to use my personal mobile for work related calls, WhatsApp etc. I was given a work mobile to use instead.

Let the committee member in charge of finance take this risk if they think its such a good idea.
Just say no, that plan doesn't work for you.

Absolutely not.

And it's total rubbish about the company card not being able to be used online. Either they have a dreadful credit limit or they themselves have set restrictions.

If they’re planning to reimburse you, why can’t they give you the money first?

Because they want you to be the one taking the risk?!

And if they all think it’s a good idea, then they can do it.

But don’t you do it. Look them straight in the eyes and say ‘no’.

I think it's quite reasonable to have been fazed by a group of trustees asking you to do something - if everyone else thinks something is reasonable, there's a pressure to agree.

It's not good accounting practice. I'd suggest a Soldo card.

I mean no, not for a different business.

I have a business credit card and I am personally liable for it, but it’s my company.

It's not any different to buying things and claiming the expenses back and a seperate card make it easier to manage (for you).

I'd want a robust paper trail for each purchase rather than 'the bill' though.

The difference is the OP will have a credit account in her name for which the bank will hold her entirely responsible. If there’s any fraud or problems with the account whatsoever it’s going to be the OP who is responsible for sorting it out.

I've never done this at work though, and never been prepared to ask my staff to do it. The only time it seems appropriate is for their petrol /a lunch while out. Otherwise the company/organisation needs to make sure they have a means to pay for things directly

I am trustee of a charity and I cannot even begin to imagine asking staff to be out of.pocket even temporarily

When I was a single mum I was often struggling to pay for basics (despite an ostensibly high salary- it was eaten up by mortgage and childcare and my ex rarely paid his maintenance). That helped me realise it's never ok to ask staff to pay out of their own pockets and wait to be reimbursed

Absolutely no , is this a not for profit cafe / shop ? Sounds similar to a local one where bills are often ages in being paid and frequent mentions of crowdfunding .

Yes, but the same applies if she buys things for work on her own credit card or bank account, in the usual way of claiming expenses. A seperate card makes it easier for her to make sure nothing is missed and to check claims are paid before the bill is due.

Why is there more likely to be fraud or problems on tbis card than the ones she already holds in her name?

She's within her rights to say no, of course and to refuse to buy anybthing she'd needs to claim back, but it's not really outside normal practice.

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)

This is because whoever has set it up hasn't done it correctly or there is an issue that needs addressing with the bank. I suspect it's something to with the fact that most charity bank accounts will require online purchases to have dual authorisation from the trustees for secure payments, and they've decided this is too much hassle for them. Hence asking you to get one in your own name.

You don't need an excuse to say no. Ask them if they have checked with the charity commission, and whether asking an employee to hold a CC in their own name meets the strict financial compliance and criteria for auditing charities in the UK....

Even if you were prepared to there absolutely no need to
tell them to ask the accountant for advice

Why is there more likely to be fraud or problems on tbis card than the ones she already holds in her name?

" oh btw JokersToTheLeftOfMeClownsToTheRight please can you leave the 'company card' details in the Amazon account so we can all just order stuff when needed.... oh btw JokersToTheLeftOfMeClownsToTheRight please can you just let Dave have the 'company card' he needs to order something....." etc etc

The whole committee thought it was a great idea for YOU to do. I wonder why none of them wanted to do it?

I've been a treasurer for a charity for quite a few years and we'd never have asked anyone to do this. Myself and one other person held a card for the account and any purchases were done that way, although the other cardholder needed my authorisation via an app whenever she tried to make a purchase online. There is no way you should do this, personally it is an awful idea, if it is in your name, it's your debt. The treasurer should be finding away around it, and as mentioned upthread, the accountants won't like this method either.