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!

Well obviously you wouldn't do that, either with this card or any other issued in your name, even if it was on the company account. The terms of those cards are always that the cardholder is liable anyway.

Well obviously you wouldn't do that

Why not? If you've been put in a position where you weren't quite sure you wanted to take out a card in your name, but you did anyway, it's not much of a further step to be persuaded that obviously other people will need to use it, because you've been convinced already that it's for the company. They shouldn't be asking her to do this in the first place, doubt they'd have qualms about expecting others to then be able to use it. And that might just be incompetence. Or it might be something not so innocent, no way to know.

Anyway, as I said, this isn't going to pass financial compliance or auditing criteria for a charity - the OP just needs to say no and ask the trustees what the charity commissions advice on it is if they persist.

Op will also have extra lending noted on her credit file. This could affect her if she does want to borrow money personally. The two things need to be kept completely separate.

Fairly sure that if if the charity gets audited annually like my work this would be a whole gala day of red flags...

Not too mention scammers or if you lost it. No way do it

No. You can be given a work card, they just need to sort it out with bank.

This could be a plot for Death in Paradise. You get a credit card with say a £10,000 limit. Two of the committee who are having a secret affair use your credit card to buy flights to St. Marie leaving you with the debt. It causes you to lose your job, your marriage breaks down, and you lose everything.

10 years later you go out to St. Marie where the couple have opened a successful village store. You change your appearance, get a job in the store, and then you botch the theft of their money, and so you have to kill them.

This could definitely happen, so don’t do it. You could ruin your life.

Absolutely no, never!! The balance will be yours if the organisation suddenly can't or won't pay, think of your credit rating op

Fuck. That. Shit.

We need an update op

I have a work credit card. In my name but I am not a trustee or on a board and am not on the bank account either!

i am also a scout leader and have a prepaid debit card - again in my name and i am neither a trustee or on the bank account. The treasurer tops up with suitable amounts which we then draw down on.

Your credit rating could plummit, you have your family to support and your DH says no.

Don't agree to this, if you do and it back fires it çould be a nightmare to resolve.

At what point when paying for goods online do you input the pin?

You only have to put in the name, long card number, expiry date and CVC.

Is it possible that they haven't got a mobile number linked to the card to get a verification code sent to, and that's why it's not working? That should be easy enough to sort by calling the bank if so.

Just say no. You don’t need to give any further response

if they push tell them it will affect your credit score and that it’s not good business to do this

tell them they free to use their credit cards

Noooo! This is a crazy request. Your auditors wouldn't be happy about it either. There are so many reasons why this is a terrible idea, it leaves your incredibly vulnerable.

I work for a charity, we have credit cards that can be used to order things online - it's entirely possible.

If you want a good excuse just say your husband said no. Blame the husband
Absolutely dont for this.

Just stand up gor yourself and tell them it is not appropriate for you to do this. There is nothing to add.

I appreciate all the replies - as it gives me an idea of how to justify my 'no'!
"sorry it is inappropriate for me to do this"
Theres absolutely no need to tie yourself in knots trying to justify yourself.

Absolutely dont do that.

It makes tax difficult. It risks your financial stability. It risks allegations of fraud or embezzelment.

If theyre so well off why cant they use their cards. Or a company bank account with a debit card? Why does it need to be a credit card? Why not bank transfer? Why dont the board members take a personal credit card and do this? Why you?

I say this whenever I read on of these about helping a new DP. Why are you their best option? And why wont the bank support it in their good name so they need yours? If it was risk free they wouldn't ask you.

No is a full sentance. But if you need a reason/excuse im sorry im not comfortable with entwinting my personal finances with your business finances. Would be fine? Or even ive discussed it with DH and hes not comfy with it so I cant? Or even im sorry I think this is for a board member to organise and fund, im just an employee?

You should be able to just say no. You shouldnt need to deflect to DH or provide a justification because you arent the one being unreasonable but it doesnt matter if you do feel you need those things.

Doesn't matter how you say no. But say no.

And tbh this would have me on a job search

No way.
Is there something going on you do not know about? If you think so, report them to the Charity Commission or appropriate authority.

Op, the answer to this is no.
Is this a charity? If so, I am a CEO of a charity. You should have a finance trustee on the Board, an accountant and depending on your account funds and independent auditor.
If you are putting major purchases on a personal credit card, you would need to claim these as expenses. Given the proposed size, the three individuals above would be required to have access to your personal account information to verify the accounts.

Having spent years resolving bank account issues for charities, the response by your Board to the card issues is unacceptable. They need to resolve and get a working credit card for the charity. You do not need to have a credit card with your current account provider and if they are struggling to resolve they should apply for a company credit card elsewhere.

In my experience, this is genuinely because they are looking for an easy way out and can't be bothered to invest the time, than out of any ill. However, it is crossing the line with you as employee.

What sort of bank in the modern world does not allow online purchases on a debit/credit card they issue? StoneAge Bank plc? Not having corporate cards is like not being able to connect the shop/office to electricity and deciding to use candles all the time (relying on volunteers’ personal cards) rather than changing electricity suppliers (changing banks). There are I think a number of new players on the market. I opened my limited company account with MetroBank in 2013, relatively easy. Cards work online. But there are a number of newer players for even corporate accounts I’m seeing in ads.

No you will not have to pay and claim it back like your predecessor, they were being made a mug of.

It is up to the board to remedy this.

Thanks for all your replies. It has been really helpful. Definitely will say no! And have a think about how to make it work in another way.

Good plan. Surely there is a type of card that is topped up before the money is spent, and a well off volunteer can keep it topped up and claim back each month?

Absolutely not, neither staff or volunteers should need to top anything up from personal funds - that's very bad practice. There should be a company card with the appropriate authorisations for compnay spending. For routine purchases there should be no need for claiming back, their should be a way for the organisation to make the purchase.

Did you post a few weeks back as you were thinking of leaving this job... They call you on your days off and expect you to work unpaid overtime because none of the volunteers can do certain tasks? If so, this nonsense about wanting you to apply for a credit card would definitely make me hand in my notice!