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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not be an cash point for my boss?

161 replies

kardashianklone · 21/04/2018 07:51

New job (in the UK). Boss not a UK national and is paid into non UK account in home currency. Boss flat out refuses to open UK bank account. Boss claims they cannot take out money from AMT using their home bank account card an Amex (which I think is not true- more likely boss doesn't want to pay transaction fees). Boss wants to PayPal me the money and for me to take out cash from my account for every transaction. This includes small things like lunches and coffees from Pret and big things like their council tax, water rates bill, electricity bill etc. So we are talking easily over a grand quite quickly. Things like household bills are very hard to pay if you don't have a UK bank account or UK registered credit or debit card and you usually have to make international wire transfers (which incur a fee) and they also don't accept Amex which is what boss have. Even buying train tickets on line is a nightmare. I think that 1. It is somewhat unethical of boss to ask me but I can't put my finger on why exactly and 2. what if I ever got audited and hmrc wants to know what this random influx of money that is not from employment is? Boss has asked me twice to do this. I have said clearly "no I don't want to do it, I feel uncomfortable ". Boss ignored me and said "it would really help me out and other people have done it for me" and did sad face and kept the pressure up. AIBU unreasonable and help me articulate why please!

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 21/04/2018 18:23

Her Stripey

Pigpigpig · 21/04/2018 18:43

This post is interesting because everyone has jumped to the conclusion the boss is a he...

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 21/04/2018 20:12

Not everyone try reading the thread

sprinklesandsauce · 21/04/2018 20:18

Your boss could open a Revolut card and transfer money into that and then use the card.

As others have said, DO NOT do anything for him. It is money laundering.

Collaborate · 21/04/2018 20:33

Haven't read the whole thread, but sounds like money laundering to me too. Is the tax rate of his home country lower than in the UK?

He should be paying UK tax. Don't get involved. It makes you part of the fraud.

sonjadog · 21/04/2018 20:37

No. Absolutely not. If she says other people have been happy to do it for her, then she can go ask them...

LoveProsecco · 21/04/2018 20:38

Have RTFT and agree with all the others saying this is dodgy!

happypoobum · 21/04/2018 20:38

I would just innocently tell her you ran it past HMRC and they said it was illegal.

homeworkinghubbard · 21/04/2018 20:47

Emphasising what plenty of PP here said - it's not just theoretically illegal, its black-and-white illegal to do this. My former colleague went to court and escaped jail time by the skin of her teeth for doing exactly this stuff for someone.

Pigpigpig · 21/04/2018 23:28

*the majority

I have read the thread, most posters are automatically assuming.

4GreenApples · 21/04/2018 23:52

Agree with everyone else, this sounds really dodgy and something that you definitely shouldn’t do.

Passingwords · 22/04/2018 00:15

Yes OP decline, if needed blame someone else, say you and partner/ DH have set up a joint account, you've overspent and he's taking control! I think that you personally could be potentially facing prison and a personal unlimited fine for money laundering. Lots of lights on financial crime these days and lots of software washing information in the background hunting for data i.e. your bank will filter you out. don't do it.

Celticrose · 22/04/2018 01:02

I used to work in a bank and yes this would could come under money laundering or tax evasion. Also if someone did this at my work it would have come under gross misconduct and I imagine instant dismissal. Perhaps you could remind HR about the responsibility of money laundering reporting. Because if they aware of this and let it slide they are also complicit in this. If you do not get anywhere with them I would email them to have it in writing to keep your back covered. If it comes to the worst case scenario of dismissal imagine how that would look at a unfair dismissal tribunal or you can report to HMRC. I wonder did someone do this for him and then realised the implications of what they were doing and refused to continue. If he is such a senior figure in a global brand I do not believe for one moment that he cannot open a UK bank account also if he is working in the UK why is he not being paid in stg to a UK account. Something is not right. There has to be someone senior to him that you can report him to if necessary.

WellThisIsShit · 22/04/2018 02:22

Time to start looking for another job methinks. The company is seriously f*cked if it’s enabling money laundering and coercion of junior staff to enable this illegal activity, as you’re now concerned for your job if you don’t do this. Definitely a screwed up company and you need to be outta there!

shakenandangry · 22/04/2018 02:30

I work in HR and this is definitely something we would investigate and take seriously in my company. I’m not sure if your company is predominately uk based - hopefully it is and HR will see this as being dodgy, and not normal/a small favour like your boss does.

I think he isn’t naive, but is doing this for avoidance or something else suspicious and hoping you’ll be junior enough to just agree without question.

Do continue to refuse and if possible start a new job search

shakenandangry · 22/04/2018 02:33

Ah just read your latest post. In that case I would begin making preparations to leave as I agree, even HR at my major uk company would probably turn a blind eye to the second most senior person in our giant company (who would have the money, contacts and resources to ruin your future career). It’s a shit culture and I can see why you feel stuck with no support

Octave777 · 22/04/2018 02:52

Didn't know about tipping off as poster above said. Just say no then. Your boss seems despicable asking that.

AvoidingDM · 22/04/2018 03:12

Id say no, report them to HMRC, something dodgy going on, And get job hunting.

LakieLady · 22/04/2018 04:53

She's a cheeky fucker, and dodgy into the bargain.

I'd report to HMRC and look for another job. Let's face it, if the company isn't taking their responsibilities seriously about money laundering regs, they're not likely to be that serious about other laws, like H&S and employment rights.

Bettyfood · 22/04/2018 04:58

No, you can't do it because of money laundering regulations. Dodgy as fuck.

Travelledtheworld · 22/04/2018 05:53

Totally weird set up. How the hell can your boss function day to day without a UK bank account ? She sounds inept !
And surely your company operate a PAYE system for salaries ?
Definitely don't help her out.
HSBC Premier offer global banking for high earners, and it's easy to transfer money from one country to another.

Viviene · 22/04/2018 06:43

I would report her to HMRC mainly because I pay all my taxes and hate people trying to avoid doing that.

Ugh!

And- as everyone else said - 'no' to 'helping her out'.

topcat2014 · 22/04/2018 07:18

Actually, I think your company are actively involved in money laundering after all.

ie: They have an employee (your boss) who works in the UK - they must to if they ask the OP to do stuff.

They are quite happy to pay directly into a foreign bank account.

They must know this could mean that the income is not reported to UK tax authorities.

If they don't then they are inept and do not have qualified staff running the finance departments.

As an employer, you have to insist on obtaining proof of right to work in the UK before taking someone on.

ButchyRestingFace · 22/04/2018 07:19

Does one have a duty to report someone's attempts to involve them in money laundering?

topcat2014 · 22/04/2018 08:16

@butchyresting face this depends on your line of work:

Lawyers - yes (I presume)
Accountancy firms - yes.
Financial services - yes

More general commercial jobs - not as far as I am aware