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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DP and credit card

119 replies

Hp737 · 16/09/2019 12:10

Is this CF? Dp is on a work trip. His company expect him to pay for the hotel and other expenses upfront (on a debit or credit card) and claim it back, they don’t give out company credit cards. On this week long trip to a very expensive European city it will be in the region of £2k+.

Dp does not have a credit card, he is an additional cardholder on my credit card which I have for e.g. when we need to rent a car overseas. I have a long/good credit history and got offered a good credit card with a decent limit. he hasn’t found it easy to get offered credit because he has changed addresses 3 times in 3 years (pretty normal for our age group/city.) however he otherwise has a high salary and an excellent credit score, so no financial demons- I’ve seen proof recently.

Dp wants to pay for his work expenses on the credit account in my name for which he is an additional cardholder. He will pay me back when his work reimburse him (not sure when, at my work this takes about a month.)
However dp has over £15k in accessible savings. He only doesn’t want to touch this for the work stuff because it will “affect the interest payment on his savings”.

AIBU to think that you have savings for when you need them? Interest payments on savings are a bit of a luxury, he’s the one who has to travel for work. I have dipped into my savings (about half the size of his) several times when I have needed to for any reason, and yes it might affect the interest I get, but that’s just tough?

I think he should pay me back as soon as my credit card gets charged since he has the money available. I have a minimum payment that goes out from my current account as I am paying off a big personal expense on my credit card right now and his work expenses will put my minimum payment up. Also I manage my finances very carefully and I jsut don’t want random amounts on my credit card which I use in very specific circumstances only.

I know I probably sound money obsessed but Aibu? I think he needs a reality check.

OP posts:
sweeneytoddsrazor · 16/09/2019 12:21

Surely if he is an additional card holder he can use it without your permission anyway?

Original poster
Hp737 · 16/09/2019 12:25

In theory yes but we only did that in case we only wanted to rent a car in his name, etc. We really just use it for that as a joint thing. Otherwise it’s just mine

OP posts:
DontGoIntoTheLongGrass · 16/09/2019 12:25

Just wondering but why isn't the company paying this themselves especially the bulk of it? We have a similar set up for our company, no credit card. But most of it is paid up front such as flights and accommodation or paid for by the directors to be reimbursed on their expenses.

Or is he a senior member of his company therefore expected to pay?

littlepaddypaws · 16/09/2019 12:30

having been burnt over money i'd be concerned about getting that money back tbh, joint card holders it's your bill as well as his. i'dmake him use his savings, how much interest is he really going to lose ? Hmm

MrsGrindah · 16/09/2019 12:33

What’s your concern? That he isn’t going to give you the money back? Or that you’ll pay interest on that amount ( if you do he should reimburse) . It’s not his fault the company operate that way. But yes if I were him I’d take it out of savings but then I try to avoid my credit card

Hont1986 · 16/09/2019 12:34

Having a £2k reduction in his savings for a month will only mean a few pounds of missing interest.

Not really worth the risk of putting the debt in your name, in my opinion.

LolaSmiles · 16/09/2019 12:36

I wouldn't be happy in your situation at all.

His work need to provide a company credit card or he can take it from his own pot.

Why should you be liable for that expenditure?

AnalUnicorn · 16/09/2019 12:36

I don’t see the issue. As long as he puts in his expense claim promptly then he should be able to pay off the card balance before interest becomes due.

inwood · 16/09/2019 12:37

My company doesn't have a credit card (fucking ridiculous for a large organisation) but all travel and meals are booked before. 'Sundries' are expenses but I get them back within two weeks.

Notajogger · 16/09/2019 12:38

It's not like he'll lose much in interest. Probably only a few pence really if it's less than a month and a couple of grand, as interest rates are crap.

Do you have to pay interest on the credit card?

Also if this is an issue for you:
Also I manage my finances very carefully and I jsut don’t want random amounts on my credit card which I use in very specific circumstances only.
Then just say no to him using it. He can speak to work, they must be able to pay for hotels/flights beforehand at least or how would it work if a company doesn't have the ability to buy anything upfront?

littlepaddypaws · 16/09/2019 12:39

don't want to be a doom sayer but if you broke up tomorrow it's now your debt if he refuses to reimburse you. happened to me, i swore i'd never have a joint account again, too risky when things go toes up.

RedskyLastNight · 16/09/2019 12:39

If he doesn't get interest on his savings if he dips into them, I can understand his reluctance about this. If his work is reimbursing him I don't see the issue with putting extra on the credit card. Presumably once he's paid back you will just pay it all off the card? And if they take their time and you incur interest then work should pay for that as well.

The actual issue here seems to be that DP doesn't have his own credit card. Sounds like he should be able to get one - even if he just uses it for work expenses.

missmarplesapprentice · 16/09/2019 12:39

This happens in our work now (recently removed the company cc's for our team)
Most expenses such as flights etc. are paid up front but if not then we all put them on our own cards. What those who had regular expenses did was open up a credit card specifically for work expenses. Then there is no mix up between your own payments etc. If the company are late paying (not happened yet) they've agreed they'll pay interest too!
Tell him to open up his own credit card. I am assuming that if he has 15k in savings he has a decent enough credit rating to do so! He is being a CF to try and use yours when you have a lot on it already which you are trying to manage.

Preggosaurus9 · 16/09/2019 12:40

He needs to push back hard on his work. They should book travel and accomm centrally from their own funds. Day to day taxis and food DH can cover. But the big ticket stuff is totally unreasonable and not normal.

FizzyGreenWater · 16/09/2019 12:41

No. Absolutely he should take it out of his savings.

How utterly rude to needlessly put debt in your name - especially when you have made it clear that you are not comfortable with it!

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 16/09/2019 12:44

I hate it when company's do this. It's utterly unreasonable. Why on earth should anyone be out of pocket like this (even temporarily) for doing their job?

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 16/09/2019 12:45

*companies ffs

Shmithecat2 · 16/09/2019 12:45

An old employer of mine had this expense policy. At the time, I couldn't really afford more than a night in a hotel for work purposes and then wait up to one month to get it back, so any longer than a couple of nights away and they would give me an expenses advance, which would then be balanced off with receipts after the event. Is that an option? And no, I would not let him take it out on a card in my name, when he had £15k in savings!!! Considering the general rates of interest for savings these days, I can't see him losing very much for the sake of £2k. Hmm

Chitarra · 16/09/2019 12:45

I think you should say no, OP. How much would he actually lose in interest if he used his savings? Surely not much (for the reasons given by Notajogger above).

IScreamForIceCreams · 16/09/2019 12:46

Can't he ask for an advance from his company to cover costs?

Mintjulia · 16/09/2019 12:48

Why doesn’t your dp have his own credit card? Is he not disciplined enough?

And he needs to explain to work that he doesn’t have a credit card, and they need to book rooms and flights at their expense.

Shamoo · 16/09/2019 12:48

He just needs to get a credit card - if he doesn’t have a bad credit history and has a reasonable salary then he will get one quite easily, regardless of moving house.

Reallynowdear · 16/09/2019 12:49

He should pay out of his savings.

Credit cards should be kept for emergencies, this isn't one.

NearlyGranny · 16/09/2019 12:49

His company expect him to do this because they are paying HIM well!

I'd take back his card and take his name off the account, advising him to set his own up.

If you allow him to use your card and the company goes under, you are left with the debt. Why would you take that risk, however small? If you are kept waiting for the payment beyond one of your statements, you will be the one paying the interest. Has he guaranteed to cover that cost or not? His company probably won't!

Have him calculate how much interest he will lose if he withdraws savings and look at this alongside the interest costs a debt on your card would accrue.

I think DH IBVU indeed and I would just say no.

Shmithecat2 · 16/09/2019 12:50

Moving house doesn't really affect your credit score. Is he registering on the electoral each time he's moved?