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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I have fucked up

124 replies

Royallyscrewed · 08/11/2019 07:20

NC for this post- not an aibu more a wwyd.

I have a corporate card for work travel expenses and a few weeks back I linked it to my phone to use tap in and out tickets On a trip to London. I’ve just gone to pay my bill (we pay the balance of the card each month and then claim expenses back via our work online finance system) and literally everything I’ve paid by Apple Pay or online through my phone has gone onto my corporate card. It’s gross misconduct to use it inappropriately and immediate suspension. This was a genuine mistake and I cleared the card straight away but I don’t know how to confess to my manager. For context she’s always on at me about my expenses because I quite often miss the cut off date and am pretty disorganised with them. I’m absolutely shitting myself. Any advice on how to come clean?

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 08/11/2019 07:23

Literally tell her what happened if it will be picked up.

More importantly tell her what steps you've made to ensure it won't happen again.

Tvstar · 08/11/2019 07:24

I don't think it will be an issue. You paid it off and havent claimed it from them. I think it is a cheek they issue a card and then expect you to pay it off in the first instance

Grobagsforever · 08/11/2019 07:25

So you haven't claimed any money fraudulently, you've just made a technology error.

Just tell her the facts. It will be fine.

JonSlow · 08/11/2019 07:26

Tell her before she discovers it herself. It’s a genuine mistake, it happens. What steps you will take to rectify. How much you owe etc.

I used to manage company credit cards for a business before. We used to get a large number of ‘accidental’ transactions in toys r us etc just before Christmas. We only ever dismissed one employee - and that was because they tried to cover it up, instead of coming clean and being open and honest.

Grobagsforever · 08/11/2019 07:26

We actually have exactly the same system re expenses and no one would get into trouble over this. It's an honest mistake.

BrieAndChilli · 08/11/2019 07:26

I’m confused - if it’s a corporate card surely they just pay the bill?
The way you’ve worded it sounds like you pay the card with your personal money and then claim it back?? If so surely you can just only claim back the legitimate expenses and not the other stuff??

MyFartWillGoOn · 08/11/2019 07:30

My work corporate card used to be like this. Only to be used for work expenses and then you pay and claim it back.

One hear we had a big event and I bought bits and pieces from amazon for it-all legit and no issues. I didn't realise though that it had defaulted to using my corporate card on amazon. I bought ALL my Christmas gifts on my corporate card one year! Over £500. Totally my fault, didn't check

I did as you did and paid the balance and didn't obviously claim them. But I'd did flag it to my boss. He did get on me about organisation (quite rightly) but no repercussions

Best thing is to own up before it is noticed. I'm sure you'll be fine

Novemberblu3s · 08/11/2019 07:30

just come clean. say it was a genuine mistake and you have cleared it.

If you don't tell them, they will notice anyways and it it would be much worse on that scenario. Just tell them.

Original poster
Royallyscrewed · 08/11/2019 07:31

I don’t owe anything on it now as I cleared it as soon as I found out but my expenses go via a central finance team and are heavily audited so even if my boss understands, she’s limited in whether she can let me off by what the finance procedures allow. I don’t know whether to call our advice line and see what my options are. I have to come clean- there’s no escaping it, I’m just so annoyed at myself for being so dozy.

OP posts:
Starrynights86 · 08/11/2019 07:33

I know someone this happened too, set up their work card for some Uber’s when travelling and forgot to change it back. They just fessed up straight away and paid back the money, they didn’t get in any trouble.

Candle1000 · 08/11/2019 07:33

Tell them as soon as possible, it will look worse if they find out and you’ve said nothing

LoudBatPerson · 08/11/2019 07:35

I would speak to your manager first and ask advice on the correct procedure to follow and then follow that to the letter.

As you have a fully audited expenses system I expect their will be a process defined to flag up unusual/incorrect/fraudulent payments.

I would imagine you can report this under incorrect payments. Your credit card account should have a time stamp on when you logged in, so it can be shown that you logged in, saw the error and paid immediately. This definitely goes in your favour.

fllinn · 08/11/2019 07:38

Everyone makes mistakes OP. Just tell your manager and the team who manage the finances as soon as you get into work.

Last time I did something stupid at work, I found it less painful to approach the confession as a question rather than an explanation eg - I'm not sure what to do about x y and z, this is what happened and what I've done about it, is there something else I need to do too?

Hahaha88 · 08/11/2019 07:42

You've paid it yourself, it's gross misconduct only if you're trying to steal from them, i.e. spending on it and having them pay it, surely? Just be open and honest about what's happened

bohemia14 · 08/11/2019 07:42

This doesn't make sense to me. If it's self settling then surely you only claim the business transactions? I understand that it's not to be used for personal expenses but you won't be claiming those.

It's a genuine mistake and you've paid it off. I would just explain to your manager and apologise.

combatbarbie · 08/11/2019 07:46

We have corporate cards that are paid centrally every month then I audit them.... I have had numerous transactions that are personal, it happens. I get annoyed if I spot it before they tell me but they just pay it back. The fact you pay the card yourself and then claim has to hold more leeway for accidental use..... I would flag it before anyone else does to cover yourself.

HappyEverIftar · 08/11/2019 07:49

Are you Civil Service Royally it sounds like a similar set up?

I accidentally booked a flight using my Corporate credit card and explained what happened when I reconciled my expenses at the end of the month. There was a dedicated number to pay back via your own account, so it happens all the time. Given it was taxpayers money there was obviously a scrupulously tight audit. Mistakes happen, be upfront about it but don't bow and scrape, this wasn't intentional and a supportive boss would recognise this.

EntropyRising · 08/11/2019 07:51

I find it hard to imagine you'll be in any trouble over such a small mistake. Just send a straightforward email explaining what has happened with a brief apology and be done with it.

I think you're going to make things worse if you carry on with the extreme self-flagellation. Wink It's not really such a big deal.

Good luck.

Misty999 · 08/11/2019 07:53

I work in finance this happens all the time just email your line manager explaining what has happened. I'm assuming you haven't put an expense claim in for the personal spend.

orangeteal · 08/11/2019 07:55

Sorry off topic but it's so weird to me you'd have a corporate card that you have to pay off? Surely the whole point is they pay it? That's always been my experience. Anyway own up which should be easy to do as you haven't benefitted anyway, and unlink it from your phone. I would make an effort to get more organised too.

wineisnecessary · 08/11/2019 07:56

I work in finance and you haven't claimed anything so don't worry .
Honestly tell your manager but I'm sure it will be fine as you've paid it .

thedancingbear · 08/11/2019 07:58

I'm a manager and I can think of at least one person whom I supervise who is blatantly capable of this. I'd laugh and ask her to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Marlena1 · 08/11/2019 07:58

I'm a PA and this often happens (usually they can't find their own card or something). They pay it off and it shows on the statement. Never an issue and our place is a huge global company and very strict re expense regulations. You made a mistake and you sorted it.

Monkeyseesmonkeydoes · 08/11/2019 07:59

You need to tell your manager before who ever looks after checking on the corporate cards notices and does.
It was a genuine mistake but needs to be flagged.
Good news is because your manager knows you're disorganised with the card they'll believe you, bad news is you're probably in for a bollocking as you've been told before...

Ratonastick · 08/11/2019 08:01

Honestly OP, just tell your manager and apologise for the cock up. I used to be responsible for signing off credit card expenses for a travelling team and the number of times someone’s supermarket bill appeared on their corporate card was nobody’s business. It happens, people make mistakes. The company paid the bill directly and there was a well worn mechanism for deducting odd personal credit card purchases from payroll. My favourite was a claim form after a client event that said “ Really sorry, it was a dire weekend and this is mostly for wine and fags, please deduct.”.
The only time it got serious was when someone kept “forgetting” to deal with their bill for about 6 months. When it escalated into a disciplinary matter he coughed to using it for personal stuff and owed £00s. He wasn’t fired for personal spends, he was fired for lying about it.