Comments on: Let’s Build a Better Travel Reimbursement Policy

By: Slippy

Slippy — Thu, 10 May 2018 16:48:16 +0000

In reply to the gold digger. I got bad news for you about Concur. It was never designed to be helpful. It was designed to make it easier for Finance to audit travel and shift liability.

By: Lew

Lew — Sun, 06 May 2018 22:55:39 +0000

I work for a university and all work trips require me to submit a travel authorization form in advance. If I include receipts for any expenses I’ve incurred before the trip (e.g., flight, conference registration) or estimates of the upcoming expenses (e.g., hotel) they’ll give me an advance when the form is received – but I need to reconcile with actual receipts within 30 days of returning.

On the issue of credit card statements vs. receipts – in my country there’s a tax registration number on receipts that allows our university to receive some reimbursement somewhere, so they need the actual receipt.

By: AntoniaB

AntoniaB — Fri, 04 May 2018 17:57:22 +0000

I’ve worked freelance for the same group of people for nearly 20 years. They’ve been teams in four different corporations. It is only the most recent one that has a decent re-embursement scheme – they actually will re-emburse you in a week if you get your expenses in by sunday and it always goes smoothly even if there is a hiccup.

The other places all took a long time – and I’d often have to pay off my credit card out of my own funds. One place kept changing the procedures for my supervisor to approve it, so it would sit parked on someone’s desk not moving anwayhere and I’d politely have to follow up and then it would get sent back to my supervisor. Things came to head when someone complained I had followed up ‘just wanted to check things would be moving ahead’ within the allotted time to pay. At this point, I had to bring in the big boss – who’s a very reasonable guy. He said – copy me on every expense. He was Director so that got things moving properly thank goodness. But even he couldn’t take on that crazy system!

By: Kimberlee, no longer Esq.

Kimberlee, no longer Esq. — Tue, 01 May 2018 21:15:47 +0000

One thing that baffled me at my old job was that credit card statements were specifically *not* considered receipts and were not usable to substantiate an expense for reimbursement. No idea why, but they were very clear on the point. D:

By: the gold digger

the gold digger — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:33:32 +0000

In reply to PV. We have Concur! And it's still a pain in the neck!

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Tue, 01 May 2018 16:31:48 +0000

In reply to Maria Rose.

Hey, don’t compare us career Feds to Pruitt (although he’d probably agree that it’s great! :-))!. As the agency head, he gets to approve his own travel, so I guess the sky’s the limit. However, for us ordinary peons, if we choose something other than the cheapest — or Government — rate we are required to provide adequate justification, in order to obtain approval.

By: Noemie

Noemie — Tue, 01 May 2018 10:24:58 +0000

When I was in my early 20s, I was sent on a week-long training course in another town. I was so happy because it was a really interesting course until I realised I had to pay for everything upfront and get reimbursed afterwards. One week hotel stay + travel is a fair amount of money that I just didn’t have.

My boyfriend didn’t have enough either and we ended up borrowing from his parents. I felt so embarrassed that we were both adults with jobs and yet we couldn’t find the money between us. I think the higher ups didn’t realize that my salary at that time was just too low to have much disposable income and I was too young to have any savings..

By: Maria Rose

Maria Rose — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:52:54 +0000

Obviously, the companies that issue corporate credit cards want to “control” the expenses billed to them, but they also need to pay these on a timely basis. Maybe the problem lies in the amount allowed to be charged on a monthly basis, without correcting for differences in costs per geographic area. There’s also the time factor difference between credits and debts on the card as most banks will process debits before any credits.
As far as dealing with the accounting process of the company worked for, that specific company should clarify everything and not make last minute changes to policies without adequate notice. If receipts are required ( which in today’s age of technology is redundant), it is merely a tactic to eliminate fraudulently charges. Thank those who had abused the system for this inconvenience.
As far as the government travel expense coverage being considered so great, someone needs to explain that to Secretary Pruitt who expects to travel at a higher than the business class status.

By: PV

PV — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:38:30 +0000

In reply to Kathy. Or get expense management software like Concur!

By: Kathea

Kathea — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:21:15 +0000

I’ve worked for two state universities in the same system. One paid for everything up front on the “company” card and I got a gracious per diem for food with high cost areas getting me more money. My only out of pocket was cabs and food. Reimbursement were two weeks after I submitted my paperwork. Fast and right into my accounts. Current job will buy conference registrations only. I have to do airfare and hotel and such on my personal card and then get reimbursed. That’s super annoying considering both places are in the same system and same rules but one decides to be more restrictive than the other.