Why don't accounting departments like it when you use your purchasing card for travel expenses?

Question

Some companies offer a separate purchasing card and t&e card. If you don't have a t&e card, they want you to use your personal purchasing card for travel expenses and they will reimburse you after the trip. What is the logic behind this? Why do they not want you to use the purchasing card for your travel expenses directly related to work?

Answer 1

It creates a lot of work for the accounting department to sort out the charges and expense them to the correct accounts. It also allows them to keep your travel expenses under control. Some people would go crazy with a purchasing card with a high limit but would not make the same purchases with their own card.

I have also seen companies that restrict their cards to certain merchants/types of purchases. For example, a purchasing card can be set up so that purchases at a clothing store or restaurant will automatically be denied at the register.

I would hate to have to use my personal card for work related travel expenses and hope they reimburse me. If you are carrying a balance on your personal card, you will end up paying interest on the work purchases while you wait for them to reimburse you. I'd push them to issue you a travel card if they are requiring you to travel for work.