Charge cards can be an issue
I once had a company provided Amex charge card. Never had an issue with it, apart from finding places that took it, mainly in the UK. The company changed names, and all the cards were reissued, with new numbers and company name. Old cards were chopped up an binned.
*18* months later, I had to go on a business trip, at very short notice, ie only enough time to go home to get my passport and go to the airport. All the hotel and flights were booked by the secretary, using their employee travel profile.
The month rolls round and I receive my statement. Everything is in order, EXCEPT the charge card number was the old number. So my trip had been charged to a card that was supposedly cancelled, and was not in my possession.
I then had a very long conversation with Amex regarding the payment. The terms my employer had on using the card meant that employees could be dismissed for non payment of outstanding balances. This was mainly to avoid people using it for personal use and running up large bills.
I acknowledged that the debt needed to be paid, but I would only pay the balance if it were transferred the current charge card. They countered that the debt had to be paid on the old card account. Neither could they confirm that they would block the old card for from further transactions until another 6 months had elapsed.
In short, I cleared the balance, chopped up the current card and EVERY SINGLE REPLACEMENT they sent thereafter, sending (most) of it back to them. Never used an Amex card ever again.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
