Stuck in the middle of nowhere...appropriate to use work credit card?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling around the country for 2 weeks. I'm 300 miles from home and stopped to get gas...only to have my debit card declined at the gas pump. Apparently I used my card at a store that had some sort of security breach. My bank canceled my card as a precaution. They sent a notice to my home...but I didn't get it, as I've been out of state.
I have no cash, no credit card of my own (I live debt-free) and Western Union doesn't open here until 10am. My employers gave me a credit card for work purposes. Would it be weird or out of line for me to ask permission to use the card to put gas in my car to get home?
I've been with them for a year and a half and we have a fantastic relationship.
It's that or hang out in McDonalds or in my car for the next 11.5 hours.
I can pay them back as soon as I get home. Please be nice-I have plenty of money for my trip.. I just ran into a road-block (haha!).
MBs-would you be ok with your nanny asking this?

Not sure how old you are but traveling around on a roadtrip with only one debit or credit card without first notifying your bank is absolutely asking for it to be turned off. It looks like unusual, fraudulent activity, and they do not "cancel" your card because of that, they put a "hold" on it and call and email you. They do not mail you a letter. You get a voicemail a day.

Please update your contact info with your financial institutions and please pay back your employer immediately via check in the mail tomorrow.

If you were my nanny or office employee I'd think you were a dunce.
Maybe if you were 21 I'd rack it up as a "learning the hard way" episode, but I would question your common sense and judgment. On vacation the week before Xmas? interesting as well.

I did notify my bank of my travels. It wasnt canceled due to suspicious activity. It was canceled as a precaution after my information was compromised in a store security breach. I began my trip with some cash, my debit card and travellers checks. I ran out of cash and traveller's checks when I was nearly home.
My NF have taken the last 2 weeks off in order to travel to their respective families' homes in order to introduce them to their new baby before MB goes back to work from maternity leave. They were kind enough to allow me this time off to drive to Oregon to visit my sister. I also have next week off.
I hope I've sufficiently answered your questions.

[Anonymous]

Oh my bloody god, I wish people on this website would stop attacking OPs. The OP didn't ask for comments on her and her NF travelling arrangements and neither did she ask for comments on her financial situation. Why are you all passing judgement when you have about 2% of the facts? What's the freaking point?

OP, you sound like a great level-headed person and I'm glad you enjoyed a trip to see your sister and I'm thrilled your NF are human beings. I know my NF is like that, and all the families I worked for as well. This message board makes both NFs and nannies look like bitchy heartless jerks, and in my experience at least, this is hardly ever the case. So YAY for normal human relationships and treating other how we would like to be treated ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling around the country for 2 weeks. I'm 300 miles from home and stopped to get gas...only to have my debit card declined at the gas pump. Apparently I used my card at a store that had some sort of security breach. My bank canceled my card as a precaution. They sent a notice to my home...but I didn't get it, as I've been out of state.
I have no cash, no credit card of my own (I live debt-free) and Western Union doesn't open here until 10am. My employers gave me a credit card for work purposes. Would it be weird or out of line for me to ask permission to use the card to put gas in my car to get home?
I've been with them for a year and a half and we have a fantastic relationship.
It's that or hang out in McDonalds or in my car for the next 11.5 hours.
I can pay them back as soon as I get home. Please be nice-I have plenty of money for my trip.. I just ran into a road-block (haha!).
MBs-would you be ok with your nanny asking this?

Not sure how old you are but traveling around on a roadtrip with only one debit or credit card without first notifying your bank is absolutely asking for it to be turned off. It looks like unusual, fraudulent activity, and they do not "cancel" your card because of that, they put a "hold" on it and call and email you. They do not mail you a letter. You get a voicemail a day.

Please update your contact info with your financial institutions and please pay back your employer immediately via check in the mail tomorrow.

If you were my nanny or office employee I'd think you were a dunce.
Maybe if you were 21 I'd rack it up as a "learning the hard way" episode, but I would question your common sense and judgment. On vacation the week before Xmas? interesting as well.

If you'd taken the time to read the thread before jumping to such HUGE conclusions, you'd notice that the money was paid back this morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling around the country for 2 weeks. I'm 300 miles from home and stopped to get gas...only to have my debit card declined at the gas pump. Apparently I used my card at a store that had some sort of security breach. My bank canceled my card as a precaution. They sent a notice to my home...but I didn't get it, as I've been out of state.
I have no cash, no credit card of my own (I live debt-free) and Western Union doesn't open here until 10am. My employers gave me a credit card for work purposes. Would it be weird or out of line for me to ask permission to use the card to put gas in my car to get home?
I've been with them for a year and a half and we have a fantastic relationship.
It's that or hang out in McDonalds or in my car for the next 11.5 hours.
I can pay them back as soon as I get home. Please be nice-I have plenty of money for my trip.. I just ran into a road-block (haha!).
MBs-would you be ok with your nanny asking this?

Not sure how old you are but traveling around on a roadtrip with only one debit or credit card without first notifying your bank is absolutely asking for it to be turned off. It looks like unusual, fraudulent activity, and they do not "cancel" your card because of that, they put a "hold" on it and call and email you. They do not mail you a letter. You get a voicemail a day.

Please update your contact info with your financial institutions and please pay back your employer immediately via check in the mail tomorrow.

If you were my nanny or office employee I'd think you were a dunce.
Maybe if you were 21 I'd rack it up as a "learning the hard way" episode, but I would question your common sense and judgment. On vacation the week before Xmas? interesting as well.

This is not true. Last Christmas I was traveling home to my home state and used my debit card in the airport I transited through. Not a big purchase, just lunch at the airport. When I got to my home town I went to the ATM to deposit some cash that I had been given for a bonus and it wouldn't take my card and told me to contact Customer Service. I tried calling and had a heck of a time getting in touch with anyone since it was fairly late on a Saturday on the West Coast so I wasn't able to get it straightened out until the next day. I received no message, no email- nada. They just put a hold on my account since I had used the card in the airport. I've had the same account with the bank for 15 years and never had any trouble before that. I also have a good credit score, have never overdrawn my account, etc…

FWIW, I travel a fair amount both internationally and domestically, so this purchase wasn't something out of the ordinary.

Luckily I was in my hometown and had both cash and credit cards with me, but had I been somewhere else I could have been stranded just like the OP. I'm not a dunce and neither is the OP. Sometimes strange things happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a corporate card and this kind of use is specifically prohibited. I'm not sure why you would want to risk your job in this way. I'm also an MB and wouldn't be ok with it - and it would make me question if you were responsible enough to take care of my child.

I guess it is a good thing I don't work for you. You'd rather have your nanny make a risky choice, like staying in her car overnight than to ask to use a credit card? That says way more about your nanny's responsibilty than if her bank canceled her card unknowingly.

It's irresponsible to not have a backup card. Solely having a debit card shows poor decision making.

I suppose it was a possibility that my employers could have reacted the way you would in my situation. Fortunately they didn't.
This has zero to do with my judgement or sense of responsibility. I'd step in front of a train for my charge and my MB/DB know that.
Have a great week folks! I'm going to take a nap!

Actually it says a lot about yoour judgement. Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a corporate card and this kind of use is specifically prohibited. I'm not sure why you would want to risk your job in this way. I'm also an MB and wouldn't be ok with it - and it would make me question if you were responsible enough to take care of my child.

I guess it is a good thing I don't work for you. You'd rather have your nanny make a risky choice, like staying in her car overnight than to ask to use a credit card? That says way more about your nanny's responsibilty than if her bank canceled her card unknowingly.

It's irresponsible to not have a backup card. Solely having a debit card shows poor decision making.

I suppose it was a possibility that my employers could have reacted the way you would in my situation. Fortunately they didn't.
This has zero to do with my judgement or sense of responsibility. I'd step in front of a train for my charge and my MB/DB know that.
Have a great week folks! I'm going to take a nap!

Actually it says a lot about yoour judgement. Cheers!

Did you get into the bourbon a little early?

[Anonymous]

Actually, 16:55, you shouldn't be mocking the PP. She's right.

It is completely irresponsible of the OP not to have a backup card or other backup method to cover herself in emergencies.

Yes, it is great that her NF was so nice, trusting, and generous, but OP is the one responsible for her own mess and really should not have needed to have her NF bail her out. Frankly, she should be embarrassed to have had to ask for such a silly favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, 16:55, you shouldn't be mocking the PP. She's right.

It is completely irresponsible of the OP not to have a backup card or other backup method to cover herself in emergencies.

Yes, it is great that her NF was so nice, trusting, and generous, but OP is the one responsible for her own mess and really should not have needed to have her NF bail her out. Frankly, she should be embarrassed to have had to ask for such a silly favor.

So many perfect people on DCUM!! You've never been in a sticky spot?
Shit happens. It doesn't make someone a bad or irresponsible person.
Ever locked your keys in your car? Mistakenly left your credit card at a restaurant?

[Anonymous]

Sure, if you have a great relationship with them as you stated you do, then I am sure they will have no issues with you using their card and will probably encourage you to do so.

Just make sure you keep your word and pay them back however.

Have a safe trip back home.

[Anonymous]

Actually, 16:55, you shouldn't be mocking the PP. She's right.

It is completely irresponsible of the OP not to have a backup card or other backup method to cover herself in emergencies.

Yes, it is great that her NF was so nice, trusting, and generous, but OP is the one responsible for her own mess and really should not have needed to have her NF bail her out. Frankly, she should be embarrassed to have had to ask for such a silly favor.


So many perfect people on DCUM!! You've never been in a sticky spot?
Shit happens. It doesn't make someone a bad or irresponsible person.
Ever locked your keys in your car? Mistakenly left your credit card at a restaurant?

Sure, I've locked my keys in my car before. I called a locksmith and paid him for his work. Sure, I've lost a credit card. But I have a backup, but that backup is not my employer. Any bad planning on my part is not my employer's problem to solve.

This is not a case of "shit happens". This was entirely preventable on OP's part. She should have planned better and made sure she had enough cash for gas if she chose not to have a credit card. It's also mystifying why she didn't just call the 800 number on the back of the debit card and get the bank to release her funds. They can do that kind of thing, especially in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling around the country for 2 weeks. I'm 300 miles from home and stopped to get gas...only to have my debit card declined at the gas pump. Apparently I used my card at a store that had some sort of security breach. My bank canceled my card as a precaution. They sent a notice to my home...but I didn't get it, as I've been out of state.
I have no cash, no credit card of my own (I live debt-free) and Western Union doesn't open here until 10am. My employers gave me a credit card for work purposes. Would it be weird or out of line for me to ask permission to use the card to put gas in my car to get home?
I've been with them for a year and a half and we have a fantastic relationship.
It's that or hang out in McDonalds or in my car for the next 11.5 hours.
I can pay them back as soon as I get home. Please be nice-I have plenty of money for my trip.. I just ran into a road-block (haha!).
MBs-would you be ok with your nanny asking this?

Not sure how old you are but traveling around on a roadtrip with only one debit or credit card without first notifying your bank is absolutely asking for it to be turned off. It looks like unusual, fraudulent activity, and they do not "cancel" your card because of that, they put a "hold" on it and call and email you. They do not mail you a letter. You get a voicemail a day.

Please update your contact info with your financial institutions and please pay back your employer immediately via check in the mail tomorrow.

If you were my nanny or office employee I'd think you were a dunce.
Maybe if you were 21 I'd rack it up as a "learning the hard way" episode, but I would question your common sense and judgment. On vacation the week before Xmas? interesting as well.

Last yr a few days before Christmas I had my debit card turned off by my bank because of the target security breach. I found out about it at the airport. Good thing I had some cash on me but really not my fault or op's.

[Anonymous]

OP here! Wow!! I go away for a bit and this happens.
If you make a judgement as to the character of a person based on one incident, shame on you. I hope you look upon yourselves with the same scrutiny.
I had cash and traveller's checks throughout my entire trip. I used the last of my cash filling up the previous time.
The last leg of my trip was through a very desolate part of the country (I don't live in DC) and I did not want to go into a random, tiny store to use my card (I worry about identity theft...me being irresponsible and all). I thought "hmmm..I'll just use my debit card to fill up that one last time before I get home."
I did call the 800 number on the back, which is where I learned about my card being deactivated. They were unable to reactivate my card, but did offer to wire me money free of charge. Unfortunately the closest Western Union branch didn't open until the next morning.
I then considered having AAA (I have AAA...GOD I'm so reckless!!!) tow my car the 300 miles home.
I am fortunate to have a NF who actually cares about me and my wellbeing. I do the same for them. We have a reciprocal relationship. I don't want to live in the world of severe rules, formality and mistrust that some of you PPs do.
I am finished commenting. I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Don't forget to fill up your cars!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here! Wow!! I go away for a bit and this happens.
If you make a judgement as to the character of a person based on one incident, shame on you. I hope you look upon yourselves with the same scrutiny.
I had cash and traveller's checks throughout my entire trip. I used the last of my cash filling up the previous time.
The last leg of my trip was through a very desolate part of the country (I don't live in DC) and I did not want to go into a random, tiny store to use my card (I worry about identity theft...me being irresponsible and all). I thought "hmmm..I'll just use my debit card to fill up that one last time before I get home."
I did call the 800 number on the back, which is where I learned about my card being deactivated. They were unable to reactivate my card, but did offer to wire me money free of charge. Unfortunately the closest Western Union branch didn't open until the next morning.
I then considered having AAA (I have AAA...GOD I'm so reckless!!!) tow my car the 300 miles home.
I am fortunate to have a NF who actually cares about me and my wellbeing. I do the same for them. We have a reciprocal relationship. I don't want to live in the world of severe rules, formality and mistrust that some of you PPs do.
I am finished commenting. I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Don't forget to fill up your cars!!

I believed you were real until you mentioned travelers' checks. What is this, 1990?