Government Travel Card

[jetteraf]

The latest Airman's Roll Call says the government travel card is a "benefit" for members. I think that's a load of crap.

It's essentially a regular credit card, except I don't get any cash back or other rewards that I get with my personal cards. Even though it's in my name, and issued against my credit, the Air Force tells me when and how I can use it. I don't even have the option of not using it as it is mandated. There's nothing better than having another bill sent to my home address when I'm TDY telling me I have 10-15 days to mail in my payment when I I'm still gone, and finance hasn't paid me yet.

The whole thing is a scam: the government benefits because it shifts all the burden of paying on you, dealing with BofA is your problem, and they get an interest free loan on the funds for your travel until you file your voucher. BofA benefits, because they get millions or more $$ from all the purchase made with the card. The only loser is the individual, who has to deal with both BofA and the governemnt to pay for the Air Force's expenses. Decent companies use corporate cards that are billed directly to the company, and the traveller justifies their expenses after they return.

Sure there will always be some abuses, but if the Air Force prepaid for transportation and lodgings, and gave the member their per-diem in advance, it would be the individual's problem how they spend the money; the AF ensured a place to sleep and a ride home. It also would eliminate the credit card charges that the Air Force might ultimately have to pick up the tab for if the member can't pay.

[Crazy&Mad]

Sure there will always be some abuses, but if the Air Force prepaid for transportation and lodgings, and gave the member their per-diem in advance, it would be the individual's problem how they spend the money; the AF ensured a place to sleep and a ride home. It also would eliminate the credit card charges that the Air Force might ultimately have to pick up the tab for if the member can't pay.

You have to remember though even though YOU do you have financial problems. AND YOU can still use your regular credit card. There is someone out there who has maxed out several credit cards and is unable to pay them. Thats basically what is behind the wonderful GTC. Also if you use the GTC at ATM's maybe your bank might pay you back for the surcharge someone's else's does not.

As in regards to per-diem. If you talk with finance and have a copy of your orders YOU CAN get per-diem in advance!
Lodging expensive if you are still gone you should be able to work with you RA (resource advisor) on this matter it is kinda there job. Even though not all of them actually do it... if they decide not to help you be sure to use the Chain of Command on this one. Until you get the results you wish.

[BigBaze]

I have definitely used that advance per diem..and I liked it a lot....you can be a lot more flexible, especially with the ATM withdrawal limits, if you are a new cardholder. I usually use my card on TDY's or say 7 level school...and all I have ever put on it was my room fee, and gas if I drove...the bill comes very very soon and finance is not very quick sometimes at paying Bank of America...and I just got tired of being bugged by 8 different people (yes like in Office Space) asking when I am going to pay the bill, when finance has not given me the money..I just use my own cash mostly.

[technomage1]

I hate the GTC. The government got the worst possible deal for a credit card it could get. Last time I used it, I wound up getting stuck because I was told I had to use split dispursement to pay the bill - but finance didn't get the voucher done in time so I wound up paying it myself so avoid a black mark on my credit, then getting a refund back from the GTC months later when finance finally did pay up.

Additionally, the GTC charges a foreign currency fee if your card is used overseas. When I flew out of Japan to the US for a TDY, this amounted to $79 for my plane tickets. If I'd used my personal credit card, the cost would have been - nothing. Of course, I miss the days when you used to just get issued your tickets and that was the end of it.

Bottom line is the government pays more fees to use this card with little benefit that I can see. Did someone get an industry job out of this deal?

[Crazy&Mad]

basically it all comes down to not what you are able to do.. but what others can't do.

Did you know there are people out there who actually can't pay bills at all... or have maxed there cards out? Others that just can't get a credit card at all because of the past?

YES there is i understand the GTC card is not the best thing for everyone but guess what it allows alot of people to be able to go TDY without problems. Not everyone has a responsible spouse who doesn't know when to quit charging the credit card, this allows someone who have that spouse to still be able to charge a room charge!

Understand the logic behind this program. Not for everyone but for those who have problems with finances, may not be you but somebody! heaven forbid i should have to pay a room charge on my credit card because YOU and your spending is not controlled.... SO hence the GTC. (PERIOD)

[technomage1]

basically it all comes down to not what you are able to do.. but what others can't do.

Did you know there are people out there who actually can't pay bills at all... or have maxed there cards out? Others that just can't get a credit card at all because of the past?

YES there is i understand the GTC card is not the best thing for everyone but guess what it allows alot of people to be able to go TDY without problems. Not everyone has a responsible spouse who doesn't know when to quit charging the credit card, this allows someone who have that spouse to still be able to charge a room charge!

Understand the logic behind this program. Not for everyone but for those who have problems with finances, may not be you but somebody! heaven forbid i should have to pay a room charge on my credit card because YOU and your spending is not controlled.... SO hence the GTC. (PERIOD)

I'm a little confused by this posting. Ok, so maybe not everyone in the AF are shining examples of fiscal responsibility. Fine, I accept that, although I do feel that extreme cases of financial irresponsibility should (and do in fact) lead to discharge.

My points were that the card is a) inconvienient and b) not a good deal for the government. Why the big push towards mandatory cards? Especially for those who have proven themselves irresponsible? Would not giving them plane tickets and cash advances be a little better than a card with a $5,000 limit?

I got the card at years ago - at the time it was mandatory - and now, though that has changed, it is a devil getting rid of the thing. For me, personally, I'd rather be issued my tickets and put my hotel/meals on my own card or pay cash. With my own credit card, I get a) better customer service, b) automatic bill pay, and c) no fees such as those mentioned in my first posting. Plus I don't have to worry about when the voucher will go through. For the government, all they have to do is pay me back when I file my voucher and we're done. You'd think that would be easier.

If you want/need the card, fine. But I do resent the past pushes towards mandatory cards and the current policies that make it a giant pain if you don't want it.

[130HercNav]

Those of you that say this card goes against your Credit Report: Have you actually checked your credit report? My GTC is not even mentioned on mine, and I check it a couple times a year (it's free....) I've even gone 90 days unpaid, and still no mention on my report (didn't make my RA happy, but when Finance is to blame and I have a paper trail to prove it, I couldn't care less).

I have a PIN for my GTC, so ATMs work just like any other; you just have to pay the withdrawal fee. It would be really dumb to withdraw more than you can expect to receive in per diem over the length of your TDY (not just against the regs).

[MACHINE666]

I remember back in the early 90's when the GTC program first came on line, what a headache it was for commanders and Shirts alike when people would go delinquent on their payments. I remember reading one of those Air Force horror-stories written by a TSgt who had charged all sorts of stuff from groceries to birthday presents for his kids on the stupid thing and then couldn't pay it off in time. Of course there are stories of young troops going out to some sleazy bar and charging lap dances, all of which you don't hear about so much nowadays, but Article 15s were getting cranked out left and right practically. Funny how the shift has gone from the GTC to SARC and ARIs.

My advice? Go back to the time honored method of issuing cash. Yes folks, cold hard cash. I joined the military when Finance was still in the practice of issuing money to people before they went TDY, where your costs were figured out to the last dollar. Unless you had some unusual circumstance or were lousy at managing your money, you made do with that cash until you returned home. Now supposively the government gets some kind of kick-back everytime we charge something, but if you're late on a payment while on an extended TDY you're pretty much shut down until the check clears, which may take longer than first anticipated. Looking at it from that perspective, it's the bank and not Joe Airman who ultimately benefits.

[FGO]

In regard to 130HercNav's comment about the credit rating...if you read the fine print for the credit card agreement you signed with Bank of America, it is an agreement between them (the card issuer) and you (the card holder). It states that if you don't pay your bill in a timely manner, then they can turn your account over to a collection agency (and yes, that will make it onto your credit report).

Someone earlier posted that you can still get a cash advance before a TDY even if you have the GTC. Not at any base I've been stationed at! The only people who could get cash advances at the bases I've been were those who were denied a GTC card (yes, there are some people out there who don't qualify).

Why did the military go the GTC and stop issuing cash advances? For the same reason MPFs have drastically scaled back their operations and now you have to do more and more on-line or over the phone...they're trying to save a buck!

Personally, I'm still trying to figure out how I can get rid of my GTC so I can legally use my personal rewards card to buy airline tickets and pay for lodging...

[THELADYKT]

In regard to 130HercNav's comment about the credit rating...if you read the fine print for the credit card agreement you signed with Bank of America, it is an agreement between them (the card issuer) and you (the card holder). It states that if you don't pay your bill in a timely manner, then they can turn your account over to a collection agency (and yes, that will make it onto your credit report).

Someone earlier posted that you can still get a cash advance before a TDY even if you have the GTC. Not at any base I've been stationed at! The only people who could get cash advances at the bases I've been were those who were denied a GTC card (yes, there are some people out there who don't qualify).

Why did the military go the GTC and stop issuing cash advances? For the same reason MPFs have drastically scaled back their operations and now you have to do more and more on-line or over the phone...they're trying to save a buck!

Personally, I'm still trying to figure out how I can get rid of my GTC so I can legally use my personal rewards card to buy airline tickets and pay for lodging...

As a former administrator for DTS (for those of you using it), you can request an cash advance through your orders. However they way it is done, you get the money sent directly to wherever your EFT goes as soon as your orders are electronically approved through your approving official and finance. Then you take the cash money out of your own bank account. You can also schedule advance payments so you can pay your bill BEFORE you return and file your final travel voucher (for when you are TDY 45 days or more).

[FGO]

I stand corrected. Thanks for the info THELADYKT.

[natedog]

Do not think the govt does not get a small % back on these purchases. As I recall from the early 90s, that was one of the selling points to going to this system over the old diners club card. And, in some respect, if it is govt TDY that is occuring, then the govt should get the $$ back. But, there needs to be a better way to handle payments when we are out of country.

[downshift]

I've lucked out so far - 9 years in between Active Duty and the ANG, and still no card. When I was on Active Duty, I did two contigency deployments, so they waived the card. I had applied for one, but was denied twice, which is funny because I never had any debts. Our supply guy in charge of having us fill out the applications was perplexed as to why I kept getting shot down, but I didn't care - I filed travel vouchers and got paid, that's all that mattered to me!

I don't think I can get out of it any more, but I'll certainly try!

[SSBowman]

This is a new topic dealing with the Government Travel Card.
Another reason to be cautious while using it.
DOD has picked a new provider for the GTC which is Citi. Has anyone looked into who pulls the strings at Citi? Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is the largest share holder. He runs the company from the sidelines. Are we really sure that he has no ties to terrorism? He has the education and the financial means to "assist in projects" and starting in Nov 08 he will have the resources to track all Government movement. Why did the DOD pick a company that reported huge losses in Nov 07 and is ultimately run by al Saud? This may turn out to be another "deal" like the deal that would have allowed Middle Eastern Countries to be in charge of U.S. Ports security. Has anyone else looked into this?

[THELADYKT]

Know you know the government doesn't look at those things. They go for the lowest bidder, regardless of quality in almost every endeavor.