Executive Summary - Travel Card Meeting
May 3, 2004
- The travel card is a privilege granted to assist state employees with business related travel.
- Corporate travel cards are mandatory and must be used to purchase state contract airfares. Issuing corporate travel cards to state employees provides the necessary controls required by the airlines to ensure they will submit state contract air rates to Louisiana. State contract airfares are totally refundable and have last seat availability status. It is estimated that by having state contract airfares, the State of Louisiana saves approximately $3 million dollars annually.
- There is a $250 retail spending limit on the individual corporate Visa cards and a $5,000 travel related spending limit.
- New Visa cards have been issued for existing American Express cardholders in good standing as of December 31, 2003.
- Employees whose American Express cards were delinquent will have to reapply with Visa.
- Employees issued two cards with two different account numbers will need to call Visa and cancel one account. For customer service call 1-888-449-2273.
- Employees with card balances not paid in 30 days will be reported to the credit bureau as having a past due credit balance.
- The state has worked out a deal where employees will not be charged a late fee until the 61st day. On the 61st day a $29.00 late fee and interest will be charged.
- The corporate card can only be used for airlines, hotels, rental cars, and restaurants. It cannot currently be used for registration fees.
- There is $500,000 of travel insurance on plane tickets purchased on the corporate card.
- Homeland Security laws require SSN and home street address on credit card applications.
- Will need a separate application for Nonresident Alien employees.
- As of now the agency has to make all general maintenance changes (i.e. address, name, agency).
- New applications require the budget unit head's or supervisor's signature certifying the employee needs a travel card. This is due to many employees being issued cards in the past that were not used.
- Will begin canceling all American Express cards during the month of June.
- Since the Office of State Travel is expected to cancel all American Express corporate cards in June, for any travel booked on American Express that will take place over the next few weeks employees should activate their new Visa, cancel their old American Express card and reconfirm any arrangements using their new Visa account number.