A lovely lady called Kate sent me a copy of a recent survey into expenses. The survey was commissioned by Access aCloud and looked into the methodology of expenses processing, claims and re-payment. Interesting (well perhaps) but the rascal in me spotted the side comments in the survey, which I found much more interesting – well ok, amusing.
To put things into prospective, the idea was to look at how companies (93% of which had up to 200 employees) dealt with expenses and more specifically considering the time it took for processing and the practicality of moving to a more automated electronic system. It engaged with nearly 150 different companies in the process, but what caught MY eye was some of the stuff people were claiming (or perhaps I should say, trying to claim)!
One unauthorized claim followed swiftly on the heels of the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud and the claimant seems to have travelled with a business companion to Aberdeen – ok, not so strange on it’s own, but stopping off via Vienna, Calais and Folkstone by train! The survey didn’t say if they were still employed!
It’s nice to see someone claiming for gifts for their clients too – but 50 Lois Vuitton handbags?!!
Less significant in cost, true, but worthy of a wry smile and a few questions from the Financial Director I would think, was the cost of a car wash for a tenants car after it was covered in the contents of a fire extinguisher or the claim for ladies underwear – now justification for that, I would just love to hear, but then there was the claim for lunch with included a £30 yes that’s thirty pounds sterling… for a fishcake – perhaps I should think about running a fish and chip shop?
What weird and wonderful expense claims have been submitted to you?
