Conference 7.286::dcu

        I've had good luck with the direct deposit of expense checks since
        the option became available. I filled out some sort of form, but I
        don't remember if I got it from DCU, my PSA, or whatever. Call DCU
        and ask them.
        
        Since I am on car plan "B", those checks get direct deposited
        also. The big savings to me is that out in the field, all of those
        checks take over a week to get to me, and then another week plus
        to get back to DCU and acknowledged to me. That means that I don't
        have the use of my expense reimbursement for as much as three
        weeks. This way, as soon as I get the note from expense
        reimbursement, which is about when I would I got the check before,
        I know the money is there. 
        
        Previous to this, I had some problems with Diners Club when
        I couldn't pay them the full amount, because the money from
        Digital wasn't there yet. Direct deposit helps this a lot.
        
        Note that thee are still times when I don't get the credit
        as soon as I should. These have been due to a manager not
        completing their paperwork, not signing my expense report,
        and moving the paper thru channels. I had one sit for over
        a month before getting signed.
        
        The best solution to this problem is to get a travelleter that
        matches your maximum week expenses. Since I work in an area
        office, and when on the road often exceed $1000 in weekly expenses
        (plane+car+hotel+food+...), we finally got our travelleters up to
        that limit. Since then I've only had to wait for additional
        refunds a few times.

.1>     The best solution to this problem is to get a travelleter that
.1>     matches your maximum week expenses.
    
        Having had a Travel Letter with my former employer, I agree.  I was
        able to get by with a $300 weekly authorization because I very
        rarely had to pay air fare directly.  For planned travel, I'd
        usually get an advance to cover my expected costs for auto rental
        and lodging.  That made sure that I had less than $300 to settle
        when I filled out my expense report.  At *no* time did I have to
        wait for a reimbursement check.  (Policies here might differ; I
        don't travel in my current job.) 
        
        Since I tend to pay the bulk of my travel expenses with plastic, I
        learned long ago to set aside the reimbursement (bearing interest,
        of course) until the credit card bill comes in.  It's good for your
        credit rating and avoids major cash-flow crises. 

    I realize that this note is ~3 months old, but I, too, have found
    myself in the "check's in the mail" scenario. I considered the direct
    deposit into my DCU account for reimbursement. I declined, because
    my system seems to work better.
    
    W/E: expenses incurred.
    W/E + a few days: expense voucher turned in, Travelleter draft filled
                      out
    A Little Later:   Travelletter cashed, money order purchased for
         		amount charged to plastic.
    Bill arrives:     send money order
    
    Sorry about the formatting, but I think that you get the idea.
    
    No interest paid to me, but I rest easier with the M.O's in my
    briefcase waiting for the bill.
    
    Michael

    The real problem is that the Travelletter does not cover all of the
    expense of a trip. We are not allowed to carry a balance from one week
    to another. It is the part that I have to wait for that does not get to
    me before the bill does. 
    
    I have found out that the expenses that you can get deposited directly
    into the DCU account are for the plan B and D cars. I am on plan A. I
    get to pay $24 a week for the car, less gas, oil, wash, etc. (I live in
    the highest insurance area of New Jersey, I couldn't pay the insurance
    for what they would pay me to use my own car.)

    Yep, Plan A here, too...
    
    Last summer, I was flying once a week for about three months. Even
    if I was "tardy" with filling out the voucher (Don't look, boss)
    my method took Corporate out of the loop. As soon as the voucher
    was done, the draft was cashed, and the MO cut. Now, here, the bank
    that cashes our drafts sells MO's for a buck. Yes, that doesn't
    take care of the extra on the $24/week plan A money. But a personal
    check for the difference keeps that straight. <Insert diatribe about
    writing checks to DEC here> ;-)
    
    Please don't take me wrong, I'm FAR from perfect about expenses,
    I just wanted to share what seems to work for me.
    
    Mike McGuire @STO